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.
• 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.
• New Living Translation (NLT)Then locusts came from the smoke and descended on the earth, and they were given power to sting like scorpions.

Context of Revelation 9:3

1And the fifth angel blew his trumpet, and I saw a star fallen from heaven to earth, and he was given the key to the shaft of the bottomless pit. 2He opened the shaft of the bottomless pit, and from the shaft rose smoke like the smoke of a great furnace, and the sun and the air were darkened with the smoke from the shaft. Then from the smoke came locusts on the earth, and they were given power like the power of scorpions of 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 the seal of God on their foreheads. 5They were allowed to torment them for five months, but not to kill them, and their torment was like the torment of 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 10:4For if you refuse to let my people go, behold, tomorrow I will bring locusts into your country,
• Judges 7:12And the Midianites and the Amalekites and all the people of the East lay along the valley like locusts in abundance, and their camels were without number, as the sand that is on the seashore in abundance.
• Isaiah 33:4and your spoil is gathered as the caterpillar gathers; as locusts leap, it is leapt upon.
• Joel 1:4What the cutting locust left, the swarming locust has eaten. What the swarming locust left, the hopping locust has eaten, and what the hopping locust left, the destroying locust has eaten.
• Joel 2:25I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the hopper, the destroyer, and the cutter, my great army, which I sent among you.
• Nahum 3:15There will the fire devour you; the sword will cut you off. It will devour you like the locust. Multiply yourselves like the locust; multiply like the grasshopper!
• Revelation 9:5They were allowed to torment them for five months, but not to kill them, and their torment was like the torment of a scorpion when it stings someone.
• Deuteronomy 8:15who led you through the great and terrifying wilderness, with its fiery serpents and scorpions and thirsty ground where there was no water, who brought you water out of the flinty rock,
• 1 Kings 12:11And now, whereas my father laid on you a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke. My father disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with scorpions.'"
• Ezekiel 2:6And you, son of man, be not afraid of them, nor be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns are with you and you sit on scorpions. Be not afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their looks, for they are a rebellious house.
• Luke 10:19Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt 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