And to them it was given that they should not kill them, but that they should be tormented five months: and their torment was as the torment of a scorpion, when he striketh a man.
Parallel translations
- WEB They were given power not to kill them, but to torment them for five months. Their torment was like the torment of a scorpion, when it strikes a person.
- BSB The locusts were not given power to kill them, but only to torment them for five months, and their torment was like the stinging of a scorpion.
- NKJV And they were not given authority to kill them, but to torment them for five months. Their torment was like the torment of a scorpion when it strikes a man.
- NASB And they were not permitted to kill anyone, but to torment for five months; and their torment was like the torment of a scorpion when it stings a person.
- NLT They were told not to kill them but to torture them for five months with pain like the pain of a scorpion sting.
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 locusts may torment but not kill, for five months. The judgment is painful yet limited in scope and duration.
Overview
The torment, not death, marks this as a warning judgment still aimed at repentance. "Five months" matches the natural lifespan of locusts and signals a fixed, restrained period—evil cannot exceed God's appointed bounds. The scorpion-sting imagery conveys severe anguish without finality. God's restraint here displays patience, holding back full judgment to leave room for turning to Him.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 9
- Rev 9:10And they had tails like unto scorpions, and there were stings in their tails: and their power was to hurt men five months.
- Job 2:6And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, he is in thine hand; but save his life.
- Rev 9:3And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth: and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power.
- Rev 13:5And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.
- Dan 5:18–22O thou king, the most high God gave Nebuchadnezzar thy father a kingdom, and majesty, and glory, and honour:
- Rev 13:7And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.
- Rev 11:7And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them.
- John 19:11Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin.
- Dan 7:6After this I beheld, and lo another, like a leopard, which had upon the back of it four wings of a fowl; the beast had also four heads; and dominion was given to it.
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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 9:5 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.