They had hair like that of women, and teeth like those of lions.
Parallel translations
- WEB They had hair like women’s hair, and their teeth were like those of lions.
- KJV And they had hair as the hair of women, and their teeth were as the teeth of lions.
- NKJV They had hair like women’s hair, and their teeth were like lions’ teeth.
- NASB They had hair like the hair of women, and their teeth were like the teeth of lions.
- NLT They had hair like women’s hair and teeth like the teeth of a lion.
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
They have hair like women's and teeth like lions'. The details add to their fierce, devouring, and unnatural appearance.
Overview
Continuing the grotesque portrait, the long hair may suggest wildness or terror, while lions' teeth (Joel 1:6) convey ferocity and destructive power. Each feature deepens the sense of a terrifying, otherworldly foe. The accumulation of images is meant to impress the reader with the dreadfulness of demonic affliction. Such a foe is no match, however, for the Lion of the tribe of Judah who has triumphed (Revelation 5:5).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 7
- Joel 1:6For a nation has invaded My land, powerful and without number; its teeth are the teeth of a lion, and its fangs are the fangs of a lioness.
- 1 Pet 3:3Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair or gold jewelry or fine clothes,
- 1 Cor 11:14–15Doesn’t nature itself teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a disgrace to him,
- 1 Tim 2:9Likewise, I want the women to adorn themselves with respectable apparel, with modesty, and with self-control, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or expensive clothes,
- 2 Kgs 9:30Now when Jehu arrived in Jezreel, Jezebel heard of it. So she painted her eyes, adorned her head, and looked down from a window.
- Isa 3:24Instead of fragrance there will be a stench; instead of a belt, a rope; instead of styled hair, baldness; instead of fine clothing, sackcloth; instead of beauty, shame.
- Ps 57:4My soul is among the lions; I lie down with ravenous beasts—with men whose teeth are spears and arrows, whose tongues are sharp swords.
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 9:8 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.