And the third part of the creatures which were in the sea, and had life, died; and the third part of the ships were destroyed.
Parallel translations
- WEB and one third of the living creatures which were in the sea died. One third of the ships were destroyed.
- BSB a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed.
- NKJV And a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed.
- NASB and a third of the creatures which were in the sea and had life, died; and a third of the ships were destroyed.
- NLT one-third of all things living in the sea died, and one-third of all the ships on the sea were destroyed.
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
A third of the sea creatures die and a third of the ships are destroyed. The second judgment brings real loss of life and commerce, yet remains partial.
Overview
The death of sea life and wrecking of ships show the judgment touching both nature and human livelihood. The persistent 'one third' underscores God's restraint, leaving most untouched as a summons to repentance. These measured blows display God's justice while still holding back full and final judgment.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 9
- Isa 2:16And upon all the ships of Tarshish, and upon all pleasant pictures.
- Rev 16:3And the second angel poured out his vial upon the sea; and it became as the blood of a dead man: and every living soul died in the sea.
- 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.
- Rev 8:12And the fourth angel sounded, and the third part of the sun was smitten, and the third part of the moon, and the third part of the stars; so as the third part of them was darkened, and the day shone not for a third part of it, and the night likewise.
- Rev 8:10And the third angel sounded, and there fell a great star from heaven, burning as it were a lamp, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters;
- Ps 48:7Thou breakest the ships of Tarshish with an east wind.
- Zech 13:8And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith the LORD, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein.
- Exod 7:21And the fish that was in the river died; and the river stank, and the Egyptians could not drink of the water of the river; and there was blood throughout all the land of Egypt.
- Isa 23:1The burden of Tyre. Howl, ye ships of Tarshish; for it is laid waste, so that there is no house, no entering in: from the land of Chittim it is revealed to them.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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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 8:9 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
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.