Revelation 9 21

Revelation 9:21 kjv

Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts.

Revelation 9:21 nkjv

And they did not repent of their murders or their sorceries or their sexual immorality or their thefts.

Revelation 9:21 niv

Nor did they repent of their murders, their magic arts, their sexual immorality or their thefts.

Revelation 9:21 esv

nor did they repent of their murders or their sorceries or their sexual immorality or their thefts.

Revelation 9:21 nlt

And they did not repent of their murders or their witchcraft or their sexual immorality or their thefts.

Revelation 9 verses

Revelation 9 21 Meaning

Revelation 9:21 describes the unyielding defiance of humanity in the face of severe divine judgments. Despite the preceding devastating plagues and the loss of a third of mankind, those who survived adamantly refused to turn away from their grave sins: intentional killings, engaging in occult practices and witchcraft, widespread sexual immorality, and habitual stealing. It starkly reveals human stubbornness and deep-seated rebellion against God, even when confronted with profound suffering and divine wrath.

Revelation 9 21 Context

Revelation chapter 9 details two catastrophic trumpet judgments: the fifth trumpet, which unleashes demonic locusts upon those who lack the seal of God, and the sixth trumpet, which commands an enormous cavalry army to kill a third of mankind. These are judgments of immense scale and suffering. Verse 20 notes that the survivors still worshipped demons and idols. Revelation 9:21 then specifies the moral consequences and deeply ingrained vices that these survivors refused to abandon. The book of Revelation is a prophetic unveiling of Jesus Christ and His ultimate victory, often portraying humanity's resistance to God amidst unfolding end-time events. Historically, John wrote to Christian churches in Roman Asia Minor who faced immense pressure to conform to pagan Roman society, which often practiced the very sins listed—idolatry, magical arts (pharmakeia), sexual immorality (frequently associated with temple prostitution or cults), and systemic corruption. The verse highlights the stark contrast between God's righteousness and the widespread moral degradation prevalent in the first-century Roman world, and it underscores the unrepentant nature of rebellion against divine truth.

Revelation 9 21 Word analysis

• Nor repented (οὐδὲ μετενόησαν - oude metenoēsan):
  • `oude` is an emphatic negative, meaning "not even," "neither," or "nor," stressing the absolute absence of repentance.
  • `metanoeo` means "to change one's mind, especially to repent; to change the inner man, his thinking, purposes, and acts." This denotes a profound internal transformation and a turning from sin toward God, not mere regret or sorrow.
  • Significance: This phrase highlights that despite experiencing unimaginable judgments, a core shift of will or heart toward God did not occur in these survivors. Their lack of repentance indicates active resistance to divine call and grace, showcasing a deep-seated spiritual rebellion.
• they: Implied reference to "the rest of mankind who were not killed by these plagues" mentioned in the preceding verse (Rev 9:20). Their survival did not lead to godliness.
• of their murders (ἐκ τῶν φόνων αὐτῶν - ek tōn phonōn autōn):
  • `ek` means "out of" or "from," indicating the source or cause of their unrepentance was these very sins.
  • `phónos` (plural `phónoi`) means "murder," "killing," or "slaughter." The plural implies not isolated incidents but a prevalence or pattern of violence and taking of human life.
  • Significance: Violation of the foundational Sixth Commandment, demonstrating a profound disrespect for human life, created in God's image. This moral degradation extends to a willingness to kill, reflecting an absence of love and compassion.
• nor of their sorceries (οὐδὲ ἐκ τῶν φαρμακειῶν αὐτῶν - oude ek tōn pharmakeiōn autōn):
  • `pharmakeia` is where we derive "pharmacy," but in this biblical context, it carries the meaning of "witchcraft," "sorcery," "magic arts," often involving drugs, potions, or incantations used for illicit spiritual purposes, divination, or occult practices. It’s frequently linked with idolatry and demonic influence.
  • Significance: This directly condemns engagement with occult powers, seen as an affront to God's sovereignty and a turning to demonic forces for power or knowledge. It was prevalent in the Roman world where magic and mystery cults intertwined, and its inclusion highlights the spiritual aspect of their rebellion against God.
• nor of their fornication (οὐδὲ ἐκ τῆς πορνείας αὐτῶν - oude ek tēs porneias autōn):
  • `porneia` is a broad Greek term for any illicit sexual activity, encompassing prostitution, adultery, premarital sex, homosexuality, incest, and bestiality. It can also be used metaphorically for spiritual unfaithfulness, like idolatry.
  • Significance: Points to pervasive sexual immorality and moral depravity. This sin often accompanied pagan idol worship and temple prostitution in the ancient world, reinforcing the spiritual aspect of their unrepentance. It represents a widespread breaking of God's covenant and moral design for sexuality.
• nor of their thefts (οὐδὲ ἐκ τῶν κλεμμάτων αὐτῶν - oude ek tōn klemmáton autōn):
  • `klemmata` (plural of `klemma`) means "thefts" or "stolen articles/deeds." The plural suggests widespread, habitual acts of stealing, dishonesty, or robbery.
  • Significance: Violation of the Eighth Commandment, demonstrating a fundamental disrespect for property rights, justice, and truthfulness. This shows a deep-seated self-interest and disregard for the well-being of others, undermining social order.

