Revelation 8 7

Revelation 8:7 kjv

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.

Revelation 8:7 nkjv

The first angel sounded: And hail and fire followed, mingled with blood, and they were thrown to the earth. And a third of the trees were burned up, and all green grass was burned up.

Revelation 8:7 niv

The first angel sounded his trumpet, and there came hail and fire mixed with blood, and it was hurled down on the earth. A third of the earth was burned up, a third of the trees were burned up, and all the green grass was burned up.

Revelation 8:7 esv

The first angel blew his trumpet, and there followed hail and fire, mixed with blood, and these were thrown upon the earth. And a third of the earth was burned up, and a third of the trees were burned up, and all green grass was burned up.

Revelation 8:7 nlt

The first angel blew his trumpet, and hail and fire mixed with blood were thrown down on the earth. One-third of the earth was set on fire, one-third of the trees were burned, and all the green grass was burned.

Revelation 8 verses

Revelation 8 7 Meaning

Revelation 8:7 describes the unfolding of the first trumpet judgment, a divinely ordained, partial devastation upon the earthly realm. It details a cataclysmic event where hail, fire, and blood descend from the heavens, resulting in the burning of one-third of the earth, one-third of the trees, and all of the green grass. This initial trumpet judgment serves as a stern warning and a sign of impending greater judgments, revealing God's powerful hand in judgment while also demonstrating His measured wrath.

Revelation 8 7 Context

Revelation chapter 8 transitions from the opening of the seven seals to the sounding of the seven trumpets. After the seventh seal is opened, there is a half-hour of silence in heaven (Rev 8:1), a moment of intense anticipation before God's judgments are further unleashed. This silence is followed by an angel offering incense with the prayers of the saints on the golden altar before God's throne, symbolizing that these judgments are a direct response to the cries of His people (Rev 8:3-5). The filling of the censer with fire from the altar and its hurl to the earth signals the imminence of the trumpets and causes further earthly disruptions, signifying the beginning of these more pronounced judgments (Rev 8:5). The seven angels are then given trumpets, each sounding initiating a specific, increasingly severe judgment upon the earth, sea, freshwaters, and heavenly bodies. Revelation 8:7 details the first of these trumpet judgments, which directly impacts the land, its vegetation, and perhaps human livelihood. These judgments, importantly, affect only a "third" of their respective targets, indicating a partial but significant destructive event, distinguishing them from the full, ultimate judgments of the bowl plagues which come later in Revelation and are depicted as total. They are likely intended as a series of warnings to provoke repentance before the final, unmitigated wrath of God.

Revelation 8 7 Word analysis

• The first angel (ὁ πρῶτος ἄγγελος - ho prōtos angelos):

  • Signifies a specific sequence and order of divine judgments.
  • "Angel" (ἄγγελος - angelos): Messenger, divine agent. Here, an agent carrying out God's will directly.

• sounded his trumpet (ἐσάλπισεν - esalpisen):

  • From (σαλπίζω - salpizō), to sound a trumpet.
  • Trumpets in Scripture are consistently associated with divine revelation, significant events, warnings, the declaration of war, royal proclamations, and the summons to assembly or judgment (Ex 19, Num 10, Joel 2, Zep 1, Matt 24). The sounding of this trumpet announces a major, specific act of divine intervention on earth.

• and there came (καὶ ἐγένετο - kai egeneto):

  • Simply "and it came to pass" or "and it happened," denoting the immediate consequence of the trumpet's blast.

• hail and fire (χάλαζα καὶ πῦρ - chalaza kai pyr):

  • Hail (χάλαζα - chalaza): Often used in Scripture as a divine weapon of judgment, particularly severe and destructive (Ex 9, Ps 78, Isa 28, Ez 38).
  • Fire (πῦρ - pyr): A pervasive biblical symbol of divine presence, purification, and wrath. Here, undoubtedly wrath (Ex 9, Lev 10, Isa 66).
  • Mixed with blood (μεμιγμένα ἐν αἵματι - memigmēna en haimati):
    • Mixed (μεμιγμένα - memigmēna): Participle indicating a combination. The elements are intertwined.
    • Blood (αἵματι - haimati): Signifies death, violence, plague, or corrupted life. In Exodus plagues, waters turning to blood (Ex 7:17-21) rendered them unusable and brought death. Here, it could be literal blood, a blood-like appearance, or symbolically indicating massive loss of life and a corruption of nature itself, where life is normally found.

• and it was hurled down on the earth (καὶ ἐβλήθη εἰς τὴν γῆν - kai eblēthē eis tēn gēn):

  • Hurled down (ἐβλήθη - eblēthē): Implying a forceful, divine casting, emphasizing the direct action of God.
  • On the earth (εἰς τὴν γῆν - eis tēn gēn): "Earth" (γῆ - gē) here refers specifically to the land, distinct from the sea or rivers targeted in later judgments, often used to refer to the ungodly or resistant world system in Revelation.

• A third of the earth was burned up (τὸ τρίτον τῆς γῆς κατεκάη - to triton tēs gēs katekaē):

  • A third (τὸ τρίτον - to triton): Crucial qualifier, indicating the judgment is severe but partial (cf. Ez 5:12, Zec 13:8-9). This numerical limitation suggests God's restraint, allowing space for repentance before ultimate devastation. It is not complete annihilation.
  • Was burned up (κατεκάη - katekaē): Intensifies the "burning," signifying complete destruction by fire.

• a third of the trees were burned up (καὶ τὸ τρίτον τῶν δένδρων κατεκάη - kai to triton tōn dendrōn katekaē):

  • Trees (δένδρων - dendrōn): Represents vegetation, natural resources, perhaps even metaphorical for powerful people or nations (cf. Isa 2:13, Ez 31). Their destruction severely impacts the environment and human survival.

• and all the green grass was burned up (καὶ πᾶς χόρτος χλωρὸς κατεκάη - kai pas chortos chlōros katekaē):

  • All (πᾶς - pas): This is a significant distinction from "a third."
  • Green grass (χόρτος χλωρὸς - chortos chlōros): The most vulnerable and common vegetation. Its complete destruction signifies a wide-ranging, fundamental blow to the ecosystem and agricultural sustenance. It means a complete cessation of common life, grazing, etc.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "hail and fire mixed with blood": This imagery powerfully evokes the Egyptian plague of hail (Ex 9), which also involved fire and striking vegetation. The addition of "blood" echoes the plague where waters turned to blood (Ex 7) and points forward to cosmic signs before the Day of the Lord (Joel 2:30-31; Acts 2:19-20), symbolizing devastation, death, and disruption of natural life. This is not merely a natural disaster, but one imbued with judgment, and potentially involving actual death and defilement.
• "hurled down on the earth": This phrase emphasizes the divine agency and the terrestrial target of the judgment. It highlights the direct, intentional, and forceful nature of God's intervention, originating from above and directly impacting the land.
• "A third... all the green grass": The distinct use of "a third" for earth and trees, but "all" for green grass, creates a striking progression. It suggests a graduated severity of impact. While the overall land and its major plant life (trees) are severely hit (a third), the very basic, pervasive, and life-sustaining "green grass" is completely wiped out. This signifies a fundamental and immediate threat to life and sustainability for animals and humans who depend on immediate ground vegetation. The precise targeting underlines God's intentionality and power in judgment.

Revelation 8 7 Bonus section

• Symbolic vs. Literal Interpretation: Scholars often debate whether these judgments are literal meteorological phenomena or symbolic representations. The consensus often leans towards them being real, perceptible events that have symbolic meaning. For instance, "blood" could signify literal bloodshed (deaths from the impact or resultant chaos), a blood-like appearance, or simply pervasive death and defilement. The intensity of the description, however, points to something tangibly destructive impacting the natural world.
• Polemics against Idolatry: By striking the land and its productivity, this judgment could be seen as a direct challenge to the Roman Empire's reliance on its agricultural wealth and the idolatry associated with creation (e.g., veneration of nature gods, emperor worship tied to prosperity). The earth, once seen as a stable foundation, becomes a vehicle of divine wrath, showing the true source of all things.
• The Restraint of God: The consistent "a third" in the first four trumpet judgments (8:7-12) emphasizes God's restraint amidst wrath. It implies a partial judgment, designed to bring a segment of humanity to repentance before the full outpouring of His indignation. This differentiates these judgments from the later bowl judgments, which appear to be total and without measure. It's a sobering but gracious warning.

Revelation 8 7 Commentary

The first trumpet judgment of Revelation 8:7 represents a direct and devastating divine strike upon the physical environment and, by extension, human life and livelihood. Drawing heavily on Old Testament plague imagery, particularly the Exodus narrative, it combines "hail," "fire," and "blood"—elements of destruction, purification, and death. This imagery would resonate with the original audience familiar with God's power demonstrated against Pharaoh. The judgment targets "the earth," which here refers specifically to the land and its vegetation, a vital source of life and provision. The specificity of "a third" for the land and trees signifies a severe but not complete destruction, highlighting God's justice intertwined with His mercy; it is a warning, an invitation to repentance, rather than final annihilation. However, "all the green grass" being burned indicates a pervasive, immediate, and inescapable devastation that affects the most basic levels of ecological function and human survival, threatening famine and scarcity. This initial trumpet judgment underscores God's sovereignty over creation and His active involvement in human affairs, calling for humanity to recognize His authority and turn from their unrepentant ways before more catastrophic and comprehensive judgments unfold. It reminds believers that even in times of intense tribulation, God is in control, orchestrating events according to His divine purpose.