Revelation 9:8 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Revelation 9:1-12

Upon the sounding of this trumpet, the things to be observed are, 1. A star falling from heaven to the earth. Some think this star represents some eminent bishop in the Christian church, some angel of the church; for, in the same way of speaking by which pastors are called stars, the church is called heaven; but who this is expositors do not agree. Some understand it of Boniface the third bishop of Rome, who assumed the title of universal bishop, by the favour of the emperor Phocas, who, being... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Revelation 9:3-12

9:3-12 From the smoke locusts came forth upon the earth, and they were given power like the power of the scorpions of the earth. They were told not to harm the grass of the earth, nor any green thing, nor any tree, but only such men as had not the seal of God upon their forehead. They were not permitted to kill them, but to torture them for five months. Their torture was like the torture of a scorpion when it strikes a man; and in those days men will seek for death and not be able to find it;... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Revelation 9:3-12

Hebrew has a number of different names for the locust which reveal its destructive power. It is called gazam ( Hebrew #1501 ), the lopper or the shearer, which describes how it shears all living vegetation from the earth; it is called 'arbeh ( Hebrew #697 ), the swarmer, which describes the immensity of its numbers; it is called hasil, the finisher, which describes the devastation it causes; it is called caal'am ( Hebrew #5556 ), the swallower or the annihilator; it is called... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Revelation 9:8

And they had hair, as the hair of women ,.... Some locusts have smooth, others hairy heads F14 Gloss. in T. Bab. Cholin. fol. 65. 1. : this fitly points at the Arabians or Saracens, who, as Pliny says F15 Hist. Nat. l. 6. c. 28. , used to wear long hair without cutting it, and attired as women, and have their names also from women: they were called Hagarenes, from Hagar, Abraham's handmaid, by whom he had Ishmael, the father of these people; afterwards they took the name of... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Revelation 9:8

Hair as the hair of women - No razor passes upon their flesh. Their hair long, and their beards unshaven. Their teeth were as the teeth of lions - They are ferocious and cruel. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 9:7-11

The triumph of evil through unfaithfulness. Satanic power is encouraged by human unfaithfulness. The utmost power of evil is let loose, and with destructive energy works only evil, and the direst evil, amongst the children of men. The evil character of the effects of unfaithfulness is represented by figures which suggest the greatest painfulness, and which are repulsive in the extreme. The sun and the air are darkened by "smoke" issuing from the opened "pit of the abyss"—the smoke "as of a... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 9:8

And they had hair as the hair of women. This (like the succeeding clause) seems merely the enumeration of an additional feature, in which these creatures resembled locusts, and which helped to establish their claim to the name. The antennae of the insect are probably referred to. Wordsworth sees here an allusion to the flowing hair of Mohammed and the Saracens. And their teeth were as the teeth of lions. The powerful nature of the teeth of the locust is a remarkable feature of the insect;... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Revelation 9:8

And they had hair as the hair of women - Long hair; not such as men commonly wear, but such as women wear. See the notes on 1 Corinthians 11:14. This struck John as a peculiarity, that, though warriors, they should have the appearance of effeminacy indicated by allowing their hair to grow long. It is clear from this, that John regarded their appearance as unusual and remarkable. Though manifestly designed to represent an army, yet it was not the usual appearance of men who went forth to battle.... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Revelation 9:7-9

Revelation 9:7-9 . The shapes of the locusts were like unto horses prepared unto battle In this and the two following verses, the nature and qualities of these locusts are described, partly in allusion to the properties of natural locusts and the description given of them by Joel, and partly in allusion to the habits and manners of the Arabians, to show that not real but figurative locusts were here intended. The first quality mentioned is their being like unto horses prepared unto battle;... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Revelation 9:1-21

Fifth and sixth trumpets (9:1-21)Worse than the destruction by the forces of nature is the suffering brought by the forces of demons (fifth trumpet). These demonic forces are pictured in a strange and terrifying army of locusts. Though uncontrollable by any human power, they are not independent of the rule of God. He keeps them imprisoned in the abyss (RSV: bottomless pit), and even when he releases them he determines the extent of their activity (9:1-3).The demons do not harm plant life (as... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Revelation 9:1-12

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Revelation 9:3-12

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Revelation 9:3-12

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Revelation 9:8

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Revelation 9:8

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 9:7-11

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 9:8

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Revelation 9:8

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Revelation 9:7-9

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Revelation 9:1-21

Group of Brands