Revelation 10:3
◄  Revelation 10:3  ►
New International Version (©2011)
and he gave a loud shout like the roar of a lion. When he shouted, the voices of the seven thunders spoke.

New Living Translation (©2007)
And he gave a great shout like the roar of a lion. And when he shouted, the seven thunders answered.

English Standard Version (©2001)
and called out with a loud voice, like a lion roaring. When he called out, the seven thunders sounded.

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
and he cried out with a loud voice, as when a lion roars; and when he had cried out, the seven peals of thunder uttered their voices.

King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
And cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roareth: and when he had cried, seven thunders uttered their voices.

Holman Christian Standard Bible (©2009)
and he cried out with a loud voice like a roaring lion. When he cried out, the seven thunders spoke with their voices.

International Standard Version (©2012)
he shouted in a loud voice as a lion roars. When he shouted, the seven thunders spoke with voices of their own.

NET Bible (©2006)
Then he shouted in a loud voice like a lion roaring, and when he shouted, the seven thunders sounded their voices.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English (©2010)
And he shouted with a loud voice like a roaring lion, and when he shouted, seven thunders spoke with their voices.

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
Then he shouted in a loud voice as a lion roars. When he shouted, the seven thunders spoke with voices of their own.

King James 2000 Bible (©2003)
And cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roars: and when he had cried, seven thunders uttered their voices.

American King James Version
And cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roars: and when he had cried, seven thunders uttered their voices.

American Standard Version
and he cried with a great voice, as a lion roareth: and when he cried, the seven thunders uttered their voices.

Douay-Rheims Bible
And he cried with a loud voice as when a lion roareth. And when he had cried, seven thunders uttered their voices.

Darby Bible Translation
and cried with a loud voice as a lion roars. And when he cried, the seven thunders uttered their own voices.

English Revised Version
and he cried with a great voice, as a lion roareth: and when he cried, the seven thunders uttered their voices.

Webster's Bible Translation
And cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roareth: and when he had cried, seven thunders uttered their voices.

Weymouth New Testament
he cried out in a loud voice which resembled the roar of a lion. And when he had cried out, each of the seven peals of thunder uttered its own message.

World English Bible
He cried with a loud voice, as a lion roars. When he cried, the seven thunders uttered their voices.

Young's Literal Translation
and he cried with a great voice, as a lion doth roar, and when he cried, speak out did the seven thunders their voices;

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

10:1-7 The apostle saw another representation. The person communicating this discovery probably was our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, or it was to show his glory. He veils his glory, which is too great for mortal eyes to behold; and throws a veil upon his dispensations. A rainbow was upon his head; our Lord is always mindful of his covenant. His awful voice was echoed by seven thunders; solemn and terrible ways of discovering the mind of God. We know not the subjects of the seven thunders, nor the reasons for suppressing them. There are great events in history, perhaps relating to the Christian church, which are not noticed in open prophecy. The final salvation of the righteous, and the final success of true religion on earth, are engaged for by the unfailing word of the Lord. Though the time may not be yet, it cannot be far distant. Very soon, as to us, time will be no more; but if we are believers, a happy eternity will follow: we shall from heaven behold and rejoice in the triumphs of Christ, and his cause on earth.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 3 - And cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roareth; and be cried with a great voice, as a lion roareth (Revised Version). What the angel cried we are apparently not told. Probably the whole incident is intended merely to set forth the powerful and terrible nature of the messenger who is to deliver God's message. The figure is a very common one with the prophetical writers (cf. Isaiah 42:13; Jeremiah 25:30; Hosea 11:10; Joel 3:16; Amos 1:2; Amos 3:8). And when he had cried, seven thunders uttered their voices; and when he cried, the seven, etc. (Revised Version). This, again, is a repetition of the idea contained in the preceding clause. The Jews were accustomed to call thunder the seven voices, and to regard it as the voice of the Lord (cf. the repetition in Psalm 29.), in the same way that they regarded lightning as the fire of God (Job 1:16). We have, therefore, most probably, a national idea of the Jews, made use of to express the simple fact of the loud and mighty character of the utterance of the angel (cf. the note on Euphrates in Revelation 9:14). If this be so, it is unnecessary to seek for any more subtle interpretation of the seven thunders, as that they represent the seven crusades (Vitringa), etc.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

And cried with a loud voice,.... That all might hear, and to show earnestness and affection, and that it was a matter of great importance, as well as to denote the certainty of it; what he said is not expressed, but seems to be the book of prophecy, or what regarded the state of his church and kingdom, in the several periods of time to the blowing of the seventh trumpet, when the kingdoms of this world shall become his: and this voice of his was

as when a lion roareth; loud and terrible; and indeed it was the voice of the lion of the tribe of Judah, which was heard far and near, throughout the whole world, by his people, and is terrible to his enemies:

and when he had cried, seven thunders uttered their voices; which some understand of the ministers of the Gospel in the times of the Reformation, who were "Boanergeses", sons of thunder, and think that they are the same with the angels in Revelation 14:6, &c. or rather these may signify the denunciations of God's judgments, and of his wrath, both upon the eastern and western antichrist, the Turk and pope, signified by the seven vials, hereafter to be poured out, mentioned in Revelation 16:1.

Wesley's Notes on the Bible

10:3 And he cried - Uttering the words set down, verse 6. Rev 10:6 And while he cried, or was crying - At the same instant. Seven thunders uttered their voices - In distinct words, each after the other. Those who spoke these words were glorious, heavenly powers, whose voice was as the loudest thunder.

Revelation 10:3 Parallel Commentaries
Bible Hub: Online Parallel Bible


The Angel and the Small Scroll
1And I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven, clothed with a cloud: and a rainbow was on his head, and his face was as it were the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire: 2And he had in his hand a little book open: and he set his right foot on the sea, and his left foot on the earth, 3And cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roars: and when he had cried, seven thunders uttered their voices. …

Psalm 29:3 The voice of the LORD is over the waters; the God of glory thunders, the LORD thunders over the mighty waters.
Isaiah 31:4 This is what the LORD says to me: "As a lion growls, a great lion over its prey-- and though a whole band of shepherds is called together against it, it is not frightened by their shouts or disturbed by their clamor-- so the LORD Almighty will come down to do battle on Mount Zion and on its heights.
Ezekiel 10:5 The sound of the wings of the cherubim could be heard as far away as the outer court, like the voice of God Almighty when he speaks.
Hosea 11:10 They will follow the LORD; he will roar like a lion. When he roars, his children will come trembling from the west.
Revelation 4:5 From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder. In front of the throne, seven lamps were blazing. These are the seven spirits of God.