Revelation 9:19
in Revelation 9For the power of the horses was in their mouths and in their tails; indeed, their tails were like snakes, having heads with which to inflict harm.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
For the power of the horses is in their mouth, and in their tails: for their tails are like unto serpents, and have heads; and with them they hurt.
KJV
For their power is in their mouth, and in their tails: for their tails were like unto serpents, and had heads, and with them they do hurt.
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This verse in Revelation 9
Commentary
13 notes on this verseFor their tails are like serpents, etc. False teachers, like the ancient serpent who deceived man, supported by the patronage of rulers, harm more than if they persuaded only by speech. He sits, he says, in ambush with the rich (Ps. X).
This site's exposition
The riders had breastplates
on Revelation 9:17-19
The riders' breastplates the colors of fire, sapphire, and sulfur match the fire, smoke, and sulfur, which kill A third of mankind. Their tails were like snakes, having heads, so this cavalry, like the locusts, is a host beyond nature.
This site's exposition
their tails were like snakes
Wesley reads the power in the mouths and in the tails as riders who harm while they fight and while they turn back. Bede reads the tails like snakes as false teachers. With rulers behind them, they inflict more harm.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
Then the vision varies and exalts the power of the holy angels, warning against "lions" and "fire", "smoke" and divine beings and serpents, through all of which their terrible and incredible nature is signified.
A commentator
Caesarius of ArlesEXPOSITION ON THE APOCALYPSE 9:18-19, HOMILY 7 · Written before 542.
proposed
[The smoke, fire, and sulphur from their mouths] are the blasphemies that proceed from their mouths against God. "Their tails are like serpents." The leaders [of the heretics] we call "tails," and the rulers of the world we call "heads." It is through these that …
The Medieval Church3 voices
"The fire that proceeds with smoke and sulfur from their mouths," through which one third of humankind is killed, signifies those sins that consume the fruits of the heart by means of the poisonous assaults and instigations of the demons. Or the fire signifies the …
The power of the horses is in their mouths, and in their tails. By the mouth is represented the knowledge of teachers, and by the tail, which should be placed behind, temporal power. So their power is in their mouths and tails because their way …
For the power of the horses is in their mouths, and in their tails. That is, in speech and in action; for the prophet teaching lies, he is the tail. Who covers in a certain way the blind and unclean part with the volubility of …
5 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
For the power of these horses is in their mouths, and in their tails - Their riders fight retreating as well as advancing: so that their rear is as terrible as their front. For their tails are like serpents, having heads - Not like the tails of serpents only.
For their power is in their mouth,....
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
For their power is in their mouth - That is, as described in the fire, smoke, and brimstone that proceeded out of their mouths. What struck the seer as remarkable on looking on the symbol was, that this immense destruction seemed to proceed out of their mouths. It was not that they trampled down their enemies; nor that they destroyed them with the sword, the bow, or the spear: it was some new and remarkable power in warfare - in which the destruction seemed to proceed from fire, and smoke, and sulphur issuing from the mouths of the horses themselves.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
Mohammed, doubtless, is a forerunner of him, but not the exhaustive fulfiller of the prophecy here: Satan will, probably, towards the end, bring out all the powers of hell for the last conflict (see on Re 9:20, on "devils"; compare Re 9:1, 2, 17, 18). with them--with the serpent heads and their venomous fangs.
Their power is in their mouth - From these the destructive balls are projected; and in their tails, the breech where the charge of gunpowder is lodged. Their tails were like unto serpents, and had heads - If cannons are intended, the description, though allegorical, is plain enough; for brass ordnance especially are frequently thus ornamented, both at their muzzles and at their breech.
