The Trumpet Judgments: Plagues and Woes
Revelation 8:6-9:21
Rev.8.6 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Και: CONJ
- οι: ART,nom,pl,m
- επτα: NUM,acc,pl,neut
- αγγελοι: NOUN,nom,pl,m
- οι: ART,nom,pl,m
- εχοντες: VERB,pres,act,part,nom,pl,m
- τας: ART,acc,pl,f
- επτα: NUM,acc,pl,neut
- σαλπιγγας: NOUN,acc,pl,f
- ητοιμασαν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,pl
- αυτους: PRON,acc,pl,m
- ινα: CONJ
- σαλπισωσιν: VERB,aor,act,subj,3,pl
Parallels
- Rev.8:2 (verbal): Immediate parallel in Revelation: the earlier verse explicitly states the seven angels were given seven trumpets, directly corresponding to the angels preparing to sound them.
- Revelation 11:15 (structural): Within Revelation the sounding of the trumpets culminates in the seventh trumpet which proclaims God's kingdom—the trumpet motif structures the book's eschatological sequence.
- Numbers 10:1-10 (thematic): Instruction about silver trumpets used to summon assemblies, signal movements, and call to war—parallels the trumpet as a divine signal initiating action or judgment.
- Joshua 6:4-5 (thematic): Trumpets blown by priests at Jericho accompany divine action and the city's downfall, reflecting the trumpet's role as an instrument of God's decisive intervention.
- 1 Corinthians 15:52 (verbal): Paul's formula 'in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye... for the trumpet shall sound' uses the trumpet as the eschatological signal of transformation, echoing Revelation's trumpet judgments.
Alternative generated candidates
- Now the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound.
- And the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound.
Rev.8.7 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Και: CONJ
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- πρωτος: ADJ,nom,sg,m
- εσαλπισεν·και: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- εγενετο: VERB,aor,mid,ind,3,sg
- χαλαζα: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- και: CONJ
- πυρ: NOUN,acc,sg,n
- μεμιγμενα: PART,perf,pass,nom,pl,n
- εν: PREP
- αιματι: NOUN,dat,sg,n
- και: CONJ
- εβληθη: VERB,aor,pass,ind,3,sg
- εις: PREP
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- γην·και: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- τριτον: NUM,acc,sg,n
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- γης: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- κατεκαη: VERB,aor,pass,ind,3,sg
- και: CONJ
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- τριτον: NUM,acc,sg,n
- των: ART,gen,pl,m
- δενδρων: NOUN,gen,pl,n
- κατεκαη: VERB,aor,pass,ind,3,sg
- και: CONJ
- πας: ADJ,nom,sg,m
- χορτος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- χλωρος: ADJ,nom,sg,m
- κατεκαη: VERB,aor,pass,ind,3,sg
Parallels
- Exodus 9:23-25 (verbal): The plague of hail with fire that struck every herb and tree closely parallels the trumpet’s hail and fire that burns a portion of the earth, trees, and green grass.
- Joel 2:30-31 (allusion): Joel’s prophecy of wonders including 'blood and fire and pillars of smoke' is a prophetic pattern invoked elsewhere in Revelation and resonates with the trumpet’s blood-and-fire imagery.
- Joel 1:10-12 (thematic): Joel’s lament that vines, fig trees, and all the trees of the field wither mirrors the trumpet’s destruction of a third of the trees and the burning of all green grass.
- Revelation 16:21 (verbal): The outpouring bowls also describe great hailstones falling from heaven—an internal Johannine parallel to the trumpet’s hail and fire judgments.
- Psalm 78:47-48 (thematic): The psalmist’s account of God sending hail and destroying vines and trees provides an Old Testament precedent for hail and vegetation’s destruction as divine judgment, echoed in the trumpet vision.
Alternative generated candidates
- The first sounded, and there followed hail and fire mixed with blood, thrown to the earth; and a third of the earth was burned up, and a third of the trees were burned up, and all the green grass was burned up.
- The first angel sounded his trumpet, and there came hail and fire mixed with blood, and they were thrown to the earth; and a third of the earth was burned up, and a third of the trees were burned up, and all the green grass was burned up.
Rev.8.8 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Και: CONJ
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- δευτερος: ADJ,nom,sg,m
- αγγελος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- εσαλπισεν·και: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- ως: ADV
- ορος: NOUN,acc,sg,n
- μεγα: ADJ,acc,sg,n
- πυρι: NOUN,dat,sg,n
- καιομενον: VERB,pres,mid,part,acc,sg,n
- εβληθη: VERB,aor,pass,ind,3,sg
- εις: PREP
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- θαλασσαν·και: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- εγενετο: VERB,aor,mid,ind,3,sg
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- τριτον: NUM,acc,sg,n
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- θαλασσης: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- αιμα: NOUN,nom,sg,neut
Parallels
- Exodus 7:20-21 (verbal): The first plague: the waters become blood, fish die, and the water is fouled—verbal and thematic echo of a body of water being turned to blood as a sign/judgment.
- Revelation 16:3 (structural): The third bowl-judgment pours out on the sea so that it becomes blood and everything in it dies—direct parallel in imagery and in the sequence of maritime judgments.
- Joel 2:30-31 (thematic): Joel’s prophecy of wonders—blood, fire, and pillars of smoke—uses blood-and-fire imagery for divine signs and judgment, thematically resonant with a burning mountain cast into the sea.
- Nahum 1:5 (thematic): Nahum depicts mountains melting and the earth burning at the LORD’s presence; the image of burning mountains conveys divine wrath similar to the blazing mountain hurled into the sea.
Alternative generated candidates
- The second angel sounded, and something like a great mountain burning with fire was thrown into the sea; and a third of the sea became blood,
- The second angel sounded his trumpet, and something like a great mountain, all ablaze, was thrown into the sea; and a third of the sea became blood,
Rev.8.9 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- απεθανε: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,pl
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- τριτον: NUM,acc,sg,n
- των: ART,gen,pl,m
- κτισματων: NOUN,gen,pl,neut
- των: ART,gen,pl,m
- εν: PREP
- τη: ART,dat,sg,f
- θαλασση: NOUN,dat,sg,f
- τα: ART,acc,pl,n
- εχοντα: VERB,pres,act,part,acc,pl,n
- ψυχας: NOUN,acc,pl,f
- και: CONJ
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- τριτον: NUM,acc,sg,n
- των: ART,gen,pl,m
- πλοιων: NOUN,gen,pl,n
- διεφθαρησαν: VERB,aor,pass,ind,3,pl
Parallels
- Revelation 16:3 (verbal): Second bowl judgment: 'every living thing in the sea died'—a near-verbal and thematic parallel to the death of sea creatures in Rev 8:9.
- Exodus 7:21 (thematic): First plague in Egypt: waters turned to blood and the fish died—shared imagery of waters made deadly and aquatic life perishing by divine judgment.
- Jonah 1:4 (thematic): The LORD hurled a great wind causing a violent storm that endangered the ship—parallels the motif of divine action bringing destruction to ships at sea.
- Psalm 104:25-26 (thematic): Poetic depiction of the sea populated by living creatures and the activity of ships—echoes the linked imagery of sea life and vessels subject to God's control.
- Revelation 8:8 (structural): Immediate context: the burning mountain cast into the sea (v.8) provides the causal action for v.9's report that a third of sea creatures died and a third of ships were destroyed.
Alternative generated candidates
- and a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed.
- and a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed.
