And by these three plagues was slain the third part of men, by the fire and by the smoke and by the brimstone which issued out of their mouths.
απο των τριων πληγων τουτων απεκτανθησαν το τριτον των ανθρωπων απο εκ του πυρος και του καπνου και του θειου του εκπορευομενου εκ των στοματων αυτων
3 Church Fathers comment on this verse
The fire issuing from their mouths with smoke and sulfur, which will destroy a third part of men, signifies either sins that devour the fruits of the heart with the poison of suggestions and temptations, or the devastation of cities and bloodshed.
These are carried out by barbarians by God's permission, through which, as we know, a third part of men perished.
"From their mouths came smoke, fire, and sulfur," that is, blasphemies against God came from their mouth. "And their tails were like serpents."
By tails we mean the commanders, and by heads the princes of the world. With their help the devil does harm, and without them he cannot harm.
Either the princes of the world harm by wickedly establishing sacrilegious laws, or impious priests harm by teaching evil.
If by the horses evil spirits are understood, then Saint John rightly says that the horses' tails had heads. For the calculated consequences of demonic suggestions and incitements are poison-bearing sin and spiritual death.
Passages read together with this verse.
Greek text, 25 words with lemma, transliteration and Strong’s number. Tap to expand.
THEOSIS