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

1When the fifth angel blew his trumpet, I saw a star that had fallen to earth from the sky. The star was given the key to the shaft of the bottomless pit. 2It opened the shaft of the bottomless pit, and smoke came out of the shaft like the smoke from a large furnace. The smoke darkened the sun and the air. Locusts came out of the smoke onto the earth, and they were given power like the power of earthly scorpions. 4They were told not to harm any grass, green plant, or tree on the earth. They could harm only the people who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads. 5They were not allowed to kill them. They were only allowed to torture them for five months. Their torture was like the pain of a scorpion’s sting.

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 10:4If you refuse to let my people go, tomorrow I will bring locusts into your country.
• Judges 7:12Midian, Amalek, and all of Kedem were spread out in the valley like a swarm of locusts. There were so many camels that they could not be counted. They were as numerous as the grains of sand on the seashore.
• Isaiah 33:4You nations, your loot is gathered as grasshoppers harvest a crop. Like swarming locusts, people rush for your loot.
• Joel 1:4What young locusts leave, mature locusts will eat. What mature locusts leave, adult locusts will eat. What adult locusts leave, grasshoppers will eat.
• Joel 2:25“Then I will repay you for the years that the mature locusts, the adult locusts, the grasshoppers, and the young locusts ate your crops. (They are the large army that I sent against you.)
• Nahum 3:15Fire will consume you there. A sword will cut you down. It will consume you like locusts. Multiply like locusts! Multiply like hungry locusts!
• Revelation 9:5They were not allowed to kill them. They were only allowed to torture them for five months. Their torture was like the pain of a scorpion’s sting.
• Deuteronomy 8:15He was the one who led you through that vast and dangerous desert—a thirsty and arid land, with poisonous snakes and scorpions. He was the one who made water come out of solid rock for you.
• 1 Kings 12:11If my father put a heavy burden on you, I will add to it. If my father punished you with whips, I will punish you with scorpions.’ ”
• Ezekiel 2:6Son of man, don’t be afraid of them or the things they say. Don’t be afraid, even though thorns and thistles are around you and you live among scorpions. Don’t let the things they say frighten you. Don’t be terrified in their presence, even though they are rebellious people.
• Luke 10:19I have given you the authority to trample snakes and scorpions and to destroy the enemy’s power. Nothing will 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