And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth: and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power.
3. the scorpions of the earth ] i.e. common natural scorpions: these infernal locusts are able to hurt men, as common scorpions are, but common locusts are not.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth – That is, they escaped from the pit with the smoke. At first they were mingled with the smoke, so that they were not distinctly seen, but when the smoke cleared away they appeared in great numbers. The idea seems to be, that the bottomless pit was filled with vapor and with those creatures, and that as soon as the gate was opened the whole contents expanded and burst forth upon the earth. The sun was immediately darkened, and the air was full, but the smoke soon cleared away, so that the locusts became distinctly visible. The appearance of these locusts is described in another part of the chapter, Rev 9:7 ff. The locust is a voracious insect belonging to the grasshopper or grylli genus, and is a great scourge in Oriental countries. A full description of the locust may be seen in Robinsons Calmet, and in Kittos Encyclo. vol. ii. pp. 258ff. There are ten Hebrew words to denote the locust, and there are numerous references to the destructive habits of the insect in the Scriptures. In fact, from their numbers and their destructive habits, there was scarcely any other plague that was so much dreaded in the East. Considered as a symbol, or emblem, the following remarks may be made in explanation:
(1) The symbol is Oriental, and would most naturally refer to something that was to occur in the East. As locusts have appeared chiefly in the East, and as they are in a great measure an Oriental plague, the mention of this symbol would most naturally turn the thoughts to that portion of the earth. The symbols of the first four trumpets had no special locality, and would suggest no particular part of the world; but on the mention of this, the mind would be naturally turned to the East, and we should expect to find that the scene of this woe would be located in the regions where the ravages of locusts most abounded. Compare, on this point, Elliott, Horae Apoc. i. 394-406. He has made it probable that the prophets, when they used symbolical language to denote any events, commonly, at least, employed those which had a local or geographical reference; thus, in the symbols derived from the vegetable kingdom, when Judah is to be symbolized, the olive, the vine, and the fig-tree are selected; when Egypt is referred to, the reed is chosen; when Babylon, the willow. And so, in the animal kingdom, the lion is the symbol of Judah; the wild ass, of the Arabs; the crocodile, of Egypt, etc. Whether this theory could be wholly carried out or not, no one can doubt that the symbol of locusts would most naturally suggest the Oriental world, and that the natural interpretation of the passage would lead us to expect its fulfillment there.
(2) Locusts were remarkable for their numbers – so great often as to appear like clouds, and to darken the sky. In this respect they would naturally be symbolical of numerous armies or hosts of men. This natural symbol of numerous armies is often employed by the prophets. Thus, in Jer 46:23;
Cut down her forests (i. e. her people, or cities), saith Jehovah,
That it may not be found on searching;
Although they surpass the locusts in multitude,
And they are without number.
So in Nah 3:15;
There shall the fire devour thee;
The sword shall cut thee off; it shall devour thee as the locust,
Increase thyself as the numerous locusts.
So also in Nah 3:17;
Thy crowned princes are as the numerous locusts,
And thy captains as the grasshoppers;
Which encamp in the fences in the cold day,
But when the sun ariseth they depart,
And their place is not known where they were.
See also Deu 28:38, Deu 28:42; Psa 78:46; Amo 7:1. Compare Jdg 6:3-6; Jdg 7:12; and Joe 1:2.
(3) Locusts are an emblem of desolation or destruction. No symbol of desolation could be more appropriate or striking than this, for one of the most remarkable properties of locusts is, that they devour every green thing and leave a land perfectly waste. They do this even when what they destroy is not necessary for their own sustenance. Locusts seem to devour not so much from a ravenous appetite as from a rage for destroying. Destruction, therefore, and not food, is the chief impulse of their devastations, and in this consists their utility; they are, in fact, omnivorous. The most poisonous plants are indifferent to them; they will prey even upon the crowfoot, whose causticity burns even the hides of beasts. They simply consume everything, without predilection – vegetable matter, linens, woolens, silk, leather, etc.; and Pliny does not exaggerate when he says, fores quoque tectorum – even the doors of houses – for they have been known to consume the very varnish of furniture. They reduce everything indiscriminately to shreds, which become manure (Kittos Encyclopedia ii. 263). Locusts become, therefore, a most striking symbol of an all-devouring army, and as such are often referred to in Scripture. So also in Josephus, de Bello Jude book v. ch. vii.: As after locusts we see the woods stripped of their leaves, so, in the rear of Simons army, nothing but devastation remained. The natural application of this symbol, then, is to a numerous and destructive army, or to a great multitude of people committing ravages, and sweeping off everything in their march.
And unto them was given power – This was something that was imparted to them beyond their ordinary nature. The locust in itself is not strong, and is not a symbol of strength. Though destructive in the extreme, yet neither as individuals, nor as combined, are they distinguished for strength. Hence, it is mentioned as a remarkable circumstance that they had such power conferred on them.
As the scorpions of the earth have power – The phrase the earth seems to have been introduced here because these creatures are said to have come up from the bottomless pit, and it was natural to compare them with some well-known objects found on the earth. The scorpion is an animal with eight feet, eight eyes, and a long, jointed tail, ending in a pointed weapon or sting. It is the largest and the most malignant of all the insect tribes. It somewhat resembles the lobster in its general appearance, but is much more hideous. See the notes on Luk 10:19. Those found in Europe seldom exceed four inches in length, but in tropical climates, where they abound, they are often found twelve inches long. There are few animals more formidable, and none more irascible, than the scorpion. Goldsmith states that Maupertuis put about a hundred of them together in the same glass, and that as soon as they came into contact they began to exert all their rage in mutual destruction, so that in a few days there remained but fourteen, which had killed and devoured all the rest.
The sting of the scorpion, Dr. Shaw states, is not always fatal; the malignity of their venom being in proportion to their size and complexion. The torment of a scorpion, when he strikes a man, is thus described by Dioscorides, lib. 7:cap. 7, as cited by Mr. Taylor: When the scorpion has stung, the place becomes inflamed and hardened; it reddens by tension, and is painful by intervals, being now chilly, now burning. The pain soon rises high, and rages, sometimes more, sometimes less. A sweating succeeds, attended by a shivering and trembling; the extremities of the body become cold, the groin swells, the hair stands on end, the members become pale, and the skin feels throughout the sensation of a perpetual pricking, as if by needles (Fragments to Calmets Dic. vol. iv. p. 376, 377). The tail of the scorpion is long, and formed after the manner of a string of beads, the last larger than the others, and longer; at the end of which are, sometimes, two stings which are hollow, and filled with a cold poison, which it ejects into the part which it stings (Calmets Dic.). The sting of the scorpion, therefore, becomes the emblem of what causes acute and dangerous suffering. On this comparison with scorpions see the remark of Niebuhr, quoted in the notes on Rev 9:7.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 3. Locusts] Vast hordes of military troops: the description which follows certainly agrees better with the Saracens than with any other people or nation, but may also apply to the Romans.
As the scorpions of the earth have power.] Namely, to hurt men by stinging them. Scorpions may signify archers; and hence the description has been applied to Cestius Gallus, the Roman general, who had many archers in his army.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth; from the influence which the devil thus let loose had upon the world, came forth a generation of men, that in their practices resembled locusts. Who are to be understood by these locusts, is not easy to resolve. The locusts were an insect with which God sometimes plagued the Egyptians; they are much in the Eastcrn countries. It was an east wind which brought them upon Egypt, Exo 10:12,13. God often hath punished people with them, they are therefore threatened, or mentioned as a judgment in case of disobedience, Deu 28:38,42; 1Ki 8:37; Joe 1:4; Joe 2:25. Two things are to be remarked of them:
1. They were wont to go in infinite numbers: Pro 30:27; They go forth by bands: Nah 3:15, Make thyself many as the locusts: without number, Psa 105:34.
