Revelation 9:10

KJV

And they had tails like unto scorpions, and there were stings in their tails: and their power [was] to hurt men five months.

KJV (with Strong's)

And {G2532} they had {G2192} tails {G3769} like {G3664} unto scorpions {G4651}, and {G2532} there were {G2258} stings {G2759} in {G1722} their {G846} tails {G3769}: and {G2532} their {G846} power {G1849} was to hurt {G91} men {G444} five {G4002} months {G3376}.

Complete Jewish Bible

They had tails like those of scorpions, with stings; and in their tails was their power to hurt people for five months.

Berean Standard Bible

They had tails with stingers like scorpions, which had the power to injure people for five months.

American Standard Version

And they have tails like unto scorpions, and stings; and in their tails is their power to hurt men five months.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Revelation 9:10 vividly describes the instruments of torment possessed by the demonic locusts unleashed from the abyss, detailing their scorpion-like tails and stings, and explicitly stating the limited duration of their power to inflict suffering upon humanity. This verse emphasizes the agonizing, non-fatal nature of this divine judgment, highlighting God's precise control over the scope and timing of even the most terrifying manifestations of His wrath.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is an integral part of the fifth trumpet judgment, described in [Revelation 9](/revelation/9 "Revelation 9 - The Fifth and Sixth Trumpets"). Following the sounding of the fifth trumpet, a star (often interpreted as a fallen angel or Satan) is granted the key to the bottomless pit, from which a vast horde of supernatural locusts emerges. The preceding verses ([Revelation 9:7-9](/revelation/9-7-9 "Revelation 9:7-9 - Description of the Locusts")) provide a grotesque description of these creatures, blending features of warhorses, human faces, women's hair, and lions' teeth. Unlike natural locusts that destroy vegetation, their specific commission, as stated in [Revelation 9:4](/revelation/9-4 "Revelation 9:4 - Locusts Not to Harm Vegetation"), is to torment those who do not bear the seal of God on their foreheads. Verse 10 builds upon this, specifying the exact means of their torment and reiterating the divinely imposed limitation on their destructive capacity.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The imagery of scorpions and their painful stings would have been immediately recognizable and terrifying to John's original audience in the Roman province of Asia. Scorpions were a common and feared creature in the ancient Near East, known for their excruciatingly painful, though not always fatal, venomous stings. The "five months" period is often interpreted in light of the natural lifespan of locusts, which typically plague crops for about five months (from spring hatching to late autumn death), or as a symbolic, limited period of intense affliction. This specific duration underscores the concept of divine limitation, a recurring theme in apocalyptic literature where God maintains sovereign control even amidst chaos and judgment. The reference to "power to hurt men" rather than kill them aligns with ancient understandings of torture and prolonged suffering as a form of punishment.

* **Key Themes:** Revelation 9:10 contributes significantly to several major themes within the book of Revelation and biblical prophecy. Foremost is the theme of **Divine Judgment and Wrath**, specifically highlighting its severity and the agonizing nature of the torment inflicted upon the unrepentant. This judgment is designed to cause intense suffering, yet it is explicitly *not* designed to bring death, reinforcing the theme of **Painful Torment, Not Death**, which is explicitly stated in [Revelation 9:5-6](/revelation/9-5-6 "Revelation 9:5-6 - Men Seek Death But Cannot Find It"). Another crucial theme is **God's Absolute Sovereignty and Control**, even over demonic forces and their destructive actions. The precise limitation of "five months" and the specific directive to "hurt men" but not kill them, underscore that these terrifying events are not random chaos but are meticulously orchestrated and strictly bounded by God's decree. Finally, the verse reinforces the theme of **Symbolic and Apocalyptic Imagery**, where grotesque and hybrid creatures serve to convey spiritual realities and the terrifying consequences of rejecting God's authority.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **tails (Greek, _ourá'_):** This word refers to the appendage at the rear of an animal. In this context, it is explicitly linked to scorpions, emphasizing the instrument of torment. Biblically, "tail" can sometimes symbolize deception or false prophecy (e.g., [Isaiah 9:15](/isaiah/9-15 "Isaiah 9:15 - The Prophet Who Teaches Lies Is the Tail")), but here, its primary function is literal in its destructive capacity, serving as the vehicle for the sting.
* **stings (Greek, _kéntron'_):** Derived from a word meaning "to prick," _kéntron_ refers to a point, a sting, or even a goad. In the context of scorpions, it denotes the sharp, venomous barb that inflicts intense pain. Figuratively, it can imply a "poison" or "divine impulse," but here it directly signifies the source of the excruciating physical torment.
* **power (Greek, _exousía'_):** This term denotes privilege, force, capacity, competency, freedom, or mastery, often implying delegated influence or authority. Here, it highlights that the locusts' ability to "hurt men" is not inherent or unlimited, but rather a specific, divinely granted, and therefore restricted, authority. It underscores God's ultimate control over the extent and duration of their destructive actions.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And they had tails like unto scorpions,"**: This clause introduces the primary instrument of torment. The comparison to scorpions immediately evokes an image of excruciating pain, as scorpions were well-known for their venomous and agonizing stings. This simile sets the tone for the nature of the suffering.
* **"and there were stings in their tails:"**: This further clarifies and intensifies the imagery. It's not just that their tails *resembled* scorpions, but that these tails were equipped with actual "stings," confirming them as active instruments of pain. This reiterates the direct and piercing nature of the torment.
* **"and their power [was] to hurt men five months."**: This final clause defines the scope and duration of the locusts' destructive capability. The word "power" (exousía) signifies a divinely permitted authority, emphasizing that their ability to "hurt" (adikéō, to do wrong, injure) is strictly limited. The specific period of "five months" highlights God's sovereignty over the timing and extent of this judgment, ensuring it is a finite, controlled period of suffering rather than perpetual annihilation.

#### Literary Devices
Revelation 9:10 is rich in **Symbolism** and **Simile**. The entire description of the locusts, including their scorpion-like tails and stings, is highly symbolic, representing demonic forces unleashed to inflict divine judgment. The **Simile** "tails like unto scorpions" is particularly potent, immediately conveying the nature of the torment as piercing, venomous, and intensely painful, drawing on a creature universally feared for its sting. The "five months" serves as a symbolic, divinely appointed duration, signifying a limited period of tribulation rather than endless suffering. The passage also employs **Apocalyptic Imagery**, characterized by its grotesque and hybrid descriptions, designed to evoke awe, terror, and a sense of the supernatural, emphasizing the otherworldly nature of these agents of judgment.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Revelation 9:10 profoundly illustrates God's sovereign control over judgment, even when it involves the unleashing of terrifying demonic forces. The specific, limited duration of "five months" and the restriction to "hurt men" rather than kill them, underscore that divine wrath is not chaotic or arbitrary, but precisely orchestrated according to God's perfect will. This passage serves as a stark warning of the consequences of rejecting God's authority and grace, while simultaneously affirming His ultimate power to set boundaries for evil, ensuring that even the most severe judgments serve His overarching redemptive purposes. It highlights the distinction between temporary affliction and ultimate, eternal judgment, offering a glimmer of hope for repentance during this period of intense suffering.

* [Revelation 9:5](/revelation/9-5 "Revelation 9:5 - Their Torment Like a Scorpion's Sting")
* [Job 1:12](/job/1-12 "Job 1:12 - Satan's Limited Power Over Job")
* [Luke 10:19](/luke/10-19 "Luke 10:19 - Authority Over Scorpions and Serpents")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Revelation 9:10, while depicting a terrifying future judgment, offers profound insights for contemporary reflection. It reminds us that even in the midst of overwhelming evil and suffering, God remains absolutely sovereign, setting limits and purposes for every event. This should instill both a healthy fear of God's righteous judgment and a deep comfort in His ultimate control. For those who are sealed by God, this passage offers assurance that they are protected from such specific judgments, emphasizing the immense value of being in Christ. For those who are not, it serves as a powerful call to repentance and to seek the divine seal of salvation, which offers deliverance from the wrath to come. The temporary nature of this torment, though severe, also points to the possibility of repentance and the ultimate, eternal consequences for those who remain hardened.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the limited duration of "five months" in Revelation 9:10 demonstrate God's sovereignty over evil and suffering?**
* **What is the spiritual significance of these creatures being able to "hurt" but not "kill" those without the seal of God?**
* **In what ways does this passage motivate you to consider the urgency of repentance and the importance of being "sealed" by God?**

### FAQ

**Are the "locusts" in Revelation 9 literal insects or symbolic beings?**

Answer: The description of the locusts in [Revelation 9:7-10](/revelation/9-7-10 "Revelation 9:7-10 - Description of the Demonic Locusts") is highly symbolic and fantastical, blending features of horses, men, women, and lions, along with scorpion-like tails. This imagery strongly suggests they are not literal insects but rather supernatural, demonic entities unleashed by God to execute a specific judgment. Their purpose is not to destroy vegetation, as natural locusts do, but to torment unrepentant humanity, further indicating their symbolic and spiritual nature.

**What is the significance of the "five months" period of torment?**

Answer: The "five months" period signifies a divinely appointed and strictly limited duration for this specific judgment. While some interpret it literally as a period of 150 days, many scholars see it as symbolic, possibly alluding to the typical lifespan of a natural locust plague (which lasts about five months) or simply emphasizing that God's judgments are not endless but have a definite beginning and end. It underscores God's absolute control over the timing and extent of the torment, demonstrating that even in judgment, His sovereignty prevails.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While Revelation 9:10 describes a terrifying future judgment, its Christ-centered fulfillment is found in the ultimate victory of Jesus over all forces of evil and the promise of deliverance for those who belong to Him. The torment inflicted by these demonic entities highlights the severity of sin and the consequences of rejecting God's reign, yet it also implicitly points to the One who has already triumphed over "scorpions" and all the power of the enemy ([Luke 10:19](/luke/10-19 "Luke 10:19 - Jesus Gives Authority Over All the Power of the Enemy")). Christ's atoning sacrifice on the cross disarmed the spiritual powers and authorities ([Colossians 2:15](/colossians/2-15 "Colossians 2:15 - Christ's Triumph Over Principalities and Powers")), ensuring that those who are "sealed" by God through faith in Him are protected from the wrath to come ([1 Thessalonians 1:10](/1_thessalonians/1-10 "1 Thessalonians 1:10 - Jesus Delivers Us from the Wrath to Come")). The limited power and duration of these demonic locusts ultimately serve to magnify the limitless power and eternal reign of Christ, who will ultimately cast all evil, including Satan and his agents, into the lake of fire forever ([Revelation 20:10](/revelation/20-10 "Revelation 20:10 - The Devil Cast into the Lake of Fire")). Thus, this passage, while grim, ultimately underscores the security and hope found in Jesus, the victorious Lamb of God.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Revelation 9:5

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.

Revelation 9:3

And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth: and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power.

Revelation 9:19

For their power is in their mouth, and in their tails: for their tails [were] like unto serpents, and had heads, and with them they do hurt.