Revelation 9:14

Translations

Modern

…saying to the sixth angel with the trumpet, “Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates.”

Traditional

Saying to the sixth angel which had the trumpet, Loose the four angels which are bound in the great river Euphrates.

Literal

…saying to the sixth angel, the one having the trumpet, “Release the four angels, those having been bound at the great river Euphrates.”

Latin

…dicentem sexto angelo, qui habebat tubam: Solve quatuor angelos, qui alligati sunt in flumine magno Euphrate.

Original

Greek

English

…saying to the sixth angel with the trumpet, “Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates.”

Notes

Revelation 9:13–14

The four horns of the gold altar (see Revelation 8:3) appear with the sixth trumpet blast. Many excavations have found altars with pointed horns at their four corners (see study note on Exodus 27:2).
The voice has God's authority to command the release of the four angels.
These angels are bound, indicating their evil nature (compare Revelation 20:2; 1 Enoch 10; contrast Revelation 7:1). Their location at the great Euphrates River likely refers to Assyria and Babylon, empires that destroyed the kingdoms of Israel and Judah, symbolizing destruction (see 2 Kings 17:22–24; 25:1–11).

Revelation 9:1–21

The fifth and sixth trumpets show how God's judgment affects people worldwide and highlight how worthless it is to resist God. These judgments should lead to repentance, but they do not. Sin controls people so much that they choose to worship the evil forces that harm them instead of repenting and turning to God.

Revelation 8:2–11:19

The second series of judgments involves seven trumpets. Like the first series (Revelation 6:1–8:1), it includes a pause (10:1–11:14; compare 7:1–17) and concludes with a view of God's eternal kingdom (11:15–19; see 7:9–8:1).
The trumpet judgments are similar to the ten plagues of Egypt (Exodus 7:14–11:10). They aim to show that earthly gods (or evil powers) are powerless and to clearly demonstrate God's power and control.

Theme notes and profiles

Visions

Related verses

Revelation 16:12
And the sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up to prepare the way for the kings of the East.
Genesis 2:14
The name of the third river is the Tigris; it runs along the east side of Assyria. And the fourth river is the Euphrates.
2 Samuel 8:3
David also defeated Hadadezer son of Rehob, king of Zobah, who had marched out to restore his dominion along the Euphrates River.
Revelation 9:15
So the four angels who had been prepared for this hour and day and month and year were released to kill a third of mankind.
Jeremiah 51:63
When you finish reading this scroll, tie a stone to it and cast it into the Euphrates.
Revelation 7:1
After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back its four winds so that no wind would blow on land or sea or on any tree.
Revelation 8:6
And the seven angels with the seven trumpets prepared to sound them.
Revelation 8:2
And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and they were given seven trumpets.

Places

Euphrates: Major river in ancient Near East; boundary of Promised Land

Glossary

Bible, Manuscripts and Text of the (New Testament) Book of Revelation Euphrates River Head

Topics

Euphrates: Symbolical in the Symbolisms of the Apocalypse The Euphrates River Trumpet: Symbolical Vision of John on the Island of Patmos: The Four Angels Released from the Euphrates River

Revelation 9:14

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