And the shapes of the locusts were like unto horses prepared unto battle; and on their heads were as it were crowns like gold, and their faces were as the faces of men.

REVELATION 9:7KJV
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Revelation 9:7 (KJV)

What does Revelation 9:7 mean?

Revelation 9:7 describes a vision where locusts appear in strange, frightening forms: they look like horses ready for battle, have something like golden crowns on their heads, and faces that resemble human faces. This verse uses vivid imagery to show that these are not ordinary locusts, but symbolic creatures meant to inspire awe and fear.

In the book of Revelation, the apostle John is describing a vision given to him while he is exiled on the island of Patmos. He is writing to early Christian communities, sharing what he sees about future events and spiritual realities. The locusts in this passage are part of a larger scene where various judgments and strange beings are unleashed, and the unusual details—like crowns and human faces—signal that these are supernatural, not natural, creatures.

The Greek behind Revelation 9:7

  • "σχήματα" (schēmata, "shapes"): This word points to the outward form or appearance, highlighting that John is describing what the locusts looked like, not necessarily what they were.
  • "ὅμοιοι" (homoioi, "like"): The Greek here is often used to indicate similarity, not identity. The locusts are not literally horses, but they resemble horses in some way, especially in their readiness for battle.
  • "στεφάνους" (stephanous, "crowns"): This word usually means a victor’s crown or wreath, not a royal crown, suggesting a sense of authority or conquest rather than kingship.
  • "πρόσωπα" (prosōpa, "faces"): The word for "faces" is the same as used for human faces, emphasizing the strange, unsettling blend of human and nonhuman features.

Why Revelation 9:7 matters

  • This verse clears up that the locusts are not ordinary insects but symbolic figures with features that suggest power, intelligence, and authority.
  • The description connects to the wider passage by showing that the judgments in Revelation are not just natural disasters but involve supernatural forces beyond human experience.
  • The details about crowns and human faces help the reader see that these creatures are meant to be both terrifying and significant, not just random monsters but beings with a purpose in the vision’s unfolding story.

Where else these words appear

“locusts” Greek G200 · used in 4 verses

  • Matthew 3:4 And the same John had his raiment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey.
  • Mark 1:6 And John was clothed with camel's hair, and with a girdle of a skin about his loins; and he did eat locusts and wild honey;
  • Revelation 9:3 And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth: and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power.

“shapes” Greek G3667 · used in 6 verses

  • Romans 1:23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
  • Romans 5:14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come.
  • Romans 8:3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:

“gold” Greek G5557 · used in 12 verses

  • Matthew 2:11 And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.
  • Matthew 23:17 Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifieth the gold?
  • James 5:3 Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days.

“horses” Greek G2462 · used in 15 verses

  • James 3:3 Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body.
  • Revelation 6:8 And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.
  • Revelation 19:11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.