The Meaning of Revelation 9:8 Explained

Revelation 9:8

KJV: And they had hair as the hair of women, and their teeth were as the teeth of lions.

YLT: and they had hair as hair of women, and their teeth were as those of lions,

Darby: and they had hair as women's hair, and their teeth were as of lions,

ASV: And they had hair as the hair of women, and their teeth were as teeth of lions.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And  they had  hair  as  the hair  of women,  and  their  teeth  were  as  [the teeth] of lions. 

What does Revelation 9:8 Mean?

Verse Meaning

The antennae of locusts are not hair, and, while they have hair on their legs, the comparison with the hair of women suggests hair on their heads. Perhaps the reference to hair like women"s, presumable long hair, is to convey their wildness.
"An old Arab proverb is often quoted which says that the locust has a head like a horse, a breast like a lion, feet like a camel, a body like a serpent, and antennae like the hair of a maiden." [1]
Long hair in biblical times was a sign of glory, so perhaps they have some glory. Lion-like teeth denote voracity.

Context Summary

Revelation 9:1-11 - "out Of The Smoke Of The Pit"
This chapter reminds us of the prophet Joel who, under the imagery of a swarm of locusts, depicted the coming invasion of hostile nations. Whether these warriors are intended for barbarian hordes which swept over the Roman Empire previous to its fall, or whether they represent the Saracens, between whose appearance and the details of this vision there is much in common, is not within our province to determine. The point which specially concerns us is that only those escaped who had received the imprint of God's seal. Of old the destroying angel passed over the houses, on the lintels of which the blood was visible.
But there are spiritual foes, against whose invasion we must seek the sealing of God's Spirit. "Grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, in whom ye were sealed unto the day of redemption," Ephesians 4:30. What is impressed with the royal seal is under special protection; and when temptation assails you, you may assuredly claim that divine protection, which shall surround you as an impenetrable shield. "The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear Him, and delivereth them," Psalms 34:7. We fight not against flesh and blood, but against wicked spirits in heavenly places, and only the spiritual can secure for us immunity against the spiritual. [source]

Chapter Summary: Revelation 9

1  At the sounding of the fifth angel, a star falls from heaven, to whom is given the key to the bottomless pit
2  He opens the pit, and there come forth locusts like scorpions
12  The first woe past
13  The sixth trumpet sounds
14  Four angels who were bound are let loose

Greek Commentary for Revelation 9:8

They had [ειχαν]
Imperfect active, late form as in Mark 8:7 in place of the usual ειχον — eichon hair of women That is long hair (1 Corinthians 11:15), with no reference to matters of sex at all, for αντρωπων — anthrōpōn just before is used, not ανδρων — andrōn (men as distinct from women). Perhaps the antennae of the locust were unusually long. [source]
As the teeth of lions [ως λεοντων]
Supply οι οδοντες — hoi odontes (the teeth) before λεοντων — leontōn See Joel 1:6. The locust is voracious. [source]
Hair of women []
The antennae of the locust. There is said to be an Arabic proverb in which the antennae of locusts are compared to girls' hair. [source]
Teeth of lions []
Compare Joel 1:6. [source]

What do the individual words in Revelation 9:8 mean?

And they had hair like of women the teeth of them like [those] of lions were
καὶ εἶχον τρίχας ὡς γυναικῶν οἱ ὀδόντες αὐτῶν ὡς λεόντων ἦσαν

εἶχον  they  had 
Parse: Verb, Imperfect Indicative Active, 3rd Person Plural
Root: ἔχω  
Sense: to have, i.e. to hold.
τρίχας  hair 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Plural
Root: θρίξ 
Sense: the hair of the head.
ὡς  like 
Parse: Adverb
Root: ὡς 
Sense: as, like, even as, etc.
γυναικῶν  of  women 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Feminine Plural
Root: γυνή  
Sense: a woman of any age, whether a virgin, or married, or a widow.
ὀδόντες  teeth 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: ὀδούς  
Sense: a tooth.
αὐτῶν  of  them 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive Feminine 3rd Person Plural
Root: αὐτός  
Sense: himself, herself, themselves, itself.
ὡς  like  [those] 
Parse: Adverb
Root: ὡς 
Sense: as, like, even as, etc.
λεόντων  of  lions 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Plural
Root: λέων  
Sense: a lion.