8:7 The 6 first angel blew his trumpet, and there was hail and fire mixed with blood, and it was thrown at the earth so that 7 a third of the earth was burned up, a third of the trees were burned up, and all the green grass was burned up.
8:8 Then 8 the second angel blew his trumpet, and something like a great mountain of burning fire was thrown into the sea. A 9 third of the sea became blood, 8:9 and a third of the creatures 10 living in the sea died, and a third of the ships were completely destroyed. 11
8:10 Then 12 the third angel blew his trumpet, and a huge star burning like a torch fell from the sky; 13 it landed 14 on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water. 8:11 (Now 15 the name of the star is 16 Wormwood.) 17 So 18 a third of the waters became wormwood, 19 and many people died from these waters because they were poisoned. 20
8:12 Then 21 the fourth angel blew his trumpet, and a third of the sun was struck, and a third of the moon, and a third of the stars, so that a third of them were darkened. And there was no light for a third of the day 22 and for a third of the night likewise.
1 tn The word “this” is used to translate the Greek article τῆς (ths), bringing out its demonstrative force.
2 tn The word “aloud” has been supplied to indicate that in the original historical setting reading would usually refer to reading out loud in public rather than silently to oneself.
3 tn The words “blessed are” are repeated from the beginning of this verse for stylistic reasons and for clarity.
4 tn Grk “keep.” L&N 36.19 has “to continue to obey orders or commandments – ‘to obey, to keep commandments, obedience.’”
5 sn The time refers to the time when the things prophesied would happen.
6 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
7 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so that” because what follows has the logical force of a result clause.
8 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision.
9 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
10 tn Or “a third of the living creatures in the sea”; Grk “the third of the creatures which were in the sea, the ones having life.”
11 tn On the term translated “completely destroyed,” L&N 20.40 states, “to cause the complete destruction of someone or something – ‘to destroy utterly.’ τὸ τρίτον τῶν πλοίων διεφθάρησαν ‘a third of the ships were completely destroyed’ Re 8:9.”
12 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision.
13 tn Or “from heaven” (the same Greek word means both “heaven” and “sky”).
14 tn Grk “fell.”
15 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “now” in keeping with the parenthetical nature of this remark.
16 tn Grk “is called,” but this is somewhat redundant in contemporary English.
17 sn Wormwood refers to a particularly bitter herb with medicinal value. According to L&N 3.21, “The English term wormwood is derived from the use of the plant as a medicine to kill intestinal worms.” This remark about the star’s name is parenthetical in nature.
18 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the implied result of the star falling on the waters.
19 tn That is, terribly bitter (see the note on “Wormwood” earlier in this verse).
20 tn Grk “and many of the men died from these waters because they were bitter.”
21 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision.
22 tn Grk “the day did not shine [with respect to] the third of it.”