New International VersionThe third angel sounded his trumpet, and a great star, blazing like a torch, fell from the sky on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water—
New Living TranslationThen the third angel blew his trumpet, and a great star fell from the sky, burning like a torch. It fell on one-third of the rivers and on the springs of water.
English Standard VersionThe third angel blew his trumpet, and a great star fell from heaven, blazing like a torch, and it fell on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water.
Berean Standard BibleThen the third angel sounded his trumpet, and a great star burning like a torch fell from heaven and landed on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water.
Berean Literal BibleAnd the third angel sounded his trumpet, and a great star fell out of heaven, burning like a torch. And it fell upon a third of the rivers, and upon the springs of waters.
King James BibleAnd the third angel sounded, and there fell a great star from heaven, burning as it were a lamp, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters;
New King James VersionThen the third angel sounded: And a great star fell from heaven, burning like a torch, and it fell on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water.
New American Standard BibleThe third angel sounded, and a great star fell from heaven, burning like a torch, and it fell on a third of the rivers and on the springs of waters.
NASB 1995The third angel sounded, and a great star fell from heaven, burning like a torch, and it fell on a third of the rivers and on the springs of waters.
NASB 1977And the third angel sounded, and a great star fell from heaven, burning like a torch, and it fell on a third of the rivers and on the springs of waters;
Legacy Standard BibleAnd the third angel sounded, and a great star fell from heaven, burning like a torch, and it fell on a third of the rivers and on the springs of waters.
Amplified BibleThe third angel sounded [his trumpet], and a great star fell from heaven, burning like a torch [flashing across the sky], and it fell on a third of the rivers and on the springs of [fresh] waters.
Christian Standard BibleThe third angel blew his trumpet, and a great star, blazing like a torch, fell from heaven. It fell on a third of the rivers and springs of water.
Holman Christian Standard BibleThe third angel blew his trumpet, and a great star, blazing like a torch, fell from heaven. It fell on a third of the rivers and springs of water.
American Standard VersionAnd the third angel sounded, and there fell from heaven a great star, burning as a torch, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of the waters;
Contemporary English VersionWhen the third angel blew his trumpet, a great star fell from heaven. It was burning like a torch, and it fell on a third of the rivers and on a third of the springs of water.
English Revised VersionAnd the third angel sounded, and there fell from heaven a great star, burning as a torch, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of the waters;
GOD'S WORD® TranslationWhen the third angel blew his trumpet, a huge star flaming like a torch fell from the sky. It fell on one-third of the rivers and on the springs.
Good News TranslationThen the third angel blew his trumpet. A large star, burning like a torch, dropped from the sky and fell on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water.
International Standard VersionWhen the third angel blew his trumpet, a huge star blazing like a torch fell from heaven. It fell on one-third of the rivers and on the springs of water.
NET BibleThen the third angel blew his trumpet, and a huge star burning like a torch fell from the sky; it landed on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water.
New Heart English BibleThe third angel sounded, and a great star fell from the sky, burning like a torch, and it fell on one third of the rivers, and on the springs of the waters.
Webster's Bible TranslationAnd the third angel sounded, and there fell a great star from heaven, burning as it were a lamp, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters;
Weymouth New TestamentThe third angel blew his trumpet; and there fell from Heaven a great star, which was on fire like a torch. It fell upon a third part of the rivers and upon the springs of water. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleThen the third angel sounded his trumpet, and a great star burning like a torch fell from heaven and landed on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water.
World English BibleThe third angel sounded, and a great star fell from the sky, burning like a torch, and it fell on one third of the rivers, and on the springs of water. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionAnd the third messenger sounded the trumpet, and there fell out of the sky a great star, burning as a lamp, and it fell on the third of the rivers, and on the fountains of waters,
Berean Literal BibleAnd the third angel sounded his trumpet, and a great star fell out of heaven, burning like a torch. And it fell upon a third of the rivers, and upon the springs of waters.
Young's Literal Translation And the third messenger did sound, and there fell out of the heaven a great star, burning as a lamp, and it did fall upon the third of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters,
Smith's Literal TranslationAnd the third angel sounded the trumpet, and a great star fell from heaven, burning as a torch, and it fell upon a third of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters; Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd the third angel sounded the trumpet, and a great star fell from heaven, burning as it were a torch, and it fell on the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters:
Catholic Public Domain VersionAnd the third Angel sounded the trumpet. And a great star fell from heaven, burning like a torch. And it fell upon a third part of the rivers and upon the sources of water.
