5They were allowed to torment them for five months but not to kill them, and the agony suffered was like that caused by a scorpion when it stings someone.
The Hebrew and Greek that is translated as “scorpion” in English is translated in North Tanna as “centipedes” (Luke 10:19) or “millipede” (Luke 11:12) (source: Ross McKerras).
The literal translation in Noongar is nirnt-daalang or “tail-tongue” (source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang) and in Uma it is translated as “stinging-caterpillar” (Source: Uma Back Translation).
There is complete agreement that these words refer to the scorpion. Many scholars accept that ‘aqrav was also a nickname for a type of whip used for punishing criminals.
The scorpion is an eight-legged creature. In the land of Israel it grows to about 13 centimeters (5 inches) long, but in some tropical countries scorpions can be up to 18 centimeters (7 inches) long. The front pair of legs has claws similar to those on a crab, and the tail, which it can arch over its head, carries a fierce sting. It feeds on other insects and on small reptiles, such as baby lizards. It grasps its prey in its claws and stings it with its tail, either killing it or paralyzing it.
In the Hebrew Bible the scorpion epitomizes harsh, inhospitable living conditions.
Scorpions are found almost worldwide, except in the Arctic tundra and on some islands. In most places, therefore, a local word will be available.
Following are a number of back-translations of Revelation 9:5:
Uma: “But those grasshoppers were also not allowed to kill men/mankind, they were only allowed to torture them for five months. The pain of the sting of those grasshoppers was like the pain of the sting of a tumpu lipa.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
Yakan: “They were not allowed to kill those people but to cause them pain during five months. And the pain is as if they had been bitten by a scorpion.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
Western Bukidnon Manobo: “They were permitted to torture people for five months, but they were not permitted to kill. The torment they inflict upon people is like the pain of a person bitten by a scorpion.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
Kankanaey: “But they were not permitted to kill those people but rather only to hardship them for five months. The strength of the pain of their stings, it was like the extreme pain endured by people who have been stung by a large centipede.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
Tagbanwa: “However those locusts were not being caused to kill those people, but rather only to cause them suffering for the space of five months. The sting they would feel would be like the sting of a scorpion.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
Tenango Otomi: “But they were not given permission to kill the people they stung. Because only five months were they given permission to make people suffer. And this pain from their stings was like the sting of a scorpion when it stings a person.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)
They were allowed to torture them for five months: the passive they were allowed again makes it clear that God is in control. This can be rendered “they were given permission,” “they received permission,” “they were given the right,” or in languages that do not use the passive, one may say “God gave them permission.” Here the very strong verb and noun to torture and the torture are used (the Greek noun for “torture” is used only in this book; see “torment” in 14.11; 18.7, 10, 15). This shows how terrible is the suffering the people will endure. Five months is the normal life span of a locust, and it stands here for a prolonged period of suffering and pain. Five months should not be thought of as a short period of time. Torture may also be expressed as “cause to suffer extreme pain.”
Their torture was like the torture of a scorpion: a scorpion does not torture a person; it stings, wounds, hurts, harms, injures, or the like. So it is preferable to say something like Good News Translation: “the pain they inflict is like the great pain that a person suffers when struck (or, stung) by a scorpion.” The verb translated stings by Revised Standard Version is used to speak of a sword stroke (Mark 14.47) or a blow with the hand (Matt 26.67-68).
An alternative translation model for this verse is:
• God allowed them to inflict extreme pain on those people for five months, but not to kill them. The pain that they inflict is like the great pain a person suffers when a scorpion stings him.
Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on The Revelation to John. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1993. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .
The locusts were not given power to kill them, but only to torment them for five months: The power here is the same power mentioned in 9:3b. This sentence further describes that power.
9:5a
The locusts were not given power to kill them: This clause is passive. Some languages must use an active clause. For example:
⌊God⌋ did not give to them the power to kill those people -or-
the locusts did not receive the power to kill those people
9:5b
torment: This word refers to causing someone to feel severe pain. Other ways to translate this word are:
cause pain (New Century Version) -or-
torture (New International Version) -or-
make them suffer (Contemporary English Version)
General Comment on 9:5a–b
In some languages it is more natural to first describe the power these creatures did have. For example:
They were given power to torture them for five months, but not to kill them.
9:5c
torment: Translate this word the same way as in 9:5b.
Living Water is produced for the Bible translation movement in association with Lutheran Bible Translators. Lyrics derived from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®).
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