Revelation 9:5
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New International Version (©1984)
They were not given power to kill them, but only to torture them for five months. And the agony they suffered was like that of the sting of a scorpion when it strikes a man.

New Living Translation (©2007)
They were told not to kill them but to torture them for five months with pain like the pain of a scorpion sting.

English Standard Version (©2001)
They were allowed to torment them for five months, but not to kill them, and their torment was like the torment of a scorpion when it stings someone.

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
And they were not permitted to kill anyone, but to torment for five months; and their torment was like the torment of a scorpion when it stings a man.

International Standard Version (©2008)
They were not allowed to kill them, but were only allowed to torture them for five months. Their torture was like the pain of a scorpion when it stings someone.

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
They were not allowed to kill them. They were only allowed to torture them for five months. Their torture was like the pain of a scorpion's sting.

King James Bible
And to them it was given 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 he striketh a man.

American King James Version
And to them it was given 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 he strikes a man.

American Standard Version
And 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.

Bible in Basic English
And orders were given them not to put them to death, but to give them great pain for five months: and their pain was as the pain from the wound of a scorpion.

Douay-Rheims Bible
And it was given unto them that they should not kill them; but that they should torment them five months: and their torment was as the torment of a scorpion when he striketh a man.

Darby Bible Translation
and it was given to 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 strikes a man.

English Revised Version
And 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.

Webster's Bible Translation
And to them it was given 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 he striketh a man.

Weymouth New Testament
Their mission was not to kill, but to cause awful agony for five months; and this agony was like that which a scorpion inflicts when it stings a man.

World English Bible
They were given power not to kill them, but to torment them for five months. Their torment was like the torment of a scorpion, when it strikes a person.

Young's Literal Translation
and it was given to them that they may not kill them, but that they may be tormented five months, and their torment is as the torment of a scorpion, when it may strike a man;

Geneva Study Bible

And to them it was given 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 he striketh a man.

People's New Testament

9:5 And to them it was given that they should not kill them. This either implies that the armies symbolized by the locusts should seek not to destroy the races they attacked, or that they should not destroy the empire assailed.

But that they should be tormented five months. Their torment should continue five months, or 150 prophetic days. Since a day is a symbol of a year, this implies 150 years.

And their torment was as the torment of a scorpion. Their warfare and torment shall be almost intolerable.

Wesley's Notes

9:5 Not to kill them - Very few of them were killed: in general, they were imprisoned and variously tormented.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

5. 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 Re 9:6 cannot refer to an invading army. For an army would kill, and not merely torment.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

9:1-12 Upon sounding the fifth trumpet, a star fell from heaven to the earth. Having ceased to be a minister of Christ, he who is represented by this star becomes the minister of the devil; and lets loose the powers of hell against the churches of Christ. On the opening of the bottomless pit, there arose a great smoke. The devil carries on his designs by blinding the eyes of men, by putting out light and knowledge, and promoting ignorance and error. Out of this smoke there came a swarm of locusts, emblems of the devil's agents, who promote superstition, idolatry, error, and cruelty. The trees and the grass, the true believers, whether young or more advanced, should be untouched. But a secret poison and infection in the soul, should rob many others of purity, and afterwards of peace. The locusts had no power to hurt those who had the seal of God. God's all-powerful, distinguishing grace will keep his people from total and final apostacy. The power is limited to a short season; but it would be very sharp. In such events the faithful share the common calamity, but from the pestilence of error they might and would be safe. We collect from Scripture, that such errors were to try and prove the Christians, 1Co 11:19. And early writers plainly refer this to the first great host of corrupters who overspread the Christian church.


2 Chronicles 10:11 Whereas my father loaded you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke; my father disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with scorpions.'"
2 Chronicles 10:14 He spoke to them according to the advice of the young men, saying, "My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to it; my father disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with scorpions."
Ezekiel 2:6 "And you, son of man, neither fear them nor fear their words, though thistles and thorns are with you and you sit on scorpions; neither fear their words nor be dismayed at their presence, for they are a rebellious house.
Revelation 9:3 Then out of the smoke came locusts upon the earth, and power was given them, as the scorpions of the earth have power.
Revelation 9:10 They have tails like scorpions, and stings; and in their tails is their power to hurt men for five months. (NASB ©1995)

Agony Allowed Awful Cause Death Five Great Inflicts Kill Mission Months Orders Pain Permitted Power Scorpion Sting Stings Strike Strikes Striketh Suffered Torment Tormented Torture Wound


And to them it was given 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 he striketh a man.

it was. 13:5,7 Da 5:18-22 7:6 Joh 19:11

they should not. That is, should not kill them as a political body, state, or empire; and accordingly, however they desolated the Greek and Latin churches, they could not extirpate them, nor gain possession of the empire.

11:7 Job 2:6

they should be. 10

five. Five prophetical months, each consisting of 30 days, and each day denoting a year, amount to 150 years; and accordingly, from the time that Mohammed began to propagate his imposture A.D. 612, the building of Bagdad, when they ceased from their ravages, A.D. 763, are just 150 years.

and their. See on ver. 3

Bible Gateway: Revelation Chapter 9 Verse 5 NIV ESV NKJV NLT KJV Message Amplified

Alphabetical: a agony And anyone but five for given it kill like man months not of only permitted power scorpion sting stings strikes suffered that the their them They to torment torture was were when

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