Revelation 9:5
“And to them it was giuen that they should not kill them, but that they should be tormented fiue moneths, and their torment was as the torment of a Scorpion, when he striketh a man.”
1611 King James Version (KJV)
Viewing the original 1611 KJV with archaic English spelling.
Click to switch to the Standard KJV.
Revelation 9:5 Context
3And there came out of the smoke locusts vpon the earth, and vnto them was giuen power, as the Scorpions of the earth haue power. 4And it was commaunded them that they should not hurt the grasse of the earth, neither any greene thing, neither any tree: but only those men which haue not the seale of God in their foreheads. 5And to them it was giuen that they should not kill them, but that they should be tormented fiue moneths, and their torment was as the torment of a Scorpion, when he striketh a man. 6And in those daies shal men seeke death, and shall not finde it, and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them. 7And the shapes of the Locusts were like vnto horses prepared vnto battell, and on their heades were as it were crownes like golde, and their faces were as the faces of men.
Share This Verse:
Other Translations
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.
- King James Version
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 man.
- New American Standard Version (1995)
And it was given them 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 it striketh a man.
- American Standard Version (1901)
And orders were given them not to put them to death, but to give them great pain for five months: and their pain was as the pain from the wound of a scorpion.
- Basic English Bible
and it was given to them 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 it strikes a man.
- Darby Bible
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.
- Webster's Bible
Their mission was not to kill, but to cause awful agony for five months; and this agony was like that which a scorpion inflicts when it stings a man.
- Weymouth Bible
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.
- World English Bible
And it was youun to hem, that thei schulden not sle hem, but that thei schulden `be turmentid fyue monethis; and the turmentyng of hem, as the turmentyng of a scorpioun, whanne he smytith a man.
- Wycliffe Bible
and it was given to them that they may not kill them, but that they may be tormented five months, and their torment [is] as the torment of a scorpion, when it may strike a man;
- Youngs Literal Bible
- King James Version
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 man.
- New American Standard Version (1995)
And it was given them 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 it striketh a man.
- American Standard Version (1901)
And orders were given them not to put them to death, but to give them great pain for five months: and their pain was as the pain from the wound of a scorpion.
- Basic English Bible
and it was given to them 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 it strikes a man.
- Darby Bible
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.
- Webster's Bible
Their mission was not to kill, but to cause awful agony for five months; and this agony was like that which a scorpion inflicts when it stings a man.
- Weymouth Bible
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.
- World English Bible
And it was youun to hem, that thei schulden not sle hem, but that thei schulden `be turmentid fyue monethis; and the turmentyng of hem, as the turmentyng of a scorpioun, whanne he smytith a man.
- Wycliffe Bible
and it was given to them that they may not kill them, but that they may be tormented five months, and their torment [is] as the torment of a scorpion, when it may strike a man;
- Youngs Literal Bible
Bible commentary
Wesley's Notes for Revelation 9:5
9:5 Not to kill them - Very few of them were killed: in general, they were imprisoned and variously tormented.
People's Bible Notes for Revelation 9:5
Re 9:5 And to them it was given that they should not kill them. This either implies that the armies symbolized by the locusts should seek not to destroy the races they attacked, or that they should not destroy the empire assailed. But that they should be tormented five months. Their torment should continue five months, or 150 prophetic days. Since a day is a symbol of a year, this implies 150 years. And their torment [was] as the torment of a scorpion. Their warfare and torment shall be almost intolerable.