The words behind it
27 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ἡ | he | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| γὰρ | gar | for | G1063 → | 1039 times |
| ἐξουσία | exousia | power | G1849 → | 102 times |
| τῶν | ton | of the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἵππων | ippon | horses | G2462 → | 17 times |
| ἐν | en | in | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| τῷ | to | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| στόματι | stomati | mouths | G4750 → | 78 times |
| αὐτῶν | auton | of them | G846 → | 5565 times |
| ἐστιν | estin | are | G1510 → | 2333 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| ἐν | en | in | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| ταῖς | tais | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| οὐραῖς | ourais | tails | G3769 → | 5 times |
| αὐτῶν. | auton | of them. | G846 → | 5565 times |
| αἱ | hai | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| γὰρ | gar | for | G1063 → | 1039 times |
| οὐραὶ | ourai | tails | G3769 → | 5 times |
| αὐτῶν | auton | of them | G846 → | 5565 times |
| ὅμοιαι | homoiai | [are] like | G3664 → | 45 times |
| ὄφεσιν | ophesin | as serpents | G3789 → | 13 times |
| ἔχουσαι | echousai | having | G2192 → | 707 times |
| κεφαλὰς | kephalas | heads | G2776 → | 75 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| ἐν | en | with | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| αὐταῖς | autais | them | G846 → | 5565 times |
| ἀδικοῦσιν. | adikousin | they injure. | G91 → | 28 times |
ἡthe
heG3588 →19766 times
γὰρfor
garG1063 →1039 times
ἐξουσίαpower
exousiaG1849 →102 times
τῶνof the
tonG3588 →19766 times
ἵππωνhorses
ipponG2462 →17 times
ἐνin
enG1722 →2738 times
τῷthe
toG3588 →19766 times
στόματιmouths
stomatiG4750 →78 times
αὐτῶνof them
autonG846 →5565 times
ἐστινare
estinG1510 →2333 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
ἐνin
enG1722 →2738 times
ταῖςthe
taisG3588 →19766 times
οὐραῖςtails
ouraisG3769 →5 times
αὐτῶν.of them.
autonG846 →5565 times
αἱthe
haiG3588 →19766 times
γὰρfor
garG1063 →1039 times
οὐραὶtails
ouraiG3769 →5 times
αὐτῶνof them
autonG846 →5565 times
ὅμοιαι[are] like
homoiaiG3664 →45 times
ὄφεσινas serpents
ophesinG3789 →13 times
ἔχουσαιhaving
echousaiG2192 →707 times
κεφαλὰςheads
kephalasG2776 →75 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
ἐνwith
enG1722 →2738 times
αὐταῖςthem
autaisG846 →5565 times
ἀδικοῦσιν.they injure.
adikousinG91 →28 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Ephesians 4:14Then we will no longer be infants, tossed about by the waves and carried around by every wind of teaching and by the clever cunning of men in their deceitful scheming.
it leads to
- Hebrews 13:9
Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace and not by foods of no value to those devoted to…
- Romans 16:17–18
Now I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who create divisions and obstacles that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Turn away from them.
- 1 Corinthians 14:20
Brothers, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be mature.
- 1 John 4:1
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God. For many false prophets have gone out into the world.
- Hebrews 5:12–14
Although by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to reteach you the basic principles of God’s word. You need milk, not solid food!
- Hebrews 13:9
Through
Revelation 9:10They had tails with stingers like scorpions, which had the power to injure people for five months.
it leads to
- Revelation 9:5
The locusts were not given power to kill them, but only to torment them for five months, and their torment was like the stinging of a scorpion.
- Revelation 9:3
And out of the smoke, locusts descended on the earth, and they were given power like that of the scorpions of the earth.
- Revelation 9:5
Through
Isaiah 9:15The head is the elder and honorable man, and the tail is the prophet who teaches lies.
it leads to
- Matthew 24:24
For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders that would deceive even the elect, if that were possible.
- Matthew 24:24
Where this verse is studied
About Revelation
This page draws on 11 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Alcuin of York, COMMENTARY ON REVELATION; Andreas of Caesarea, COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 9:17-19; Bede, Commentary on Revelation; Caesarius of Arles, EXPOSITION ON THE APOCALYPSE 9:18-19, HOMILY 7; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Oecumenius, Commentary on Revelation.