Keraia
Revelation 10

Revelation 10:9

The Angel and the Small Scroll · Revelation 10:1–11
Read Revelation 10

Translations

Modern
And I went to the angel and said, “Give me the small scroll.” “Take it and eat it,” he said. “It will make your stomach bitter, but in your mouth it will be as sweet as honey.”
Traditional
And I went unto the angel, and said unto him, Give me the little book. And he said unto me, Take it, and eat it up; and it shall make thy belly bitter, but it shall be in thy mouth sweet as honey.
Literal
And I went to the angel, saying to him, “Give me the little scroll.” And he says to me, “Take and eat it up; and it will make your belly bitter, but in your mouth it will be sweet as honey.”
Latin
Et abii ad angelum, dicens ei, ut daret mihi librum. Et dixit mihi: Accipe librum, et devora illum: et faciet amaricari ventrem tuum, sed in ore tuo erit dulce tamquam mel.

Original

Greek
English
And I went to the angel and said, “Give me the small scroll.” “Take it and eat it,” he said. “It will make your stomach bitter, but in your mouth it will be as sweet as honey.”

Notes

Revelation 10:8–10

As in Ezekiel's experience, the scroll tasted sweet in the mouth (Ezekiel 3:1–3; see Jeremiah 15:16; see also Psalms 19:10; 119:103). The future experiences for God's people would be sweet, including the victory of God's plan and the vindication of his people. John's bitter stomach is similar to the effects of Ezekiel's tough message for Israel (Ezekiel 3:8–9). The process of fulfilling God's plan involves hardship.

Revelation 10:1–11:14

This interlude between the sixth and seventh trumpets has two parts:

  1. the seven thunders and the small scroll (Revelation 10:1–11), and

  2. the two witnesses (Revelation 11:1–13).

The interlude ends with the announcement that the second terror is over (Revelation 11:14).

Theme notes and profiles

Angels Visions

Parallels

Ezekiel 3:1–15

Glossary

Bible, Manuscripts and Text of the (New Testament) Book of Revelation Honey

Topics

Angel (A Spirit): Appearances of To John, on the Island of Patmos Vision of John on the Island of Patmos: The Angel That had a Book