Revelation 8 13

Revelation 8:13 kjv

And I beheld, and heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, Woe, woe, woe, to the inhabiters of the earth by reason of the other voices of the trumpet of the three angels, which are yet to sound!

Revelation 8:13 nkjv

And I looked, and I heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, "Woe, woe, woe to the inhabitants of the earth, because of the remaining blasts of the trumpet of the three angels who are about to sound!"

Revelation 8:13 niv

As I watched, I heard an eagle that was flying in midair call out in a loud voice: "Woe! Woe! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth, because of the trumpet blasts about to be sounded by the other three angels!"

Revelation 8:13 esv

Then I looked, and I heard an eagle crying with a loud voice as it flew directly overhead, "Woe, woe, woe to those who dwell on the earth, at the blasts of the other trumpets that the three angels are about to blow!"

Revelation 8:13 nlt

Then I looked, and I heard a single eagle crying loudly as it flew through the air, "Terror, terror, terror to all who belong to this world because of what will happen when the last three angels blow their trumpets."

Revelation 8 verses

Revelation 8 13 Meaning

Revelation 8:13 depicts a dramatic interlude following the sounding of the first four trumpets of judgment. A solitary figure, presented as either an angel or an eagle, flies visibly through the sky, crying out with a mighty voice. This proclamation delivers a dire, threefold warning of "Woe" directed at those who reside on earth, indicating the extreme severity and certainty of the judgments to be unleashed by the final three trumpet blasts that are yet to come. It serves as an emphatic announcement of intensifying divine wrath and further suffering for the unrepentant world.

Revelation 8 13 Context

Revelation 8:13 functions as an interlude between the first four and the final three trumpet judgments. The preceding verses (Rev 8:7-12) detail severe, literal and symbolic destructions affecting a third of the earth, sea, rivers, and celestial bodies—ecological devastation impacting humanity indirectly. However, these initial judgments fail to elicit widespread repentance. This verse, therefore, marks a distinct shift: a direct, solemn warning of increasingly grievous human suffering. The scene intensifies the tone from partial devastation to impending, comprehensive woe. Historically, John writes from Patmos during a time of Roman persecution, and the apocalyptic visions provided a divine commentary on imperial power and impending divine justice for its inhabitants, offering both comfort and challenge to the suffering church.

Revelation 8 13 Word analysis

• And I beheld (Καὶ εἶδον - Kai eidon): John's personal experience of the vision. "Eidon" (from horao) implies seeing with mental discernment, not just physical sight; it’s a profound revelation.
• and heard (καὶ ἤκουσα - kai ēkousa): Demonstrates John's full sensory reception of the divine communication, emphasizing the undeniable nature of the forthcoming message.
• an angel (ἕνα ἀετὸν - hena aeton): This is a point of significant translational divergence. The Greek word aetos almost exclusively means "eagle." While the KJV (and a few other older translations) render it "angel," most modern translations (ESV, NASB, NIV) correctly translate it as "eagle." If "eagle," it signifies swiftness, power, judgment, and high flight. If "angel" (as KJV suggests), it's a specific divine messenger. The critical point is the public, universal nature of the proclamation.
• flying (πετόμενον - petomenon): Denotes swift and conspicuous movement. The messenger is in rapid transit, reinforcing the immediacy and urgency of the message.
• through the midst of heaven (ἐν μεσουρανήματι - en mesouranēmati): Lit. "in mid-heaven." This strategically visible position ensures the message is globally audible and undeniable to all on earth, leaving no one unaware of the impending judgments. It indicates an open, public, and inescapable declaration, paralleled later by another angel in Rev 14:6.
• saying with a loud voice (λέγοντα φωνῇ μεγάλῃ - legonta phōnē megalē): Emphasizes the emphatic, unmistakable nature of the proclamation. The divine message is not whispered but thundered forth for all to hear, signifying its supreme importance.
• Woe, woe, woe (οὐαὶ οὐαὶ οὐαὶ - ouai ouai ouai): A Hebrew prophetic lamentation (often a curse or lament for impending disaster) reiterated thrice for emphasis. This triplication indicates absolute certainty, profound intensity, and escalating severity of the impending judgments. Each "woe" specifically corresponds to one of the three remaining trumpets (the 5th, 6th, and 7th), linking this warning to subsequent chapters.
• to the inhabiters of the earth (τοὺς κατοικοῦντας ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς - tous katoikountas epi tēs gēs): This is a distinct term in Revelation, not referring to all humanity, but specifically to the unrepentant, hostile enemies of God and His people. They are those whose spiritual allegiance and identity are fully committed to the world's systems, pleasure, and power, rather than to God (Rev 3:10, Rev 6:10, Rev 11:10).
• by reason of (ἐκ - ek): Indicates the cause or source; these woes are directly caused by, or linked to, the sounding of the remaining trumpets.
• the other voices of the trumpet (τῶν λοιπῶν φωνῶν τῆς σάλπιγγος - tōn loipōn phōnōn tēs salpingos): Refers to the judgments that will accompany the future sounding of the trumpets, implying a progression of divine action. The focus is on the voices (the judgments/effects), not just the instruments.
• of the three angels (τῶν τριῶν ἀγγέλων - tōn triōn angelōn): The specific angels who are prepared to sound the 5th, 6th, and 7th trumpets. This personifies the instruments of God's wrath.
• which are yet to sound! (τῶν μελλόντων σαλπίζειν - tōn mellontōn salpizein): Emphasizes the future imminence and inevitability of these dire judgments. This is a prophetic warning of what is coming, a final call to attention.

Revelation 8 13 Bonus section

The image of an "eagle" (aetos) as opposed to "angel" (KJV rendering) carries significant symbolic weight. In ancient cultures, particularly Roman, the eagle was a potent symbol of power, empires, and divine authority, often associated with their military standards. By portraying an eagle (or even an angel with an eagle-like swiftness and high perch) delivering this "Woe," John could be subtly polemicizing against worldly powers, asserting that God's judgment, often symbolized by the very imagery they champion, will swiftly and undeniably come upon them. The eagle, known for its keen sight and high flight, would see and pronounce judgment over the whole earth, serving as a terrifying harbinger of doom for those fixated on earthly dominion rather than heavenly authority. The precise nature of the messenger—whether a literal angel or a symbolic eagle—pales in comparison to the clarity and urgency of the message: universal, unavoidable judgment. This serves as a reminder that divine warnings are both expressions of justice and opportunities for last-minute repentance, though for "the inhabiters of the earth," hardening is often the outcome.

Revelation 8 13 Commentary

Revelation 8:13 serves as a pivotal juncture in the apocalyptic unfolding, transforming the earlier, more generalized, and less direct judgments of the first four trumpets into a clear, terrifying forecast of judgments targeting specific, unrepentant humanity. The "angel" (or eagle, as many translations accurately depict the Greek aetos) flying in "mid-heaven" ensures a global, unavoidable warning, amplifying the seriousness of what is to come. The threefold "Woe" is not merely an exclamation of sorrow but a prophetic pronouncement of devastating, escalating judgments, directly linking the messenger's cry to the subsequent events of the fifth, sixth, and seventh trumpets. This highlights God's justice, not only in executing wrath but also in giving explicit warnings. The target—"the inhabiters of the earth"—underscores a profound spiritual divide: those whose loyalty is worldly, opposed to God and His kingdom, who remain obdurate despite mounting signs. The verse portrays a compassionate God who forewarns before final punishment, yet also emphasizes the inexorable progression of divine judgment against unrepentant sin. It’s a moment of intensified suspense and revelation of divine certainty.