Paragraph 19:6–8

19:6a–b

And I heard a sound like the roar of a great multitude, like the rushing of many waters, and like a mighty rumbling of thunder: John described the sound in three ways. He compared it to a great multitude, the rushing of many waters, and like a mighty rumbling of thunder. He did not say who or what made the sound.

19:6a

And I heard a sound like the roar of a great multitude: John described the noise he heard as being like a lot of people talking loudly. Other ways to translate this clause are:

I heard what sounded like a crowd (Good News Translation)
-or-
I heard what sounded like a great many people (New Century Version)

19:6b

the rushing of many waters: The Greek phrase is literally “the sound of many waters” (as in the Revised Standard Version). It refers to the sound of a lot of rapidly moving water. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

a roaring waterfall (Good News Translation)
-or-
the roar of mighty ocean waves (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
the noise of flooding water (New Century Version)

See how you translated this phrase in 14:2.

a mighty rumbling of thunder: This phrase refers to crashes or rolls of loud thunder. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

the loud rumbling of thunder
-or-
the great roar of thunder (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
the noise of loud thunder (New Century Version)

19:6c

crying out: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as crying out is literally “saying.” The noise was very loud, so the Berean Standard Bible uses the word “shouting.” But the crowd probably spoke in loud voices but did not yell. For example:

saying (New American Standard Bible)

19:6d

For: This conjunction introduces the reason for praising God (19:6c).

the Lord our God the Almighty:
The word Almighty is a title. It means, “the one with the power to do anything.” For example:

the All-Powerful (NET Bible)

See how you translated this word in 1:8 or 16:14.

reigns: This word refers to ruling as king. God rules over all things. For example:

is King (Good News Translation)

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