The Church Fathers on this verse

Revelation 9:20Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

And the rest of the men, who were not slain by these plagues, did not do penance from the works of their hands, that they should not adore devils and idols of gold and silver and brass and stone and wood, which neither can see nor hear nor walk:

Douay-Rheims

και οι λοιποι των ανθρωπων οι ουκ απεκτανθησαν εν ταις πληγαις ταυταις ου μετενοησαν εκ των εργων των χειρων αυτων ινα μη προσκυνησωσιν τα δαιμονια και τα ειδωλα τα χρυσα και τα αργυρα και τα χαλκα OMIT και τα χαλκα και τα λιθινα και τα ξυλινα α ουτε βλεπειν δυναται δυνανται ουτε ακουειν ουτε περιπατειν

Greek (Byzantine text)

The Church Fathers on this verse

5 Church Fathers comment on this verse

Andrew of Caesarea

6th centuryChurch Father

"And the rest of mankind, who were not harmed." This fully agrees with what was said earlier. Having said that a third part of men would be destroyed by these three plagues, he then adds that the same will befall all who were granted mercy and did not suffer this, yet remained unrepentant.

They did not renounce idolatry, murders, fornication, thefts, and sorceries. From this it is clear that sin will spread throughout the whole world.

Among the nations that have not known the truth, the most various delusions rule and rage. Some worship idols. Others worship the creature instead of the Creator.

Still others confess God in words, but in their deeds withdraw from Him. Though they have examples of piety, they do not follow them, but serve mammon through their love of silver.

Read more (131 words)

The Apostle condemns this when he says, "covetousness is idolatry" (Col 3:5). May we, who testify by our deeds to the purity and sincerity of faith in God, not hear that dread voice which says, "Amen, I say to you, I do not know you" (Mt 25:12).

And again: "Depart from Me, all you workers of iniquity" (Lk 13:27). Rather, may we hear the blessed and desired voice: "Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world" (Mt 25:34).

May this be by the grace, compassion, and love for mankind of Christ our God, Who willingly endured the Cross for our sake. To Him, with the Father and the Life-giving Spirit, be glory, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Beda Venerabilis

7th centuryChurch Father

Since John has already described false Christians and heretics, he now turns to the errors of the pagans, in order to outline the whole body of the devil.

Nothing can help them be saved from these plagues, since, by all appearances, they still remain in their pagan corruption. These persecutions will not move the pagans to conversion. They will die in their unbelief.

Borodin P.M.

19th centuryChurch Father

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.

Ivanov A.V.

19th centuryChurch Father

"That they should not worship demons, nor idols of gold." The idolatry of which John here accuses them may be understood not in the strict sense. Avarice, man-pleasing, and similar passions have always been, and will always be, forms of idolatry.

Kochomski S.W.

19th centuryChurch Father

These words are applied in vain to the Orthodox, who venerate the holy icons. They venerate not demons, but the Lord, worshiping Him in those visible images in which, according to His good pleasure, He truly appeared to them.

They hope for the hearing of their prayers not from the wood on which the icon is depicted, but from the all-seeing and omnipresent Godhead.

Cross references

Passages read together with this verse.

The original text

Greek text, 50 words with lemma, transliteration and Strong’s number. Tap to expand.

  1. Καὶ
    kai
    and
    G2532 · καί
  2. οἱ
    hoi
    the
    G3588 · ὁ
  3. λοιποὶ
    loipoi
    left
    G3062 · λοιπός
  4. τῶν
    tōn
    the
    G3588 · ὁ
  5. ἀνθρώπων
    anthrōpōn
    a man
    G444 · ἄνθρωπος
  6. οἳ
    hoi
    who
    G3739 · ὅς, ἥ
  7. οὐκ
    ouk
    no
    G3756 · οὐ
  8. ἀπεκτάνθησαν
    apektanthēsan
    I put to death
    G615 · ἀποκτείνω
  9. ἐν
    en
    in
    G1722 · ἐν
  10. ταῖς
    tais
    the
    G3588 · ὁ
  11. πληγαῖς
    plēgais
    a blow
    G4127 · πληγή
  12. ταύταις
    tautais
    this
    G3778 · οὗτος
  13. οὐδὲ
    oude
    neither
    G3761 · οὐδέ
  14. μετενόησαν
    metenoēsan
    I repent
    G3340 · μετανοέω
  15. ἐκ
    ek
    from out
    G1537 · ἐκ
  16. τῶν
    tōn
    the
    G3588 · ὁ
  17. ἔργων
    ergōn
    work
    G2041 · ἔργον
  18. τῶν
    tōn
    the
    G3588 · ὁ
  19. χειρῶν
    cheirōn
    a hand
    G5495 · χείρ
  20. αὐτῶν
    autōn
    he
    G846 · αὐτός
  21. ἵνα
    hina
    in order that
    G2443 · ἵνα
  22. μὴ
    mē
    not
    G3361 · μή
  23. προσκυνήσουσιν
    proskynēsousin
    I worship
    G4352 · προσκυνέω
  24. τὰ
    ta
    the
    G3588 · ὁ
  25. δαιμόνια
    daimonia
    an evil-spirit
    G1140 · δαιμόνιον
  26. καὶ
    kai
    and
    G2532 · καί
  27. τὰ
    ta
    the
    G3588 · ὁ
  28. εἴδωλα
    eidōla
    an idol
    G1497 · εἴδωλον
  29. τὰ
    ta
    the
    G3588 · ὁ
  30. χρυσᾶ
    chrysa
    golden
    G5552 · χρύσεος
  31. καὶ
    kai
    and
    G2532 · καί
  32. τὰ
    ta
    the
    G3588 · ὁ
  33. ἀργυρᾶ
    argyra
    made of silver
    G693 · ἀργύρεος
  34. καὶ
    kai
    and
    G2532 · καί
  35. τὰ
    ta
    the
    G3588 · ὁ
  36. χαλκᾶ
    chalka
    made of bronze
    G5470 · χάλκεος
  37. καὶ
    kai
    and
    G2532 · καί
  38. τὰ
    ta
    the
    G3588 · ὁ
  39. λίθινα
    lithina
    made of stone
    G3035 · λίθινος
  40. καὶ
    kai
    and
    G2532 · καί
  41. τὰ
    ta
    the
    G3588 · ὁ
  42. ξύλινα
    xylina
    wooden
    G3585 · ξύλινος
  43. ἃ
    ha
    who
    G3739 · ὅς, ἥ
  44. οὔτε
    oute
    and not
    G3777 · οὔτε
  45. βλέπειν
    blepein
    I look
    G991 · βλέπω
  46. δύνανται
    dynantai
    I am powerful
    G1410 · δύναμαι
  47. οὔτε
    oute
    and not
    G3777 · οὔτε
  48. ἀκούειν
    akouein
    I hear
    G191 · ἀκούω
  49. οὔτε
    oute
    and not
    G3777 · οὔτε
  50. περιπατεῖν
    peripatein
    I walk
    G4043 · περιπατέω