New American BibleWhen the third angel blew his trumpet, a large star burning like a torch fell from the sky. It fell on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water.
New Revised Standard VersionThe third angel blew his trumpet, and a great star fell from heaven, blazing like a torch, and it fell on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAnd the third angel sounded, and there fell a star from heaven, burning as though it were a lamp, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters;
Aramaic Bible in Plain EnglishAnd the third sounded, and a great burning star fell from the sky like a blaze and it fell on a third of the rivers and upon the springs of water, NT Translations Anderson New TestamentAnd the third angel sounded; and there fell from heaven a great star, that burned as a lamp; and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters.
Godbey New TestamentAnd the third angel sounded; and a great star, burning like a lamp, fell from the heaven, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of the waters.
Haweis New TestamentAnd the third angel blew the trumpet, and there fell from heaven a great star, burning as a torch, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of water;
Mace New TestamentAnd the third angel sounded, and there fell a great star from heaven, burning like a flambeau, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters.
Weymouth New TestamentThe third angel blew his trumpet; and there fell from Heaven a great star, which was on fire like a torch. It fell upon a third part of the rivers and upon the springs of water.
Worrell New TestamentAnd the third angel sounded; and there fell out of the heaven a great star, burning as a torch, and it fell on the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of the waters.
Worsley New TestamentAnd the third angel sounded, and there fell from heaven a great star burning like a torch, and it fell upon a third part of the rivers, and the fountains of waters: and the name of the star is Wormwood;
Additional Translations ... Audio Bible
Context The First Four Trumpets… 9a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed. 10Thenthethirdangelsounded his trumpet,anda greatstarburninglikea torchfellfromheavenandlandedonathirdof theriversandonthespringsofwater.11The name of the star is Wormwood. A third of the waters turned bitter like wormwood oil, and many people died from the bitter waters.…
Cross References Jeremiah 9:15Therefore this is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: “Behold, I will feed this people wormwood and give them poisoned water to drink.
Jeremiah 23:15Therefore this is what the LORD of Hosts says concerning the prophets: “I will feed them wormwood and give them poisoned water to drink, for from the prophets of Jerusalem ungodliness has spread throughout the land.”
Exodus 15:23-25And when they came to Marah, they could not drink the water there because it was bitter. (That is why it was named Marah.) / So the people grumbled against Moses, saying, “What are we to drink?” / And Moses cried out to the LORD, and the LORD showed him a log. And when he cast it into the waters, they were sweetened. There the LORD made for them a statute and an ordinance, and there He tested them,
Isaiah 14:12How you have fallen from heaven, O day star, son of the dawn! You have been cut down to the ground, O destroyer of nations.
Isaiah 34:4All the stars of heaven will be dissolved. The skies will be rolled up like a scroll, and all their stars will fall like withered leaves from the vine, like foliage from the fig tree.
Isaiah 14:8Even the cypresses and cedars of Lebanon exult over you: “Since you have been laid low, no woodcutter comes against us.”
Isaiah 13:10For the stars of heaven and their constellations will not give their light. The rising sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light.
Isaiah 24:20The earth staggers like a drunkard and sways like a shack. Earth’s rebellion weighs it down, and it falls, never to rise again.
Ezekiel 32:7When I extinguish you, I will cover the heavens and darken their stars. I will cover the sun with a cloud, and the moon will not give its light.
Ezekiel 38:22I will execute judgment upon him with plague and bloodshed. I will pour out torrents of rain, hailstones, fire, and sulfur on him and on his troops and on the many nations with him.
Amos 5:7There are those who turn justice into wormwood and cast righteousness to the ground.
Amos 7:4This is what the Lord GOD showed me: The Lord GOD was calling for judgment by fire. It consumed the great deep and devoured the land.
Zechariah 13:8-9And in all the land, declares the LORD, two-thirds will be cut off and perish, but a third will be left in it. / This third I will bring through the fire; I will refine them like silver and test them like gold. They will call on My name, and I will answer them. I will say, ‘They are My people,’ and they will say, ‘The LORD is our God.’”
Matthew 24:29Immediately after the tribulation of those days: ‘The sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.’
