Revelation of John 9:5
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The locusts were not given power to kill them, but only to torment them for five months, and their torment was like the stinging of a scorpion.
Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
they . . . they--The subject changes: the first "they" is the locusts; the second is the unsealed. five months--the ordinary time in the year during which locusts continue their ravages. their torment--the torment of the sufferers. This fifth verse and Rev 9:6 cannot refer to an invading army. For an army would kill, and not merely torment.
Open source ↗In this chapter we have an account of the sounding of the fifth and sixth trumpets, the appearances that attended them, and the events that were to follow; the fifth trumpet (Rev 9:1-12), the sixth (Rev 9:13, etc.).
Open source ↗9:5 torture them for five months: This time period is a symbolically complete number based on the fingers on a hand. It is also the normal life span of locusts, suggesting that their entire purpose was to torture people.
Open source ↗Original language
The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).
Cross-references
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They had tails with stingers like scorpions, which had the power to injure people for five months.
“Very well,” said the LORD to Satan. “He is in your hands, but you must spare his life.”
And out of the smoke, locusts descended on the earth, and they were given power like that of the scorpions of the earth.
Then the beast was permitted to wage war against the saints and to conquer them, and it was given authority over every tribe and people and tongue and nation.
The beast was given a mouth to speak arrogant and blasphemous words, and authority to act for 42 months.
Jesus answered, “You would have no authority over Me if it were not given to you from above. Therefore the one who handed Me over to you is guilty of greater sin.”
When the two witnesses have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up from the Abyss will wage war with them, and will overpower and kill them.
Next, as I watched, another beast appeared. It was like a leopard, and on its back it had four wings like those of a bird. The beast also had four heads, and it was given authority to rule.