Rev.8.10 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Και: CONJ
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- τριτος: ADJ,nom,sg,m
- αγγελος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- εσαλπισεν·και: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- επεσεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- εκ: PREP
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- ουρανου: NOUN,gen,sg,masc
- αστηρ: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- μεγας: ADJ,nom,sg,m
- καιομενος: PRT,pres,mp,nom,sg,m
- ως: ADV
- λαμπας: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- και: CONJ
- επεσεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- επι: PREP
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- τριτον: NUM,acc,sg,n
- των: ART,gen,pl,m
- ποταμων: NOUN,gen,pl,m
- και: CONJ
- επι: PREP
- τας: ART,acc,pl,f
- πηγας: NOUN,acc,pl,f
- των: ART,gen,pl,m
- υδατων: NOUN,gen,pl,n
Parallels
- Revelation 8:11 (structural): Immediate continuation of 8:10 — the fallen star is named Wormwood and its effect on the waters (making them bitter) is explicitly stated, completing the judgment introduced in 8:10.
- Revelation 9:1 (verbal): Another ‘star’ falls from heaven in Revelation and plays a destructive role (given the key of the abyss); repeats the motif of a heavenly star/person descending to bring catastrophe.
- Revelation 12:4 (thematic): The dragon’s tail sweeps a third of the stars from heaven — a related cosmic motif of stars being cast down that frames Revelation’s cosmic/judicial imagery.
- Exodus 7:20 (thematic): God-initiated judgment on waters (Nile turned to blood) — parallels the theme of divine action from above affecting rivers and springs as part of punitive signs.
- Isaiah 14:12 (allusion): The image of a fallen 'morning star' (shining one) cast down from heaven — a poetic precedent for using falling celestial imagery to signify judgment and downfall.
Alternative generated candidates
- The third angel sounded, and a great star fell from heaven, blazing like a torch, and it fell on a third of the rivers and on the springs of waters.
- The third angel sounded his trumpet, and a great star, blazing like a torch, fell from heaven on a third of the rivers and on the springs of waters.
Rev.8.11 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- ονομα: NOUN,acc,sg,n
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- αστερος: NOUN,gen,sg,masc
- λεγεται·ο: VERB,pres,mid/pass,ind,3,sg
- Αψινθος: NOUN,nom,sg,masc
- και: CONJ
- εγενετο: VERB,aor,mid,ind,3,sg
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- τριτον: NUM,acc,sg,n
- των: ART,gen,pl,m
- υδατων: NOUN,gen,pl,n
- εις: PREP
- αψινθον: NOUN,acc,sg,neut
- και: CONJ
- πολλοι: ADJ,nom,pl,m
- των: ART,gen,pl,m
- ανθρωπων: NOUN,gen,pl,m
- απεθανον: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,pl
- εκ: PREP
- των: ART,gen,pl,m
- υδατων: NOUN,gen,pl,n
- οτι: CONJ
- επικρανθησαν: VERB,aor,pass,ind,3,pl
Parallels
- Jeremiah 9:15 (verbal): Uses 'wormwood' (symbol of bitterness) as divine judgment—God says he will 'feed them wormwood,' echoing Revelation's star named Wormwood and bitter waters.
- Jeremiah 23:15 (verbal): Speaks of giving people 'wormwood' and 'poisoned draughts'—language of bitter/poisonous judgment that closely parallels the Wormwood-star making waters bitter and deadly.
- Exodus 15:23 (thematic): Israel encounters the bitter waters of Marah ('bitter') after the Red Sea—an Old Testament motif of bitter/unclean waters as a trial or mark of judgment, mirrored in Revelation's bittered waters.
- Exodus 7:20-21 (thematic): Egypt's waters are miraculously turned into a deadly, unusable substance (blood) causing death/inutility—parallels Revelation's punitive transformation of water that causes many to die.
- Revelation 16:3 (structural): A later trumpet/bowl judgment in Revelation turns the sea (and waters) into a deadly substance (blood) killing sea life—an internal parallel in the book's pattern of waters transformed as divine wrath.
Alternative generated candidates
- The name of the star is Wormwood. A third of the waters became wormwood, and many men died from the water because it had been made bitter.
- The name of the star is Wormwood. A third of the waters became wormwood, and many men died from the waters because they were made bitter.
Rev.8.12 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Και: CONJ
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- τεταρτος: ADJ,ord,nom,sg,m
- αγγελος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- εσαλπισεν·και: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- επληγη: VERB,aor,pass,ind,3,sg
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- τριτον: NUM,acc,sg,n
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- ηλιου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- τριτον: NUM,acc,sg,n
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- σεληνης: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- και: CONJ
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- τριτον: NUM,acc,sg,n
- των: ART,gen,pl,m
- αστερων: NOUN,gen,pl,m
- ινα: CONJ
- σκοτισθη: VERB,aor,pass,sub,3,sg
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- τριτον: NUM,acc,sg,n
- αυτων: PRON,gen,pl,m
- και: CONJ
- η: ART,nom,sg,f
- ημερα: NOUN,dat,sg,f
- μη: PART
- φανη: VERB,aor,pass,sub,3,sg
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- τριτον: NUM,acc,sg,n
- αυτης: PRO,gen,sg,f
- και: CONJ
- η: ART,nom,sg,f
- νυξ: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- ομοιως: ADV
Parallels
- Revelation 6:12-14 (structural): Sixth-seal vision: cosmic disturbances (sun darkened, moon like blood, stars fall) echo the trumpet's motif of heavenly bodies being struck and darkness as judgment.
- Joel 2:31 (allusion): Prophetic language about the sun turned to darkness and the moon to blood—background source for apocalyptic cosmic signs invoked in Revelation.
- Matthew 24:29 (verbal): Jesus' Olivet discourse: immediately after tribulation the sun will be darkened and stars will fall—a close verbal and thematic parallel to Revelation's heavenly portents.
- Isaiah 13:10 (verbal): Theophanic imagery—'the stars will not shine, the sun will be darkened'—uses similar vocabulary of celestial darkening as omen of divine judgment.
- Amos 8:9 (thematic): God's oracle to make 'the sun go down at noon' and darken the earth parallels the trumpet's motif of daylight and celestial normalcy being overturned as punishment.
Alternative generated candidates
- The fourth angel sounded, and a third of the sun was struck, and a third of the moon, and a third of the stars, so that a third of them was darkened; and a third of the day did not shine, and likewise the night.
- The fourth angel sounded his trumpet, and a third of the sun and a third of the moon and a third of the stars were struck, so that a third of them would be darkened and the day would not shine for a third of it, and likewise the night.
Rev.8.13 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Και: CONJ
- ειδον: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,pl
- και: CONJ
- ηκουσα: VERB,aor,act,ind,1,sg
- ενος: NUM,gen,sg,m
- αετου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- πετομενου: PART,pres,mid,gen,m,sg
- εν: PREP
- μεσουρανηματι: NOUN,dat,sg,n
- λεγοντος: PTCP,pres,act,gen,sg,m
- φωνη: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- μεγαλη·Ουαι: ADJ,nom,sg,f
- ουαι: INTJ
- ουαι: INTJ
- τους: ART,acc,pl,m
- κατοικουντας: VERB,pres,act,part,acc,pl,m
- επι: PREP
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- γης: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- εκ: PREP
- των: ART,gen,pl,m
- λοιπων: ADJ,gen,pl,nt
- φωνων: NOUN,gen,pl,f
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- σαλπιγγος: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- των: ART,gen,pl,m
- τριων: NUM,gen,pl
- αγγελων: NOUN,gen,pl,m
- των: ART,gen,pl,m
- μελλοντων: ADJ,gen,pl,n
- σαλπιζειν: VERB,pres,act,inf
Parallels
- Revelation 9:12 (structural): Explicitly continues the series announced in 8:13: “one woe is past; behold, two woes are coming,” linking 8:13’s proclamation of three impending woes to the trumpet judgments.