Luke 21:25There will be signs in the sun and moon and stars, and on the earth dismay among the nations, bewildered by the roaring of the sea and the surging of the waves.
Treasury of Scripture And the third angel sounded, and there fell a great star from heaven, burning as it were a lamp, and it fell on the third part of the rivers, and on the fountains of waters; a great. Revelation 1:20 The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches. Revelation 6:13 And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind. Revelation 9:1 And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth: and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit. the fountains. Revelation 16:4 And the third angel poured out his vial upon the rivers and fountains of waters; and they became blood. Exodus 7:20,21 And Moses and Aaron did so, as the LORD commanded; and he lifted up the rod, and smote the waters thatwere in the river, in the sight of Pharaoh, and in the sight of his servants; and all the waters thatwere in the river were turned to blood… Judges 15:11 Then three thousand men of Judah went to the top of the rock Etam, and said to Samson, Knowest thou not that the Philistinesare rulers over us? whatis thisthat thou hast done unto us? And he said unto them, As they did unto me, so have I done unto them. Jump to Previous AngelBlazingBlewBurningFallFellFireFlameFountainsGreatHeavenLampMessengerPartRiversSkySoundSoundedSoundingSpringsStarThirdTorchTrumpetWaterWatersJump to Next AngelBlazingBlewBurningFallFellFireFlameFountainsGreatHeavenLampMessengerPartRiversSkySoundSoundedSoundingSpringsStarThirdTorchTrumpetWaterWatersRevelation 8 1.At the opening of the seventh seal,2.Seven angels have seven trumpets given them.6.Four of them sound their trumpets and great plagues follow.9.Another angel puts incense to the prayers of the saints on the golden altar.Then the third angel sounded his trumpetThe sounding of the third trumpet is part of a series of seven trumpet judgments described in Revelation. These judgments are a response to the prayers of the saints and signify divine intervention in human history. The number three often symbolizes completeness or divine perfection in biblical numerology, suggesting the significance of this event in the unfolding of God's plan. and a great star burning like a torch fell from heaven
The imagery of a "great star" falling from heaven is symbolic and can represent a significant and catastrophic event. Stars in biblical literature often symbolize angels or celestial beings, as seen inJob 38:7 andIsaiah 14:12. The description of the star "burning like a torch" suggests a dramatic and fiery descent, indicating judgment or destruction. This imagery is reminiscent of the fall of Lucifer, described as a "morning star" inIsaiah 14:12, and may symbolize a fallen angel or a divine messenger executing judgment. and landed on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water
The impact on "a third of the rivers and on the springs of water" indicates a partial but significant judgment affecting the earth's freshwater sources. Water is essential for life, and its contamination or destruction would have dire consequences for humanity. The fraction "a third" is consistent with other judgments in Revelation, emphasizing the severity yet restraint of God's wrath. This event echoes the plagues of Egypt, where water was turned to blood (Exodus 7:20-21), and serves as a warning of the consequences of sin and rebellion against God. Persons / Places / Events 1. Third AngelOne of the seven angels who sound the trumpets, each bringing a specific judgment upon the earth. The third angel's trumpet introduces a calamity involving a great star. 2. Great StarSymbolic of a significant and catastrophic event. The star is described as burning like a torch, indicating its destructive nature as it falls from heaven. 3. HeavenThe realm from which the star falls, signifying a divine or cosmic origin of the judgment. 4. Rivers and Springs of WaterRepresents the sources of fresh water on earth, which are affected by the falling star, leading to widespread contamination and hardship. Teaching Points Divine JudgmentThe sounding of the trumpet by the third angel signifies a divine judgment that is both specific and severe. It serves as a reminder of God's sovereignty and the reality of His justice. Symbolism of the StarThe great star represents a significant and catastrophic event, possibly symbolizing a leader or a nation that falls, causing widespread impact. It reminds believers of the transient nature of earthly powers. Impact on CreationThe contamination of rivers and springs highlights the interconnectedness of creation and the consequences of sin. It calls believers to be stewards of God's creation and to recognize the spiritual implications of environmental degradation. Call to RepentanceThe judgments in Revelation serve as a call to repentance, urging individuals to turn to God before the final judgment. It emphasizes the urgency of the gospel message. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1.What is the meaning of Revelation 8:10?
