Revelation 9:3

Revelation 9:3 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth: and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power.
• New International Version (NIV)And out of the smoke locusts came down on the earth and were given power like that of scorpions of the earth.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Then from the smoke came locusts on the earth, and they were given power like the power of scorpions of the earth.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Then out of the smoke locusts came upon the earth. And to them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power.

Context of Revelation 9:3

1The fifth angel blew his trumpet, and I saw a star that had fallen from heaven to earth. The key for the shaft to the abyss was given to him. 2He opened the shaft to the abyss, and smoke came up out of the shaft like smoke from a great furnace so that the sun and the air were darkened by the smoke from the shaft. Then locusts came out of the smoke on to the earth, and power was given to them like the power that scorpions have on the earth. 4They were told not to harm the grass of the earth, or any green plant, or any tree, but only those people who do not have God’s seal on their foreheads. 5They were not permitted to kill them but were to torment them for five months; their torment is like the torment caused by a scorpion when it stings someone.

Revelation 9:3 word by word

καὶ ἐκ τοῦ καπνοῦ ἐξῆλθον ἀκρίδες εἰς τὴν γῆν, καὶ ἐδόθη αὐταῖς ἐξουσία, ὡς ἔχουσιν ἐξουσίαν οἱ σκορπίοι τῆς γῆς.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Andκαίkai · andG2532
• there cameἐξέρχομαιexerchomai · to go outG1831
• outἐκek ex · out fromG1537
• of the smokeὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• of the smokeκαπνόςkapnos · smokeG2586
• locustsἀκρίςakris · locustG200
• uponεἰςeis · towardG1519
• the earthγῆgē · earth: planetG1093
• unto themαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• was givenδίδωμιdidōmi · to giveG1325
• powerἐξουσίαexousia · authorityG1849
• asὡςhōs · as/whenG5613
• the scorpionsσκορπίοςskorpios · scorpionG4651
• haveἔχωechō · to have/beG2192

Cross-references for Revelation 9:3

• Exodus 10:4But if you refuse to let my people go, then tomorrow I will bring locusts into your territory.
• Judges 7:12Now the Midianites, Amalekites, and all the people of the east had settled down in the valley like a swarm of locusts, and their camels were as innumerable as the sand on the seashore.
• Isaiah 33:4Your spoil will be gathered as locusts are gathered; people will swarm over it like an infestation of locusts.
• Joel 1:4What the devouring locust has left, the swarming locust has eaten; what the swarming locust has left, the young locust has eaten; and what the young locust has left, the destroying locust has eaten.
• Joel 2:25I will repay you for the years that the swarming locust ate, the young locust, the destroying locust, and the devouring locust — my great army that I sent against you.
• Nahum 3:15The fire will devour you there; the sword will cut you down. It will devour you like the young locust. Multiply yourselves like the young locust; multiply like the swarming locust!
• Revelation 9:5They were not permitted to kill them but were to torment them for five months; their torment is like the torment caused by a scorpion when it stings someone.
• Deuteronomy 8:15He led you through the great and terrible wilderness with its poisonous snakes and scorpions, a thirsty land where there was no water. He brought water out of the flint rock for you.
• 1 Kings 12:11Although my father burdened you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke; my father disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with barbed whips.’”
• Ezekiel 2:6“But you, son of man, do not be afraid of them and do not be afraid of their words, even though briers and thorns are beside you and you live among scorpions. Don’t be afraid of their words or discouraged by the look on their faces, for they are a rebellious house.
• Luke 10:19Look, I have given you the authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy; nothing at all will harm you.

Commentaries on Revelation 9:3

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 3Locusts - Vast hordes of military troops: the description which follows certainly agrees better with the Saracens than with any other people or nation, but may also apply to the Romans. As the scorpions of the earth have power - Namely, to hurt men by stinging them. Scorpions may signify archers; and hence the description has been applied to Cestius Gallus, the Roman general, who had many archers in his army.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 3And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth - That is, they escaped from the pit with the smoke. At first they were mingled with the smoke, so that they were not distinctly seen, but when the smoke cleared away they appeared in great numbers. The idea seems to be, that the bottomless pit was filled with vapor and with those creatures, and that as soon as the gate was opened the whole contents expanded and burst forth upon the earth. The sun was…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 3-4The locusts come down to earth from the smoke. They have the power to sting like scorpions. They are fiercer than those in the Egyptian plague (see Exodus 10:14–15). Instead of eating plants, these locusts attack people like stinging scorpions. Only people without the seal of God (see Revelation 7:1–8) experience this painful judgment. The stings cause painful torture but do not cause death (Revelation 9:5–6).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 33. upon--Greek, "unto," or "into." as the scorpions of the earth--as contrasted with the "locusts" which come up from hell, and are not "of the earth." have power--namely, to sting.Read the comment

Topics related to Revelation 9:3

• Locust
• Scorpion
• Trumpet
• Vision

In the dictionaries

• Abaddon
• Angel
• Locust
• Authority in Religion
• God
• Government
• Judges, Book of
• Revelation of John
• Scorpion

Commentaries on Revelation 9

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings