Revelation 9:4

Verse

They were told not to harm the grass of the earth or any plant or tree, but only those who did not have the seal of God on their foreheads.

American Standard Version (1901)

And it was said unto them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree, but only such men as have not the seal of God on their foreheads.

Bible in Basic English

And they were ordered to do no damage to the grass of the earth, or any green thing, or any tree, but only to such men as have not the mark of God on their brows.

Douay-Rheims 1899

And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, nor any green thing, nor any tree: but only the men who have not the sign of God on their foreheads.

Free Bible Version

They were told not to harm the grass or any vegetation or any trees, only those who did not have the seal of God on their foreheads.

Geneva Bible 1599

And it was comanded them, that they should not hurt the grasse of the earth, neither any greene thing, neither any tree: but onely those men which haue not the seale of God in their foreheads.

King James (Authorized) Version

And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads.

Translation for Translators

God told the locusts that they should not harm grass, nor any plants, nor any tree. God said that they should harm only those people who did not have a mark on the forehead to show that they belonged to God.

Unlocked Literal Bible

They were told not to damage the grass on the earth or any green plant or tree, but only the people who did not have the seal of God on their foreheads.

Noah Webster Bible

And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men who have not the seal of God in their foreheads.

World English Bible

They were told that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree, but only those people who don’t have God’s seal on their foreheads.

Young's Literal Translation

and it was said to them that they may not injure the grass of the earth, nor any green thing, nor any tree, but — the men only who have not the seal of God upon their foreheads,

Context

The Fifth Trumpet

³And out of the smoke, locusts descended on the earth, and they were given power like that of the scorpions of the earth.⁴They were told not to harm the grass of the earth or any plant or tree, but only those who did not have the seal of God on their foreheads.⁵The locusts were not given power to kill them, but only to torment them for five months, and their torment was like the stinging of a scorpion.

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The Apocalypse - Revelation 7

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Notes on Revelation

John Nelson Darby

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Summary

In Revelation 9:4, we see a vivid description of locusts that were instructed not to harm the grass of the earth, any plant, or tree, but only those people who did not have the seal of God on their foreheads. This imagery symbolizes the protection of God's people amidst the trials and tribulations described in the book of Revelation. It serves as a reminder of God's faithfulness to those who belong to Him, even in the midst of chaos and judgment. The seal of God represents His ownership and protection over His followers, ensuring their safety and preservation. This verse underscores the theme of God's sovereignty and provision for His faithful ones in the face of spiritual warfare and persecution.

Commentary

Adam Clarke
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
John Gill

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

They should not hurt the grass - Neither the common people, the men of middling condition, nor the nobles. However, this appears rather to refer to the prudent counsels of a military chief, not to destroy the crops and herbage of which they might have need in their campaigns. Which have not the seal of God - All false, hypocritical, and heterodox Christians.

John Gill Bible Commentary

And it was commanded them,.... The locusts, by Christ, who has a sovereign power over all men, and lays them under the restraints of his providence: that they should not hurt the grass of the earth: true Christians, private believers, it may be those of the lower class; who for their numbers, and for their flourishing estate under the dews of heavenly grace, and the distillations of the doctrine of grace, and the clear shining of the sun of righteousness upon them, and for their weakness, may be compared to grass; and yet as these being a company reserved by Christ for himself, who will not break nor bruise them, so neither will he suffer others to hurt them, and resents every offence done to these little ones: neither any green thing; who have the truth of grace in them, are spiritually alive, and in prosperous circumstances, in a fruitful condition, being filled with the fruits of righteousness from Christ, the green fir tree, and whose leaves of profession continue green; and are themselves, as David says of himself; like a green olive tree in the house of God, Psa 3:8. Neither any tree; any trees of righteousness, good and righteous who are often compared to trees planted by rivers of water, Psa 1:3 Jer 17:8; it may be the ministers of the Gospel, then of great grace and gifts, the tall cedars in Lebanon, may be intended; and so by these various expressions, Christians of every size, from the lowest to the highest class, may be signified. Green things and leaves of trees are what the locusts generally destroy, as appears from the plague of them in Egypt, Exo 10:5; and as they did in Syria in the year 1586, as Thuanus reports (g). Now as grass, green things, and trees, are what locusts most desire to feed upon and hurt, so real believers, truly godly persons, are those which both the eastern and western locusts, the Mahometans and Papists, have been very desirous of rooting out and destroying; but Christ takes care of these; these are as the apple of his eye, his jewels, his sheep, his sealed ones; none shall hurt them, they shall never perish; he knows them that are his, and he will preserve them amidst fire and smoke, amidst all the corruptions and calamities in the world: but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads; see Rev 7:2; the antichristian party, those of the Romish apostasy, the Papists; and these were they that suffered most by the Saracens, who abhorred image worship, and fell foul on the idolaters of this kind: and, on the other hand, the western locusts, the clergy of the church of Rome, had only influence over the reprobate part of mankind, and only wrought with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish, who were giver, up to believe a lie, that they might be damned, but not upon any of the chosen ones, Th2 2:11. (g) Hist. sui Temporis, par. 4. l. 84. p. 162. Ed. Francofurt.

Revelation 9:4

The Fifth Trumpet

Scripture
Sermons
Commentary

Berean Standard Bible

They were told not to harm the grass of the earth or any plant or tree, but only those who did not have the seal of God on their foreheads.

American Standard Version (1901)

And it was said unto them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree, but only such men as have not the seal of God on their foreheads.

Bible in Basic English

And they were ordered to do no damage to the grass of the earth, or any green thing, or any tree, but only to such men as have not the mark of God on their brows.

Douay-Rheims 1899

And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, nor any green thing, nor any tree: but only the men who have not the sign of God on their foreheads.

Free Bible Version

They were told not to harm the grass or any vegetation or any trees, only those who did not have the seal of God on their foreheads.

Geneva Bible 1599

And it was comanded them, that they should not hurt the grasse of the earth, neither any greene thing, neither any tree: but onely those men which haue not the seale of God in their foreheads.

King James (Authorized) Version

And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads.

Translation for Translators

Unlocked Literal Bible

They were told not to damage the grass on the earth or any green plant or tree, but only the people who did not have the seal of God on their foreheads.

Noah Webster Bible

And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men who have not the seal of God in their foreheads.

World English Bible

They were told that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree, but only those people who don’t have God’s seal on their foreheads.

Young's Literal Translation

and it was said to them that they may not injure the grass of the earth, nor any green thing, nor any tree, but — the men only who have not the seal of God upon their foreheads,

Adam Clarke
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
John Gill

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

John Gill Bible Commentary

Revelation 9:4

Verse

Context

The Fifth Trumpet

Sermons

Summary

Commentary

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

John Gill Bible Commentary

Revelation 9:4

The Fifth Trumpet

The Apocalypse - Revelation 7

Notes on Revelation

Why Is "Greenness" Important?

The Power of Staying Green

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

John Gill Bible Commentary