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Revelation 6:17

New Testament Apocalyptic ASV (1901)

What does Revelation 6:17 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “for the great day of their wrath is come; and who is able to stand?” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

for the great day of their wrath is come; and who is able to stand?
Revelation 6:17 — American Standard Version

Context — Revelation 6

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
14And the heaven was removed as a scroll when it is rolled up; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.
15And the kings of the earth, and the princes, and the chief captains, and the rich, and the strong, and every bondman and freeman, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains;
16and they say to the mountains and to the rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:
17for the great day of their wrath is come; and who is able to stand?
← Revelation 6:16Revelation 7:1 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“For the great day of his wrath is come, etc.] The Vulgate Latin and Syriac versions read, “of their wrath”; both of him that sits upon the throne, and of the Lamb, against the Heathen gods and Heathen persecutors, in answer to the cry of the martyrs in (<660609>Revelation 6:9,10). And who shall be able to stand? against either of them, or in their presence, and so as to bear their wrath and displeasure; all which expresses guilt, shame, fear, and despair.”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Literally, "the day, the great (day)," which can only mean the last great day. After the Lord has exhausted all His ordinary judgments, the sword, famine, pestilence, and wild beasts, and still sinners are impenitent, the great day of the Lord itself' shall come. Mat. 24:6-29 plainly forms a perfect parallelism to the six seals, not only in the events, but also in the order of their occurrence: Mat 24:3, the first seal; Mat 24:6, the second seal; Mat 24:7, the third seal; Mat 24:7, end, the fourth seal; Mat 24:9, the fifth seal, the persecutions and abounding iniquity under which, as well as consequent judgments accompanied with gospel preaching to all nations as a witness, are particularly…”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal - See the notes at Revelation 5:1; Revelation 6:1. And, lo, there was a great earthquake - Before endeavoring to ascertain to what the sixth seal was designed to refer, it is proper, as in the previous cases, to furnish a particular explanation of the meaning of the symbols. All the symbols represented in the opening of this seal denote consternation, commotion, changes; but still they are all significant, and we are to suppose that something would occur corresponding with each one of them. It cannot be supposed that the things here described were represented on the part of the roll or volume that was now unfolded in any other way than that they…”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“the great: Rev 11:18, Rev 16:14; Isa. 13:6-22; Jer 30:7; Joe 2:31; Zep 1:14-18; Rom 2:5; Jde 1:6 who: Psa 76:7, Psa 130:3, Psa 130:4; Joe 2:11; Mal 3:2 Next: Revelation Chapter 7”
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Related study paths

Read Revelation 6 in contextBrowse Greek word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification