REV 8:6-13

The First Four Trumpets

6And the seven angels holding the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound them.

7And the first sounded, and there came hail and fire mixed with blood, and it was thrown to the earth. And a third of the earth was burned up, and a third of the trees was burned up, and all the green fodder was burned up.

8And the second angel sounded, and something like a great mountain burning with fire was thrown into the sea. And a third of the sea became blood,

9and a third of the created things in the sea that had life died, and a third of the ships were destroyed.

10And the third angel sounded, and a great star fell from heaven, burning like a torch. And it fell upon a third of the rivers and upon the springs of water —

11and the name of the star is called Wormwood. And a third of the waters became wormwood, and many people died from the waters because they were made bitter.

12And the fourth angel sounded, and a third of the sun was struck and a third of the moon and a third of the stars, so that a third of them would be darkened and the day would not shine for a third of it, and likewise the night.

13And I looked, and I heard an eagle flying in the zenith saying with a loud voice: 'Woe, woe, woe to those dwelling on the earth, from the remaining trumpet blasts of the three angels who are about to sound!'

In the world it was spoken into

In the 1st-century Mediterranean world, natural disasters like hail, fire, and blood-red phenomena were often interpreted as divine portents or judgments. The imagery of hail and fire mixed with blood would evoke associations with the plagues of Egypt in Jewish tradition, signaling God’s intervention against disobedience. The destruction of a third of the earth, trees, and grass would resonate with agrarian societies heavily dependent on crops and livestock for survival. The casting of a fiery mountain into the sea, turning a third of it to blood, echoes ancient Near Eastern myths of cosmic upheaval and divine wrath, while also reflecting the Roman fear of volcanic eruptions, such as Vesuvius in 79 CE. Wormwood , a bitter herb, symbolized calamity and poison, aligning with Jewish apocalyptic literature where it represented divine judgment. The eagle’s cry from the zenith underscores the inescapable nature of this warning, as eagles were seen as messengers of the gods in Greco-Roman culture.

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How other translations render this

REV 8:6

KJV: And the seven angels which had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound.
BSB: And the seven angels with the seven trumpets prepared to sound them.
Koinōnos: And the seven angels holding the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound them.

REV 8:7

KJV: The first angel sounded, and there followed hail and fire mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth: and the third part of trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up.
BSB: Then the first angel sounded his trumpet, and hail and fire mixed with blood were hurled down upon the earth. A third of the earth was burned up, along with a third of the trees and all the green grass.
Koinōnos: And the first sounded, and there came hail and fire mixed with blood, and it was thrown to the earth. And a third of the earth was burned up, and a third of the trees was burned up, and all the green fodder was burned up.

REV 8:8

KJV: And the second angel sounded, and as it were a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea: and the third part of the sea became blood;
BSB: Then the second angel sounded his trumpet, and something like a great mountain burning with fire was thrown into the sea. A third of the sea turned to blood,
Koinōnos: And the second angel sounded, and something like a great mountain burning with fire was thrown into the sea. And a third of the sea became blood,

REV 8:9

KJV: And the third part of the creatures which were in the sea, and had life, died; and the third part of the ships were destroyed.
BSB: a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed.
Koinōnos: and a third of the created things in the sea that had life died, and a third of the ships were destroyed.

REV 8:10

KJV: And the third angel sounded, and there fell a great star from heaven, burning as it were a lamp, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters;
BSB: Then the third angel sounded his trumpet, and a great star burning like a torch fell from heaven and landed on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water.
Koinōnos: And the third angel sounded, and a great star fell from heaven, burning like a torch. And it fell upon a third of the rivers and upon the springs of water —

REV 8:11

KJV: And the name of the star is called Wormwood: and the third part of the waters became wormwood; and many men died of the waters, because they were made bitter.
BSB: The name of the star is Wormwood. A third of the waters turned bitter like wormwood oil, and many people died from the bitter waters.
Koinōnos: and the name of the star is called Wormwood. And a third of the waters became wormwood, and many people died from the waters because they were made bitter.

REV 8:12

KJV: And the fourth angel sounded, and the third part of the sun was smitten, and the third part of the moon, and the third part of the stars; so as the third part of them was darkened, and the day shone not for a third part of it, and the night likewise.
BSB: Then the fourth angel sounded his trumpet, and a third of the sun and moon and stars were struck. A third of the stars were darkened, a third of the day was without light, and a third of the night as well.
Koinōnos: And the fourth angel sounded, and a third of the sun was struck and a third of the moon and a third of the stars, so that a third of them would be darkened and the day would not shine for a third of it, and likewise the night.

REV 8:13

KJV: And I beheld, and heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, Woe, woe, woe, to the inhabiters of the earth by reason of the other voices of the trumpet of the three angels, which are yet to sound!
BSB: And as I observed, I heard an eagle flying overhead, calling in a loud voice, “Woe! Woe! Woe to those who dwell on the earth, because of the trumpet blasts about to be sounded by the remaining three angels!”
Koinōnos: And I looked, and I heard an eagle flying in the zenith saying with a loud voice: 'Woe, woe, woe to those dwelling on the earth, from the remaining trumpet blasts of the three angels who are about to sound!

Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.

Translator's notes

REV 8:7

all:The word translated 'all' here refers specifically to grass or fodder, often implying vegetation that serves as food for livestock, rather than all plant life indiscriminately.

REV 8:9

creatures:The term translated 'creatures' here carries the sense of something founded or established, often referring to a created thing or a foundation, rather than living beings in general.

REV 8:11

Wormwood;:The word 'Wormwood' refers to a specific plant known for its extreme bitterness, often used metaphorically to describe something unpleasant or sorrowful.

REV 8:13

mid-heaven:The phrase 'mid-heaven' refers to the highest point in the sky, the zenith, where something would be most visible and prominent.