And they had hair as the hair of women, and their teeth were as the teeth of lions.

REVELATION 9:8KJV
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Revelation 9:8 (KJV)

What does Revelation 9:8 mean?

Revelation 9:8 describes a strange and frightening vision where the locust-like creatures have hair like women and teeth like lions, highlighting their unnatural and terrifying appearance. This verse uses vivid imagery to show that these beings are both alluring and dangerous, combining gentleness with ferocity.

In the book of Revelation, John is describing a vision given to him while exiled on the island of Patmos, writing to early Christian communities. The context is a series of judgments unleashed upon the earth, and these creatures are part of a symbolic plague. The details—hair like women and teeth like lions—emphasize how these beings are not ordinary locusts but represent something far more menacing and unnatural.

The Greek behind Revelation 9:8

  • ἔχον (echon, "had"): This word means "to have" or "to possess," stressing that the locusts truly possess these features, not just a resemblance.
  • τρίχας (trichas, "hair"): The Greek word for "hair" is used twice, once for the locusts and once to compare it to that of women, highlighting the contrast between beauty and terror.
  • ὡς (hōs, "as"): This word means "like" or "as," showing that the features are comparisons, not literal descriptions, which signals symbolic meaning.
  • γυναικῶν (gynaikōn, "women"): This specifies the type of hair, suggesting something long or attractive, which would be unusual and striking on a locust.
  • ὀδόντες (odontes, "teeth"): The Greek word for "teeth" is paired with "as lions," underlining the predatory and fearsome nature of these creatures.

Why Revelation 9:8 matters

  • The verse clears up that these are not ordinary locusts but symbolic beings with features meant to unsettle and warn, combining beauty and danger in a single image.
  • The details connect to the broader theme in Revelation of judgment and the unnatural chaos unleashed during the vision’s events.
  • Understanding the symbolism helps readers see that the passage is not just about physical creatures but about deeper spiritual or moral realities being revealed to John.

Where else these words appear

“lions” Greek G3023 · used in 9 verses

  • 2 Timothy 4:17 Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.
  • 1 Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
  • Revelation 9:17 And thus I saw the horses in the vision, and them that sat on them, having breastplates of fire, and of jacinth, and brimstone: and the heads of the horses were as the heads of lions; and out of their mouths issued fire and smoke and brimstone.

“teeth” Greek G3599 · used in 11 verses

  • Matthew 5:38 Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:
  • Matthew 13:50 And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
  • Matthew 25:30 And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

“hair” Greek G2359 · used in 14 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.
  • Luke 7:38 And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment.
  • John 11:2 (It was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.)