And the name of the star is called Wormwood: and the third part of the waters became wormwood; and many men died of the waters, because they were made bitter.
REVELATION 8:11KJVWhat does Revelation 8:11 mean?
Revelation 8:11 describes a star named Wormwood falling from heaven, turning a third of the waters bitter, and causing many people to die from drinking these poisoned waters. The verse uses vivid imagery to show a disastrous event affecting the earth’s water supply during a time of judgment.
In the book of Revelation, John is describing a vision where angels sound trumpets, each bringing a different calamity. Here, the third trumpet sounds, and a star called Wormwood (a plant known for its bitterness) falls and poisons part of the world’s waters. The focus is on the bitterness and deadly effect, not just physical but also symbolic of hardship or judgment.
The Greek behind Revelation 8:11
- ἀψίνθιον (apsinthion, "Wormwood"): This word refers to a bitter plant, often associated with sorrow or calamity in the Bible. Its use here emphasizes the extreme bitterness and harmfulness of the waters.
- πικρός (pikros, "bitter"): The Greek word for “bitter” highlights that the waters are not just unpleasant but dangerously undrinkable, leading to death.
- ὕδωρ (hydōr, "waters"): The word for “waters” refers to fresh water sources, showing that the disaster affects essential resources for life.
Why Revelation 8:11 matters
- The verse clarifies that the judgment is not just symbolic but has real, deadly consequences for people, affecting something as basic as drinking water.
- The use of the name Wormwood connects this judgment to Old Testament imagery, where bitterness often symbolized suffering and divine punishment.
- This verse fits into a series of escalating judgments in Revelation, helping readers see the increasing severity and scope of the events John describes.