- Revelation 11:14 (structural): Declares “the second woe is past,” further marking the sequence of three woes first announced by the flying voice in 8:13 and structuring Revelation’s woe framework.
- Revelation 12:12 (thematic): Uses the same lament formula—“Woe to the earth and to the inhabitants of it”—echoing 8:13’s address to those who dwell on the earth and reinforcing the theme of earthly judgment.
- Revelation 14:6 (verbal): Another airborne proclamation (“an angel flying in midheaven”) who announces a message to earth; parallels the motif of a messenger in the sky proclaiming an urgent warning or proclamation.
- Ezekiel 17:3-4 (allusion): Imagery of a great eagle as a herald of political/judicial action; likely background for the figure of an eagle flying in the heavens announcing doom in 8:13.
Alternative generated candidates
- I looked, and I heard an eagle flying high in midheaven, saying with a loud voice, "Woe, woe, woe to those who dwell on the earth, because of the remaining blasts of the trumpet-sounds that the three angels are about to sound!"
- Then I looked, and I heard an eagle flying in midheaven, crying with a loud voice, "Woe, woe, woe to those who dwell on the earth, because of the remaining blasts of the trumpet blasts of the three angels who are about to sound!"
Rev.9.1 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Και: CONJ
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- πεμπτος: ADJ,nom,sg,m
- αγγελος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- εσαλπισεν·και: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- ειδον: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,pl
- αστερα: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- εκ: PREP
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- ουρανου: NOUN,gen,sg,masc
- πεπτωκοτα: PART,perf,act,acc,sg,m
- εις: PREP
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- γην: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- και: CONJ
- εδοθη: VERB,aor,pass,ind,3,sg
- αυτω: PRON,dat,sg,m
- η: ART,nom,sg,f
- κλεις: NOUN,acc,pl,f
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- φρεατος: NOUN,gen,sg,n
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- αβυσσου·: NOUN,gen,sg,f
Parallels
- Rev.20.1 (verbal): An angel comes down from heaven holding the key of the Abyss—almost identical imagery: heavenly being given authority/possession of the Abyss.
- Rev.1.20 (verbal): Interprets the 'stars' as angels (the seven stars are the angels of the churches), supporting reading of the fallen 'star' in Rev 9:1 as an angelic figure.
- Isa.14.12 (allusion): The 'falling star' motif (O morning star, how you have fallen from heaven) evokes a heavenly being cast down—parallel imagery to a star fallen to earth in Revelation.
- Luke 10.18 (thematic): Jesus' report 'I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven' parallels the theme of heavenly beings falling and links the fallen-star image with demonic or satanic collapse.
- Luke 8.31 (thematic): Demons plead not to be sent into the Abyss—this connects the Abyss as the place of demonic confinement with Rev 9:1's grant of the Abyss' key and the release/control of demonic forces.
Alternative generated candidates
- The fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star that had fallen from heaven to the earth; and to him was given the key of the shaft of the abyss.
- The fifth angel sounded his trumpet, and I saw a star fall from heaven to the earth; to him was given the key of the shaft of the abyss.
Rev.9.2 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- ηνοιξεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- φρεαρ: NOUN,acc,sg,n
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- αβυσσου: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- και: CONJ
- ανεβη: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- καπνος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- εκ: PREP
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- φρεατος: NOUN,gen,sg,n
- ως: ADV
- καπνος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- καμινου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- μεγαλης: ADJ,gen,sg,f
- και: CONJ
- εσκοτωθη: VERB,aor,pass,ind,3,sg
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- ηλιος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- αηρ: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- εκ: PREP
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- καπνου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- φρεατος: NOUN,gen,sg,n
Parallels
- Revelation 9:1 (structural): Immediate narrative context: v.1 introduces the fallen star given the key to the abyss; v.2 continues directly with the opening of the abyss and the rising smoke.
- Revelation 8:12 (thematic): Earlier trumpet judgment also features cosmic darkening (sun, moon, stars); Rev 9:2 echoes the motif of heavenly bodies being obscured during divine calamity.
- Isaiah 34:9-10 (allusion): Describes perpetual smoke and burning of a pit (often translated 'its smoke shall go up forever'), paralleling the image of smoke rising from a consuming abyss that darkens the light.
- Joel 2:30 (thematic): Speaks of wonders including 'blood and fire and pillars of smoke' as cosmic signs—similar language and imagery linking smoke, fire, and apocalyptic darkness.
- Revelation 14:11 (verbal): Uses the phrase 'the smoke of their torment' ascending forever; echoes the technical imagery of smoke from an underworld source associated with torment and darkness in Rev 9:2.
Alternative generated candidates
- He opened the shaft of the abyss, and smoke rose out of the shaft like the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by the smoke from the shaft.
- He opened the shaft of the abyss, and smoke arose out of the shaft like the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by the smoke from the shaft.
Rev.9.3 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- εκ: PREP
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- καπνου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- εξηλθον: VERB,aor,act,ind,1,sg
- ακριδες: NOUN,nom,pl,f
- εις: PREP
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- γην: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- και: CONJ
- εδοθη: VERB,aor,pass,ind,3,sg
- αυταις: PRON,dat,pl,f
- εξουσια: NOUN,dat,sg,f
- ως: ADV
- εχουσιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,pl
- εξουσιαν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- οι: ART,nom,pl,m
- σκορπιοι: NOUN,nom,pl,m
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- γης: NOUN,gen,sg,f
Parallels
- Rev.9.2 (structural): Immediately preceding context: smoke rising from the Abyss out of which the locusts come, linking the origin of the locusts to the abyssal smoke described in 9:2.
- Rev.9.10 (verbal): Continues the same scene: these locusts are described as having tails like scorpions with stings and a power to hurt, directly expanding the scorpion imagery and their destructive authority.
- Joel 2:4-5 (allusion): Joel’s prophetic locust plague functions as a divine agent of judgment; Revelation’s locusts allude to Joel’s imagery of overwhelming, warlike locusts as instruments of God’s wrath.
- Exodus 10:12-15 (thematic): The Egyptian plague of locusts presents locusts as a sent calamity on the land, paralleling Revelation’s use of locusts as a punitive, judgmental force.
- Luke 10:19 (allusion): Jesus’ grant of authority over ‘serpents and scorpions’ echoes the motif of power related to scorpions, connecting the image of scorpion-like power/authority in Revelation to broader biblical symbolism of dominion and harm.
Alternative generated candidates
- Out of the smoke came locusts upon the earth, and power was given them, as the scorpions of the earth have power.
- Then out of the smoke came locusts upon the earth, and they were given power like the power of scorpions of the earth.
Rev.9.4 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- ερρεθη: VERB,aor,pass,ind,3,sg
- αυταις: PRON,dat,pl,f
- ινα: CONJ
- μη: PART
- αδικησουσιν: VERB,fut,act,ind,3,pl
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- χορτον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- γης: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- ουδε: CONJ,neg
- παν: ADJ,nom,sg,n
- χλωρον: ADJ,acc,sg,n
- ουδε: CONJ,neg
- παν: ADJ,nom,sg,n
- δενδρον: NOUN,nom,sg,n
- ει: VERB,pres,act,ind,2,sg
- μη: PART
- τους: ART,acc,pl,m
- ανθρωπους: NOUN,acc,pl,m
- οιτινες: PRO,rel,nom,pl,m
- ουκ: PART,neg
- εχουσι: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,pl
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- σφραγιδα: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- θεου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- επι: PREP
- των: ART,gen,pl,m
- μετωπων: NOUN,gen,pl,n
Parallels
- Rev.7.3 (quotation): Directly parallels the command to refrain from harming the earth until God's servants are sealed on their foreheads; almost identical language and context (delay of judgment until sealing).
