Devine Scripture

Revelation 9:21

What does Revelation 9:21 mean?

A plain-English look at Revelation 9:21 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Revelation 9:21 means

Even after such judgments, they do not repent of their murders, sorceries, fornication, or thefts. The catalog exposes social violence, occult practices, sexual immorality, and greedy dishonesty. Their refusal to turn from these sins proves the depth of their rebellion. The chapter ends with the sobering truth that judgment, though just and severe, does not by itself create repentance. Only a change of heart granted by God brings men to forsake idols and sins. The sixth trumpet thus leaves the world chastened but unhealed, showing the need for the Savior’s redeeming work and the finality of God’s coming justice for the unrepentant.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

and they repented not of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

and they repented not of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And they had no regret for putting men to death, or for their use of secret arts, or for the evil desires of the flesh, or for taking the property of others.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

yea they did not reform from their murders, nor from their sorceries, nor from their whoredoms, nor from their thefts.

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

Neither did they penance from their murders nor from their sorceries nor from their fornication nor from their thefts.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And they repented not of their murders, nor of their witchcrafts, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts.

Context

This final verse completes the evaluation begun in verse 20, shifting from false worship to wicked deeds. It closes the account of the sixth trumpet by highlighting hardened impenitence as the great tragedy of the chapter. The stage is set for the interlude that follows in Revelation before the seventh trumpet, reminding readers that God’s purposes include both judgment and witness, and that His mercy calls even when His wrath is revealed.

v.20And the rest of mankind, who were not killed with these plagues, repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship demons, and the idols of gold, and of silver, and of brass, and of stone, and of wood; which can neither see, nor hear, nor walk:

v.21This passage

Cross references

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

  • Revelation 13:7

    And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and there was given to him authority over every tribe and people and tongue and nation.

  • Matthew 15:19

    For out of the heart come forth evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, railings:

  • Revelation 18:23

    and the light of a lamp shall shine no more at all in thee; and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee: for thy merchants were the princes of the earth; for with thy sorcery were all the nations deceived.

  • 2 Corinthians 12:21

    lest again when I come my God should humble me before you, and I should mourn for many of them that have sinned heretofore, and repented not of the uncleanness and fornication and lasciviousness which they committed.

  • Revelation 17:2

    with whom the kings of the earth committed fornication, and they that dwell in the earth were made drunken with the wine of her fornication.

  • Revelation 13:13

    And he doeth great signs, that he should even make fire to come down out of heaven upon the earth in the sight of men.

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