• Words-group by words-group analysis:
  • "Nor repented they of their...": The repetition of "nor of their" (οὐδὲ ἐκ τῶν) emphatically underscores the specific nature of their unrepentance. It wasn't a general oversight, but a determined refusal to abandon these exact sins, showing the ingrained nature of their wickedness. The structure emphasizes the active choice against repentance, despite immense pressure.
  • "murders, sorceries, fornication, thefts": This grouping represents a comprehensive breakdown of moral and spiritual life: disregard for life (murder), rebellion against God through the occult (sorceries), moral decay in personal conduct (fornication), and societal corruption/greed (thefts). These were widespread practices in pagan society and represent a comprehensive rejection of God's righteous standards and basic human decency. They reveal that their worship of demons and idols (mentioned in v.20) was inextricably linked to profound ethical failure.

Commentary

Revelation 9:21 offers a chilling insight into the human heart's capacity for hardened defiance against God. Even after witnessing and surviving catastrophic judgments that decimated a third of humanity and brought untold suffering, a significant portion of the survivors remained utterly unyielding. Their continued sin is not accidental but a determined choice, highlighted by the active refusal to "repent." The specific list—murders, sorceries, fornication, and thefts—reveals the pervasive depth of their depravity, touching upon violence against life, direct engagement with demonic powers (through `pharmakeia`, meaning occult arts, not just medicine), widespread sexual immorality, and systemic dishonesty. These are not merely random transgressions but a summary of sins characteristic of a world alienated from God, steeped in idolatry and rebellion. This verse powerfully illustrates that mere suffering or observation of divine judgment, without a willing heart, will not compel true repentance. It foreshadows the continued hardheartedness found in later chapters of Revelation (e.g., 16:9, 11), affirming that God's grace, while patiently extended, must be met with a responsive will.

Bonus section

• This verse serves as a crucial theological point about the nature of free will and human depravity. Even when faced with undeniable evidence of God's power and wrath, not all humanity will choose to repent. This contradicts any idea that suffering automatically leads to spiritual conversion.
• The mention of `pharmakeia` (sorceries) is a strong indictment against practices rooted in occultism, witchcraft, and pagan magic, emphasizing that such activities are a form of rebellion against God and often involve interaction with demonic forces. It underscores the spiritual battle and allegiance shifts in the end times.
• The specific list of sins is consistent with similar "vice lists" found throughout the New Testament (e.g., Gal 5:19-21; 1 Cor 6:9-10; Eph 5:3-5), highlighting universal categories of moral transgression that separate humanity from God's kingdom and invite judgment. Their collective persistence indicates widespread societal moral collapse.
• The immediate preceding context of verse 20 (worship of demons and idols) is crucial; the moral sins listed in verse 21 are direct consequences and manifestations of this spiritual idolatry. Unrighteous living flows from unrighteous worship.

Revelation 9 21 Bonus section

• This verse serves as a crucial theological point about the nature of free will and human depravity. Even when faced with undeniable evidence of God's power and wrath, not all humanity will choose to repent. This contradicts any idea that suffering automatically leads to spiritual conversion.
• The mention of `pharmakeia` (sorceries) is a strong indictment against practices rooted in occultism, witchcraft, and pagan magic, emphasizing that such activities are a form of rebellion against God and often involve interaction with demonic forces. It underscores the spiritual battle and allegiance shifts in the end times.
• The specific list of sins is consistent with similar "vice lists" found throughout the New Testament (e.g., Gal 5:19-21; 1 Cor 6:9-10; Eph 5:3-5), highlighting universal categories of moral transgression that separate humanity from God's kingdom and invite judgment. Their collective persistence indicates widespread societal moral collapse.
• The immediate preceding context of verse 20 (worship of demons and idols) is crucial; the moral sins listed in verse 21 are direct consequences and manifestations of this spiritual idolatry. Unrighteous living flows from unrighteous worship.

Revelation 9 21 Commentary