New International Version I took the little scroll from the angel’s hand and ate it. It tasted as sweet as honey in my mouth, but when I had eaten it, my stomach turned sour. New Living Translation So I took the small scroll from the hand of the angel, and I ate it! It was sweet in my mouth, but when I swallowed it, it turned sour in my stomach. English Standard Version And I took the little scroll from the hand of the angel and ate it. It was sweet as honey in my mouth, but when I had eaten it my stomach was made bitter. Berean Standard Bible So I took the small scroll from the angel’s hand and ate it, and it was as sweet as honey in my mouth. But when I had eaten it, my stomach turned bitter. Berean Literal Bible And I took the little scroll out of the hand of the angel, and I ate it up; and it was sweet as honey in my mouth; and when I ate it, my belly was made bitter. King James Bible And I took the little book out of the angel's hand, and ate it up; and it was in my mouth sweet as honey: and as soon as I had eaten it, my belly was bitter. New King James Version Then I took the little book out of the angel’s hand and ate it, and it was as sweet as honey in my mouth. But when I had eaten it, my stomach became bitter. New American Standard Bible I took the little scroll from the angel’s hand and ate it, and in my mouth it was sweet as honey; and when I had eaten it, my stomach was made bitter. NASB 1995 I took the little book out of the angel’s hand and ate it, and in my mouth it was sweet as honey; and when I had eaten it, my stomach was made bitter. NASB 1977 And I took the little book out of the angel’s hand and ate it, and it was in my mouth sweet as honey; and when I had eaten it, my stomach was made bitter. Legacy Standard Bible And I took the little scroll out of the angel’s hand and ate it, and in my mouth it was sweet as honey; and when I had eaten it, my stomach was made bitter. Amplified Bible So I took the little book from the angel’s hand and ate it, and in my mouth it was as sweet as honey; but once I had swallowed it, my stomach was bitter. Berean Annotated Bible So I took the small scroll (papyrus roll) from the angel’s hand and ate it, and it was as sweet as honey in my mouth. But when I had eaten it, my stomach turned bitter. Christian Standard Bible Then I took the little scroll from the angel’s hand and ate it. It was as sweet as honey in my mouth, but when I ate it, my stomach became bitter. Holman Christian Standard Bible Then I took the little scroll from the angel’s hand and ate it. It was as sweet as honey in my mouth, but when I ate it, my stomach became bitter. American Standard Version And I took the little book out of the angel's hand, and ate it up; and it was in my mouth sweet as honey: and when I had eaten it, my belly was made bitter. Contemporary English Version I took the little scroll from the hand of the angel and ate it. The taste was sweet as honey, but my stomach turned sour. English Revised Version And I took the little book out of the angel's hand, and ate it up; and it was in my mouth sweet as honey: and when I had eaten it, my belly was made bitter. GOD'S WORD® Translation I took the small scroll from the angel's hand and ate it. It was as sweet as honey in my mouth, but when I had eaten it, it was bitter in my stomach. Good News Translation I took the little scroll from his hand and ate it, and it tasted sweet as honey in my mouth. But after I swallowed it, it turned sour in my stomach. International Standard Version So I took the small scroll from the angel's hand and ate it. It was as sweet as honey in my mouth, but when I had eaten it, it turned bitter in my stomach. NET Bible So I took the little scroll from the angel's hand and ate it, and it did taste as sweet as honey in my mouth, but when I had eaten it, my stomach became bitter. New Heart English Bible I took the little scroll out of the angel's hand, and ate it up. It was as sweet as honey in my mouth. When I had eaten it, my stomach was made bitter. Webster's Bible Translation And I took the little book out of the angel's hand, and ate it; and it was in my mouth sweet as honey: and as soon as I had eaten it my belly was bitter. Weymouth New Testament So I took the roll out of the angel's hand and ate the whole of it; and in my mouth it was as sweet as honey, but when I had eaten it I found it very bitter. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleSo I took the scroll from the angel’s hand and ate it, and it was as sweet as honey in my mouth. But when I had eaten it, my stomach turned bitter. World English Bible I took the little book out of the angel’s hand, and ate it. It was as sweet as honey in my mouth. When I had eaten it, my stomach was made bitter. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionAnd I took the little scroll out of the hand of the messenger, and ate it up, and it was in my mouth sweet as honey, and when I ate it my belly was made bitter; Berean Literal Bible And I took the little scroll out of the hand of the angel, and I ate it up; and it was sweet as honey in my mouth; and when I ate it, my belly was made bitter. Young's Literal Translation And I took the little scroll out of the hand of the messenger, and did eat it up, and it was in my mouth as honey -- sweet, and when I did eat it -- my belly was made bitter; Smith's Literal Translation And I took the small book from the angel's hand, and I was eating it; and in my mouth was as honey, sweet: and when I ate it, my belly was bitter. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd I took the book from the hand of the angel, and ate it up: and it was in my mouth, sweet as honey: and when I had eaten it, my belly was bitter. Catholic Public Domain Version And I received the book from the hand of the Angel, and I consumed it. And it was sweet like honey in my mouth. And when I had consumed it, my stomach was made bitter. New American Bible I took the small scroll from the angel’s hand and swallowed it. In my mouth it was like sweet honey, but when I had eaten it, my stomach turned sour. New Revised Standard Version So I took the little scroll from the hand of the angel and ate it; it was sweet as honey in my mouth, but when I had eaten it, my stomach was made bitter. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleSo I took the little book out of the hand of the angel, and ate it; and it was sweet as honey in my mouth: but as soon as I had eaten it, my belly was bitter. Aramaic Bible in Plain English And I took the little scroll from the hand of the Angel and I ate it and it was like sweet honey in my mouth and when I had eaten it, my belly was bitter. NT Translations Anderson New TestamentAnd I took the little book out of the angel's hand, and ate it up, and it was in my mouth as sweet as honey; and when I had eaten it, my stomach was bitter. Godbey New Testament And I took the little book out of the hand of the angel, and I ate it up; and it was in my mouth sweet as honey: and when I ate it, my stomach was bitter. Haweis New Testament And I took the little book out of the angel’s hand, and ate it up; and it was in my mouth as honey sweet; yet when I had eaten it, my belly was made bitter. Mace New Testament immediately having took the little book out of the angel's hand, I swallowed it down: and in my mouth it was as sweet as honey: but as soon as I had swallowed it, it was bitter within me. Weymouth New Testament So I took the roll out of the angel's hand and ate the whole of it; and in my mouth it was as sweet as honey, but when I had eaten it I found it very bitter. Worrell New Testament And I took the little book out of the hand of the angel, and ate it up; and it was in my mouth as sweet as honey; and, when I ate it, my belly was made bitter. Worsley New Testament And I took the little book out of the angel's hand, and ate it up: and it was in my mouth sweet as honey, and when I had eaten it my belly was bitter. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible (Voice ▾ Musical ▾) Context The Angel and the Small Scroll…9And 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.” 10So I took the small scroll from the angel’s hand and ate it; and it was as sweet as honey in my mouth, but when I had eaten it, my stomach turned bitter. 11And they told me, “You must prophesy again about many peoples and nations and tongues and kings.”… Cross References So I took the small scroll from the angel’s hand Ezekiel 2:9-10 Then I looked and saw a hand reaching out to me, and in it was a scroll, / which He unrolled before me. And written on the front and back of it were words of lamentation, mourning, and woe. Revelation 5:1-7 Then I saw a scroll in the right hand of the One seated on the throne. It had writing on both sides and was sealed with seven seals. / And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, “Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?” / But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or look inside it. … and ate it, Ezekiel 3:1-3 “Son of man,” He said to me, “eat what you find here. Eat this scroll, then go and speak to the house of Israel.” / So I opened my mouth, and He fed me the scroll. / “Son of man,” He said to me, “eat and fill your stomach with this scroll I am giving you.” So I ate, and it was as sweet as honey in my mouth. Jeremiah 15:16 Your words were found, and I ate them. Your words became my joy and my heart’s delight. For I bear Your name, O LORD God of Hosts. and it was as sweet as honey in my mouth. Psalm 119:103 How sweet are Your words to my taste—sweeter than honey in my mouth! Psalm 19:10 They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb. Proverbs 24:13-14 Eat honey, my son, for it is good, and the honeycomb is sweet to your taste. / Know therefore that wisdom is sweet to your soul. If you find it, there is a future for you, and your hope will never be cut off. But when I had eaten it, my stomach turned bitter. Job 20:12-15 Though evil is sweet in his mouth and he conceals it under his tongue, / though he cannot bear to let it go and keeps it in his mouth, / yet in his stomach his food sours into the venom of cobras within him. … Proverbs 5:3-4 Though the lips of the forbidden woman drip honey and her speech is smoother than oil, / in the end she is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a double-edged sword. Ezekiel 3:14 So the Spirit lifted me up and took me away, and I went in bitterness and in the anger of my spirit, with the strong hand of the LORD upon me. Ezekiel 2:8-10 And you, son of man, listen to what I tell you. Do not be rebellious like that rebellious house. Open your mouth and eat what I give you.” / Then I looked and saw a hand reaching out to me, and in it was a scroll, / which He unrolled before me. And written on the front and back of it were words of lamentation, mourning, and woe. Jeremiah 20:9 If I say, “I will not mention Him or speak any more in His name,” His message becomes a fire burning in my heart, shut up in my bones, and I become weary of holding it in, and I cannot prevail. Psalm 119:11 I have hidden Your word in my heart that