Revelation 9 14

Revelation 9:14 kjv

Saying to the sixth angel which had the trumpet, Loose the four angels which are bound in the great river Euphrates.

Revelation 9:14 nkjv

saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, "Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates."

Revelation 9:14 niv

It said to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, "Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates."

Revelation 9:14 esv

saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, "Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates."

Revelation 9:14 nlt

And the voice said to the sixth angel who held the trumpet, "Release the four angels who are bound at the great Euphrates River."

Revelation 9 verses

Revelation 9 14 Meaning

Revelation 9:14 depicts a command given by a voice from the four horns of the golden altar before God. This command instructs the sixth angel, who possesses the trumpet, to release four specific angels who have been previously bound at the great river Euphrates. Their release is for a destructive purpose, setting in motion the next phase of the sixth trumpet judgment, leading to massive human casualties.

Revelation 9 14 Context

Revelation 9:14 falls within the vision of the sixth trumpet judgment. Preceding this verse, the fifth trumpet brought forth a plague of demonic locusts (Rev 9:1-11) that torment but do not kill. The voice from the altar in verse 13 indicates that the judgments are unfolding from God's righteous purposes and in response to the prayers and cries for justice from the saints. This verse signals an intensification of divine wrath, shifting from torment to widespread death, specifically mentioning the release of forces poised at a geographically significant location. Historically, the Euphrates River served as a common route for invading armies from the east into the ancient Near East, symbolizing an incoming military threat to Israel and its neighbors.

Revelation 9 14 Word analysis

• Saying (λέγων - legon): Indicates a direct command, spoken with authority. It is the continuation of the "voice" (φωνὴ - phonē) mentioned in verse 13.
• to the sixth angel: Direct address to the specific angel designated to sound the sixth trumpet, highlighting the precise orchestration of these events. Each angel has a specific role.
• which had the trumpet: Emphasizes the angel's authority and role in the sequence of judgments. The trumpet is the instrument through which God's judgment is signaled and initiated.
• Loose (λῦσον - lyson): From lyō (λύω), meaning "to unbind," "release," "set free." It signifies an intentional, authoritative act to permit what was previously restrained. This implies a period of prior divine restriction.
• the four angels: A specific number, suggesting completion, universality, or symbolic significance of the earth's four corners. Their identity is debated; they are likely either fallen angels of high rank or possibly a special class of evil spirits/demons who have been uniquely restrained for this moment. They are distinct from the fallen angel king of the abyss.
• which are bound: Highlights their prior state of being confined. This implies they possess immense destructive power and would have acted sooner had they not been restrained by God's decree. Their binding demonstrates God's sovereign control even over evil forces.
• at the great river Euphrates: This geographical marker holds significant historical and prophetic weight.
  • Great river: Potamō tō megalō (ποταμῷ τῷ μεγάλῳ), emphasizing its size and importance.
  • Euphrates (Εὐφράτης - Euphrates): Historically, this river was a significant boundary for ancient Israel and a frequent pathway for invasions from powerful empires to the east (e.g., Assyria, Babylon, Persia). Prophetically, it symbolizes the entry point for forces hostile to God's people in the end times, and it is mentioned again in Revelation 16:12 as a path for the "kings from the east."
• Words-group analysis:
  • Voice from the four horns of the golden altar... Saying to the sixth angel... Loose: This entire sequence demonstrates that the trumpet judgments are not random occurrences but are carefully timed and executed commands originating from God's throne (the altar represents God's presence, sacrifice, and judgment in response to the saints' prayers). The altar imagery connects the judgment to the martyred saints' cry for justice (Rev 6:9-10).
  • The four angels which are bound at the great river Euphrates: This phrase underscores God's control over even powerful demonic entities. Their imprisonment in a specific location implies a strategic release point, initiating a geographically significant movement of destructive forces. Their binding speaks to God's patience and pre-planned timing for their devastating deployment.

Revelation 9 14 Bonus section

The identity of the "four angels" in Rev 9:14 is subject to varying interpretations. Some scholars view them as literal, exceptionally powerful demonic beings held in check until the pre-appointed time. Others propose they are actual rebellious angelic beings mentioned in 2 Peter 2:4 and Jude 1:6, imprisoned since before the flood for specific heinous sins. Regardless of their exact nature, their binding and specific release highlight the absolute authority of God over all spiritual powers, whether benevolent or malevolent. Their being "at the Euphrates" also links to a historical pattern of eastern threats against Israel and aligns with future prophetic events in Revelation 16:12 concerning the kings of the east, implying a continuation of geopolitical and spiritual significance associated with that region in the unfolding of end-time judgments. The magnitude of the ensuing army (v.16) signals that this is not a limited regional conflict, but a global judgment allowed by divine decree.

Revelation 9 14 Commentary

Revelation 9:14 presents a pivotal moment in the sixth trumpet judgment, where a divine command initiates unprecedented destruction. The voice from the golden altar signifies that these judgments proceed from God’s holiness and justice, intertwined with the prayers of His people. The specificity of "the four angels bound at the great river Euphrates" is crucial; these are not general demons but powerful, previously restrained entities released with a defined purpose by God's permission. The Euphrates, a historical invasion route, signifies a profound and calamitous onslaught from the east. This verse underscores God's absolute sovereignty: He holds the keys to the abyss, determines the timing, and commands even wicked spiritual beings to serve His ultimate, albeit dreadful, purposes of judgment, allowing them to carry out their destructive intent at His appointed time. The release of these angels will unleash an army of 200 million (v.16) leading to a massive loss of life.