Devine Scripture

Revelation 9:16

What does Revelation 9:16 mean?

A plain-English look at Revelation 9:16 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Revelation 9:16 means

John hears the number of the cavalry: twice ten thousand times ten thousand—an immense host. He emphasizes that he heard the number, signaling not a guess but a revealed figure. The point is the overwhelming scale of the force that accompanies or results from the loosing of the four angels. Whether the army is literal or symbolic, the effect is the same: humanity faces an unimaginably vast onslaught under divine allowance. The stress falls on vastness and certainty, not on identifying geopolitical actors. The army’s size prepares the reader for the dreadful description and deadly power that follow.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And the number of the armies of the horsemen was twice ten thousand times ten thousand: I heard the number of them.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And the number of the army of the horsemen were two hundred thousand thousand: and I heard the number of them.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And the number of the armies of the horsemen was twice ten thousand times ten thousand: I heard the number of them.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And the number of the armies of the horsemen was twice ten thousand times ten thousand: the number of them came to my ears.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

and the number of the forces of the horsemen <FI>is<Fi> two myriads of myriads, and I heard the number of them.

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And the number of the army of horsemen was twenty thousand times ten thousand. And I heard the number of them.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

and the number of the hosts of horse [was] twice ten thousand times ten thousand. I heard their number.

Context

After the release and appointment in verse 15, verse 16 quantifies the force involved. The narrative rhythm mirrors earlier trumpet cycles: announcement, numbering, and then description. Verses 17–19 will paint the army’s appearance and weapons, focusing particularly on the horses as the agents of death. This sets up the report in verse 18 that a third of humanity is killed by the trio of plagues issuing from the horses.

v.15And the four angels were loosed, that had been prepared for the hour and day and month and year, that they should kill the third part of men.

v.16This passage

v.17And thus I saw the horses in the vision, and them that sat on them, having breastplates as of fire and of hyacinth and of brimstone: and the heads of the horses are as the heads of lions; and out of their mouths proceedeth fire and smoke and brimstone.

Cross references

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

  • Daniel 11:40

    And at the time of the end shall the king of the south contend with him; and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass through.

  • Revelation 5:11

    And I saw, and I heard a voice of many angels round about the throne and the living creatures and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands;

  • Revelation 7:4

    And I heard the number of them that were sealed, a hundred and forty and four thousand, sealed out of every tribe of the children of Israel:

  • Ezekiel 23:6

    who were clothed with blue, governors and rulers, all of them desirable young men, horsemen riding upon horses.

  • Psalms 68:17

    The chariots of God are twenty thousand, even thousands upon thousands: The Lord is among them, as in Sinai, in the sanctuary.

  • Ezekiel 38:4

    and I will turn thee about, and put hooks into thy jaws, and I will bring thee forth, and all thine army, horses and horsemen, all of them clothed in full armor, a great company with buckler and shield, all of them handling swords:

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