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.
Original Language Analysis
καὶ
And
G2532
καὶ
And
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
1 of 39
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
εἶδον
I saw
G1492
εἶδον
I saw
Strong's:
G1492
Word #:
3 of 39
used only in certain past tenses, the others being borrowed from the equivalent g3700 and g3708; properly, to see (literally or figuratively); by impl
τοὺς
G3588
τοὺς
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
4 of 39
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
τῇ
G3588
τῇ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
7 of 39
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
ὁράσει
the vision
G3706
ὁράσει
the vision
Strong's:
G3706
Word #:
8 of 39
the act of gazing, i.e., (externally) an aspect or (internally) an inspired appearance
καὶ
And
G2532
καὶ
And
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
9 of 39
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
τοὺς
G3588
τοὺς
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
10 of 39
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
καθημένους
them that sat
G2521
καθημένους
them that sat
Strong's:
G2521
Word #:
11 of 39
and ???? (to sit; akin to the base of g1476); to sit down; figuratively, to remain, reside
ἐπ'
on
G1909
ἐπ'
on
Strong's:
G1909
Word #:
12 of 39
properly, meaning superimposition (of time, place, order, etc.), as a relation of distribution (with the genitive case), i.e., over, upon, etc.; of re
αὐτῶν
their
G846
αὐτῶν
their
Strong's:
G846
Word #:
13 of 39
the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons
ἔχοντας
having
G2192
ἔχοντας
having
Strong's:
G2192
Word #:
14 of 39
to hold (used in very various applications, literally or figuratively, direct or remote; such as possession; ability, contiuity, relation, or conditio
θώρακας
breastplates
G2382
θώρακας
breastplates
Strong's:
G2382
Word #:
15 of 39
the chest ("thorax"), i.e., (by implication) a corslet
καὶ
And
G2532
καὶ
And
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
17 of 39
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
ὑακινθίνους
of jacinth
G5191
ὑακινθίνους
of jacinth
Strong's:
G5191
Word #:
18 of 39
"hyacinthine" or "jacinthine", i.e., deep blue
καὶ
And
G2532
καὶ
And
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
19 of 39
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
καὶ
And
G2532
καὶ
And
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
21 of 39
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
αἱ
G3588
αἱ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
22 of 39
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
κεφαλαὶ
the heads
G2776
κεφαλαὶ
the heads
Strong's:
G2776
Word #:
23 of 39
the head (as the part most readily taken hold of), literally or figuratively
τῶν
G3588
τῶν
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
24 of 39
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
ὡς
were as
G5613
ὡς
were as
Strong's:
G5613
Word #:
26 of 39
which how, i.e., in that manner (very variously used, as follows)
κεφαλαὶ
the heads
G2776
κεφαλαὶ
the heads
Strong's:
G2776
Word #:
27 of 39
the head (as the part most readily taken hold of), literally or figuratively
καὶ
And
G2532
καὶ
And
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
29 of 39
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
ἐκ
out of
G1537
ἐκ
out of
Strong's:
G1537
Word #:
30 of 39
a primary preposition denoting origin (the point whence action or motion proceeds), from, out (of place, time, or cause literal or figurative; direct
τῶν
G3588
τῶν
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
31 of 39
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
στομάτων
mouths
G4750
στομάτων
mouths
Strong's:
G4750
Word #:
32 of 39
the mouth (as if a gash in the face); by implication, language (and its relations); figuratively, an opening (in the earth); specially, the front or e
αὐτῶν
their
G846
αὐτῶν
their
Strong's:
G846
Word #:
33 of 39
the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons
καὶ
And
G2532
καὶ
And
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
36 of 39
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
Cross References
Revelation 9:18By these three was the third part of men killed, by the fire, and by the smoke, and by the brimstone, which issued out of their mouths.Revelation 21:8But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.Revelation 14:10The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:1 Chronicles 12:8And of the Gadites there separated themselves unto David into the hold to the wilderness men of might, and men of war fit for the battle, that could handle shield and buckler, whose faces were like the faces of lions, and were as swift as the roes upon the mountains;Revelation 19:20And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.Revelation 20:10And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.Isaiah 30:33For Tophet is ordained of old; yea, for the king it is prepared; he hath made it deep and large: the pile thereof is fire and much wood; the breath of the LORD, like a stream of brimstone, doth kindle it.Psalms 11:6Upon the wicked he shall rain snares, fire and brimstone, and an horrible tempest: this shall be the portion of their cup.Genesis 19:24Then the LORD rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven;
Historical Context
Colored breastplates signified military divisions in Roman armies. The supernatural elements elevated natural warfare to cosmic conflict. First-century believers facing persecution needed assurance that earthly armies, however powerful, were merely pawns in divine judgment. Rome itself would face God's wrath if impenitent.
Questions for Reflection
- How does recognizing that military powers serve divine purposes (even unknowingly) affect your view of geopolitical events?
- What does the supernatural destructive power warn about judgment's severity for those outside Christ?
Analysis & Commentary
The vision's vivid colors—fiery red, hyacinth blue, sulfur yellow—suggest judgment by fire and plague. The riders' breastplates and horses' heads breathing fire, smoke, and brimstone depict supernatural destructive power. These are judgment agents executing divine wrath. The imagery recalls Sodom's destruction (Genesis 19:24) and prophetic warnings of fire-judgment. Reformed theology interprets such apocalyptic imagery as symbolic representation of spiritual realities—demonic forces or divine judgment agents accomplishing God's decree. The vision emphasizes judgment's terrifying certainty for those rejecting Christ.