Revelation 9:19
New International Version
The power of the horses was in their mouths and in their tails; for their tails were like snakes, having heads with which they inflict injury.

New Living Translation
Their power was in their mouths and in their tails. For their tails had heads like snakes, with the power to injure people.

English Standard Version
For the power of the horses is in their mouths and in their tails, for their tails are like serpents with heads, and by means of them they wound.

Berean Standard Bible
For the power of the horses was in their mouths and in their tails; indeed, their tails were like snakes, having heads with which to inflict harm.

Berean Literal Bible
For the powers of the horses are in their mouths and in their tails; for their tails are like serpents having heads, and with them they injure.

King James Bible
For their power is in their mouth, and in their tails: for their tails were like unto serpents, and had heads, and with them they do hurt.

New King James Version
For their power is in their mouth and in their tails; for their tails are like serpents, having heads; and with them they do harm.

New American Standard Bible
For the power of the horses is in their mouths and in their tails; for their tails are like serpents and have heads, and with them they do harm.

NASB 1995
For the power of the horses is in their mouths and in their tails; for their tails are like serpents and have heads, and with them they do harm.

NASB 1977
For the power of the horses is in their mouths and in their tails; for their tails are like serpents and have heads; and with them they do harm.

Legacy Standard Bible
For the power of the horses is in their mouths and in their tails; for their tails are like serpents, having heads, and with them they do harm.

Amplified Bible
For the power of the horses [to do harm] is in their mouths and in their tails; for their tails are like serpents and have heads, and it is with them that they do harm.

Christian Standard Bible
For the power of the horses is in their mouths and in their tails, because their tails, which resemble snakes, have heads that inflict injury.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
For the power of the horses is in their mouths and in their tails, for their tails, which resemble snakes, have heads, and they inflict injury with them.

American Standard Version
For the power of the horses is in their mouth, and in their tails: for their tails are like unto serpents, and have heads; and with them they hurt.

Contemporary English Version
The horses had powerful mouths, and their tails were like poisonous snakes that bite and hurt.

English Revised Version
For the power of the horses is in their mouth, and in their tails: for their tails are like unto serpents, and have heads; and with them they do hurt.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The power of these horses is in their mouths and their tails. (Their tails have heads like snakes which they use to hurt people.)

Good News Translation
For the power of the horses is in their mouths and also in their tails. Their tails are like snakes with heads, and they use them to hurt people.

International Standard Version
For the power of these horses is in their mouths and their tails. Their tails have heads like snakes, which they use to inflict pain.

Majority Standard Bible
For the power of the horses was in their mouths and in their tails; indeed, their tails were like snakes, having heads with which to inflict harm.

NET Bible
For the power of the horses resides in their mouths and in their tails, because their tails are like snakes, having heads that inflict injuries.

New Heart English Bible
For the power of the horses is in their mouths, and in their tails. For their tails are like serpents, and have heads, and with them they harm.

Webster's Bible Translation
For their power is in their mouth, and in their tails: for their tails were like to serpents, and had heads, and with them they do hurt.

Weymouth New Testament
For the power of the horses is in their mouths and in their tails; their tails being like serpents, and having heads, and it is with them that they inflict injury.

World English Bible
For the power of the horses is in their mouths and in their tails. For their tails are like serpents, and have heads; and with them they harm.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
for the power of the horses are in their mouth, and in their tails, for their tails [are] like serpents, having heads, and they injure with them.

Berean Literal Bible
For the powers of the horses are in their mouths and in their tails; for their tails are like serpents having heads, and with them they injure.

Young's Literal Translation
for their authorities are in their mouth, and in their tails, for their tails are like serpents, having heads, and with them they do injure;

Smith's Literal Translation
For their powers are in their month, and in their tails: for their tails like serpents, having heads, and with them they injure.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
For the power of the horses is in their mouths, and in their tails. For, their tails are like to serpents, and have heads: and with them they hurt.

Catholic Public Domain Version
For the power of these horses is in their mouths and in their tails. For their tails resemble serpents, having heads; and it is with these that they cause harm.

New American Bible
For the power of the horses is in their mouths and in their tails; for their tails are like snakes, with heads that inflict harm.

New Revised Standard Version
For the power of the horses is in their mouths and in their tails; their tails are like serpents, having heads; and with them they inflict harm.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
For the power of the horses was in their mouths, and in their tails: for their tails were like unto serpents and had heads, and with them they do harm.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
Because the power of the horses was in their mouths, and also in their tails.
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
For their power was in their mouth and in their tails; for their tails were like serpents, and had heads, and with them they do injury.

Godbey New Testament
For the power of the horses is in their mouth, and in their tails: for their tails are like serpents, having heads, and with them they do hurt.

Haweis New Testament
For their powers are in their mouth, and in their tails; for their tails are like serpents, having heads, and with them they do hurt.

Mace New Testament
for the power of these horses is in their mouths, and in their tails: for their tails were like serpents, and had heads, with which they do mischief.

Weymouth New Testament
For the power of the horses is in their mouths and in their tails; their tails being like serpents, and having heads, and it is with them that they inflict injury.

Worrell New Testament
For the power of the horses is in their mouth and in their tails; for their tails are like serpents, having heads, and with them they hurt.

Worsley New Testament
For their power is in their mouth, and in their tails also; for their tails are like serpents, having heads: and with these likewise they do mischief.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Sixth Trumpet
18A third of mankind was killed by the three plagues of fire, smoke, and sulfur that proceeded from their mouths. 19For the power of the horses was in their mouths and in their tails; indeed, their tails were like snakes, having heads with which to inflict harm. 20Now the rest of mankind who were not killed by these plagues still did not repent of the works of their hands. They did not stop worshiping demons and idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone, and wood, which cannot see or hear or walk.…

Cross References
Isaiah 5:28-29
Their arrows are sharpened, and all their bows are strung. The hooves of their horses are like flint; their chariot wheels are like a whirlwind. / Their roaring is like that of a lion; they roar like young lions. They growl and seize their prey; they carry it away, and no one can rescue it.

Joel 2:4-5
Their appearance is like that of horses, and they gallop like swift steeds. / With a sound like that of chariots they bound over the mountaintops, like the crackling of fire consuming stubble, like a mighty army deployed for battle.

Ezekiel 38:4
I 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.

Jeremiah 8:16
The snorting of enemy horses is heard from Dan. At the sound of the neighing of mighty steeds, the whole land quakes. They come to devour the land and everything in it, the city and all who dwell in it.

Nahum 3:2-3
The crack of the whip, the rumble of the wheel, galloping horse and bounding chariot! / Charging horseman, flashing sword, shining spear; heaps of slain, mounds of corpses, dead bodies without end—they stumble over their dead—

Psalm 58:4-6
Their venom is like the venom of a snake, like a cobra that shuts its ears, / refusing to hear the tune of the charmer who skillfully weaves his spell. / O God, shatter their teeth in their mouths; O LORD, tear out the fangs of the lions.

Deuteronomy 32:24
They will be wasted from hunger and ravaged by pestilence and bitter plague; I will send the fangs of wild beasts against them, with the venom of vipers that slither in the dust.

Isaiah 30:27-30
Behold, the Name of the LORD comes from afar, with burning anger and dense smoke. His lips are full of fury, and His tongue is like a consuming fire. / His breath is like a rushing torrent that rises to the neck. He comes to sift the nations in a sieve of destruction; He bridles the jaws of the peoples to lead them astray. / You will sing as on the night of a holy festival, and your heart will rejoice like one who walks to the music of a flute, going up to the mountain of the LORD, to the Rock of Israel. ...

Daniel 7:7
After this, as I watched in my vision in the night, suddenly a fourth beast appeared, and it was terrifying—dreadful and extremely strong—with large iron teeth. It devoured and crushed; then it trampled underfoot whatever was left. It was different from all the beasts before it, and it had ten horns.

Job 41:19-21
Firebrands stream from his mouth; fiery sparks shoot forth! / Smoke billows from his nostrils as from a boiling pot over burning reeds. / His breath sets coals ablaze, and flames pour from his mouth.

2 Kings 2:23-24
From there, Elisha went up to Bethel, and as he was walking up the road, a group of boys came out of the city and jeered at him, chanting, “Go up, you baldhead! Go up, you baldhead!” / Then he turned around, looked at them, and called down a curse on them in the name of the LORD. Suddenly two female bears came out of the woods and mauled forty-two of the boys.

Matthew 24:28
Wherever there is a carcass, there the vultures will gather.

Luke 10:19
Behold, I have given you authority to tread on snakes and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy. Nothing will harm you.

2 Thessalonians 2:9-10
The coming of the lawless one will be accompanied by the working of Satan, with every kind of power, sign, and false wonder, / and with every wicked deception directed against those who are perishing, because they refused the love of the truth that would have saved them.

Hebrews 10:27
but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume all adversaries.


Treasury of Scripture

For their power is in their mouth, and in their tails: for their tails were like to serpents, and had heads, and with them they do hurt.

in their tails.

Revelation 9:10
And they had tails like unto scorpions, and there were stings in their tails: and their power was to hurt men five months.

Isaiah 9:15
The ancient and honourable, he is the head; and the prophet that teacheth lies, he is the tail.

Ephesians 4:14
That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

Jump to Previous
Authorities Harm Heads Horses Hurt Inflict Injure Injury Means Mouth Mouths Power Serpents Snakes Tails Wound Wounds
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Authorities Harm Heads Horses Hurt Inflict Injure Injury Means Mouth Mouths Power Serpents Snakes Tails Wound Wounds
Revelation 9
1. At the sounding of the fifth angel, a star falls from heaven, to whom is given the key to the bottomless pit.
2. He opens the pit, and there come forth locusts like scorpions.
12. The first woe past.
13. The sixth trumpet sounds.
14. Four angels who were bound are let loose.














For the power of the horses was in their mouths and in their tails;
This phrase highlights the dual nature of the destructive power possessed by these symbolic horses. In biblical symbolism, the mouth often represents speech or proclamation, suggesting that the power in their mouths could symbolize deceptive or destructive messages. The tails, likened to snakes, indicate a hidden, insidious danger. This duality of power can be seen as a representation of both overt and covert forms of spiritual or physical attack. The imagery of horses with such power may also connect to the four horsemen of the apocalypse earlier in Revelation, who bring various forms of judgment upon the earth.

indeed, their tails were like snakes,
The comparison of the tails to snakes evokes the image of the serpent in Genesis, which is often associated with Satan and deception. This imagery suggests that the harm inflicted by these creatures is not only physical but also spiritual, involving deceit and leading people away from truth. Snakes in the ancient world were often seen as symbols of danger and cunning, reinforcing the idea of a subtle, yet deadly threat.

having heads with which to inflict harm.
The presence of heads on the tails emphasizes the intentional and directed nature of the harm caused. This could symbolize false teachings or ideologies that lead people astray, as heads often represent authority or leadership. The ability to inflict harm suggests a period of intense spiritual warfare or tribulation, aligning with the broader themes of judgment and testing found throughout Revelation. This imagery may also connect to the prophetic warnings in the Old Testament about false prophets and leaders who mislead the people of God.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Horses
Symbolic creatures in John's vision, representing agents of judgment and destruction.

2. Tails like Snakes
The tails of these horses are described as serpentine, indicating deception and harm.

3. Heads on Tails
The heads on the tails suggest intelligence and intentionality in their destructive power.

4. Infliction of Harm
The primary action of these creatures, emphasizing the severity of the judgment.

5. Vision of John
The Apostle John receives this vision while exiled on the island of Patmos, as part of the larger revelation of end-time events.
Teaching Points
Symbolism of Judgment
The imagery of horses with serpentine tails highlights the multifaceted nature of divine judgment, combining both overt power and subtle deception.