2. The mischief they do is expressed there, Psa 105:35, to eat up the herbs of the land, and to devour the fruit of the ground: so they did in Egypt.
We have a little specimen of them in our caterpillars in times of drought, usually caused from the wind hanging long in the east. The psalmist, Psa 105:34, joineth the locusts and the caterpillars together. By the following description of these locusts, and the mischief which they did, Rev 9:4,7-10, it appeareth plainly that these were no natural, but metaphorical locusts, men that, for their numbers and the mischief they did in the world, did resemble locusts; but who these were is the question. I find but two opinions that have any probability: the one is of a late learned writer, who judgeth them the popish clergy, to whom, indeed, many things agree.
1. They come out of the smoke, that is, the great influence which the devil hath upon the world.
2. They are numerous.
3. Their king is Abaddon; they destroy every green herb, nipping religion, in all places, in the bud.
But I cannot see how two or three things can agree to them:
1. That they do no hurt to the Lords sealed ones, whenas their particular malice is against the purest and strictest profession.
2. That they do not kill, but only torment men, Rev 9:5.
3. And (which is the greatest) I cannot see how the period of time agreeth to them.
For this prophecy seemeth to respect the sixth and seventh age; and though all these things agree to the Romish clergy in later ages, especially since the Jesuits grew numerous, which is not much above one hundred and twenty years since, yet these three did not so agree to the Romish clergy in the sixth and seventh age. Their Benedictine orders began but in the year 530, and their orders of Dominicans, much more mischievous, not till upwards of the year 1200; the Jesuits, after the year 1500. I therefore rather agree with the learned and judicious Mr. Mede, with whom I also find John Napier and others agreeing, that by these locusts are meant the Turks and Saracens.
1. Their time agreeth; for they first appeared formidably to the world about the year 620.
2. They were always very numerous.
3. They came the locusts road, from Arabia, and the eastern parts.
The Arabians (which the Saracens are) are called the children of the east, and said to be like grasshoppers for multitude. Two things are objected:
1. That these locusts are commanded not to hurt the Lords sealed ones.
2. That their commission is but for five months.
As to the latter, we shall speak to it when we come to that clause. As to the former, why may it not denote the liberty that in their conquests they generally give to all religions, so as they put none to death upon that account? How far other things will agree to them, I leave to be further considered in the next verses.
And unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power; that is, such a power as scorpions have. We shall have a more particular account of this, Rev 9:10.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
3. uponGreek, “unto,”or “into.”
as the scorpions of theearthas contrasted with the “locusts” which come upfrom hell, and are not “of the earth.”
have powernamely, tosting.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And there came out of the smoke locusts the earth,…. Not literally, for these locusts might not meddle with the grass, nor any green thing, or tree, as locusts do, only men, Re 9:4; and had a king over them, Re 9:11; which locusts have not, Pr 30:27, though the allusion is to such, which spawn and breed in pits, and may be properly said to come out of them; hence in the Hebrew tongue they are called , from , “a pit”, or “ditch”: nor are devils intended, though they may be compared to locusts for their original, hell, or the bottomless pit; and for their numbers, we read of a legion of them in one man; and for their hurtful and mischievous nature: nor are the Goths and Vandals designed; these, though they harassed some parts of the eastern empire, yet chiefly the western; besides, they appeared under the former trumpets: but these are to be understood of the western and eastern locusts, especially the latter. The western locusts are the clergy of the church of Rome, cardinals, bishops, priests, monks, and friars, of every order; these were not instituted by Christ, but rose out of the bottomless pit, from the antichristian smoke of councils, decrees, and traditions; and are fitly compared to locusts for their number, which have been almost as the sand of the sea innumerable, and have spread themselves all over the nations of the earth, that have gone by the name of Christendom; and for their devouring nature, living in plenty and idleness, upon the fat of the land, in the best commons, glutting themselves with the spoils of others, devouring widows’ houses, and impoverishing countries and kingdoms wherever they come. The eastern locusts are the Saracens, and who are chiefly designed; and who were to harass and distress the eastern empire, and prepare for its ruin, which is brought on under the next trumpet by the Turks. These are fitly signified by locusts, because the locusts generally come out of the eastern parts: it was an east wind which brought the plague of locusts into Egypt, Ex 10:13; and the children of the east, the Arabians, are compared to grasshoppers, or locusts, in Jud 7:12; and one of the names of a locust is , “Arbeh”, not much unlike in sound to an Arab. To which may be added, that it is a tradition of the Arabians, that there fell locusts into the hands of Mahomet, on whose backs and wings were written these words;
“we are the army of the most high God; we are the ninety and nine eggs, and if the hundred should be made perfect, we should consume the whole world, and whatever is in it.”
And it was a law established by Mahomet, ye shall not kill the locusts, for they are the army of the most high God; and the Mahometans fancy that the locusts were made of the same clay as Adam was: and besides the tradition before mentioned, they say, that as Mahomet sat at table a locust fell, with these words on its back and wings;
“I am God, neither is there any Lord of the locusts besides me, who feed them; and when I please I send them to be food to the people, and when I please I send them to be a scourge unto them;”
hence his Saracens may well go by this name. Now these Saracens sprung up in the times of antichristian darkness, both Papal and Mahometan, and may be said to come out of the smoke of the bottomless pit; and the religion of Mahomet, which they embraced, was no other; and like locusts they were innumerable, they went in troops and bands, as locusts do, Pr 30:27; pillaging and ravaging all they could and their sudden and frequent incursions, the desolations and ravages which they made in the eastern empire, are very aptly expressed by the running to and fro of locusts; see
Isa 33:4.
And unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power; that is, to torment then, by striking them with their stings in their tails, Re 9:5. These are called “scorpions of the earth”, to distinguish them from sea scorpions, which are a kind of fish: so Aristotle d and e Pliny speak of terrestrial scorpions, which are the most hurtful; these are of the serpentine kind have an innocent and harmless look, but are soon angry; have stings in their tails, which they are always striking with, that they may miss no opportunity of doing mischief, and with which they strike in an oblique way f; and which very fitly describes the Saracens, the race of the Ishmaelites, a generation of vipers, a subtle and treacherous sort of people, very furious and wrathful, and who lived by continual robbing and plundering of others at an unawares: and this may be applied to the western locusts, the monks and friars, who are the seed of the serpent; and who by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple, have a form of godliness, and speak lies in hypocrisy, and lie in wait to deceive; and being provoked, are full of wrath and anger, and strike very hard with their anathemas and excommunications, and other sorts of punishment, which they have power to inflict.
d Hist. Animal. l. 5. c. 26. e Hist. Nat. l. 51. c. 25. f Hist. Nat. l. 51. c. 25.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Locusts (). Also verse 7 and already in Matt 3:4; Mark 1:6 (diet of the Baptist). The Israelites were permitted to eat them, but when the swarms came like the eighth Egyptian plague (Ex 10:13ff.) they devoured every green thing. The smoke was worse than the fallen star and the locusts that came out of the smoke were worse still, “a swarm of hellish locusts” (Swete).
The scorpions ( ). Old name for a little animal somewhat like a lobster that lurks in stone walls in warm regions, with a venomous sting in its tail, in N.T. in Luke 10:19; Luke 11:12; Rev 9:3; Rev 9:5; Rev 9:10. The scorpion ranks with the snake as hostile to man.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
Locusts [] . The idea of this plague is from the eighth plague in Egypt (Exo 10:14, 15). Compare the description of a visitation of locusts in Joel 2. There are three Hebrew words in the Old Testament which appear to mean locust, probably signifying different species. Only this word is employed in the New Testament. Compare Mt 3:4; Mr 1:6.
