And a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third 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.
- KJV 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.
- BSB 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 2:16For all the ships of Tarshish, and for all pleasant imagery.
- Rev 16:3The second angel poured out his bowl into the sea, and it became blood as of a dead man. Every living thing in the sea died.
- Rev 8:7The first sounded, and there followed hail and fire, mixed with blood, and they were thrown to the earth. One third of the earth was burned up, and one third of the trees were burned up, and all green grass was burned up.
- Rev 8:12The fourth angel sounded, and one third of the sun was struck, and one third of the moon, and one third of the stars; so that one third of them would be darkened, and the day wouldn’t shine for one third of it, and the night in the same way.
- Rev 8:10The third angel sounded, and a great star fell from the sky, burning like a torch, and it fell on one third of the rivers, and on the springs of the waters.
- Ps 48:7With the east wind, you break the ships of Tarshish.
- Zech 13:8It shall happen that in all the land,” says Yahweh, “two parts in it will be cut off and die; but the third will be left in it.
- Exod 7:21The fish that were in the river died; and the river became foul, and the Egyptians couldn’t drink water from the river; and the blood was throughout all the land of Egypt.
- Isa 23:1The burden of Tyre. Howl, you ships of Tarshish! For it is laid waste, so that there is no house, no entering in. From the land of Kittim 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.