- Ezek.9.4 (allusion): God commands a mark to be set on the foreheads of the righteous to spare them from coming judgment — an Old Testament precedent for a protective mark on the brow.
- Exod.12.13 (thematic): The Passover blood as a sign that causes God to 'pass over' houses parallels the idea of a distinguishing sign (seal) that protects certain people from divine punishment.
- Rev.14.1 (verbal): Depicts the 144,000 with the Father's name written on their foreheads, developing the same motif of God’s identifying seal on the brow of the saved.
- Rev.13.16-17 (thematic): The beast’s mark on right hand or forehead contrasts with God’s seal in Revelation 9:4, setting up a theological antithesis between those marked by God and those marked by the beast.
Alternative generated candidates
- They were told not to harm the grass of the earth, nor any green thing, nor any tree, but only those men who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads.
- They were told not to harm the grass of the earth or any green thing or any tree, but only those men who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads.
Rev.9.5 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- εδοθη: VERB,aor,pass,ind,3,sg
- αυτοις: PRO,dat,pl,3
- ινα: CONJ
- μη: PART
- αποκτεινωσιν: VERB,aor,act,subj,3,pl
- αυτους: PRON,acc,pl,m
- αλλ᾽ινα: CONJ
- βασανισθησονται: VERB,fut,pass,ind,3,pl
- μηνας: NOUN,acc,pl,m
- πεντε·και: NUM,card
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- βασανισμος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- αυτων: PRON,gen,pl,m
- ως: ADV
- βασανισμος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- σκορπιου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- οταν: CONJ
- παιση: VERB,aor,act,subj,3,sg
- ανθρωπον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
Parallels
- Joel 2:1-11 (allusion): Revelation borrows the Old Testament locust-army imagery of Joel (swarming, terror, devastation); the locust motif and its function as divine judgment echo Joel's description.
- Exodus 10:12-15 (thematic): The plague of locusts in Exodus parallels the idea of swarming creatures sent as judgment that ravage the land and cause severe harm without direct targeting of human life in the same way Revelation restricts killing.
- Numbers 21:6-9 (thematic): The sending of venomous serpents that bite and painfully afflict the people is a related motif: divine agents inflicting bodily torment by sting/bite, though Numbers records lethal effects while Revelation limits killing.
- Revelation 9:3-4, 9-11 (verbal): Immediate literary parallels within the same vision: verses 3–4 introduce the locust-like beings and the command not to kill, verses 9–11 describe tails like scorpions and the leader (Abaddon/Apollyon), all closely tied to 9:5's five-month torment and scorpion-sting simile.
Alternative generated candidates
- They were permitted not to kill them, but to torment them for five months; and their torment was like the torment of a scorpion when it stings a man.
- They were allowed not to kill them but to torment them for five months; and their torment was like the torment of a scorpion when it strikes a man.
Rev.9.6 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- εν: PREP
- ταις: ART,dat,pl,f
- ημεραις: NOUN,dat,pl,f
- εκειναις: DEM,dat,pl,f
- ζητησουσιν: VERB,fut,act,ind,3,pl
- οι: ART,nom,pl,m
- ανθρωποι: NOUN,nom,pl,m
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- θανατον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- ου: PART,neg
- μη: PART
- ευρησουσιν: VERB,fut,act,ind,3,pl
- αυτον: PRON,acc,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- επιθυμησουσιν: VERB,fut,act,ind,3,pl
- αποθανειν: VERB,aor,act,inf
- και: CONJ
- φευγει: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- θανατος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- απ᾽αυτων: PREP+PRON,gen,pl,3
Parallels
- Revelation 9:5 (structural): Immediate literary context: the angels are given power not to kill but to torment for five months, which directly explains why people will seek death and not find it (verse 9:6).
- Revelation 9:10 (thematic): Continues the chapter's depiction of prolonged, agonizing torment (scorpion-like stings), providing the graphic suffering that produces the desperate desire for death described in 9:6.
- Jeremiah 8:3 (thematic): States that 'death shall be chosen rather than life' by the remnant—an Old Testament parallel expressing the preference for death over continued suffering or judgment, echoing the sentiment of Rev 9:6.
- Job 3:11–12 (thematic): Job laments that he was not allowed to die at birth or at the time of coming from the womb—an earlier biblical expression of longing for death amid unbearable misery, paralleling the desire in Rev 9:6.
- Ecclesiastes 4:2–3 (thematic): The writer observes that the dead are 'better than the living' in certain circumstances, reflecting a perspective that values death over painful life, which resonates with the people seeking death in Rev 9:6.
Alternative generated candidates
- In those days men will seek death and will not find it; they will long to die, and death will flee from them.
- In those days men will seek death and will not find it; they will long to die, and death will flee from them.
Rev.9.7 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Και: CONJ
- τα: ART,acc,pl,n
- ομοιωματα: NOUN,nom,pl,neut
- των: ART,gen,pl,m
- ακριδων: NOUN,gen,pl,fem
- ομοια: ADJ,nom,sg,f
- ιπποις: NOUN,dat,pl,masc
- ητοιμασμενοις: PART,perf,pass,dat,pl,masc
- εις: PREP
- πολεμον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- επι: PREP
- τας: ART,acc,pl,f
- κεφαλας: NOUN,acc,pl,f
- αυτων: PRON,gen,pl,m
- ως: ADV
- στεφανοι: NOUN,nom,pl,masc
- ομοιοι: ADJ,nom,pl,m
- χρυσω: NOUN,dat,sg,masc
- και: CONJ
- τα: ART,acc,pl,n
- προσωπα: NOUN,acc,pl,n
- αυτων: PRON,gen,pl,m
- ως: ADV
- προσωπα: NOUN,acc,pl,n
- ανθρωπων: NOUN,gen,pl,m
Parallels
- Joel 2:4 (allusion): Joel depicts invading locusts in military terms—their appearance compared to horses/warriors—an image echoed by Revelation's locusts 'like horses prepared for battle.'
- Ezekiel 1:10 (verbal): Ezekiel's living creatures are described as having 'the face of a man,' a striking verbal parallel to Revelation's note that the locusts' faces were like the faces of men.
- Revelation 6:2 (thematic): The motif of horses and warfare in Revelation (the rider on a white horse) resonates with the locusts being 'like horses prepared for battle,' linking apocalyptic war imagery across the book.
- Revelation 4:4 (verbal): Revelation elsewhere uses 'crowns of gold' (the twenty-four elders); the locusts' 'crowns like gold' echoes this imagery of crowned beings and symbolic authority.
Alternative generated candidates
- The locusts were like horses prepared for battle; on their heads they wore crowns like gold, and their faces were like the faces of men.
- The appearance of the locusts was like horses prepared for battle; on their heads were crowns like gold, and their faces were like the faces of men.
Rev.9.8 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- ειχον: VERB,impf,act,ind,3,pl
- τριχας: NOUN,acc,pl,f
- ως: ADV
- τριχας: NOUN,acc,pl,f
- γυναικων: NOUN,gen,pl,f
- και: CONJ
- οι: ART,nom,pl,m
- οδοντες: NOUN,nom,pl,m
- αυτων: PRON,gen,pl,m
- ως: ADV
- λεοντων: NOUN,gen,pl,m
- ησαν: VERB,impf,act,ind,3,pl
Parallels
- Joel 2:4 (thematic): Uses locust/army imagery (appearance like horses, warlike swarms) that parallels Revelation's apocalyptic locust-figures and their martial descriptions.
- Joel 1:6 (verbal): Speaks of a invading force whose 'teeth are the teeth of a lion,' a close verbal/thematic parallel to Rev 9:8's 'teeth were as lions' teeth.'
- Daniel 7:7 (thematic): Beast imagery stresses terrifying, devouring teeth (e.g., the fourth beast's iron teeth), paralleling the ferocious, lion-like teeth motif in Revelation.
- Revelation 9:7 (structural): Immediate contextual parallel within the same vision—Rev 9:7 lists other striking features of the same locust-like creatures (faces of men, horses, breastplates) that connect directly to the hair/teeth similes of 9:8.
- Exodus 10:12-15 (thematic): The OT locust plague account emphasizes consuming, devastating swarms—background tradition for interpreting Revelation's locust imagery and their destructive, 'devouring' characteristics.
Alternative generated candidates
- They had hair like the hair of women, and their teeth were like the teeth of lions.
- They had hair like the hair of women, and their teeth were like the teeth of lions.
Rev.9.9 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- ειχον: VERB,impf,act,ind,3,pl
- θωρακας: NOUN,acc,pl,m
- ως: ADV
- θωρακας: NOUN,acc,pl,m
- σιδηρους: NOUN,acc,pl,m
- και: CONJ
- η: ART,nom,sg,f
- φωνη: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- των: ART,gen,pl,m
- πτερυγων: NOUN,gen,pl,f
- αυτων: PRON,gen,pl,m
- ως: ADV
- φωνη: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- αρματων: NOUN,gen,pl,n
- ιππων: NOUN,gen,pl,m
- πολλων: ADJ,gen,pl,m
- τρεχοντων: VERB,pres,act,part,gen,pl,m
- εις: PREP
- πολεμον·: NOUN,acc,sg,m
Parallels
- Joel 2:4-5 (thematic): Joel describes a locust/army imagery likened to horsemen and warriors — locusts pictured as a cavalry-like invading force, paralleling Revelation’s locusts with horselike/warrior associations.
- Zechariah 6:1-5 (thematic): Visions of chariots and horses emerging between mountains — echoes the chariot/horse warfare imagery and apocalyptic procession found in Revelation 9:9.
- Ezekiel 10:5 (verbal): The sound of the cherubim’s wings is compared to the voice of the Almighty; similarly Revelation likens the sound of wings to the thunderous noise of many chariots and horses (a shared wing‑sound = great voice motif).
- Nahum 2:4-5 (thematic): Describes chariots and horses raging and running like lightning in battle; parallels Revelation’s simile of horses/chariots running to war and the martial, fast‑moving imagery.
Alternative generated candidates
- They had breastplates like breastplates of iron; the sound of their wings was like the sound of chariots with many horses rushing to battle.
- They had breastplates like breastplates of iron, and the sound of their wings was like the sound of many chariots rushing to battle.
Rev.9.10 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- εχουσιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,pl
- ουρας: NOUN,acc,pl,f
- ομοιας: ADJ,acc,pl,f
- σκορπιοις: NOUN,dat,pl,m
- και: CONJ
- κεντρα: NOUN,acc,pl,n
- και: CONJ
- εν: PREP
- ταις: ART,dat,pl,f
- ουραις: NOUN,dat,pl,f
- αυτων: PRON,gen,pl,m
- η: ART,nom,sg,f
- εξουσια: NOUN,dat,sg,f
- αυτων: PRON,gen,pl,m
- αδικησαι: VERB,aor,act,inf
- τους: ART,acc,pl,m
- ανθρωπους: NOUN,acc,pl,m
- μηνας: NOUN,acc,pl,m
- πεντε: NUM,acc,pl,m
Parallels
- Revelation 9:3-5 (verbal): Immediate context: the same locust-like creatures are described, including their emergence from the smoke and their appointed power to torment men for five months (direct continuation of v.10).
- Revelation 9:7-9 (verbal): Further graphic description of the same locust-beings (faces like men, hair like women, teeth like lions, tails with stings) — parallels the ‘tails like scorpions’ and stinging power in v.10.
- Joel 2:1-11 (esp. v.4) (thematic): Joel’s prophetic locust/army imagery (e.g., ‘their appearance is like horses’) provides the Old Testament background for apocalyptic locust-figures used in Rev 9; both portray devastating, organized swarms as divine judgment.
- Exodus 10:12-15 (thematic): The plague of locusts in Egypt (devouring the land) is an earlier biblical instance of destructive locust imagery and echoes Revelation’s use of locust-figures as instruments of judgment.
- Luke 10:19 (allusion): Jesus’ grant of authority ‘to tread on serpents and scorpions’ links scorpions with demonic power; Rev 9’s scorpion-like tails and stings echo that association of scorpions with harmful/demonic agency.
Alternative generated candidates
- They had tails like scorpions, and stings in their tails; their power was to hurt men for five months.
- They had tails like scorpions, and stings in their tails; their power was to hurt men for five months.
Rev.9.11 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- εχουσιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,pl
- επ᾽αυτων: PREP+PRON,gen,pl
- βασιλεα: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- αγγελον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- αβυσσου·ονομα: NOUN,gen,sg,f+NOUN,nom,sg,n
- αυτω: PRON,dat,sg,m
- Εβραιστι: ADV
- Αβαδδων: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- εν: PREP
- τη: ART,dat,sg,f
- Ελληνικη: ADJ,dat,sg,f
- ονομα: NOUN,acc,sg,n
- εχει: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- Απολλυων: NOUN,nom,sg,m
Parallels
- Job 26:6 (verbal): Hebrew uses the name אֲבַדּוֹן (Abaddon) in close association with Sheol—same term rendered in Revelation 9:11.
- Job 28:22 (verbal): Uses the word translated 'destruction/Abaddon,' reflecting the OT usage of Abaddon as a realm or force of ruin.
- Proverbs 15:11 (verbal): States that Sheol and Abaddon are before the LORD, paralleling Revelation’s personification/name Abaddon for the abyssal power.
- Psalm 88:11 (verbal): Uses the term often translated 'Abaddon' or 'land of forgetfulness,' echoing the apocalyptic imagery of destructive depth found in Rev 9:11.
- 2 Thessalonians 2:3 (verbal): Refers to the 'son of perdition' (Greek apoleia/apollumi root); lexically and thematically related to Revelation’s Greek name Apollyon ('the Destroyer').
Alternative generated candidates
- They have a king over them, the angel of the abyss; his name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in Greek he is called Apollyon.
- They had as king over them the angel of the abyss; in Hebrew his name is Abaddon, and in Greek he is called Apollyon.
Rev.9.12 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Η: ART,nom,sg,fem
- ουαι: INTJ
- η: ART,nom,sg,f
- μια: NUM,nom,sg,f
- απηλθεν·ιδου: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg+INTJ
- ερχεται: VERB,pres,mid,ind,3,sg
- ετι: ADV
- δυο: NUM,acc,pl,m
- ουαι: INTJ
- μετα: PREP
- ταυτα: PRON,acc,pl,n
Parallels
- Rev.11.14 (verbal): Almost identical formula announcing the sequence of woes: 'The second woe is past; behold, the third woe cometh quickly,' continuing the same triadic woe structure as 9:12.