Scorpions. See Eze 2:6; Luk 10:19; Luk 11:12. Shaped like a lobster, living in damp places, under stones, in clefts of walls, cellars, etc. The sting is in the extremity of the tail. The sting of the Syrian scorpion is not fatal, though very painful. The same is true of the West Indian scorpion. Thomson says that those of North Africa are said to be larger, and that their poison frequently causes death. The wilderness of Sinai is especially alluded to as being inhabited by scorpions at the time of the Exodus (Deu 8:15); and to this very day they are common in the same district. A part of the mountains bordering on Palestine in the south was named from these Akrabbim, Akrab being the Hebrew for scorpion.
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1) “And there came out of the smoke,” (kai ek tou kapnou ekselthon) “And there came forth out of the smoke,” out of the stench torments and dense smoke from the bottomless pit.
2) “Locusts upon the earth,” (akrides eis tes gen) “Locusts into the earth,” Locusts are repeatedly referred to in the scriptures as bringing devastating plagues in the East where fires and smoke are frequently used to obstruct or impede their consuming progress, Exo 10:12-15; Jdg 7:12; Joe 2:3.
3) “And unto them was given power,” (kai edothe autois eksousia) “And there was given over to them (the Locusts) administrative or functioning authority,” as creatures of devastating ruin and destruction to grass, herbs, fruit, trees and men and living animals whose livelihood comes from them, as in Exo 10:15.
4) “As the scorpions of the earth have power,” (hos echousin eksousian hoi skorpioi tes ges) “Just as, or like the stinging scorpions have functional, operative, or administering authority (power) of the earth;” Rev 9:10.
These 2 to 6 inch long lobster shaped animals have a very painful sting that annoys and sometimes brings death. Deu 8:15; Eze 2:6; Luk 10:19.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
(3) And there came . . .Better, And out of the smoke there came forth locusts upon the earth; and there was given to them power, as the scorpions of the earth (? land-scorpions) have power. The outcome of the gloom is the power of devastation and pain. We still have reference to the Egyptian plaguesthis time to the locusts (Exo. 10:12-15): They covered the face of the whole earth, so that the land was darkened. Similarly, Joel describes the darkening of the land through the plague of locusts (Joe. 2:3-10): The sun and the moon shall be dark, and the stars shall withdraw their shining. But the locusts of our vision are armed with the power of scorpions, to sting and to torture (Rev. 9:5): the scorpions are called scorpions of the earth. Some have thought that this expression is equivalent to land-scorpions, in contradistinction from so-called sea-scorpions. This hardly seems likely or necessary. Their power to torment men is the prominent idea. The locusts are not literal locusts: this scorpion- like power given to them is enough to convince us of this, even it the next verse did not clearly show it. The scorpion-like power seems to depict a malicious energy, as the locusts depict a devastating multitude.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
3. Came out Emerging from the smoky volume are flying locustine forms, the demoniac embodiments of hell-born error and seduction, authors of human misery.
Was given By divine destiny.
Scorpions of the earth Not in distinction from “scorpions of the sea,” as Stuart and others; but these supernatural or infernal locusts had a power symbolized by that of a natural earthly scorpion. They could poison and inflame the interior of humanity, the inner man, without killing immediately. So fiery flying serpents and scorpions are associated in Deu 8:15; Num 21:6. A similar association of serpents and scorpions, as symbols of the infernal to be trodden on by the holy, is Luk 10:19.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘And from the smoke locusts came out on the earth, and power was given to them as the scorpions of the earth have power. And it was said to them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, nor any green thing, nor any tree but only such men who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads.’
The description of then as ‘locusts’ connects with the plagues of Egypt (Exo 10:12) but there the likeness ends. These are not here to devour fields and grain, but to attack men directly like flying scorpions. But the attack is only to be upon such men as are not sealed by God. Thus will men as a whole undergo great spiritual tribulation. They are spiritual foes and will not therefore be visible. Men may well be unaware that these evil spirits are involved in what happens to them.
