Revelation 9:8

New Testament Apocalyptic ASV (1901)

What does Revelation 9:8 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And they had hair as the hair of women, and their teeth were as [teeth] of lions.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And they had hair as the hair of women, and their teeth were as [teeth] of lions.
Revelation 9:8 — American Standard Version

Context — Revelation 9

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
8And they had hair as the hair of women, and their teeth were as [teeth] of lions.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And they had hair, as the hair of women, etc.] Some locusts have smooth, others hairy heads f277: this fitly points at the Arabians or Saracens, who, as Pliny says f278, used to wear long hair without cutting it, and attired as women, and have their names also from women: they were called Hagarenes, from Hagar, Abraham's handmaid, by whom he had Ishmael, the father of these people; afterwards they took the name of Saracens, from Sarah, the wife of Abraham, whose posterity they would be thought to be; though they may have the latter name, either from qrs, to “rob” and “steal”, with the Arabians, or from the same word, as it signifies to “comb”, from the combing and plaiting: of their hair.…”
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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
“hair of women--long and flowing. An Arabic proverb compares the antlers of locusts to the hair of girls. EWALD in ALFORD understands the allusion to be to the hair on the legs or bodies of the locusts: compare "rough caterpillars," Jer 51:27. as the teeth of lions-- (Joe 1:6, as to locusts).”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“And they had hair as the hair of women - Long hair; not such as men commonly wear, but such as women wear. See the notes on 1 Corinthians 11:14. This struck John as a peculiarity, that, though warriors, they should have the appearance of effeminacy indicated by allowing their hair to grow long. It is clear from this, that John regarded their appearance as unusual and remarkable. Though manifestly designed to represent an army, yet it was not the usual appearance of men who went forth to battle. Among the Greeks of ancient times, indeed, long hair was not uncommon (see the notes above referred to on 1 Corinthians 11:14), but this was by no means the usual custom among the ancients; and the…”
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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
“And they had hair as the hair of women - All the Persians of old gloried in long hair. And their teeth were as the teeth of lions - Breaking and tearing all things in pieces. Revelation 9:9”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“hair: Kg2 9:30; Isa 3:24; Co1 11:14, Co1 11:15; Ti1 2:9; Pe1 3:3 and their: Psa 57:4; Joe 1:6 Revelation 9:9”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification