Revelation 9:8

And they had hair as the hair of women, and their teeth were as [the teeth] of lions.

And {G2532} they had {G2192} hair {G2359} as {G5613} the hair {G2359} of women {G1135}, and {G2532} their {G846} teeth {G3599} were {G2258} as {G5613} the teeth of lions {G3023}.

They had hair like women’s hair, and their teeth were like those of lions.

They had hair like that of women, and teeth like those of lions.

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

Context of Revelation 9:8

Revelation 9:8 is part of the vivid, symbolic description of the supernatural "locusts" that emerge from the bottomless pit following the sounding of the fifth trumpet, as detailed in Revelation 9:1-12. These are not ordinary insects but demonic entities, appointed to torment those who do not bear the seal of God on their foreheads (Revelation 9:4). The passage paints a grotesque and terrifying picture of these beings, combining features of various creatures to convey their unique and horrific nature, symbolizing the nature of the judgment they bring.

Key Themes and Symbolic Meaning

  • Unnatural and Deceptive Appearance: The phrase "hair as the hair of women" suggests an unsettling or unnatural beauty, perhaps even a seductive or alluring quality that masks their true destructive purpose. It adds to their monstrous, hybrid nature, making them distinct from any natural creature. This detail contributes to the overall sense of perversion and chaos associated with these agents of judgment in end-times prophecy.
  • Ferocious Destructive Power: "Their teeth were as the teeth of lions" powerfully conveys their predatory and destructive capability. Lions are symbols of strength, ferocity, and the ability to tear and devour. While their primary mission is torment rather than outright killing (Revelation 9:5), the lion's teeth emphasize the severe, painful, and tearing nature of the affliction they inflict upon humanity.
  • Supernatural Malevolence: These descriptions collectively underscore that these are not earthly creatures but supernatural forces of evil, operating with a malicious intent under divine permission. Their bizarre combination of human, animal, and insect features highlights their otherworldliness and the terrifying nature of the judgments they execute as part of God's wrath.

Linguistic Insights

The Greek for "hair as the hair of women" is trichas hos trichas gunaikon (τρίχας ὡς τρίχας γυναικῶν). This specific comparison is striking and adds to the bizarre, hybrid nature of these creatures. The phrase "teeth of lions" translates from odontes leonton (ὀδόντες λεόντων), which is straightforward and clearly conveys their predatory power. The unusual combination of these features emphasizes the symbolic rather than literal nature of the description, pointing to the spiritual realities and effects of their torment during this period of tribulation.

Practical Application and Reflection

Revelation 9:8, like much of apocalyptic literature, serves to reveal the nature of spiritual evil and the reality of divine judgment. For believers, this verse can reinforce the understanding that:

  • Evil is Real and Powerful: The imagery vividly portrays the destructive and terrifying potential of spiritual forces opposed to God, reminding us of the spiritual warfare we face.
  • God's Sovereignty Prevails: Even these terrifying entities operate strictly within the boundaries set by God (they cannot harm those divinely protected), assuring us that God remains in ultimate control, even amidst chaos and judgment.
  • The Need for Spiritual Preparedness: The distinction between those sealed by God and those not highlights the importance of faith, repentance, and spiritual readiness in the face of tribulation and the coming judgments.

Ultimately, this verse underscores the severe consequences for those who reject God's truth, while simultaneously offering comfort to believers in the promise of divine protection and ultimate victory.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Joel 1:6

    For a nation is come up upon my land, strong, and without number, whose teeth [are] the teeth of a lion, and he hath the cheek teeth of a great lion.

  • 1 Corinthians 11:14

    Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him?

  • 1 Corinthians 11:15

    But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for [her] hair is given her for a covering.

  • 1 Peter 3:3

    Whose adorning let it not be that outward [adorning] of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel;

  • 2 Kings 9:30

    ¶ And when Jehu was come to Jezreel, Jezebel heard [of it]; and she painted her face, and tired her head, and looked out at a window.

  • 1 Timothy 2:9

    ¶ In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array;

  • Isaiah 3:24

    And it shall come to pass, [that] instead of sweet smell there shall be stink; and instead of a girdle a rent; and instead of well set hair baldness; and instead of a stomacher a girding of sackcloth; [and] burning instead of beauty.

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