- Rev.8.13 (structural): An earlier announcement (an eagle's cry) that three woes will follow the trumpet judgments; provides the structural framework for 9:12's enumeration of the first of those woes.
- Rev.12.12 (thematic): Uses a woe-formula ('Woe to the inhabiters of the earth') within the cosmic conflict motif—thematically linked to Revelation's pronouncements of impending divine judgment expressed as 'woe.'
- Matt.23.13 (thematic): Jesus' pronouncements 'Woe to you...' function as prophetic/judicial pronouncements of coming judgment; thematically parallels Revelation's use of 'woe' as a formulaic declaration of impending doom.
Alternative generated candidates
- The first woe is past; behold, two woes are still to come after these things.
- The first woe has passed; behold, two woes are still coming after these things.
Rev.9.13 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Και: CONJ
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- εκτος: ADJ,nom,sg,m
- αγγελος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- εσαλπισεν·και: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- ηκουσα: VERB,aor,act,ind,1,sg
- φωνην: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- μιαν: NUM,acc,sg,f
- εκ: PREP
- των: ART,gen,pl,m
- κερατων: NOUN,gen,pl,n
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- θυσιαστηριου: NOUN,gen,sg,n
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- χρυσου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- ενωπιον: PREP
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- θεου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
Parallels
- Revelation 8:3 (structural): Also locates a golden censer/altar before God and an angelic presence—same cultic/heavenly sanctuary setting as Rev 9:13.
- Revelation 6:9 (thematic): Mentions souls 'under the altar' crying out; both passages use the altar as the locus of voices/prayers directed to God.
- Exodus 27:2 (verbal): Describes the altar's horns in the tabernacle/temple tradition—background for the phrase 'horns of the altar' in Rev 9:13.
- Leviticus 4:7 (verbal): Prescribes touching/placing blood on the horns of the altar in sacrificial ritual, showing the cultic significance of the altar-horns evoked in Revelation.
Alternative generated candidates
- The sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar before God,
- The sixth angel sounded his trumpet, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar that is before God,
Rev.9.14 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- λεγοντα: VERB,pres,act,ptc,acc,pl,m
- τω: ART,dat,sg,m
- εκτω: NUM,ord,dat,sg,m
- αγγελω: NOUN,dat,sg,m
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- εχων: VERB,pres,act,ptc,nom,sg,m
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- σαλπιγγα·Λυσον: NOUN,acc,sg,f + VERB,aor,act,imp,2,sg
- τους: ART,acc,pl,m
- τεσσαρας: NUM,card
- αγγελους: NOUN,acc,pl,m
- τους: ART,acc,pl,m
- δεδεμενους: VERB,perf,pass,part,masc,acc,pl
- επι: PREP
- τω: ART,dat,sg,m
- ποταμω: NOUN,dat,sg,m
- τω: ART,dat,sg,m
- μεγαλω: ADJ,dat,sg,m
- Ευφρατη: NOUN,dat,sg,m
Parallels
- Revelation 7:1 (thematic): Four angels restrained to hold back destructive winds until God’s servants are sealed—parallels the motif of angels being held back until a divinely appointed moment.
- Revelation 8:2 (verbal): Introduction of the seven angels with trumpets provides the immediate liturgical/trumpet context for the trumpet-bearing angel in Rev 9:14.
- Revelation 9:15 (structural): Immediate continuation of 9:14—records the command and the release of the four angels bound at the Euphrates (direct narrative parallel).
- Revelation 16:12 (thematic): The great river Euphrates figures again in eschatological action (being dried up) to prepare the way for the kings of the east—shows the river’s symbolic role in Revelation’s climax.
- Isaiah 11:15 (allusion): Prophetic imagery of God acting upon the Euphrates (striking/dividing the river) resonates with Revelation’s use of the Euphrates as a locus of divine/eschatological intervention.
Alternative generated candidates
- saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, "Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates."
- saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, "Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates."
Rev.9.15 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- ελυθησαν: VERB,aor,pass,ind,3,pl
- οι: ART,nom,pl,m
- τεσσαρες: NUM,card
- αγγελοι: NOUN,nom,pl,m
- οι: ART,nom,pl,m
- ητοιμασμενοι: PART,perf,pass,nom,pl,m
- εις: PREP
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- ωραν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- και: CONJ
- ημεραν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- και: CONJ
- μηνα: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- ενιαυτον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- ινα: CONJ
- αποκτεινωσιν: VERB,aor,act,subj,3,pl
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- τριτον: NUM,acc,sg,n
- των: ART,gen,pl,m
- ανθρωπων: NOUN,gen,pl,m
Parallels
- Rev.8:7-12 (structural): Continues the trumpet-judgment pattern where each trumpet brings disaster affecting 'a third' of creation (earth, sea, living creatures, heavenly bodies), paralleling 9:15's killing of a third of mankind.
- Rev.7:1-3 (allusion): Also features four angels at the earth's quarters held back until a divinely appointed moment; 9:15 reverses the restraint motif as four angels are released to execute judgment.
- Rev.17:12 (verbal): Speaks of ten kings who 'receive authority for one hour with the beast'—a similar motif of a precisely limited, appointed time (hour) for action, echoing 9:15's 'hour and day and month and year.'
- Rev.3:10 (thematic): Uses 'the hour of trial' language about an appointed time of testing; thematically related to 9:15's emphasis on a divinely scheduled moment for judgment.
Alternative generated candidates
- And the four angels who had been prepared for the hour and day and month and year were released, in order to kill a third of mankind.
- And the four angels, who had been prepared for the hour and day and month and year, were released to kill a third of mankind.
Rev.9.16 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- αριθμος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- των: ART,gen,pl,m
- στρατευματων: NOUN,gen,pl,n
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- ιππικου: NOUN,gen,sg,n
- δισμυριαδες: NOUN,nom,pl,f
- μυριαδων·ηκουσα: NOUN,gen,pl,f; VERB,aor,act,ind,1,sg
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- αριθμον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- αυτων: PRON,gen,pl,m
Parallels
- Daniel 7:10 (verbal): Uses the same numeric imagery—'thousand thousands' / 'ten thousand times ten thousand'—as a formula for innumerable multitudes before the divine throne, paralleling Revelation's large numeric expression.
- Revelation 5:11 (verbal): Speaks of 'myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands' of heavenly beings; echoes the same superlative numeric language to denote vast hosts, providing an internal conceptual parallel.
- Joel 2:2 (thematic): Describes an unstoppable, innumerable army (often likened to locusts) sweeping across the land; Revelation 9 employs similar imagery of an overwhelming military-like swarm.
- Revelation 9:3 (structural): Earlier verse in the same vision identifies the creatures as locust-like beings and introduces the cavalry/host motif; 9:16 then gives the precise (and startling) number of that host, making a direct structural link.
- Revelation 19:14 (thematic): Depicts large mounted forces—the 'armies of heaven' following Christ on white horses—paralleling the motif of vast horsemen/armies in Revelation 9 and the theme of cosmic cavalry.
Alternative generated candidates
- The number of the mounted troops was twice ten thousand times ten thousand; I heard their number: two hundred million.
- The number of the mounted troops was twice ten thousand times ten thousand; I heard their number.
Rev.9.17 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- ουτως: ADV
- ειδον: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,pl
- τους: ART,acc,pl,m
- ιππους: NOUN,acc,pl,m
- εν: PREP
- τη: ART,dat,sg,f
- ορασει: NOUN,dat,sg,f
- και: CONJ
- τους: ART,acc,pl,m
- καθημενους: VERB,pres,mid,ptc,acc,m,pl
- επ᾽αυτων: PREP+PRON,gen,pl,3
- εχοντας: VERB,pres,act,ptc,acc,pl,m
- θωρακας: NOUN,acc,pl,m
- πυρινους: ADJ,acc,pl,m
- και: CONJ
- υακινθινους: ADJ,acc,pl,m
- και: CONJ
- θειωδεις·και: ADJ,acc,pl,m
- αι: ART,nom,pl,f
- κεφαλαι: NOUN,nom,pl,f
- των: ART,gen,pl,m
- ιππων: NOUN,gen,pl,m
- ως: ADV
- κεφαλαι: NOUN,nom,pl,f
- λεοντων: NOUN,gen,pl,m
- και: CONJ
- εκ: PREP
- των: ART,gen,pl,m
- στοματων: NOUN,gen,pl,n
- αυτων: PRON,gen,pl,m
- εκπορευεται: VERB,pres,mp,ind,3,sg
- πυρ: NOUN,acc,sg,n
- και: CONJ
- καπνος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- θειον: NOUN,acc,sg,n
Parallels
- Revelation 19:15 (verbal): Both images depict destructive forces issuing from a mouth: Rev 9:17 has fire, smoke, and sulfur coming from mouths of the horses; Rev 19:15 reads of a sharp sword coming from the rider's mouth—shared motif of weaponized oracular/fiery utterance.
- Ezekiel 1:10 (verbal): Ezekiel’s living creatures are described as having faces of a lion; Rev 9:17’s horses have heads like lions, echoing ancient prophetological bestiary imagery to convey ferocity and royal predation.
- Joel 2:4-11 (thematic): Joel portrays an advancing army (often read as locusts) 'whose appearance is like horses' with the noise of chariots, and imagery of fire and smoke—paralleling Revelation’s martial, horse‑like locust/horse vision and volcanic destructive language.
- Zechariah 6:1-8 (structural): Zechariah’s four chariots with horses of various colors (and their identification as ‘spirits’/agents) parallels Revelation’s multicolored/burnished horse imagery and the use of colored symbolism (e.g., hyacinth, fiery) to mark cosmic agents.
- Revelation 6:3-4 (thematic): The earlier Revelation horses (the four horsemen) establish the motif of horses and riders as instruments of divine judgment; Rev 9:17 continues and intensifies that tradition with more overtly apocalyptic, fiery/sulfurous weaponry.
Alternative generated candidates
- In appearance the horses and those who sat on them had breastplates of fiery red, hyacinth blue, and sulfur yellow; and the heads of the horses were like lions' heads; out of their mouths came fire and smoke and brimstone.
- In appearance the horses were like horses of fire and hyacinth and brimstone; and the heads of the riders were like the heads of lions; and out of their mouths came fire and smoke and brimstone.
Rev.9.18 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- απο: PREP
- των: ART,gen,pl,m
- τριων: NUM,gen,pl
- πληγων: NOUN,gen,pl,f
- τουτων: PRON,gen,pl,m
- απεκτανθησαν: VERB,aor,pass,ind,3,pl
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- τριτον: NUM,acc,sg,n
- των: ART,gen,pl,m
- ανθρωπων: NOUN,gen,pl,m
- εκ: PREP
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- πυρος: NOUN,gen,sg,n
- και: CONJ
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- καπνου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- θειου: NOUN,gen,sg,n
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- εκπορευομενου: VERB,pres,mid,ptc,gen,sg,m
- εκ: PREP
- των: ART,gen,pl,m
- στοματων: NOUN,gen,pl,n
- αυτων: PRON,gen,pl,m
Parallels
- Genesis 19:24 (verbal): God rained 'fire and brimstone' on Sodom and Gomorrah—same striking phrase (fire and brimstone) and destructive imagery as Revelation's torment by 'fire... and brimstone'.
- Joel 2:3-5 (thematic): Joel's locust/army imagery emphasizes a consuming fire before and behind them ('fire devoureth before them'), thematically parallel to Revelation's locust-like forces whose activity is described with fire and devastation.
- Revelation 8:7 (structural): An earlier trumpet judgment describes one of the effects as destroying a third (a third of the earth/trees/grass), paralleling Revelation 9:18's numerical motif that 'a third of mankind' were killed—the recurring 'one third' measure in the series of judgments.
- Revelation 14:10–11 (verbal): Speaks of being tormented with 'fire and sulphur' and smoke of torment ascending—language and imagery of fire, sulfur/brimstone and smoke closely echo the Revelation 9 description of death by fire, smoke and brimstone.
Alternative generated candidates
- By these three plagues a third of mankind was killed: by the fire and the smoke and the brimstone that came out of their mouths.
- By these three plagues a third of mankind was killed—by the fire and the smoke and the brimstone that came out of their mouths.
Rev.9.19 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- η: ART,nom,sg,f
- γαρ: PART
- εξουσια: NOUN,dat,sg,f
- των: ART,gen,pl,m
- ιππων: NOUN,gen,pl,m
- εν: PREP
- τω: ART,dat,sg,m
- στοματι: NOUN,dat,sg,n
- αυτων: PRON,gen,pl,m
- εστιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- και: CONJ
- εν: PREP
- ταις: ART,dat,pl,f
- ουραις: NOUN,dat,pl,f
- αυτων·αι: PRON,gen,pl,3+ART,nom,pl,f
- γαρ: PART
- ουραι: NOUN,nom,pl,f
- αυτων: PRON,gen,pl,m
- ομοιαι: ADJ,nom,pl,f
- οφεσιν: NOUN,acc,pl,m
- εχουσαι: VERB,pres,act,ptc,nom,pl,f
- κεφαλας: NOUN,acc,pl,f
- και: CONJ
- εν: PREP
- αυταις: PRON,dat,pl,f
- αδικουσιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,pl
Parallels
- Revelation 9:10 (verbal): Same episode of the demonic locusts — explicit mention of tails with stings/power to hurt; closely related wording and imagery about deadly tails.
- Joel 2:4 (thematic): Joel's locust-army imagery (swarming, horselike locusts that devastate the land) is a major Old Testament precedent for Revelation's locust-like creatures and their destructive mouths/tails.
- Psalm 140:3 (verbal): Speaks of enemies who 'sharpen their tongues like a serpent' and have venom under their lips — parallels the serpent/tongue imagery of speech and harm in Rev 9:19.
- Genesis 3:15 (allusion): The primal serpent motif (heads and enmity) underlies Revelation's serpent-like imagery; Rev 9:19’s grotesque detail (tails having heads) can be read as a perverse inversion/allusion to the proto-serpent motif of Genesis.
Alternative generated candidates
- For the power of the horses is in their mouths and in their tails; for their tails are like serpents and have heads, and with them they do harm.
- For the power of the horses is in their mouths and in their tails; for their tails are like serpents and have heads, and by them they do harm.
