And the name of the star is called Wormwood: and the third part of the waters became wormwood; and many men died of the waters, because they were made bitter.
Parallel translations
- WEB The name of the star is called “Wormwood.” One third of the waters became wormwood. Many people died from the waters, because they were made bitter.
- BSB The name of the star is Wormwood. A third of the waters turned bitter like wormwood oil, and many people died from the bitter waters.
- NKJV The name of the star is Wormwood. A third of the waters became wormwood, and many men died from the water, because it was made bitter.
- NASB The star is named Wormwood; and a third of the waters became wormwood, and many people died from the waters because they were made bitter.
- NLT The name of the star was Bitterness. It made one-third of the water bitter, and many people died from drinking the bitter water.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The third trumpet brings a star called Wormwood that poisons a third of fresh water, killing many. It pictures God turning a vital source of life bitter as a judgment on a rebellious world.
Overview
Following the first two trumpets, the third strikes the rivers and springs, the supply of fresh water. "Wormwood" names a bitter plant associated in the Old Testament with sorrow and judgment (Jeremiah 9:15; Lamentations 3:19). Echoing the plagues on Egypt where water was made undrinkable, the vision warns that those who reject God find even life's blessings turned to death. It points ahead to the gospel offer of living water (John 4; Revelation 22:17) freely given to the thirsty in Christ.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 12
- Jer 23:15Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts concerning the prophets; Behold, I will feed them with wormwood, and make them drink the water of gall: for from the prophets of Jerusalem is profaneness gone forth into all the land.
- Jer 9:15Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will feed them, even this people, with wormwood, and give them water of gall to drink.
- Deut 29:18Lest there should be among you man, or woman, or family, or tribe, whose heart turneth away this day from the LORD our God, to go and serve the gods of these nations; lest there should be among you a root that beareth gall and wormwood;
- Prov 5:4But her end is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a two-edged sword.
- Amos 6:12Shall horses run upon the rock? will one plow there with oxen? for ye have turned judgment into gall, and the fruit of righteousness into hemlock:
- Amos 5:7Ye who turn judgment to wormwood, and leave off righteousness in the earth,
- Lam 3:19Remembering mine affliction and my misery, the wormwood and the gall.
- Ruth 1:20And she said unto them, Call me not Naomi, call me Mara: for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me.
- Heb 12:15Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;
- Lam 3:5He hath builded against me, and compassed me with gall and travail.
- Exod 15:23And when they came to Marah, they could not drink of the waters of Marah, for they were bitter: therefore the name of it was called Marah.
- Rev 8:7The first angel sounded, and there followed hail and fire mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth: and the third part of trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up.
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Christ at the center
Revelation ends the story with the slain-yet-standing Lamb who is worthy, the Lion of Judah, the Alpha and Omega, the returning King who makes all things new and dwells with his people forever.
How Revelation 8:11 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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