Rev 16:18 | NETfull | STEP | Then there were flashes of lightning, roaring, and crashes of thunder, and there was a tremendous earthquake – an earthquake unequaled since humanity has been on the earth, so tremendous was that earthquake.

Revelation of John 16:18

18 Then ^{▼▼ Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision.} there were flashes of lightning, roaring, ^{▼▼ Or “sounds,” “voices.” It is not entirely clear what this refers to. BDAG 1071 s.v. φωνή 1 states, “In Rv we have ἀστραπαὶ καὶ φωναὶ καὶ βρονταί (cp. Ex 19:16) 4:5; 8:5; 11:19; 16:18 (are certain other sounds in nature thought of here in addition to thunder, as e.g. the roar of the storm?…).”} and crashes of thunder, and there was a tremendous earthquake – an earthquake unequaled since humanity ^{▼▼ The singular ἄνθρωπος (anthrōpos) is used generically here to refer to the human race.} has been on the earth, so tremendous was that earthquake.