Revelation 8 · Verse 2

Revelation 8:2

And I saw the seven angels which stood before God; and to them were given seven trumpets.
Revelation 8:2, King James Version

Revelation 8:2 in other translations

BSBAnd I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and they were given seven trumpets.
WEBI saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them.
ASVAnd I saw the seven angels that stand before God; and there were given unto them seven trumpets.
YLTand I saw the seven messengers who before God have stood, and there were given to them seven trumpets,
DARBYAnd I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them.
BBEAnd I saw the seven angels who had their place before God; and seven horns were given to them.
WebsterAnd I saw the seven angels who stood before God; and to them were given seven trumpets.

What does Revelation 8:2 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
2. the seven angels--Compare the apocryphal Tobit 12:15, "I am Raphael, one of the seven holy angels which present the prayers of the saints, and which go in and out before the glory of the Holy One." Compare Lu 1:19, "I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God." stood--Greek, "stand." seven trumpets--These come in during the time while the martyrs rest until their fellow servants also, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled; for it is the inhabiters of the earth on whom the judgments fall, on whom also the martyrs prayed that they should fall (Re 6:10). All the ungodly, and not merely some one portion of them, are meant, all the opponents and obstacles in the way of the kingdom of Christ and His saints, as is proved by Re 11:15, 18, end, at the close of the seven trumpets. The Revelation becomes more special only as it advances farther (Re 13:1-18; 16:10; 17:18). By the seven trumpets the world kingdoms are overturned to make way for Christ's universal kingdom. The first four are connected together; and the last three, which alone have Woe, woe, woe (Re 8:7-13).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 2. And I saw the seven angels which stood before God. Professor Stuart supposes that by these angels are meant the "presence-angels" which he understands to be referred to, in Rev 1:4, by the "seven spirits which are before the throne." If, however, the interpretation of that passage above proposed, that it refers to the Holy Spirit, with reference to his multiplied agency and operations, be correct, then we must seek for another application of the phrase here. The only difficulty in applying it arises from the use of the article--"the seven angels"--τους--as if they were angels already referred to; and as there has been no previous mention of "seven angels," unless it be in the phrase "the seven spirits which are before the throne," in Rev 1:4, it is argued that this must have been such a reference. But this interpretation is not absolutely necessary. John might use this language either because the angels had been spoken of before; or because it would be sufficiently understood, from the common use of language, who would be referred to--as we now might speak of "the seven members of the cabinet of the United States?" or "the thirty-one governors of the states of the Union," though they had not been particularly mentioned; or he might speak of them as just then disclosed to his view, and because his meaning would be sufficiently definite by the circumstances which were to follow--their agency in blowing the trumpets. It would be entirely in accordance with the usage of the article for one to say that he saw an army, and the commander-in-chief, and the four staff-officers, and the five bands of music, and the six companies of sappers and miners, etc. It is not absolutely necessary, therefore, to suppose that these angels had been before referred to. There is, indeed, in the use of the phrase "which stood before God," the idea that they are to be regarded as permanently standing there, or that that is their proper place--as if they were angels who were particularly designated to this high service, Compare Lk 1:19: "I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God." If this idea is involved in the phrase, then there is a sufficient reason why the article is used, though they had not before been mentioned.

And to them were given seven trumpets. One to each. By whom the trumpets were given is not said. It may be supposed to have been done by Him who sat on the throne. Trumpets were used then, as now, for various purposes; to summon an assembly; to muster the hosts of battle; to inspirit and animate troops in conflict. Here they are given to announce a series of important events producing great changes in the world--as if God summoned and led on his hosts to accomplish his designs.

(a) "stood" Lk 1:19

(b) "trumpets" 2Chr 29:25-28

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 2 The seven angels which stood before God - Probably the same as those called the seven Spirits which are before his throne, Rev 1:4 (note). There is still an allusion here to the seven ministers of the Persian monarchs. See Tobit 12:15.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Revelation 8:1-6

The seventh seal is opened. There was profound silence in heaven for a space; all was quiet in the church, for whenever the church on earth cries through oppression, that cry reaches up to heaven; or it is a silence of expectation. Trumpets were given to the angels, who were to sound them. The Lord Jesus is the High Priest of the church, having a golden censer, and much incense, fulness of merit in his own glorious…

Read the full comment on Revelation 8:1-6 →

Revelation 8:2 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

καὶkaiAndG2532
εἶδονeidonI sawG1492
τοὺςtoustheG3588
ἑπτὰheptasevenG2033
ἀγγέλουςangelousangelsG32
οἳhoiwhoG3739
ἐνώπιονenōpionbeforeG1799
τοῦtou<the>G3588
θεοῦtheouGodG2316
ἑστήκασινhestēkasinhave stoodG2476
καὶkaiandG2532
ἐδόθησανedothēsanwere givenG1325
αὐτοῖςautoisto themG846
ἑπτὰheptasevenG2033
σάλπιγγες.¶salpingestrumpets.G4536

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Revelation 8:2

  • Luke 1:19

    And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to shew thee these glad tidings.

  • Revelation 11:15

    And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.

  • Revelation 8:6-9:1

    And the seven angels which had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound. 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. 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; 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. …

  • Matthew 18:10

    Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.

  • Amos 3:6-8

    Shall a trumpet be blown in the city, and the people not be afraid? shall there be evil in a city, and the Lord hath not done it? Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets. The lion hath roared, who will not fear? the Lord God hath spoken, who can but prophesy?

  • Revelation 16:1

    And I heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels, Go your ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth.

  • Revelation 15:1

    And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvellous, seven angels having the seven last plagues; for in them is filled up the wrath of God.

  • 2 Chronicles 29:25-28

    And he set the Levites in the house of the Lord with cymbals, with psalteries, and with harps, according to the commandment of David, and of Gad the king’s seer, and Nathan the prophet: for so was the commandment of the Lord by his prophets. And the Levites stood with the instruments of David, and the priests with the trumpets. And Hezekiah commanded to offer the burnt offering upon the altar. And when the burnt offering began, the song of the Lord began also with the trumpets, and with the instruments ordained by David king of Israel. And all the congregation worshipped, and the singers sang, and the trumpeters sounded: and all this continued until the burnt offering was finished.

  • Revelation 9:13-14

    And the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God, Saying to the sixth angel which had the trumpet, Loose the four angels which are bound in the great river Euphrates.

  • Numbers 10:1-10

    And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Make thee two trumpets of silver; of a whole piece shalt thou make them: that thou mayest use them for the calling of the assembly, and for the journeying of the camps. And when they shall blow with them, all the assembly shall assemble themselves to thee at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. And if they blow but with one trumpet, then the princes, which are heads of the thousands of Israel, shall gather themselves unto thee. …

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
seven angels.
15:1; 16:1; Mt 18:10; Lu 1:19
trumpets.
6-12; 9:1,13,14; 11:15; Nu 10:1-10; 2Ch 29:25-28; Am 3:6-8

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Revelation 8:1

    And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour.

  • Revelation 8:2

    And I saw the seven angels which stood before God; and to them were given seven trumpets.

  • Revelation 8:3

    And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne.

Read all of Revelation 8

Revelation 8:2 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y vi los siete ángeles que estaban delante de Dios; y les fueron dadas siete trompetas.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et je vis les sept anges qui se tiennent devant Dieu, et il leur fut donné sept trompettes.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und ich sah die sieben Engel, welche vor Gott stehen; und es wurden ihnen sieben Posaunen gegeben.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Et vidi septem angelos stantes in conspectu Dei: et datæ sunt illis septem tubæ.