Again we are not told how widespread this would be. It would not necessarily be worldwide. They are described in terms of scorpions because of the fear in which the scorpion was held (Deu 8:15; Eze 2:6), almost unseen and then stinging viciously. John’s use of the descriptions of scorpions and serpents (Rev 9:19) has in mind that Jesus had given to His own the power to ‘tread on serpents and scorpions and over all the power of the Enemy’ (Luk 10:19). That is why these creatures cannot hurt those who have been sealed, the people of God (Rev 7:3), they are protected by the power of Christ.
‘It was said to them’. Again the indirect language points to God as the source. These too are, in the final analysis, under God’s control.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Rev 9:3. Locusts upon the earth: See Jdg_6:5 . Joe_1:6 . Bishop Newton interprets this part of the prophesy as follows: “At the sounding of the fifth trumpet, a star fallen from heaven, meaning the impostor Mohammed, opened the bottomless pit, and there arose a smoke out of the pit, and the sun and the air were darkened by it; that is, a false religion was set up, which filled the world with darkness and error; and swarms of Saracens, or Arabian locusts, overspread the earth. A false prophet is very fitly typified by a blazing star, or meteor. The Arabians likewise are properly compared to locusts, not only because numerous armies frequently are so; but because swarms of locusts often arise from Arabia. In the plagues of Egypt, to which constant allusion is made in thesetrumpets, the locusts are brought by an east wind (swordsearcher://bible/Exo_10:13 .), that is, from Arabia, which lay eastward of Egypt; and in the Book of Judges, ch. Rev 7:12. the people of Arabia are compared to locusts or grasshoppers for multitude; for, in the original, the word for both is the same. As the natural locusts are bred in pits and holes of the earth, so these mystical locusts are truly infernal, and proceed with the smoke from the bottomless pit.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
3 And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth: and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power.
Ver. 3. Locusts upon the earth ] So the monks, friars, Jesuits, &c., are fitly called for their numerosity and voracity. The Jesuits have sometimes maintained 200,000 scholars. The duke of Bavaria’s house is so pestered with them (saith one), that notwithstanding his great revenues, he is very poor, as spending all his estate upon those Popish flesh flies. Think the same of other princes and places where they are received.
As the scorpions of the earth ] They are the sorest soul sting (saith an interpreter) that ever the world had. Pliny testifieth of the scorpion, that there is not one minute wherein it doth not put forth a most venomous sting to do mischief. It creeps on crookedly, and so it strikes the more at unawares. Its sting is not so much felt at first, but soon proves incurable. It is of a very angry nature (saith one interpreter), and there is a word in the Greek tongue taken from a scorpion, signifying to exasperate and to provoke like a scorpion.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Rev 9:3-4 . The dense smoke resolves itself into a swarm of infernal demons in the form of locusts but rendered more formidable by their additional power of stinging like scorpions. Instead of preying on their natural food (Exo 10:15 ), already plagued (Rev 8:7 ) they are let loose upon men unmarked by the Divine seal (though the expected blast of winds is dropped), the idea being similar to that reproduced in Ps. Sol. 13:1 3, 4, 5, 15:1, 9 (see above, on Rev 8:3 ). The nations under command of Holofernes (Jdg 2:20 ) are also likened by the Jewish romancer to a swarm of innumerable locusts; and from the mouth of the beast in Hermas issue to persecute the virgin church. Josephus, too, compares the army of Simeon to locusts ( B. J. iv. 9 7). Why are trees (Rev 7:1 ) exempted? For the reason suggested in Ps. Sol. 11:6, 7?
