Revelation 8 8

Revelation 8:8 kjv

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;

Revelation 8:8 nkjv

Then the second angel sounded: And something like a great mountain burning with fire was thrown into the sea, and a third of the sea became blood.

Revelation 8:8 niv

The second angel sounded his trumpet, and something like a huge mountain, all ablaze, was thrown into the sea. A third of the sea turned into blood,

Revelation 8:8 esv

The second angel blew his trumpet, and something like a great mountain, burning with fire, was thrown into the sea, and a third of the sea became blood.

Revelation 8:8 nlt

Then the second angel blew his trumpet, and a great mountain of fire was thrown into the sea. One-third of the water in the sea became blood,

Revelation 8 verses

Revelation 8 8 Meaning

Revelation 8:8 describes the second trumpet judgment. This vivid prophetic vision portrays something resembling a vast mountain, aflame, being forcefully cast into the sea. The immediate consequence of this action is that one-third of the sea's water transforms into blood. This symbolizes a significant act of divine judgment, likely affecting economic systems, maritime affairs, and causing widespread devastation within the global sphere.

Revelation 8 8 Context

Revelation 8:8 is the second in a series of seven trumpet judgments. These judgments begin after the breaking of the seventh seal (Rev 8:1) and are announced by seven angels following a period of silence in heaven and incense offerings by another angel (Rev 8:2-5). Unlike the initial seals, which revealed consequences or prepared the way for judgments, the trumpets initiate active, escalating, yet partial, calamities upon the earth. These judgments are distinct from the final, complete bowl judgments later in Revelation. They are understood as warning judgments, severe enough to cause immense suffering but not utterly annihilating, providing an opportunity for humanity to repent. This specific verse directly follows the first trumpet, which affected the land, trees, and grass, moving the focus of judgment to the maritime domain. For John's original audience, living under the pervasive power of the Roman Empire and often dependent on crucial sea trade routes across the Mediterranean, this imagery of a devastating event in the sea would have been highly resonant, implying a threat to Rome's maritime commerce and military might, or perhaps other empires reliant on the sea.

Revelation 8 8 Word analysis

• The second angel sounded: This signifies the precise order and divine orchestration of these judgments. Each trumpet judgment is a specific, sequential act of God's righteous wrath.

• and something like: The Greek word is hos (ὡς), a crucial comparative particle. It indicates that what John saw was similar to or resembled a great mountain, but was not necessarily a literal geographical formation. This emphasizes the symbolic nature of the vision.

• a great mountain (Greek: oros megas):

  • oros (ὄρος): Mountain. In biblical prophecy, mountains frequently symbolize kingdoms, empires, nations, or significant political powers (e.g., Jer 51:25 where Babylon is called a "destroying mountain"). They represent stability, grandeur, or immense obstacles.
  • megas (μέγας): Great, large. This adjective highlights the immense size, power, and significance of the entity or event being symbolized.

• burning with fire (Greek: kaiomenon pyri):

  • kaiomenon (καιόμενον): Present participle of kaiō, meaning "to burn, kindle." It suggests an ongoing, active state of combustion.
  • pyri (πυρί): From pyr, "fire." The dative case implies the means or instrument (burning by fire). Fire in Scripture often represents divine judgment, consuming wrath (Deut 4:24), purification, or God's powerful presence. Here, it conveys intense destructive force and divine indignation.

• was thrown into (Greek: eblēthē eis):

  • eblēthē (ἐβλήθη): Aorist passive indicative of ballō, "to throw." The passive voice implies that this act was not random but was brought about by divine agency, either directly by God or through His appointed instruments. It suggests a decisive, forceful, and intentional act.
  • eis (εἰς): "Into." Indicates the direction and ultimate destination.

• the sea (Greek: tēn thalassan): In apocalyptic literature, "the sea" (like "waters") can represent the tumultuous nations, the gentile world, a source of evil forces (Rev 13:1, where the beast arises from the sea), or simply the literal body of water with its critical maritime trade routes and ecosystem. In this context, it signifies the sphere affected by this judgment, which would severely impact international commerce, naval activities, and perhaps coastal populations.

• and a third of the sea became blood (Greek: kai to triton tēs thalassēs egeneto haima):

  • to triton (τὸ τρίτον): "The third part," or "one-third." This recurring fraction (seen in Rev 8:7, 8:9, 8:10, 8:12; Rev 9:15, 9:18) is highly significant. It indicates a partial, yet substantial, judgment. This is not utter destruction, suggesting these are severe warnings, aimed at prompting repentance, or perhaps a demonstration of God's restraint before ultimate judgment.
  • egeneto haima (ἐγένετο αἷμα): "Became blood." This phrase directly echoes the first plague in Egypt, where the Nile turned to blood (Ex 7:17-21). "Blood" here symbolizes widespread death, severe corruption, defilement, the cessation of life within the sea, and extreme devastation (both biological and economic, as maritime life and trade would be severely impacted).

• Words-Group Analysis:

  • "something like a great mountain burning with fire": This composite image strongly conveys a vast, immensely powerful, and intensely destructive force, perhaps an empire, a national power, or a global system, which is characterized by consuming judgment. The "like" maintains the symbolic nature of the vision, indicating a resemblance in effect and power rather than a literal object.
  • "was thrown into the sea": This phrase depicts the deliberate and divinely ordained redirection of this destructive force towards the global, chaotic, or economic sphere represented by the "sea." The act of "throwing" implies a powerful, irreversible impact.
  • "and a third of the sea became blood": This describes the profound and extensive consequence of the preceding action. The transformation to "blood" signifies massive death, widespread corruption, and the incapacitation of a significant portion of global systems, particularly maritime life and commerce. The "third" signifies a substantial but not complete devastation, acting as a dire warning.

Revelation 8 8 Bonus section

The symbolism of the "great mountain" in Revelation 8:8 has been widely interpreted, with common views seeing it as a representation of a significant nation, empire, or a specific type of political and economic power that rises to oppressive heights. The element of "fire" signifies that this entity itself carries the essence of divine judgment, or that it is consumed and empowered by the destructive wrath of God. Some scholarly perspectives also suggest that such dramatic cosmic signs in Revelation might encompass or even initiate massive natural catastrophes (like a meteoric impact or volcanic eruption), viewed through a lens that links natural phenomena to divine intent and judgment, affecting the global ecosystem and economy. The impact on the "sea" particularly underscores a vulnerability in international systems and trade, suggesting God's ability to disrupt the very foundations of worldly commerce and military strength. This targeted judgment serves as a profound call to observe and understand God's ultimate sovereignty over all creation and earthly affairs, reinforcing the prophetic nature of Revelation's warnings.

Revelation 8 8 Commentary

Revelation 8:8 depicts the second of the trumpet judgments, a significant and destructive divine intervention. The image of a "great mountain burning with fire" being "thrown into the sea" symbolizes a colossal, fiery entity of judgment. This could represent a major earthly power, such as a great empire or a dominant political and economic system, itself engulfed in divine wrath. Its cataclysmic fall into the "sea" signifies an impact upon the international world, including nations, global commerce, and perhaps naval powers. The consequence, "a third of the sea became blood," is a clear echo of the Egyptian plagues and illustrates profound devastation: mass death for maritime life, widespread economic collapse for those reliant on sea trade, and a pervasive sense of corruption and death in the affected sphere. These trumpet judgments are partial and serve as urgent warnings from God, not ultimate annihilations, giving humanity a chance to repent before His final wrath is fully expressed.