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Revelation 9:10

ESV They have tails and stings like scorpions, and their power to hurt people for five months is in their tails.
NIV They had tails with stingers, like scorpions, and in their tails they had power to torment people for five months.
NASB They have tails like scorpions, and stings; and in their tails is their power to hurt people for five months.
CSB and they had tails with stingers like scorpions, so that with their tails they had the power to harm people for five months.
NLT They had tails that stung like scorpions, and for five months they had the power to torment people.
KJV And they had tails like unto scorpions, and there were stings in their tails: and their power was to hurt men five months.

What does Revelation 9:10 mean?

John has described a demonic horde as similar to locusts, having tails and stings like scorpions, but also like horses with crowns, human faces and hair, lions' teeth, iron armor, and a roaring noise. Some interpreters compare this to the image of a stereotypical modern-day attack helicopter: a front appearing somewhat like an insect's eyes, prominent upwards-curving tail, loud noise, and with teeth painted on the front for effect. The effects of these creatures, however, seem more in line with a demonic or spiritual interpretation than some kind of war machine.

Originally the word kentra, the Greek word translated "stings" in this verse, referred to goads or pricking irons used in torture. When the Lord appeared to Saul of Tarsus on the road to Damascus, He told Saul, "It is hard for you to kick against the goads" (Acts 26:14). Apparently, Saul—later called Paul—had been under sharp conviction for his persecution of believers. The conviction felt like pricking torture in his soul. The scorpions' stings will feel like sharp, pricking torture in those who do not have God's seal on their foreheads (Revelation 9:4). Scorpions' power to sting resides in their tails, and the demonic scorpions' stinging power resides in their tails.

Those who receive the locusts' stings suffer severely. Prior verses can be taken to mean that the demons are active for five months, or even that the effects of their stings last that long for anyone who is stung (Revelation 9:5)!
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