And the number of mounted troops was two hundred million; I heard their number.
Parallel translations
- WEB The number of the armies of the horsemen was two hundred million. I heard the number of them.
- KJV And the number of the army of the horsemen were two hundred thousand thousand: and I heard the number of them.
- NKJV Now the number of the army of the horsemen was two hundred million; I heard the number of them.
- NASB The number of the armies of the horsemen was two hundred million; I heard the number of them.
- NLT I heard the size of their army, which was 200 million mounted troops.
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 vast army of two hundred million horsemen is unleashed. The sheer number conveys an overwhelming, terrifying force of judgment.
Overview
The colossal figure—literally "two myriads of myriads"—is symbolic of an innumerable, unstoppable host rather than a precise census. John notes he "heard the number," emphasizing its reality in the vision. This demonic or supernatural cavalry dwarfs any human army, picturing judgment beyond resistance. Such imagery presses the reader to seek refuge in God, for no earthly power can withstand the forces He commands.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 7
- Rev 7:4And I heard the number of those who were sealed, 144,000 from all the tribes of Israel:
- Dan 7:10A river of fire was flowing, coming out from His presence. Thousands upon thousands attended Him, and myriads upon myriads stood before Him. The court was convened, and the books were opened.
- Ps 68:17The chariots of God are tens of thousands—thousands of thousands are they; the Lord is in His sanctuary as He was at Sinai.
- Ezek 38:4I will turn you around, put hooks in your jaws, and bring you out with all your army—your horses, your horsemen in full armor, and a great company armed with shields and bucklers, all brandishing their swords.
- Dan 11:40At the time of the end, the king of the South will engage him in battle, but the king of the North will storm out against him with chariots, horsemen, and many ships, invading many countries and sweeping through them like a flood.
- Rev 5:11Then I looked, and I heard the voices of many angels and living creatures and elders encircling the throne, and their number was myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands.
- Ezek 23:6clothed in blue, governors and commanders, all desirable young men, horsemen mounted on steeds.
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 9:16 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.