Revelation 8 10

Revelation 8:10 kjv

And the third angel sounded, and there fell a great star from heaven, burning as it were a lamp, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters;

Revelation 8:10 nkjv

Then the third angel sounded: And a great star fell from heaven, burning like a torch, and it fell on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water.

Revelation 8:10 niv

The third angel sounded his trumpet, and a great star, blazing like a torch, fell from the sky on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water?

Revelation 8:10 esv

The third angel blew his trumpet, and a great star fell from heaven, blazing like a torch, and it fell on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water.

Revelation 8:10 nlt

Then the third angel blew his trumpet, and a great star fell from the sky, burning like a torch. It fell on one-third of the rivers and on the springs of water.

Revelation 8 verses

Revelation 8 10 Meaning

Revelation 8:10 describes the sounding of the third trumpet, which unleashes a devastating cosmic event. A massive, burning object, characterized as a "great star," plummets from the heavens. Its destructive impact is concentrated on the Earth's freshwater sources, contaminating a significant portion—specifically a third—of rivers and springs. This judgment targets essential life-sustaining elements, implying widespread affliction and dire consequences for humanity dependent on these sources. The imagery suggests either a literal celestial body or a symbolic entity of immense power bringing forth a bitter, life-threatening crisis.

Revelation 8 10 Context

Revelation 8 marks the opening of the seven trumpets, which follow the breaking of the seventh seal. The preceding judgments of the seals primarily focus on conflict, famine, disease, and martyrdom, affecting a quarter of the Earth (Rev 6:8). The trumpet judgments intensify the divine wrath, escalating in severity and often targeting "a third" of Earth's resources or inhabitants. The first trumpet devastates vegetation and the land, the second impacts the sea and maritime life, and the third, as described in Rev 8:10, directly assaults freshwater sources. This progression reveals God's structured and escalating judgments, moving from general impacts to specific, life-sustaining elements, echoing earlier divine judgments like the plagues on Egypt (Exod 7-12). The chapter also shifts the focus from broad human-instigated calamities to direct cosmic interventions by God's angels, indicating the approaching culmination of the age and Christ's final reign.

Revelation 8 10 Word analysis

• Then the third angel sounded:

  • Then: Signifies a chronological sequence within the judgments, immediately following the second trumpet.
  • the third angel: Underscores the organized, sequential nature of God's judgments, executed by specific angelic beings. Each angel is designated a particular role in unfolding God's decree.
  • sounded (ἐσάλπισεν - esalpisen): From salpizō, meaning to blow a trumpet. This act formally initiates the specific judgment, linking it to divine declarations and warnings often associated with trumpet blasts in Scripture (e.g., in Israel's warfare, warnings, or temple worship).

• And a great star fell from heaven:

  • And (καί - kai): Connects the sounding of the trumpet to the ensuing event, implying direct cause and effect.
  • a great star (ἀστὴρ μέγας - astēr megas):
    • ἀστὴρ (astēr): Literally "star." In prophetic literature, "star" can represent a literal celestial body, but also symbolically powerful beings, either angelic (like the angel in Rev 9:1 who holds the key to the abyss), demonic, or prominent earthly leaders/rulers (Num 24:17, Isa 14:12). Given its destructive agency and the context of angelic actions in Revelation, many interpret it as a powerful spiritual being or even a catastrophic, direct divine intervention manifested cosmically.
    • μέγας (megas): "Great" or "large." Emphasizes the immense size, power, and impact of this star, distinguishing it from ordinary celestial objects. It implies a significant and overwhelming force.
  • fell from heaven (ἔπεσεν ἐκ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ - epesen ek tou ouranou):
    • ἔπεσεν (epesen): "Fell," from piptō, suggesting a sudden, decisive descent. This act of falling often symbolizes demotion, judgment, or divine action (Isa 14:12, Luke 10:18).
    • ἐκ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ (ek tou ouranou): "From heaven." Clearly indicates its divine origin or the sphere from which God's judgments emanate. It's not an earthly phenomenon, but a direct heavenly intervention. Polemically, this contrasts with ancient pagan beliefs that stars were gods or benign forces; here, a "star" becomes an instrument of divine judgment.

• burning like a torch:

  • burning (καιόμενος - kaiomenos): Present participle of kaiō, "to burn" or "to set on fire." Describes its active state as it descends, indicating destructive intensity, visible radiance, and rapid consumption.
  • like a torch (ὡς λαμπάς - hōs lampas):
    • ὡς (hōs): "As" or "like," a simile that conveys a vivid image of intense, sustained luminosity and heat, akin to a flaming lamp or meteor. This imagery evokes terror and widespread conflagration.
    • λαμπάς (lampas): "Torch" or "lamp." Provides a clear picture of its blazing appearance, not merely sparkling like a distant star but burning with an active flame as it approaches.

• and it fell on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water.

  • and it fell on (καὶ ἔπεσεν ἐπὶ - kai epesen epi): Reiterates the falling and specifies the direct target of its impact, linking the "star" directly to the contamination.
  • a third of (τὸ τρίτον - to triton):
    • τὸ τρίτον (to triton): "The third part." This repeated phrase throughout the trumpet judgments (Rev 8:7-12) signifies that the judgments, while severe, are not yet complete annihilation but widespread, substantial affliction affecting a significant proportion of the Earth and its inhabitants. It highlights the partiality of these initial judgments, offering a period of severe distress yet leaving room for repentance before ultimate devastation.
  • the rivers (τῶν ποταμῶν - tōn potamōn): Plural, referring to major flowing water bodies. Rivers are vital for agriculture, transport, and drinking, representing primary arteries of life for communities.
  • and on the springs of water (καὶ ἐπὶ τὰς πηγὰς τῶν ὑδάτων - kai epi tas pēgas tōn hydatōn):
    • τὰς πηγὰς (tas pēgas): "The springs" or "fountains." These are sources of water, often groundwater bubbling up, providing direct and pure drinking water, especially crucial in ancient societies.
    • τῶν ὑδάτων (tōn hydatōn): "Of the waters." Specifies that these are sources of water for human consumption, making the judgment acutely personal and life-threatening.
    • This targeting of both rivers and springs means that widespread freshwater contamination impacts communities far and wide, making a vast amount of drinkable water unsafe and threatening life.

Revelation 8 10 Bonus section

The naming of the star as "Wormwood" (ἀψίνθιον - apsinthion) in Rev 8:11 immediately clarifies the nature of the star's impact: it renders water bitter and deadly. Wormwood is a plant known for its intense bitterness, historically used to symbolize grief, calamity, or divine punishment, as seen in Jeremiah (Jer 9:15; 23:15). This suggests that the "star" isn't merely a physical object, but potentially embodies the bitterness of divine judgment. The specificity of targeting "freshwater" also points to human reliance on clean water as a basic necessity, making this a universal and unavoidable judgment for those who do not repent. Some scholarly interpretations draw parallels between this plague and the first plague in Egypt (Exod 7:17-21), where water was turned to blood and became undrinkable, highlighting a consistent pattern of God's judgment using nature itself as a weapon against human rebellion. The choice of "a third" indicates a proportional judgment, not total destruction, aligning with Old Testament prophecies where portions of people or land face judgment while a remnant might be preserved. This reinforces the idea that these trumpet judgments serve as intensified warnings before the ultimate bowl judgments.

Revelation 8 10 Commentary

Revelation 8:10 details the third trumpet judgment, a specific and devastating strike on the Earth's freshwater supply. The "great star" is a powerful symbol, variously interpreted as a literal meteorite of immense size, an angelic being (perhaps a fallen one), or a symbol of divine judgment executed with celestial force. Its fiery descent "like a torch" highlights its destructive nature. The specific target—"a third of the rivers and on the springs of water"—is crucial. Unlike the previous judgments impacting land and sea, this directly affects freshwater, the most vital resource for human and animal life on land. This signifies a widespread, life-threatening crisis where drinkable water becomes scarce or poisoned, leading to immense suffering and death as implicitly detailed in the subsequent verse (Rev 8:11) with the star named Wormwood, which renders the water bitter. This judgment escalates God's wrath, demonstrating His sovereignty over creation and His capacity to bring about precisely targeted calamities. The repeated phrase "a third" emphasizes a profound but not complete devastation, maintaining a level of partial judgment that serves as a warning for repentance, while also foreshadowing the full destruction to come if there is no turning.