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Revelation 9:14

New Testament Apocalyptic ASV (1901)

What does Revelation 9:14 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “one saying to the sixth angel that had one trumpet, Loose the four angels that are bound at the great river Euphrates.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

one saying to the sixth angel that had one trumpet, Loose the four angels that are bound at the great river Euphrates.
Revelation 9:14 — American Standard Version

Context — Revelation 9

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
11They have over them as king the angel of the abyss: his name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in the Greek [tongue] he hath the name Apollyon.
12The first Woe is past: behold, there come yet two Woes hereafter.
13And the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the horns of the golden altar which is before God,
14one saying to the sixth angel that had one trumpet, Loose the four angels that are bound at the great river Euphrates.
15And the four angels were loosed, that had been prepared for the hour and day and month and year, that they should kill the third part of men.
16And the number of the armies of the horsemen was twice ten thousand times ten thousand: I heard the number of them.
17And thus I saw the horses in the vision, and them that sat on them, having breastplates [as] of fire and of hyacinth and of brimstone: and the heads of lions; and out of their mouths proceedeth fire and smoke and brimstone.
← Revelation 9:13Revelation 9:15 →
← Full Chapter 9 Revelation Overview

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“Saying to the sixth angel which had the trumpet, etc.] The sixth trumpet, which was given him, and he had prepared himself to sound, and had sounded: loose the four angels which are bound in the great river Euphrates; not the four angels in (<660701>Revelation 7:1); they stood upon the four corners of the earth; these were in, or at the river Euphrates; they held the four winds, that they should not blow, or restrained the savage nations, that they should not hurt; these are bound themselves, that they might not do mischief; nor are angels by nature at all intended; not evil angels, though they are bound in chains of darkness, and are reserved to judgment, they are admitted indeed to rove…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“in, &c.--Greek, "epi to potamo"; "on," or "at the great river." Euphrates--(Compare Rev 16:12). The river whereat Babylon, the ancient foe of God's people was situated. Again, whether from the literal region of the Euphrates, or from the spiritual Babylon (the apostate Church, especially ROME), four angelic ministers of God's judgments shall go forth, assembling an army of horsemen throughout the four quarters of the earth, to slay a third of men, the brunt of the visitation shall be on Palestine.”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Saying to the sixth angel, which had the trumpet - See the notes at Revelation 8:2. Loose, ... - This power, it would seem, was given to the sixth angel in addition to his office of blowing the trumpet. All this, of course, was in vision, and cannot be literally interpreted. The meaning is, that the effect of his blowing the trumpet would be the same as if angels that had been bound should be suddenly loosed and suffered to go forth over the earth; that is, some event would occur which would be properly symbolized by such an act. The four angels - Compare the notes at Revelation 8:2. It was customary to represent important events as occurring under the ministry of angels. The general meaning…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Loose the four angels - To go every way; to the four quarters. These were evil angels, or they would not have been bound. Why, or how long, they were bound we know not. Revelation 9:15”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“to the: Rev 8:2, Rev 8:6 loose: Rev 9:15, Rev 16:12 the great: Gen 2:14; Sa2 8:3; Jer 51:63 Revelation 9:15”
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Related study paths

Read Revelation 9 in contextBrowse Greek word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification