Devine Scripture

Revelation 8:10

What does Revelation 8:10 mean?

A plain-English look at Revelation 8:10 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Revelation 8:10 means

At the third trumpet, a great star, blazing like a torch, falls from heaven onto a third of the rivers and the fountains of waters. What seemed lofty and stable plunges with ruinous effect. Rivers represent public channels of life; fountains are hidden sources—judgment reaches both the visible and concealed. The language keeps focus on impact rather than scientific detail. The heavenly origin shows this is no mere accident; God permits a striking contamination of necessities. The fraction remains a measured mercy within judgment, consistent with the pattern of warning. The vivid torchlike descent readies the reader for the star’s name and moral weight in the next verse.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And the third angel sounded, and there fell from heaven a great star, burning as a torch, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of the waters;

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And the third angel sounded, and there fell a great star from heaven, burning as it were a lamp, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters;

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And the third angel sounded, and there fell from heaven a great star, burning as a torch, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of the waters;

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And at the sounding of the third angel, there went down from heaven a great star, burning like a flame, and it came on a third part of the rivers, and on the fountains of water.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

And the third messenger did sound, and there fell out of the heaven a great star, burning as a lamp, and it did fall upon the third of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters,

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And the third angel sounded the trumpet: and a great star fell from heaven, burning as it were a torch. And it fell on the third part of the rivers and upon the fountains of waters:

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And the third angel sounded [his] trumpet: and there fell out of the heaven a great star, burning as a torch, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters.

Context

Having dealt with the sea, the vision now turns inland to freshwater—what people drink and what irrigates their land. The “great star” introduces an agent named in verse 11, creating suspense and underscoring that this is more than physical disaster; it bears symbolic meaning. With land, sea, and rivers affected, the next step will lift the reader’s gaze to the heavens as the fourth trumpet darkens the lights that regulate day and night.

v.9and there died the third part of the creatures which were in the sea, even they that had life; and the third part of the ships was destroyed.

v.10This passage

v.11and the name of the star is called Wormwood: and the third part of the waters became wormwood; and many men died of the waters, because they were made bitter.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • 2 Chronicles 32:3

    he took counsel with his princes and his mighty men to stop the waters of the fountains which were without the city; and they helped him.

  • Isaiah 12:3

    Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.

  • Revelation 16:4

    And the third poured out his bowl into the rivers and the fountains of the waters; and it became blood.

  • Revelation 9:1

    And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star from heaven fallen unto the earth: and there was given to him the key of the pit of the abyss.

  • 2 Kings 2:19

    And the men of the city said unto Elisha, Behold, we pray thee, the situation of this city is pleasant, as my lord seeth: but the water is bad, and the land miscarrieth.

  • Isaiah 14:12

    How art thou fallen from heaven, O day-star, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, that didst lay low the nations!

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