Revelation 9:20 Meaning and Explanation
“And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk:”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Those who survive the plagues still refuse to repent of their idolatry.
What Does Revelation 9:20 Mean?
Now comes the saddest line of the chapter. Those who survived the plagues, spared so that they might turn, still did not repent. They kept on worshiping the work of their own hands, idols of gold and silver and brass and stone and wood that cannot see or hear or walk. The very purpose of the limited judgment, to lead to repentance, is refused.
The verse exposes the hardness of a heart that will not turn even when warned. It echoes the psalms' verdict that those who make idols become as lifeless as the things they trust. The reader is searched by this: judgment alone does not soften a closed heart; only surrender to the living God does. The mercy that withheld total destruction was meant to lead to repentance, and the tragedy is a people who would not come home.
Revelation 9:20 in the Original Language
metanoeo (μετανοέω), 'repent' -- to change one's mind and turn back to God.
Frequently Asked Questions About Revelation 9:20
What does Revelation 9:20 mean?
Those who survive the plagues still refuse to repent of their idolatry.