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
locusts. Greek. akris. Here; Rev 9:7. Mat 3:4. Mar 1:6.
unto = to.
power. App-172.
scorpions. Greek. skorpios. Here; verses: Rev 9:5, Rev 9:10. Luk 10:19; Luk 11:12. As in Exo 10:14, these are no ordinary locusts, which “have no king” (Pro 30:27). See Rev 9:11 and compare Joe 2:25. Here “men” are the objects of their power to inflict hurt.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
locusts: Exo 10:4-15, Jdg 7:12, Isa 33:4, Joe 1:4, Joe 2:25, Nah 3:15, Nah 3:17
as: Rev 9:5, Rev 9:10, Rev 9:11, Deu 8:15, 1Ki 12:11, Eze 2:6, Luk 10:19
Reciprocal: Exo 10:14 – the locusts 2Ch 6:28 – locusts 2Ch 10:11 – scorpions Psa 105:34 – the locusts Pro 30:27 – The locusts Act 28:5 – felt
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Rev 9:3. We still have symbols but they are more definite. The smoke proves to have been a “smoke screen” that enclosed a swarm of locusts. That explained why the sun was darkened by the “smoke” in the preceding verse. It has been known many times that this insect comes in such great numbers as to have the effect of a cloud that obscures the sun. In selecting a symbol the Lord would call attention to some literal fact that would truly represent some other fact or truth that is not literal. This swarm of locusts was the clergy of Rome acting on behalf of the apostate church, otherwise called Babylon the Great. As the swarm of locusts obscured the sun so the clergy of Rome would prevent the people from having the full benefit of the “Sun of Righteousness” (Mal 4:2). Scorpions is described by Thayer as follows: “The name of a little animal, somewhat resembling a lobster, which in warm regions [such as Hades, E.M.Z.] lurks especially in stone walls; it has a poisonous sting in its tail.”
Comments by Foy E. Wallace
Verse 3.
Locusts upon the earth: “And 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 9:3.
In Bible times the word locust was applied as widely and as loosely, it seems, as the word worm in our various uses. But in scripture apocalypses, both Old and New, the reference is to a large and vile insect of such multiplicity and voracity as to be a dreaded source of scourge. These insects borne by the wind in swift swarms hundreds of miles were known to the people of Palestine as “burners of the land,” a phrase derived from the literal meaning of “locust.” It was their nature to be together, flying in vast numbers, spoiling the grain, infecting the part they did not eat, and poisoning the very air through which they swarmed. A scourge of locusts ended with the decomposition of several millions of the vile things, and resulted in pestilence that afflicted the land, with heavy death toll. (Joe 2:20) One historical example is on record as occurring 125 B.C., when the swarms were driven by strong winds into the sea, and washed back by the tide in such vast numbers as to cause a stench and a plague from which several thousand people died in the countries of Libya, Cyrene and Egypt.
From the time of Moses they were the instruments of divine judgment as in Exo 10:4-15; Deu 28:38-42; 1Ki 8:37. The prophet Joel makes this locust the figurative instrument of fearful visitation in his vivid description of the devastating march of the Assyrian armies through the land. (Joe 2:9-11.)
It is this symbolic locust, swarming from the smoke of the abyss as a scourge “upon the earth,” that is employed in the vision here, to signify the woe being pronounced by the angel of the fifth trumpet upon Jerusalem and the land of the Jews. By the same symbol Joel described the invading armies of Israel”s Old Testament history (Joe 1:4-6)–a striking parallel.
