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 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

1Then the fifth angel sounded: And I saw a star fallen from heaven to the earth. To him was given the key to the bottomless pit. 2And he opened the bottomless pit, and smoke arose out of the pit like the smoke of a great furnace. So the sun and the air were darkened because of the smoke of the pit. Then out of the smoke locusts came upon the earth. And to them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power. 4They were commanded 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. 5And they were not given authority to kill them, but to torment them for five months. Their torment was like the torment of a scorpion when it strikes a man.

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 10:4Or else, if you refuse to let My people go, behold, tomorrow I will bring locusts into your territory.
• Judges 7:12Now the Midianites and Amalekites, all the people of the East, were lying in the valley as numerous as locusts; and their camels were without number, as the sand by the seashore in multitude.
• Isaiah 33:4And Your plunder shall be gathered Like the gathering of the caterpillar; As the running to and fro of locusts, He shall run upon them.
• Joel 1:4What the chewing locust left, the swarming locust has eaten; What the swarming locust left, the crawling locust has eaten; And what the crawling locust left, the consuming locust has eaten.
• Joel 2:25“So I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, The crawling locust, The consuming locust, And the chewing locust, My great army which I sent among you.
• Nahum 3:15There the fire will devour you, The sword will cut you off; It will eat you up like a locust. Make yourself many—like the locust! Make yourself many— like the swarming locusts!
• Revelation 9:5And they were not given authority to kill them, but to torment them for five months. Their torment was like the torment of a scorpion when it strikes a man.
• Deuteronomy 8:15who led you through that great and terrible wilderness, in which were fiery serpents and scorpions and thirsty land where there was no water; who brought water for you out of the flinty rock;
• 1 Kings 12:11And now, whereas my father put a heavy yoke on you, I will add to your yoke; my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scourges!’ ”
• Ezekiel 2:6“And you, son of man, do not be afraid of them nor be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns are with you and you dwell among scorpions; do not be afraid of their words or dismayed by their looks, though they are a rebellious house.
• Luke 10:19Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means 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