Revelation 6:13

and the stars of the sky fell to the earth like unripe figs dropping from a tree shaken by a great wind.

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — John records a vision immediately after the Lamb opens the sixth seal, following a great earthquake and the darkening of the sun and moon. He describes this moment as part of the sequential judgments revealed during the seal-opening sequence.

The words — ἀστέρες (asteres) translates to stars, and ἔπεσαν (epesan) translates to fell. These Greek terms directly describe the descent of celestial bodies from the sky to the earth.

The thread — The imagery parallels Isaiah 34:4, where stars dissolve and fall, and Matthew 24:29, which pairs darkened sun and moon with falling stars. John later references a fallen star in Revelation 9:1.

Why it lands — The text requires readers to acknowledge the described physical collapse of the heavens as a direct result of the seal's opening. It demands recognition that the vision depicts cosmic judgment executing simultaneously with terrestrial upheaval.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Greek words

καὶkaiand οἱhoithe ἀστέρεςasteresstars τοῦtou<the>οὐρανοῦouranouof heaven ἔπεσανepesanfell εἰςeisto τὴνtēnthe γῆνgēnearth ὡςhōsas συκῆsukēa fig tree βάλλειballeicasts τοὺςtousthe ὀλύνθουςolunthousunripe figs αὐτῆςautēsof it ὑπὸhupoby ἀνέμουanemoua wind μεγάλουmegalougreat σειομένη,seiomenēbeing shaken,

King James Version

And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind.

Cross-references

Isaiah 34:4 All the stars of heaven will be dissolved. The skies will be rolled up like a scroll, and all their stars will fall like withered leaves from the vine, like foliage from the fig tree.
Matthew 24:29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days: ‘The sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.’
Revelation 9:1 Then the fifth angel sounded his trumpet, and I saw a star that had fallen from heaven to earth, and it was given the key to the pit of the Abyss.
Revelation 8:10 Then the third angel sounded his trumpet, and a great star burning like a torch fell from heaven and landed on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water.
Ezekiel 32:7 When I extinguish you, I will cover the heavens and darken their stars. I will cover the sun with a cloud, and the moon will not give its light.
Daniel 8:10 It grew as high as the host of heaven, and it cast down some of the host and some of the stars to the earth and trampled them.
Isaiah 7:2 When it was reported to the house of David that Aram was in league with Ephraim, the hearts of Ahaz and his people trembled like trees in the forest shaken by the wind.
Luke 21:25 There will be signs in the sun and moon and stars, and on the earth dismay among the nations, bewildered by the roaring of the sea and the surging of the waves.
Isaiah 33:9 The land mourns and languishes; Lebanon is ashamed and decayed. Sharon is like a desert; Bashan and Carmel shake off their leaves.
Daniel 4:14 He called out in a loud voice: ‘Cut down the tree and chop off its branches; strip off its leaves and scatter its fruit. Let the beasts flee from under it, and the birds from its branches.