2.How does Revelation 8:10 illustrate the consequences of sin in our lives?
3.What is the significance of the "great star" in Revelation 8:10?
4.How can we guard against spiritual "bitterness" mentioned in Revelation 8:10?
5.Connect Revelation 8:10 with other biblical warnings about judgment and repentance.
6.How should Revelation 8:10 influence our daily walk with Christ?
7.What does the star named Wormwood symbolize in Revelation 8:10?
8.How does Revelation 8:10 relate to historical or future events?
9.Is there archaeological evidence supporting the events described in Revelation 8:10?
10.What are the top 10 Lessons from Revelation 8?
11.In Revelation 8:10–11, what real-world event could explain a star named Wormwood making waters bitter and causing widespread death?
12.What does wormwood symbolize in Revelation?
13.In Revelation 8:12, how does a third of the sun, moon, and stars darken without affecting the rest of creation or appearing in other historical records?
14.What are Revelation's seven trumpets?What Does Revelation 8:10 Mean The third angel sounded his trumpet• This is the third in a literal series of seven trumpet judgments (Revelation 8:6–13). • Each trumpet marks an intensification of God’s wrath, moving from land (Revelation 8:7) to sea (Revelation 8:8–9) and now to freshwater. • The trumpets echo the Exodus plagues, showing the Lord’s sovereign power over creation (Exodus 7:20–21). • Trumpets in Scripture announce divine intervention—whether salvation (1 Thessalonians 4:16) or judgment as here.
A great star burning like a torch• John sees “a great star blazing like a torch” (Revelation 8:10). The vivid picture suggests: – A literal celestial body—a meteor or comet—sent by God. – Fiery brightness that captures global attention, much as the sixth seal’s falling stars shook the heavens (Revelation 6:13;Matthew 24:29). • Stars symbolize angels elsewhere (Revelation 9:1;Job 38:7), but the focus here is the physical object’s destructive impact, rooting the vision in actual events.
Fell from heaven• Its origin “from heaven” underscores that this is no random cosmic accident; it is divinely directed judgment (Isaiah 34:4). • Similar heavenly falls mark satanic defeat (Luke 10:18) and future judgments (Revelation 12:9), reminding readers that God rules both the spiritual and natural realms.
Landed on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water• The target shifts from sea to freshwater—rivers, lakes, underground springs—vital for daily life (Psalm 46:4). • “A third” mirrors the fraction struck in earlier trumpets, showing limited yet severe mercy; final destruction awaits later bowls (Revelation 16:4). • Verse 11 names the star Wormwood, and its bitterness recalls the Marah waters (Exodus 15:23–25). Drinking becomes deadly, emphasizing that rejecting the Living Water (John 4:14) brings lethal consequences.
summaryThe third trumpet reveals God’s literal, measured judgment: a blazing celestial body, dispatched from heaven, poisons a third of Earth’s freshwater. Each detail—angelic trumpet, fiery star, divine origin, targeted rivers—underscores both the precision of God’s wrath and His call to repent before harsher judgments arrive. (10) And the third angel. . .--Translate, And the third angel sounded, and there fell out of the heaven a great star burning (or, kindled--the light is not inherent, but borrowed) as a torch (or, lamp--same word as in Revelation 4:5), and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the springs of the waters.The flaming star seems to symbolise the fall of a potentate; the trumpet-blast proclaims that the mighty who have been, as luminaries, admired, and perhaps worshipped, will fall. The advancing progress of Christianity is to be marked by many such a fall. The rulers of earth, burning with lust of conquest or with pride of fanaticism, will be plucked from their seat among the stars ( Obadiah 1:4); but their fall is accompanied, as in the last instance, with miseries. The fountains and rivers are smitten, the sources of health and joy, the streams of prosperity, are injured. Verse 10. - And the third angel sounded, and there fell a great star from heaven, burning as it were a lamp. In the Old Testament trouble is foretold under the symbol of darkened stars (cf. Ezekiel 32:7; Joel 2:10). In Matthew 24:29 the falling of stars is part of the general picture of the coming of the judgment day. The description here may therefore symbolize an act of judgment - one more of the troubles inflicted by God upon the guilty world. The frequent use of the symbol, star, as a type of one in an exalted position, has led most commentators to interpret the star of individual rulers, especially of those who poisoned the waters of Divine truth by heresy. But it seems more likely that the event here portrayed carries one step further the description of God's vengeance on the wicked, which has been already partially set forth. At first vegetation, then the sea, now the land waters, are smitten. The star, as the means employed by God, is typical of the awe striking nature of the punishment, and is indicative of the fact that the judgment is the act of God, and proceeds directly from heaven, and is not to be attributed to merely natural circumstances. And it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters. Not upon a third part of the fountains, but upon all fountains, just as in ver. 7 "all green grass" is visited with the plague. As stated above, another part of creation (and therefore another portion, of mankind) is afflicted. It is, of course, Impossible to point out the complete fulfilment of this judgment, Which is yet being fulfilled, but we may mention as illustrations the trouble caused to man by means of land waters, by floods, by drought, by pestilence. As before, only part suffers from this visitation; the greater part is spared.
