the Millennium

What is the meaning of “Wormwood” and Revelation 8:11?

Q.   I’ve been reading Revelation and I came across the name Wormwood. However, it seems to be both a name and a description. Rev 8:11: “And the name of the star is called Wormwood: and the third part of the waters became wormwood; and many men died of the waters, because they were made bitter.” I also found the term wormwood in Deuteronomy as well. Can you possibly shed some light on the meaning of the term as a description (my gut tells me it’s refers to bitterness) and as a name as in the name of the star?

A.   The term “wormwood” actually appears nine times in the Bible, seven times in the Old Testament and twice in Revelation 8:11. The Hebrew word for wormwood is la’anah. Strong’s states, “…from an unused root supposed to mean to curse; wormwood (regarded as poisonous, and therefore accursed).” The Greek, as found in Revelation 8:11, is apsinthos and means, “…wormwood (as a type of bitterness, i.e. [figuratively] calamity.” Interestingly, the Russian word  “Chernobyl” literally means “wormwood.”

Based on the Greek apsinthos, Revelation 8:11 is likely referring to the water being poisoned by a “star.” This word derives from the Greek aster and is defined as, “…probably from the base of NT:4766; a star (as strown over the sky), literally or figuratively,” Strong’s. Since the meaning of star is somewhat ambiguous, there are numerous interpretations. Two common interpretations are either an asteroid or nuclear missile. Considering the cryptic nature of the passage, either interpretation may be correct, along with other explanations. Whatever the star symbolizes, the impact is known, the third part of the waters are poisoned and many people die as a result.

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5 years ago

[…] Why do you believe that baptism into Yahshua’s name is required for salvation? Can you provide Old Testament passages confirming the Messiah? Do you believe that all the evil people who have died will be given the chance to repent during the Last Great Day or final judgment of mankind? Why do you spell out the word “God”? You say the word Elohim and isn’t “God” basically the English rendering of Elohim? Would a Friday Passover place the wavesheaf before the resurrection? What is the meaning and significance of Wormwood? […]

Dani
Dani
3 years ago

Been wondering about that passage and after more study, I ran across something regarding this CV pestilence in the “hour of trial” just before HIS return. Isaiah 26: 19-21 – “But your dead will live; their bodies will rise. You who dwell in the dust, wake up and shout for joy. Your dew is like the dew of the morning; the earth will give birth to her dead. Go, my people, enter your rooms and shut the doors behind you; hide yourselves for a little while until his wrath has passed by. See, the LORD is coming out of his… Read more »

Michael
Michael
2 years ago

Now understanding that Chernobyl in Russian means “Wormwood”, Do you think/believe that this meltdown event could be directly what is meant in Revelations 8:11? as wormwood melted down and poisoned the waters in the surrounding areas and many people died from the radioactivity which could also be described as turned the waters bitter. I believe that is what it means.

moi
moi
Reply to  Michael
6 months ago

Nope! Simple semantic confusion here between wormwood and mugwort (both artemisias but distinct ones). Chernobyl actually translates as mugwort, not wormwood. If mugwort were to do anything around the stricken reactor, it would probably help clean the environment rather than poison it further.

T.
T.
1 year ago

Wormwood is a nuke.
No other idea makes sense.
The prophet who saw this understood it in his own terms.
Locusts = cloud plumes. Just like locusts they make a cloud.
Key to the abyss = bomb fuse.
Poison water = 1/3 water poisoned by radiation.
Faces in plumes (a common human trait to find in clouds, particularly a firey cloud)
Scorpion stings and people seeking death = radiation slowly and painfully killing biology.

Wormwood is not a star. It’s a weapon. That should worry you greatly.

Jean Stout
Jean Stout
5 months ago

Lahaina (Maui) , La’anah

Stacy Alvarez
Stacy Alvarez
Reply to  Jean Stout
26 days ago

I made the Lahaina connection also, when I saw the name “La’anah.”