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

1Then the fifth angel blew his trumpet, and I saw a star that had fallen from the sky to the earth, and he was given the key to the shaft of the abyss. 2He opened the shaft of the abyss and smoke rose out of it like smoke from a giant furnace. The sun and the air were darkened with smoke from the shaft. Then out of the smoke came locusts onto the earth, and they were given power like that of the scorpions of the earth. 4They were told not to damage the grass of the earth, or any green plant or tree, but only those people who did not have the seal of God on their forehead. 5The locusts were not given permission to kill them, but only to torture them for five months, and their torture was like that of a scorpion when it stings a person.

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 release my people, I am going to bring locusts into your territory tomorrow.
• Judges 7:12Now the Midianites, Amalekites, and the people from the east covered the valley like a swarm of locusts. Their camels could not be counted; they were as innumerable as the sand on the seashore.
• Isaiah 33:4Your plunder disappears as if locusts were eating it; they swarm over it like locusts!
• Joel 1:4What the gazam-locust left the ‘arbeh-locust consumed, what the ‘arbeh-locust left the yeleq-locust consumed, and what the yeleq-locust left the hasil-locust consumed!
• Joel 2:25I will make up for the years that the ‘arbeh-locust consumed your crops – the yeleq-locust, the hasil-locust, and the gazam-locust – my great army that I sent against you.
• Nahum 3:15There the fire will consume you; the sword will cut you down; it will devour you like the young locust would. Multiply yourself like the young locust; multiply yourself like the flying locust!
• Revelation 9:5The locusts were not given permission to kill them, but only to torture them for five months, and their torture was like that of a scorpion when it stings a person.
• Deuteronomy 8:15and who brought you through the great, fearful desert of venomous serpents and scorpions, an arid place with no water. He made water flow from a flint rock and
• 1 Kings 12:11My father imposed heavy demands on you; I will make them even heavier. My father punished you with ordinary whips; I will punish you with whips that really sting your flesh.’”
• Ezekiel 2:6But you, son of man, do not fear them, and do not fear their words – even though briers and thorns surround you and you live among scorpions – do not fear their words and do not be terrified of the looks they give you, for they are a rebellious house!
• Luke 10:19Look, I have given you authority to tread on snakes and scorpions and on the full force of the enemy, and 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