Rev.9.20 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Και: CONJ
- οι: ART,nom,pl,m
- λοιποι: ADJ,nom,pl,m
- των: ART,gen,pl,m
- ανθρωπων: NOUN,gen,pl,m
- οι: ART,nom,pl,m
- ουκ: PART,neg
- απεκτανθησαν: VERB,aor,pas,ind,3,pl
- εν: PREP
- ταις: ART,dat,pl,f
- πληγαις: NOUN,dat,pl,f
- ταυταις: DEM,dat,pl,f
- ουδε: CONJ,neg
- μετενοησαν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,pl
- εκ: PREP
- των: ART,gen,pl,m
- εργων: NOUN,gen,pl,n
- των: ART,gen,pl,m
- χειρων: NOUN,gen,pl,f
- αυτων: PRON,gen,pl,m
- ινα: CONJ
- μη: PART
- προσκυνησουσιν: VERB,fut,act,ind,3,pl
- τα: ART,acc,pl,n
- δαιμονια: NOUN,acc,pl,n
- και: CONJ
- τα: ART,acc,pl,n
- ειδωλα: NOUN,acc,pl,n
- τα: ART,acc,pl,n
- χρυσα: ADJ,acc,pl,n
- και: CONJ
- τα: ART,acc,pl,n
- αργυρα: ADJ,acc,pl,n
- και: CONJ
- τα: ART,acc,pl,n
- χαλκα: NOUN,acc,pl,n
- και: CONJ
- τα: ART,acc,pl,n
- λιθινα: ADJ,acc,pl,n
- και: CONJ
- τα: ART,acc,pl,n
- ξυλινα: ADJ,acc,pl,n
- α: PRON,nom,sg,n
- ουτε: CONJ
- βλεπειν: VERB,pres,act,inf
- δυνανται: VERB,pres,mid/pass,ind,3,pl
- ουτε: CONJ
- ακουειν: VERB,pres,act,inf
- ουτε: CONJ
- περιπατειν: VERB,pres,act,inf
Parallels
- Romans 1:22-25 (thematic): Describes humans who exchanged the glory of God for idols and worshiped created things—parallels Revelation’s note that people did not repent but continued to worship idols/demons made by human hands.
- Psalm 115:4-8 (verbal): Speaks of idols of silver and gold that have mouths but cannot speak, eyes but cannot see, ears but cannot hear—directly echoes Revelation’s catalogue of metal/stone/wood idols that cannot see, hear, or walk.
- Isaiah 44:9-20 (allusion): A sustained critique of idol-making and idol-worship: idols are works of men, futile and powerless, and their makers are foolish—thematically mirrors Revelation’s condemnation of worshipping lifeless images and demons.
- Revelation 16:9-11 (structural): Like 9:20, describes those struck by God’s plagues who nonetheless do not repent of their works or idolatries and who blaspheme—a parallel instance in Revelation emphasizing hardened refusal to repent.
Alternative generated candidates
- The rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands, so as not to worship demons and idols of gold and silver and bronze and stone and wood, which can neither see nor hear nor walk;
- The rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands; they did not cease worshiping demons and idols of gold and silver and bronze and stone and wood—idols that neither see nor hear nor walk.
Rev.9.21 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- ου: PART,neg
- μετενοησαν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,pl
- εκ: PREP
- των: ART,gen,pl,m
- φονων: NOUN,gen,pl,m
- αυτων: PRON,gen,pl,m
- ουτε: CONJ
- εκ: PREP
- των: ART,gen,pl,m
- φαρμακων: NOUN,gen,pl,n
- αυτων: PRON,gen,pl,m
- ουτε: CONJ
- εκ: PREP
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- πορνειας: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- αυτων: PRON,gen,pl,m
- ουτε: CONJ
- εκ: PREP
- των: ART,gen,pl,m
- κλεμματων: NOUN,gen,pl,n
- αυτων: PRON,gen,pl,m
Parallels
- Rev.9.20 (structural): Immediate context: the previous verse similarly states that the surviving people did not repent of their works, including worship of demons and the same catalog of sins—the line continues into 9:21.
- Rev.21:8 (verbal): A parallel catalogue of condemned sins in the new-creation judgment—explicitly names murderers, the sexually immoral, and sorcerers (pharmakeis), echoing the same categories.
- Rev.22:15 (verbal): Another final judgment list that places 'sorcerers,' 'sexually immoral,' and 'murderers' outside the city, closely matching the terms of 9:21.
- 1 Corinthians 6:9–10 (thematic): Paul's list of those excluded from God's kingdom includes 'sexually immoral' and 'thieves' (and 'murderers' in some manuscripts), reflecting the same moral indictments found in Revelation 9:21.
- Galatians 5:19–21 (thematic): Paul's 'works of the flesh' catalogue includes sexual immorality and sorcery (pharmakeia), paralleling two of the specific vices named in Revelation 9:21.
Alternative generated candidates
- nor did they repent of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their sexual immorality, nor of their thefts.
- Nor did they repent of their murders or sorceries or sexual immorality or thefts.
And the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to blow them.
The first blew his trumpet, and there followed hail and fire mixed with blood, and they were hurled upon the earth; and a third of the earth was burned up, and a third of the trees were burned up, and all green grass was burned up.
The second angel blew his trumpet, and something like a great mountain, burning with fire, was thrown into the sea; and a third of the sea became blood,
and a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed.
The third angel blew his trumpet, and a great star fell from heaven, burning like a lamp, and it fell on a third of the rivers and on the springs of waters.
The name of the star is Wormwood. A third of the waters became wormwood, and many people died from the waters because they were made bitter.
The fourth angel blew his trumpet, and a third of the sun was struck, and a third of the moon, and a third of the stars, so that a third of them was darkened, and a third of the day had no light, and likewise a third of the night.
Then I looked, and I heard an eagle flying in midheaven, crying with a loud voice, 'Woe, woe, woe to those who dwell on the earth, at the blasts of the remaining trumpets of the three angels who are about to sound!'
The fifth angel blew his trumpet, and I saw a star that had fallen from heaven to the earth; to him was given the key to the shaft of the abyss.
He opened the shaft of the abyss, and smoke went up from the pit like the smoke of a great furnace, and the sun and the air were darkened by the smoke from the pit.
Then from the smoke came locusts upon the earth, and to them was given power like the power of scorpions of the earth.
They were commanded not to harm the grass of the earth or any green thing or any tree, but only those people who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads.
They were permitted to torment them for five months, but not to kill them; their torment was like the torment of a scorpion when it stings a man.
In those days people will seek death and will not find it; they will long to die, and death will flee from them.
The appearance of the locusts was like horses prepared for battle; on their heads were crowns like gold; their faces were like the faces of men.
They had hair like women's hair, and their teeth were like lions' teeth.
They had breastplates like breastplates of iron, and the sound of their wings was like the sound of chariots with many horses rushing to battle.
They had tails like scorpions and stings, and in their tails was their power to hurt people for five months.
They had as king over them the angel of the abyss; his name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in Greek he is called Apollyon.
One woe is past; behold, two woes are still to come after these things.
The sixth angel blew his trumpet, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar that is before God,
saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, 'Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates.' And the four angels who had been prepared for the hour and day and month and year were released, to kill a third of mankind.
The number of the mounted troops was two myriads of myriads; I heard their number.
In appearance the horses were like fire and hyacinth and brimstone; and the riders wore breastplates of fire, hyacinth, and brimstone; and the heads of the horses were like lions' heads; and out of their mouths came fire and smoke and brimstone.
By these three plagues a third of mankind was killed: by the fire and the smoke and the brimstone that came from their mouths.
For the power of the horses is in their mouths and in their tails; for their tails are like serpents and have heads, and with them they do harm.
The rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands; they did not cease worshiping demons or the idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone, and wood—idols that cannot see or hear or walk;
and they did not repent of their murders or their sorceries, their sexual immorality, or their thefts.