Deception and Harm
The description of the tails as snakes with heads underscores the cunning and intentional nature of evil. Believers must be vigilant against deceptive influences that seek to harm spiritually.

Spiritual Warfare
This passage reminds Christians of the reality of spiritual warfare, where the enemy uses both direct and indirect means to inflict harm. Believers are called to be spiritually discerning and equipped with the armor of God.

Authority in Christ
Despite the fearsome imagery, Christians can take comfort in the authority given by Christ over all forms of evil, as seen in other scriptural assurances.

Endurance in Tribulation
The passage serves as a call for perseverance and faithfulness amidst trials, trusting in God's ultimate justice and sovereignty.Verse 19. - For their power is in their mouth, and in their tails; for the power f the horses is, etc. Another example of disagreement between Erasmus and all the Greek manuscripts (see on ver. 10). For their tails were like unto serpents, and had heads, and with them they do hurt. "Are like," and "have heads," in the present tense. Here (unlike ver. 10) the tails are like serpents themselves. The image is not uncommon among the ancients. We may paraphrase the passage thus: "Their power is for the most part in their mouth; but also, to some extent, in their tails; for their tails are like serpents," etc. An endless variety of interpretations have been given to these details, which are probably not intended to bear any distinct signification. Bengel refers to a species of serpent in which the head and tail were so alike as to be with difficulty distinguished; which he thinks may have suggested the image. Many apply it (though in different ways) to the Turkish horse, who fight as they retreat, etc.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
For
γὰρ (gar)
Conjunction
Strong's 1063: For. A primary particle; properly, assigning a reason.

the
(hē)
Article - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

power
ἐξουσία (exousia)
Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 1849: From exesti; privilege, i.e. force, capacity, competency, freedom, or mastery, delegated influence.

of the
τῶν (tōn)
Article - Genitive Masculine Plural
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

horses
ἵππων (hippōn)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Plural
Strong's 2462: A horse. Of uncertain affinity; a horse.

was
ἐστιν (estin)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1510: I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.

in
ἐν (en)
Preposition
Strong's 1722: In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc.

their
αὐτῶν (autōn)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

mouths
στόματι (stomati)
Noun - Dative Neuter Singular
Strong's 4750: The mouth, speech, eloquence in speech, the point of a sword.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

in
ἐν (en)
Preposition
Strong's 1722: In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc.

their
αὐτῶν (autōn)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

tails;
οὐραῖς (ourais)
Noun - Dative Feminine Plural
Strong's 3769: A tail. Apparently a primary word; a tail.

indeed,
γὰρ (gar)
Conjunction
Strong's 1063: For. A primary particle; properly, assigning a reason.

their
αὐτῶν (autōn)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

tails
οὐραὶ (ourai)
Noun - Nominative Feminine Plural
Strong's 3769: A tail. Apparently a primary word; a tail.

[were] like
ὅμοιαι (homoiai)
Adjective - Nominative Feminine Plural
Strong's 3664: Like, similar to, resembling, of equal rank. From the base of homou; similar.

snakes,
ὄφεσιν (ophesin)
Noun - Dative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3789: Probably from optanomai; a snake, figuratively, an artful malicious person, especially Satan.

having
ἔχουσαι (echousai)
Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Feminine Plural
Strong's 2192: To have, hold, possess. Including an alternate form scheo skheh'-o; a primary verb; to hold.

heads
κεφαλάς (kephalas)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Plural
Strong's 2776: From the primary kapto; the head, literally or figuratively.

with which
ἐν (en)
Preposition
Strong's 1722: In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc.

to inflict harm.
ἀδικοῦσιν (adikousin)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 91: To act unjustly towards, injure, harm. From adikos; to be unjust, i.e. do wrong.


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NT Prophecy: Revelation 9:19 For the power of the horses (Rev. Re Apocalypse)
Revelation 9:18
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