Revelation 9:17

Translations

Modern

Now the horses and riders in my vision looked like this: The riders had breastplates the colors of fire, sapphire, and sulfur. The heads of the horses were like the heads of lions, and out of their mouths proceeded fire, smoke, and sulfur.

Traditional

And thus I saw the horses in the vision, and them that sat on them, having breastplates of fire, and of jacinth, and brimstone: and the heads of the horses were as the heads of lions; and out of their mouths issued fire and smoke and brimstone.

Literal

And thus I saw the horses in the vision, and those sitting on them, having fiery and hyacinthine and sulfurous breastplates. And the heads of the horses were like heads of lions, and out of their mouths proceed fire and smoke and sulfur.

Latin

Et ita vidi equos in visione: et qui sedebant super eos, habebant loricas igneas, et hyacinthinas, et sulphureas, et capita equorum erant tamquam capita leonum: et de ore eorum procedit ignis, et fumus, et sulphur.

Original

Greek

English

Now the horses and riders in my vision looked like this: The riders had breastplates the colors of fire, sapphire, and sulfur. The heads of the horses were like the heads of lions, and out of their mouths proceeded fire, smoke, and sulfur.

Notes

Revelation 9:17–19

The riders wore armor in colors matching their horses' plagues:
- red for fire,
- blue for smoke, and
- yellow for sulfur.
These are signs of judgment in Scripture (see Revelation 14:10–11; 19:20; Genesis 19:24–28; Psalm 11:6; Ezekiel 38:22; Luke 17:29).
The horses resemble the terrifying monsters from Greek stories depicted on ancient buildings and celebrated in old dramas.
A third: See study note on Revelation 8:7–12.

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 9:18
A third of mankind was killed by the three plagues of fire, smoke, and sulfur that proceeded from their mouths.
Revelation 21:8
But to the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and sexually immoral and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their place will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur. This is the second death.”
1 Chronicles 12:8
Some Gadites defected to David at his stronghold in the wilderness. They were mighty men of valor, trained for battle, experts with the shield and spear, whose faces were like the faces of lions and who were as swift as gazelles on the mountains:
Revelation 14:10
…he too will drink the wine of God’s anger, poured undiluted into the cup of His wrath. And he will be tormented in fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb.
Revelation 19:20
But the beast was captured along with the false prophet, who on its behalf had performed signs deceiving those who had the mark of the beast and worshiped its image. Both the beast and the false prophet were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur.
Isaiah 30:33
For Topheth has long been prepared; it has been made ready for the king. Its funeral pyre is deep and wide, with plenty of fire and wood. The breath of the LORD, like a torrent of burning sulfur, sets it ablaze.
Revelation 20:10
And the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur, into which the beast and the false prophet had already been thrown. There they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.
Genesis 19:24
Then the LORD rained down sulfur and fire on Sodom and Gomorrah—from the LORD out of the heavens.
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.
Psalm 11:6
On the wicked He will rain down fiery coals and sulfur; a scorching wind will be their portion.
Revelation 9:9
They also had breastplates like breastplates of iron, and the sound of their wings was like the roar of many horses and chariots rushing into battle.
Ezekiel 33:22
Now the evening before the fugitive arrived, the hand of the LORD was upon me, and He opened my mouth before the man came to me in the morning. So my mouth was opened and I was no longer mute.

Glossary

Bible, Manuscripts and Text of the (New Testament) Book of Revelation Color Head Horse Sulfur

Topics

Breastplate for Soldiers: Bright and Shining Breastplate: Armor for Soldiers Brimstone: Figurative Cavalry: Mounted: On Horses China Horse: Symbolical Jacinth: A Precious Stone Lion: Symbolical: Margin) Meteorology and Celestial Phenomena: Symbolical used in the Revelation of John Precious Stones: Jacinth Vision of John on the Island of Patmos: The Army of Horsemen

Revelation 9:17

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