And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them.

REVELATION 9:6KJV
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Revelation 9:6 (KJV)

What does Revelation 9:6 mean?

Revelation 9:6 describes a time of intense suffering when people will desperately want to die but will not be able to; even though they long for death, it will escape them. The verse paints a picture of hopelessness and torment so severe that death itself seems out of reach.

In the book of Revelation, John is describing a vision of future events, specifically the aftermath of the fifth trumpet judgment. The people experiencing this suffering are those affected by the plagues and torments released during this period. The verse emphasizes just how unbearable the situation becomes, highlighting the depth of distress and the sense that there is no escape, not even through death.

The Greek behind Revelation 9:6

  • The word for "seek" is ζητέω (zēteō), which often means to search for or strive after something earnestly. Here, it shows that people are not just wishing for death but actively trying to find it.
  • The word for "flee" is φεύγω (pheugō), which means to run away or escape. The Greek here carries the sense that death is not just unavailable but is actively avoiding those who desire it.
  • The word for "desire" is ἐπιθυμέω (epithymeō), which means to strongly long for or crave. This makes clear that the longing for death is deep and urgent, not a passing thought.

Why Revelation 9:6 matters

  • This verse clears up the misunderstanding that death is always within human control; it shows that in this vision, even death is outside of human reach when God allows it.
  • Revelation 9:6 emphasizes the severity of the judgment described in this part of the book, making the suffering stand out as something beyond normal human experience.
  • The verse connects to the wider passage by showing the consequences of the trumpet judgments and underlining the seriousness of the events John is describing.

Where else these words appear

“desire” Greek G1937 · used in 16 verses

  • Matthew 5:28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.
  • Luke 22:15 And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer:
  • Galatians 5:17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

“flee” Greek G5343 · used in 31 verses

  • Matthew 2:13 And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.
  • Mark 14:52 And he left the linen cloth, and fled from them naked.
  • 1 Corinthians 6:18 Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.

“die” Greek G599 · used in 99 verses

  • Matthew 8:32 And he said unto them, Go. And when they were come out, they went into the herd of swine: and, behold, the whole herd of swine ran violently down a steep place into the sea, and perished in the waters.
  • John 11:14 Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead.
  • Romans 14:8 For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's.

“death” Greek G2288 · used in 106 verses

  • Matthew 4:16 The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up.
  • Acts 28:18 Who, when they had examined me, would have let me go, because there was no cause of death in me.
  • 2 Corinthians 11:23 Are they ministers of Christ?(I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft.