Revelation 8:12
What does Revelation 8:12 mean?
A plain-English look at Revelation 8:12 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Revelation 8:12 means
The fourth trumpet smites a third of the sun, moon, and stars, so that a third of their light is darkened. Day and night alike are diminished by a third. Creation’s timekeepers falter, and human rhythms are disrupted. This is not a passing cloud but a cosmic dimming, declaring God’s rule over the highest lights. The pattern of partial judgment continues—warning, not final blackout. The sign echoes earlier darkness sent in judgment and hints at spiritual reality: without God’s sustaining grace, even the brightest created lights cannot preserve order. The world’s confidence in predictable cycles is shaken by the One who set them and can withdraw their brightness.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And the fourth angel sounded, and the third part of the sun was smitten, and the third part of the moon, and the third part of the stars; that the third part of them should be darkened, and the day should not shine for the third part of it, and the night in like manner.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And the fourth angel sounded, and the third part of the sun was smitten, and the third part of the moon, and the third part of the stars; so as the third part of them was darkened, and the day shone not for a third part of it, and the night likewise.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And the fourth angel sounded, and the third part of the sun was smitten, and the third part of the moon, and the third part of the stars; that the third part of them should be darkened, and the day should not shine for the third part of it, and the night in like manner.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And at the sounding of the fourth angel, a third part of the sun, and of the moon, and of the stars was made dark, so that there was no light for a third part of the day and of the night.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862And the fourth messenger did sound, and smitten was the third of the sun, and the third of the moon, and the third of the stars, that darkened may be the third of them, and that the day may not shine--the third of it, and the night in like manner.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And the fourth angel sounded the trumpet: and the third part of the sun was smitten, and the third part of the moon, and the third part of the stars, so that the third part of them was darkened. And the day did not shine for a third part of it: and the night in like manner.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And the fourth angel sounded [his] trumpet: and the third part of the sun was smitten, and the third part of the moon, and the third part of the stars; so that the third part of them should be darkened, and that the day should not appear [for] the third part of it, and the night the same.
Context
With this fourth blast, the first series of nature-strikes concludes. Every realm—earth, sea, rivers, and sky—has felt a measured blow. Rather than proceed directly to the fifth trumpet, John pauses for an ominous announcement in verse 13. The coming three trumpets will be worse, explicitly named “woes.” This hinge in the narrative alerts readers that the focus will shift from environmental upheaval to more direct torments upon humanity, increasing the gravity of what lies ahead.
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.
v.12This passage
v.13And I saw, and I heard an eagle, flying in mid heaven, saying with a great voice, Woe, woe, woe, for them that dwell on the earth, by reason of the other voices of the trumpet of the three angels, who are yet to sound.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Isaiah 24:23
Then the moon shall be confounded, and the sun ashamed; for Jehovah of hosts will reign in mount Zion, and in Jerusalem; and before his elders shall be glory.
- Matthew 27:45
Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour.
- Revelation 6:12
And I saw when he opened the sixth seal, and there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the whole moon became as blood;
- 2 Thessalonians 2:9
even he, whose coming is according to the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
- Jeremiah 4:23
I beheld the earth, and, lo, it was waste and void; and the heavens, and they had no light.
- Zechariah 13:8
And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith Jehovah, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein.
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