Revelation 9 · Verse 8

Revelation 9:8

And they had hair as the hair of women, and their teeth were as the teeth of lions.
Revelation 9:8, King James Version

Revelation 9:8 in other translations

BSBThey had hair like that of women, and teeth like those of lions.
WEBThey had hair like women’s hair, and their teeth were like those of lions.
ASVAnd they had hair as the hair of women, and their teeth were as the teeth of lions.
YLTand they had hair as hair of women, and their teeth were as those of lions,
DARBYand they had hair as women's hair, and their teeth were as of lions,
BBEAnd they had hair like the hair of women, and their teeth were as the teeth of lions.
WebsterAnd they had hair as the hair of women, and their teeth were as the teeth of lions.

What does Revelation 9:8 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
8. hair of women--long and flowing. An Arabic proverb compares the antlers of locusts to the hair of girls. Ewald in Alford understands the allusion to be to the hair on the legs or bodies of the locusts: compare "rough caterpillars," Jr 51:27. as the teeth of lions--(Joe 1:6, as to locusts).

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

Barnes' Notes
Verse 8. And they had hair as the hair of women. Long hair; not such as men commonly wear, but such as women wear. 1Cor 11:14. This struck John as a peculiarity, that, though warriors, they should have the appearance of effeminacy indicated by allowing their hair to grow long. It is clear from this, that John regarded their appearance as unusual and remarkable. Though manifestly designed to represent an army, yet it was not the usual appearance of men who went forth to battle. Among the Greeks of ancient times, indeed, long hair was not uncommon, 1Cor 11:14 but this was by no means the usual custom among the ancients; and the fact that these warriors had long hair like women was a circumstance that would distinguish them particularly from others. On this comparison of the appearance of the locusts with the hair of women, see the remarks of Niebuhr, in Rev 9:7.

And their teeth were as the teeth of lions. Strong; fitted to devour. The teeth of the locust are by no means prominent, though they are strong, for they readily cut down and eat up all vegetable substances that come in their way. But it is evident that John means to say that there was much that was unusual and remarkable in the teeth of these locusts. They would be ravenous and fierce, and would spread terror and desolation like the lions of the desert.

(e) "teeth" Ps 57:4, Joel 1:6

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 8 Hair as the hair of women - No razor passes upon their flesh. Their hair long, and their beards unshaven. Their teeth were as the teeth of lions - They are ferocious and cruel.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Revelation 9:1-12

Upon sounding the fifth trumpet, a star fell from heaven to the earth. Having ceased to be a minister of Christ, he who is represented by this star becomes the minister of the devil; and lets loose the powers of hell against the churches of Christ. On the opening of the bottomless pit, there arose a great smoke. The devil carries on his designs by blinding the eyes of men, by putting out light and knowledge, and…

Read the full comment on Revelation 9:1-12 →

Revelation 9:8 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
εἶχονeichonthey hadG2192
τρίχαςtrichashairG2359
ὡςhōslikeG5613
τρίχαςtrichashairG2359
γυναικῶν,gunaikōnof women,G1135
καὶkaiandG2532
οἱhoitheG3588
ὀδόντεςodontesteethG3599
αὐτῶνautōnof themG846
ὡςhōslike [those]G5613
λεόντωνleontōnof lionsG3023
ἦσαν.ēsanwere.G1510

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

Cross references for Revelation 9:8

  • Joel 1:6

    For a nation is come up upon my land, strong, and without number, whose teeth are the teeth of a lion, and he hath the cheek teeth of a great lion.

  • 1 Peter 3:3

    Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel;

  • 1 Corinthians 11:14-15

    Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him? But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering.

  • 2 Kings 9:30

    And when Jehu was come to Jezreel, Jezebel heard of it; and she painted her face, and tired her head, and looked out at a window.

  • 1 Timothy 2:9

    In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array;

  • Isaiah 3:24

    And it shall come to pass, that instead of sweet smell there shall be stink; and instead of a girdle a rent; and instead of well set hair baldness; and instead of a stomacher a girding of sackcloth; and burning instead of beauty.

  • Psalms 57:4

    My soul is among lions: and I lie even among them that are set on fire, even the sons of men, whose teeth are spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
hair.
2Ki 9:30; Isa 3:24; 1Co 11:14,15; 1Ti 2:9; 1Pe 3:3
and their.
Ps 57:4; Joe 1:6

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

Context

  • Revelation 9:7

    And the shapes of the locusts were like unto horses prepared unto battle; and on their heads were as it were crowns like gold, and their faces were as the faces of men.

  • Revelation 9:8

    And they had hair as the hair of women, and their teeth were as the teeth of lions.

  • Revelation 9:9

    And they had breastplates, as it were breastplates of iron; and the sound of their wings was as the sound of chariots of many horses running to battle.

Read all of Revelation 9

Revelation 9:8 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y tenían cabellos como cabellos de mujeres: y sus dientes eran como dientes de leones.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		et elles avaient des cheveux comme des cheveux de femmes, et leurs dents étaient comme des dents de lions;
German
Elberfelder 1871		und sie hatten Haare wie Weiberhaare, und ihre Zähne waren wie die der Löwen.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Et habebant capillos sicut capillos mulierum. Et dentes earum, sicut dentes leonum erant: