Devine Scripture

Revelation 9:7

What does Revelation 9:7 mean?

A plain-English look at Revelation 9:7 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Revelation 9:7 means

John likens the locusts to warhorses ready for battle, wearing what look like crowns of gold and having faces like men. The comparisons pile up to show they are not literal insects but terrifying, intelligent, and seemingly triumphant. Crowns suggest conquering ability; human-like faces imply cunning and intention. They are equipped for conflict and appear unstoppable. The repeated “like” and “as it were” caution against crass literalism while conveying real, dreadful power. John’s vision communicates that the spiritual forces unleashed are organized and warlike—not chaotic gnats, but a disciplined, victorious host advancing upon the unsealed.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And the shapes of the locusts were like unto horses prepared for war; and upon their heads as it were crowns like unto gold, and their faces were as men’s faces.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And the shapes of the locusts were like unto horses prepared unto battle; and on their heads were as it were crowns like gold, and their faces were as the faces of men.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And the shapes of the locusts were like unto horses prepared for war; and upon their heads as it were crowns like unto gold, and their faces were as men’s faces.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And the forms of the locusts were like horses made ready for war; and on their heads they had crowns like gold, and their faces were as the faces of men.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

And the likenesses of the locusts <FI>are<Fi> like to horses made ready to battle, and upon their heads as crowns like gold, and their faces as faces of men,

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And the shapes of the locusts were like unto horses prepared unto battle. And on their heads were, as it were, crowns like gold: and their faces were as the faces of men.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And the likenesses of the locusts [were] like to horses prepared for war; and upon their heads as crowns like gold, and their faces as faces of men;

Context

This begins a four-verse description (verses 7–10) that stacks images from battlefields and beasts to convey dread. It follows the effect on humans (verses 5–6) and precedes the identification of the king (verse 11). The depiction builds the sense of inevitability and terror, setting a psychological stage for readers: this is a campaign, not a random sting. The details continue in verses 8–9, intensifying the martial and ferocious character of the invaders.

v.6And in those days men shall seek death, and shall in no wise find it; and they shall desire to die, and death fleeth from them.

v.7This passage

v.8And they had hair as the hair of women, and their teeth were as the teeth of lions.

Cross references

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

  • Daniel 7:4

    The first was like a lion, and had eagle’s wings: I beheld till the wings thereof were plucked, and it was lifted up from the earth, and made to stand upon two feet as a man; and a man’s heart was given to it.

  • Daniel 7:8

    I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another horn, a little one, before which three of the first horns were plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking great things.

  • Joel 2:4

    The appearance of them is as the appearance of horses; and as horsemen, so do they run.

  • Nahum 3:17

    Thy princes are as the locusts, and thy marshals as the swarms of grasshoppers, which encamp in the hedges in the cold day, but when the sun ariseth they flee away, and their place is not known where they are.

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