Revelation 9:3
in Revelation 9And out of the smoke, locusts descended on the earth, and they were given power like that of the scorpions of the earth.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And out of the smoke came forth locusts upon the earth; and power was given them, as the scorpions of the earth have power.
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.
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This verse in Revelation 9
Commentary
13 notes on this verseA commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
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.
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This site's exposition
power, as the scorpions of the earth have power
on Revelation 9:3-4
Locusts come out of the smoke with power like earthly scorpions, and the text at once puts a leash on them, they are commanded not to touch the grass, any green thing, or any tree, an exact reversal of every ordinary locust plague, which strips vegetation bare, so the reader knows immediately these are not natural insects but instruments carrying a specific, targeted commission. Their sole permitted targets are men who do not have the seal of God in their foreheads, the same seal placed on the 144,000 in chapter 7, so the judgment passes over the sealed and falls only on the unsealed, a mercy built into the wrath.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers4 voices
In the locusts he signifies spiritual and adversarial powers that we see flying around in the air in the manner of locusts for the purpose of harming humankind.
Hand restore 2026-08-25 under the only-carrier rule from the silent-verse audit.
The "locusts" signify those who come forth from the smoke. For, like smoke, the heretics desire to rise high, since by their teachings they strive for positions of eminence, yet, again like smoke, they are dissipated. We read of this smoke, for in the person …
But the sun now shone out a little, and, lo! I see a mighty beast like a whale, and out of its mouth fiery locusts proceeded.
And from the smoke "locusts came out onto the earth". I believe the term "locusts" [ἀκρίδες] refers to worms, about which Isaiah says: "Their worm shall not die, and their fire shall not be quenched," (Isa. 66:24; Mark 9:48) possibly calling the worm the biting …
The Medieval Church1 voice
And from the smoke there came out locusts upon the earth. It is fitting for the heretics to be represented by locusts, for just as we see locusts, neither flying perfectly like birds nor walking by steps, but making leaps, chew up the crops of …
6 more voices on this verse
The Medieval Church2 voices
And out of the smoke came forth locusts upon the earth. Just as the saints are the body of Christ, and members from a member, so also the members of the flesh of the dragon are joined together, one being born from another, and the …
And power was given to them, etc. Heretics are compared to opposing powers, seemingly innocent in appearance, but holding poison within their hind parts.
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
In 589 this affliction ended; but it began long before 540. The prelude of it was about the year 455 and 47iv, the main storm came on in the reign of Cabades, and lasted from 483 to 532. Toward the beginning of the sixth century, Mar Rab Isaac, president of the academy, was put to death.
And there came out of the smoke locusts the earth,....
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
Locusts - 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.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
And 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 words behind it
20 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| καὶ | kai | And | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| ἐκ | ek | out of | G1537 → | 911 times |
| τοῦ | tou | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| καπνοῦ | kapnou | smoke | G2586 → | 13 times |
| ἐξῆλθον | exelthon | came forth | G1831 → | 216 times |
| ἀκρίδες | akrides | locusts | G200 → | |
| εἰς | eis | unto | G1519 → | 1755 times |
| τὴν | ten | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| γῆν, | gen | earth, | G1093 → | 248 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| ἐδόθη | edothe | was given | G1325 → | 412 times |
| αὐταῖς | autais | to them | G846 → | 5565 times |
| ἐξουσία, | exousia | power, | G1849 → | 102 times |
| ὡς | hos | like | G5613 → | 500 times |
| ἔχουσιν | echousin | have | G2192 → | 707 times |
| ἐξουσίαν | exousian | power | G1849 → | 102 times |
| οἱ | hoi | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| σκορπίοι | skorpioi | scorpions | G4651 → | 5 times |
| τῆς | tes | of the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| γῆς. | ges | earth. | G1093 → | 248 times |
καὶAnd
kaiG2532 →9120 times
ἐκout of
ekG1537 →911 times
τοῦthe
touG3588 →19766 times
καπνοῦsmoke
kapnouG2586 →13 times
ἐξῆλθονcame forth
exelthonG1831 →216 times
ἀκρίδεςlocusts
akridesG200 →
εἰςunto
eisG1519 →1755 times
τὴνthe
tenG3588 →19766 times
γῆν,earth,
genG1093 →248 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
ἐδόθηwas given
edotheG1325 →412 times
αὐταῖςto them
autaisG846 →5565 times
ἐξουσία,power,
exousiaG1849 →102 times
ὡςlike
hosG5613 →500 times
ἔχουσινhave
echousinG2192 →707 times
ἐξουσίανpower
exousianG1849 →102 times
οἱthe
hoiG3588 →19766 times
σκορπίοιscorpions
skorpioiG4651 →5 times
τῆςof the
tesG3588 →19766 times
γῆς.earth.
gesG1093 →248 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
Joel 2:25I will repay you for the years eaten by locusts—the swarming locust, the young locust, the destroying locust, and the devouring locust—My great army that I sent against you.
it leads to
- Zechariah 10:6
I will strengthen the house of Judah and save the house of Joseph. I will restore them because I have compassion on them, and they will be as though I had not rejected them.…
- Joel 1:4–7
What the devouring locust has left, the swarming locust has eaten; what the swarming locust has left, the young locust has eaten; and what the young locust has left, the destroying locust has eaten.
- Joel 2:2–11
a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and blackness. Like the dawn overspreading the mountains a great and strong army appears, such as never was of old, nor will ever be…
- Zechariah 10:6
Through
Joel 1:4What the devouring locust has left, the swarming locust has eaten; what the swarming locust has left, the young locust has eaten; and what the young locust has left, the destroying locust has eaten.
it leads to
- Joel 2:25
I will repay you for the years eaten by locusts—the swarming locust, the young locust, the destroying locust, and the devouring locust—My great army that I sent against you.
- Amos 4:9
“I struck you with blight and mildew in your growing gardens and vineyards; the locust devoured your fig and olive trees, yet you did not return to Me,” declares the LORD.
- Isaiah 33:4
Your spoil, O nations, is gathered as by locusts; like a swarm of locusts men sweep over it.
- Exodus 10:4
But if you refuse to let My people go, I will bring locusts into your territory tomorrow.
- Joel 2:25
Through
Revelation 9:5The 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.
it leads to
- Revelation 9:10
They had tails with stingers like scorpions, which had the power to injure people for five months.
- Revelation 9:10
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About Revelation
This page draws on 12 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; Bede, Commentary on Revelation; 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; Oecumenius, Commentary on Revelation; Primasius of Hadrumetum, COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 9:3; Shepherd of Hermas, Shepherd of Hermas, Vision 4 and Ticonius, COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 9:3.