Devine Scripture

Revelation 9:4

What does Revelation 9:4 mean?

A plain-English look at Revelation 9:4 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Revelation 9:4 means

These locusts are commanded not to harm vegetation—contrary to what real locusts do—but only people who lack the seal of God on their foreheads. The sealed are protected, recalling the earlier sealing of God’s servants. This underscores God’s ability to distinguish His own in the midst of widespread judgment. The target is not creation but unrepentant humanity without divine mark or ownership. Judgment falls discriminately. The instruction shows that the plague aims at spiritual wakefulness, not ecological ruin. While the locusts are fearsome, they are not sovereign; their orders come from above, and their reach stops where God’s protecting seal begins.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And it was said unto them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree, but only such men as have not the seal of God on their foreheads.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And it was said unto them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree, but only such men as have not the seal of God on their foreheads.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And they were ordered to do no damage to the grass of the earth, or any green thing, or any tree, but only to such men as have not the mark of God on their brows.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

and it was said to them that they may not injure the grass of the earth, nor any green thing, nor any tree, but--the men only who have not the seal of God upon their foreheads,

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth nor any green thing nor any tree: but only the men who have not the sign of God on their foreheads.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

and it was said to them, that they should not injure the grass of the earth, nor any green thing, nor any tree, but the men who have not the seal ofGod on their foreheads:

Context

This command directly counters expectations raised by the word "locusts" and connects the fifth trumpet to the sealing described earlier in Revelation. The narrative now focuses on people, not the environment, with a clear division between protected and unprotected. Verses 5–6 will define the intensity and duration of the suffering, while verses 7–10 describe the locusts’ terrifying appearance and armament. The flow highlights divine discrimination in judgment and preservation.

v.3And out of the smoke came forth locusts upon the earth; and power was given them, as the scorpions of the earth have power.

v.4This passage

v.5And it was given them that they should not kill them, but that they should be tormented five months: and their torment was as the torment of a scorpion, when it striketh a man.

Cross references

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

  • Job 1:10

    Hast not thou made a hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath, on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.

  • Ezekiel 9:6

    slay utterly the old man, the young man and the virgin, and little children and women; but come not near any man upon whom is the mark: and begin at my sanctuary. Then they began at the old men that were before the house.

  • Revelation 6:6

    And I heard as it were a voice in the midst of the four living creatures saying, A measure of wheat for a shilling, and three measures of barley for a shilling; and the oil and the wine hurt thou not.

  • Exodus 12:23

    For Jehovah will pass through to smite the Egyptians; and when he seeth the blood upon the lintel, and on the two side-posts, Jehovah will pass over the door, and will not suffer the destroyer to come in unto your houses to smite you.

  • Job 2:6

    And Jehovah said unto Satan, Behold, he is in thy hand; only spare his life.

  • 2 Timothy 3:8

    And even as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also withstand the truth; men corrupted in mind, reprobate concerning the faith.

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