I might not sin against You. Psalm 119:97 Oh, how I love Your law! All day long it is my meditation. Psalm 119:140 Your promise is completely pure; therefore Your servant loves it. Proverbs 16:24 Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones. Treasury of Scripture And I took the little book out of the angel's hand, and ate it up; and it was in my mouth sweet as honey: and as soon as I had eaten it, my belly was bitter. sweet. Psalm 19:10 More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Psalm 104:34 My meditation of him shall be sweet: I will be glad in the LORD. Psalm 119:103 How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth! my belly. Ezekiel 2:10 And he spread it before me; and it was written within and without: and there was written therein lamentations, and mourning, and woe. Ezekiel 3:14 So the spirit lifted me up, and took me away, and I went in bitterness, in the heat of my spirit; but the hand of the LORD was strong upon me. Jump to Previous Angel Angel's Ate Belly Bitter Book Eat Eaten Found Hand Honey Little Messenger Mouth Roll Scroll Soon Stomach Sweet Tasted Turned WholeJump to Next Angel Angel's Ate Belly Bitter Book Eat Eaten Found Hand Honey Little Messenger Mouth Roll Scroll Soon Stomach Sweet Tasted Turned WholeRevelation 10 1. A mighty strong angel appears with a book open in his hand.6. He swears by him who lives forever, that there shall be no more time. 9. John is commanded to take and eat the book. So I took the small scroll from the angel’s hand John obeyed the angel’s command and received the message entrusted to him. The scroll came from God’s heavenly messenger, confirming its divine authority and John’s responsibility to deliver what it contained. Ezk 2:9-10 Then I looked and saw a hand reaching out to me,… and ate it, John was to receive the message fully, allowing its truth and burden to become part of his own life before proclaiming it to others. Ezk 3:1-3 “Son of man,” He said to me, “eat what you find here.”… and it was as sweet as honey in my mouth. God’s revelation was sweet because it revealed His purposes, righteousness, and ultimate victory. Receiving His word brought joy and assurance. Psa 119:103 How sweet are Your words to my taste—sweeter than honey… But when I had eaten it, my stomach turned bitter. The message also contained judgment upon a rebellious world. Though God’s truth is good, announcing coming wrath and witnessing its consequences brought sorrow and a heavy burden. Job 20:12-15 Though evil is sweet in his mouth and he conceals it… Persons / Places / Events 1. John the ApostleThe author of the Book of Revelation, who receives and records the visions given to him. 2. The Angel A mighty angel who stands with one foot on the sea and one on the land, symbolizing authority over the earth. 3. The Small Scroll A scroll given to John to eat, symbolizing the reception and internalization of God's message. 4. The Act of Eating Represents the acceptance and internalization of God's prophetic word. 5. Sweetness and Bitterness Symbolizes the dual nature of God's word—its initial sweetness and the subsequent bitterness of its implications. Teaching Points The Dual Nature of God's WordGod's word is both sweet and bitter. It brings joy and hope but also conviction and responsibility. Internalization of Scripture Like John, believers are called to internalize God's word, allowing it to transform their lives from the inside out. The Cost of Prophetic Ministry Sharing God's truth can be a bittersweet experience, bringing both joy and challenges. The Authority of God's Message The angel's stance over land and sea signifies the universal authority of God's message, which believers are entrusted to share. Faithfulness in Proclamation Despite the bitterness that may come, believers are called to faithfully proclaim God's word, trusting in His ultimate plan. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Revelation 10:10?2. How can Revelation 10:10 inspire us to embrace God's Word despite challenges? 3. What does the "sweet as honey" symbolize in our spiritual journey? 4. How does Revelation 10:10 connect with Ezekiel's experience in Ezekiel 3:3? 5. In what ways can we prepare for the "bitter" aspects of God's message? 6. How can Revelation 10:10 encourage us to share God's Word with others? 7. What does eating the scroll symbolize in Revelation 10:10? 8. Why is the scroll sweet in the mouth but bitter in the stomach? 9. How does Revelation 10:10 relate to the overall message of Revelation? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Revelation 10? (10) And I took . . .--The Evangelist takes the roll, as he was bidden, out of the angel's hand, eats it up, and finds it, as he was told, "in his mouth as honey, sweet." In this his experience resembles that of Ezekiel, who found the roll in his mouth as honey for sweetness (Ezekiel 3:3). So the Psalmist could rejoice in God's words and God's law as sweet, sweeter than honey and the honeycomb (Psalm 119:103; Psalm 19:10). He who is ready to endure bitterness in his fidelity to God must not only be interpenetrated by divine teaching; he must have also realised its sweetness, or else, however pleasant his words may sound, they will lack the sweetness which is as needful to the words of the teacher as to the songs of the poet. But the after effect of the sweet-tasting roll is bitterness. Ezekiel makes no mention of this bitterness; yet we know how much his fidelity to the words he loved so well must have cost him when he was bidden to arm himself with a flinty determination (Ezekiel 3:9-14; Ezekiel 2:6-7), and the patient courage of one whose lot was among thorns and briars and scorpions. It must always be so. The love of Christ may constrain men, but the very ardour of their affections must bring them through tribulation, and may make them as outcasts, defamed, persecuted, slain. The flaming zeal to emancipate mankind from thraldoms, follies, and ruinous sins may stir the soul with a holy joy; but there come moments when men are almost tempted to turn back, and to think that they have undertaken a hopeless task, when they find how slow is their progress, and what new and unexpected difficulties arise. Such was the bitterness which Moses felt: "Why is it that Thou hast sent me? For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in Thy name, he hath done evil to this people; neither hast Thou delivered thy people at all." The most enthusiastic souls who love their fellow-men, and who feel how sweet and high is their calling, perhaps feel most of this bitterness. Their very love makes all failure very bitter to bear; yet is it through this martyrdom of failure that the noblest victories are won.Verse 10. - And I took the little book out of the angel's hand, and ate it up; and it was in my mouth sweet as honey: and as soon as I had eaten it, my belly was bitter (see above). The angel, foreseeing the nature of the contents, alludes to the bitterness first; the writer narrates his experiences in the historical order. Revelation 10:10 shows the two–edged nature of God’s prophetic Word. John obediently receives and internalizes the angel’s scroll. Its sweetness reflects the glory, mercy, and ultimate victory it proclaims. Its bitterness comes from the judgments and hardships it contains for a rebellious world. Every servant of God who faithfully digests Scripture will feel that same blend—delight in God’s truth, yet sorrow over the cost that truth demands as it unfolds in history. Parallel Commentaries ... Greek [So]Καὶ (Kai) Conjunction Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely. I took ἔλαβον (elabon) Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular Strong's 2983: (a) I receive, get, (b) I take, lay hold of. the τὸ (to) Article - Accusative Neuter Singular Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the. small scroll βιβλαρίδιον (biblaridion) Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular Strong's 974: A little papyrus roll. A diminutive of biblion; a booklet. from ἐκ (ek) Preposition Strong's 1537: From out, out from among, from, suggesting from the interior outwards. A primary preposition denoting origin, from, out. the τῆς (tēs) Article - Genitive Feminine Singular Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the. angel’s ἀγγέλου (angelou) Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular Strong's 32: From aggello; a messenger; especially an 'angel'; by implication, a pastor. hand χειρὸς (cheiros) Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular Strong's 5495: A hand. and καὶ (kai) Conjunction Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely. ate κατέφαγον (katephagon) Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular Strong's 2719: To eat up, eat till it is finished, devour, squander, annoy, injure. From kata and esthio; to eat down, i.e. Devour. it; αὐτό (auto) Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Neuter 3rd Person Singular Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons. and καὶ (kai) Conjunction Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely. it was ἦν (ēn) Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular Strong's 1510: I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist. sweet γλυκύ (glyky) Adjective - Nominative Neuter Singular Strong's 1099: Sweet. Of uncertain affinity; sweet. as ὡς (hōs) Adverb Strong's 5613: Probably adverb of comparative from hos; which how, i.e. In that manner. honey μέλι (meli) Noun - Nominative Neuter Singular Strong's 3192: Honey. Apparently a primary word; honey. in ἐν (en) Preposition Strong's 1722: In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc. my μου (mou) Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Singular Strong's 1473: I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I. mouth, στόματί (stomati) Noun - Dative Neuter Singular Strong's 4750: The mouth, speech, eloquence in speech, the point of a sword. [but] καὶ (kai) Conjunction Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely. when ὅτε (hote) Adverb Strong's 3753: When, at which time. From hos and te; at which too, i.e. When. I had eaten ἔφαγον (ephagon) Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular Strong's 5315: A primary verb; to eat. it, αὐτό (auto) Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Neuter 3rd Person Singular Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons. my μου (mou) Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Singular Strong's 1473: I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I. stomach κοιλία (koilia) Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular Strong's 2836: From koilos; a cavity, i.e. the abdomen; by implication, the matrix; figuratively, the heart. turned bitter. ἐπικράνθη (epikranthē) Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Singular Strong's 4087: To make bitter, embitter; pass: I grow angry or harsh. From pikros; to embitter. Additonal Resources Revelation 10:10 Blue Letter BibleRevelation 10:10 Bible Gateway Revelation 10:10 Bible.com Revelation 10:10 NIV |
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