Unto them was given power as the scorpions of earth: The scorpion is described as a small venomous reptile (Deu 8:15) having a bladder full of poison. Its anatomical description gives it two eyes in its mid-head, and another two eyes toward its extremity; with two arms like claws, eight legs with six talons each; a long tail like a string of beads, with two stingers full of poison, which it squirts into the object of its sting. This creature is used in the scripture figuratively to denote the wicked who torment the good. (Eze 2:6) Jesus used it as a figure in promising his disciples power over every evil thing or agent that Satan could employ to their hurt (Luk 10:19). In the present vision of chapter 9 the locusts from the abyss were “given” the power of the scorpions of the earth–signifying the affiliation of all the evil forces of the infernal underworld to be personified in the characters of wicked rulers.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Rev 9:3. Out of the smoke, we are next told, there came forth locusts into the earth. We need not ask whether these locusts came out of the well, or only out of the smoke after it reached the surface of the earth. The latter is all that the Seer beholds, but it cannot be doubted that he looks upon the plague as demoniacal in its origin. The locusts are compared with locusts of the earth, and they have given unto them the frightful power of destruction belonging to the latter. The idea of the plague is no doubt taken in the first instance from the Egyptian plague of the same kind (Exo 10:14-15); but a similar image of terrible and irresistible destruction is frequently employed by the prophets (Psa 105:34; Jer 46:23; and especially Joe 2:1-2).
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
Since they do not eat grass or other green plants, we know these locusts should be taken figuratively. Out of the smoke of sin and delusion comes lies and false doctrine. Scorpions have a very painful, but rarely fatal sting. Christians are not hurt by lies and false doctrine because they have the truth. Obviously the limitation is a spiritual one since lies and false doctrines can lead to many deaths, as was the case duringWorld War II which was brought on by the Nazi lies.
Fuente: Gary Hampton Commentary on Selected Books
Verse 3
Locusts, representing ravaging armies.
Fuente: Abbott’s Illustrated New Testament
9:3 {5} And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth: and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power.
(5) A description of the malignant spirits invading the world, taken from their nature, power, form and order. From their nature, for that they are like certain locust, in quickness, subtilty, hurtfulness, number, and such like, in this verse. From their power, for that they are as the scorpions of the earth, of a secret force to hurt: for our battle is not here with flesh and blood, but with powers Eph 6:12 This place of the power of the devils, generally noted in this verse, is particularly declared afterwards in Rev 9:4-6 .
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes
What he saw was probably literal locusts (cf. Exo 10:12-20). [Note: Newell, p. 129-32. Cf. Joel 1:6; 2:4-10.] Others have suggested that John saw modern instruments of warfare that looked like locusts. [Note: E.g., Hal Lindsey, The Late Great Planet Earth.] The Old Testament attests the destructive power of locusts (cf. Deu 28:38; 2Ch 7:13; Joe 2:25). They often swarmed in apparently limitless numbers (cf. Psa 105:34; Nah 3:15). Joel likened what would come on the earth in the day of the Lord to a locust invasion (Joel 1-2). The locust is a symbol of destruction throughout the Old Testament (cf. 1Ki 8:37; Psa 78:46). Yet the locusts John saw had the power to hurt people as scorpions can, which normal locusts do not. They also had a leader (Rev 9:11), which normal locusts do not (Pro 30:27). Probably these are demons who assume some of the characteristics of locusts. [Note: Moffatt, 5:406; Mounce, p. 194; Ladd, p. 131.] Spirit beings later appear as frogs (Rev 16:13). A less literal interpretation has seen these locusts as "the forces of evil which are active in the world" and "memories of the past brought home at times of Divine visitation, which hurt by recalling forgotten sins." [Note: Swete, pp. 116, 118.]
"Should we assume the prophet saw something like a motion picture of the future in his vision and then attempted to explain it in terms of images he understood? Or did he see a picture precisely in the images he gives, images which paint reality rather than describing it? Which description of those options is ’more literal’? Is it the one that focuses on how it might look to us, so we explain what he meant in words and images very different from the prophet’s terms and images? Or should one focus on how it looked to the prophet and how it appears in the ancient text? We would thus attempt to understand his words in their literary character, both by examining the image in context and the Old Testament images and background(s) it evokes." [Note: Darrell L. Bock, "Interpreting the Bible-How Texts Speak to Us," in Progressive Dispensationalism, p. 91.]
The writer just quoted believed John saw locusts.