Revelation 9:16
Re-evaluation Translation:
9:16 The quantity of those who chose to serve and be directed by Yehuveh were an enormous number: the anointed instructors understood the quantity of them.
Bible, KJV Translation:
9:16 And the number of the army of the horsemen were two hundred thousand thousand: and I heard the number of them.
Significant Words and Comments:
Commentary on Revelation 9:16 (1 February 2008): “The number,” from arithmos [G0706], “the quantity or amount,” can indicate either “a fixed and definite number,” as in Revelation 7:4, or “an indefinite number, a multitude,” as in Revelation 20:8. Arithmos is used ten times in Revelation [5:11; 7:4; 9:16; 13:17, 18; 15:2; 20:8].
“The army,” in Greek is plural, “the armies,” from strateuma [G4753], which can be “an army, a band of soldiers,” or “a bodyguard, guards men.” Strateuma comes from strateuomai [G4754] meaning “to fight, serve in the military, or lead soldiers to war,” which traces back to the basic entry G4756, stronnumi, meaning “to spread or to furnish.” In context, strateuma describes people who serve under leadership, in this case all who serve Yehuveh!
“Horsemen,” used only here in Scripture, is from hippikon [G2461], meaning “equestrian, horsemen, cavalry.” Hippikon is from hippos [G2462], which is discussed in full in two aspects in Revelation 6:2 and 9:7.
“Were two hundred thousand thousand,” in the Greek is literally “two ten thousand ten thousands.” This is “two” added to the exact phrase used in Revelation 5:11. If intended as a multiplication, this is 200,000,000, about three percent of the present global population of 6.5 billion. However, it is true to the Greek to read, “two—ten thousand and ten thousand” which is in harmony with David’s count: “The chariots of Elohim are twenty thousand, even thousands of angels: Yehuveh is among them, as in Sinai, in the holy place.” Psalms 68:17.
But before we solidify this conclusion we need to consider another linguistic concern. Ten thousand is translated from murias [G3461], which, according to both James Strong and Joseph Henry Thayer, can either mean “ten thousand; or an innumerable multitude, an unlimited number.” It is used only twice, here and in Revelation 5:11. Murias is plural of murioi [G3463], “apparently a primary word (properly, meaning very many)” “innumerable, countless,” yet translated ten thousand three times in situations which strongly do not warrant this translation: Matthew 18:24; 1 Corinthians 4:15; 14:19. In context and respectful of the language, it makes more sense that this phrase should read “a huge number of people,” than that it indicates a limited specific count.
“I heard the number of them.” As noted by Revelation 4:1, to hear is to carefully consider and then take the appropriate action. Number, as noted above, is quantity, not necessarily a specific count.
Gael Bataman
Originally Written: 1 February 2008
Latest Update: 28 May 2008
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