Tails like unto scorpions. The comparison with the in- sect as it exists in nature fails here, though Smith’s “ Bible Dic- tionary ” gives a picture of a species of locust, the Acridium Lineola, a species commonly sold for food in the markets of Bagdad, which has a sting in the tail.
Stings («évrpa). Originally any sharp point. A goad. See on pricks, Acts xxvi. 14. Plato uses it of the peg of a top (“‘ Republic,” 436). Herodotus of an instrument of torture. Democedes, the Crotoniat physician, having denied his knowl- edge of medicine to Darius, Darius bade his attendants “bring the scourges and pricking-irons «évrpa,” (iii., 30). Sophocles of the buckle-tongues with which Cidipus put out his eyes.
‘¢ Woe, woe, and woe again ! How through me darts the throb these clasps (kévrpwy) have caused.” ‘¢ @idipus Tyrannus,” 1318,
Of the spur of a cock, the quill of a porcupine, and the stings of insects.
For the A. V., there were stings in their tails, read as Rev., and stings; and in their tails is their power to hurt.
11. They had a king over them (éyovow 颒 adtav Bac- tAéa). Render, as Rev., they have over them as king. Compare Prov. xxx. 27. Hence distinguished from the natural locusts.
In Hebrew (‘Efpaicrl). Used only by John. Compare John v. 2; xix. 13, 17, 20; Apoc. xvi. 16.
Abaddon. Meaning destruction. Compare Job xxvi. 6; xxviii. 22; Prov. xv. 11. Here the Destroyer, as is evident from the Greek equivalent ’“AzroAAvwv Apollyon destroyer. Perdition is personified. It is after John’s manner to give the Hebrew with the Greek equivalent. Compare John i. 38, 42; iv. 25; ix. 7; xi. 16, ete.
12. The first woe (7 oval 4 pla). Lit., the one woe.
13. A voice (fwrjv piav). Lit., one voice.