What Does Revelation 9:10 Mean in the King James?
And they had tails like unto scorpions, and there were stings in their tails: and their power was to hurt men five months.
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
The sting is real, but the authority behind it has a clock.
THE MEANING
This verse lets you hold two things at once: the sting does real harm, and its authority has a defined term of five months.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
It undoes the belief that a force that can wound has unlimited reach: the verse states a five-month limit on the authority to hurt.
THE ROOT
ἐξουσία
exousia
GROWS FROM
ἐξουσι-
exousi-
Authority, right, or permitted scope of action.
“power” in this verse is exousia. The word can carry the sense of authority or permission, not only raw force. The five-month span gives that authority a stated boundary while leaving its harm fully real.
ALSO GROWS
exestin: It is permitted; it is lawful.
ἔξεστιν
This related form names what is allowed, bringing the authority shade of the verse into view.
exousiazō: To exercise authority or rule.
ἐξουσιάζω
This related verb names authority in action; here the action has an explicit duration.
κέντρα
kéntra
GROWS FROM
κεντ-
kent-
To prick; a pointed goad or sting that pierces.
“stings” in this verse is kéntra. English makes this only a scorpion’s weapon, while κεντ- also carries the idea of pricking and piercing. The same noun names death’s “sting” in 1 Corinthians 15:55, linking this wound to a wider scriptural image.
ALSO GROWS
kentron: A sharp point, goad, or sting.
κέντρον
In Acts 26:14 the related plural is rendered “pricks” in the phrase “kick against the pricks,” naming a point that pierces and drives.
ekkenteō: To pierce.
ἐκκεντέω
The related verb appears as “pierced” in John 19:37, showing the same word family moving from a pointed object to the act of piercing.
ἀδικῆσαι
adikēsai
GROWS FROM
ἀδικ-
adik-
To do wrong; by extension, to harm or injure.
“to hurt” in this verse is adikēsai. The Greek verb belongs to a family of words for wrong and injustice. English “hurt” can sound like sensation alone; this word also puts the act of injuring someone in view.
ALSO GROWS
adikia: Injustice, wrongdoing.
ἀδικία
The shared stem places injury in the vocabulary of wrong done to someone.
adikos: Unjust, wrongful.
ἄδικος
This related form describes what is contrary to right, adding that shade to the verse’s language of harm.
THE PATTERN
Even a real power to inflict harm can be subject to a stated boundary.
And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, he is in thine hand; but save his life.Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin.And to them it was given that they should not kill them, but that they should be tormented five months: and their torment was as the torment of a scorpion, when he striketh a man.THE THREAD
O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?The Greek noun κέντρον, translated “sting” here, is the same word family as the scorpion-like stings in Revelation 9:10. The image moves from a bounded power to wound toward the question of death’s own sting and victory.
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