Parallel Commentaries ...
Greek ThenΚαὶ(Kai)Conjunction
Strong's 2532:And, even, also, namely.theὁ(ho)Article - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588:The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.thirdτρίτος(tritos)Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 5154:Third. Ordinal from treis; third; neuter a third part, or a third time, thirdly.angelἄγγελος(angelos)Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 32:From aggello; a messenger; especially an 'angel'; by implication, a pastor.sounded [his] trumpet,ἐσάλπισεν(esalpisen)Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 4537:To sound a trumpet. From salpigx; to trumpet, i.e. Sound a blast.andκαὶ(kai)Conjunction
Strong's 2532:And, even, also, namely.a greatμέγας(megas)Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3173:Large, great, in the widest sense.starἀστὴρ(astēr)Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 792:A star. Probably from the base of stronnumi; a star, literally or figuratively.burningκαιόμενος(kaiomenos)Verb - Present Participle Middle or Passive - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2545:To ignite, light, burn, lit. and met; I consume with fire. Apparently a primary verb; to set on fire, i.e. Kindle or consume.likeὡς(hōs)Adverb
Strong's 5613:Probably adverb of comparative from hos; which how, i.e. In that manner.a torchλαμπάς(lampas)Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 2985:A torch, lamp, lantern. From lampo; a 'lamp' or flambeau.fellἔπεσεν(epesen)Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 4098:A reduplicated and contracted form of peto; probably akin to petomai through the idea of alighting; to fall.fromἐκ(ek)Preposition
Strong's 1537:From out, out from among, from, suggesting from the interior outwards. A primary preposition denoting origin, from, out.heavenοὐρανοῦ(ouranou)Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 3772:Perhaps from the same as oros; the sky; by extension, heaven; by implication, happiness, power, eternity; specially, the Gospel.andκαὶ(kai)Conjunction
Strong's 2532:And, even, also, namely.[landed]ἔπεσεν(epesen)Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 4098:A reduplicated and contracted form of peto; probably akin to petomai through the idea of alighting; to fall.onἐπὶ(epi)Preposition
Strong's 1909:On, to, against, on the basis of, at.aτὸ(to)Article - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3588:The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.thirdτρίτον(triton)Adjective - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 5154:Third. Ordinal from treis; third; neuter a third part, or a third time, thirdly.of theτῶν(tōn)Article - Genitive Masculine Plural
Strong's 3588:The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.riversποταμῶν(potamōn)Noun - Genitive Masculine Plural
Strong's 4215:A river, torrent, stream. Probably from a derivative of the alternate of pino; a current, brook or freshet, i.e. Running water.andκαὶ(kai)Conjunction
Strong's 2532:And, even, also, namely.onἐπὶ(epi)Preposition
Strong's 1909:On, to, against, on the basis of, at.theτὰς(tas)Article - Accusative Feminine Plural
Strong's 3588:The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.springsπηγὰς(pēgas)Noun - Accusative Feminine Plural
Strong's 4077:A fountain, spring, well, issue, flow. Probably from pegnumi; a fount, i.e. Source or supply.ofτῶν(tōn)Article - Genitive Neuter Plural
Strong's 3588:The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.water.ὑδάτων(hydatōn)Noun - Genitive Neuter Plural
Strong's 5204:Water. And genitive case, hudatos, etc. From the base of huetos; water literally or figuratively.
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NT Prophecy: Revelation 8:10 The third angel sounded and a great (Rev. Re Apocalypse) |
