Καὶ ἔχουσιν οὐρὰς ὁμοίας σκορπίοις καὶ κέντρα, καὶ ἐν ταῖς οὐραῖς αὐτῶν ἐξουσίαν ἔχουσι τοῦ ἀδικῆσαι τοὺς ἀνθρώπους μῆνας πέντε. (Revelation 9:10)
When Grammar Stings
The Book of Revelation offers grammar wrapped in apocalyptic fire. In Revelation 9:10, John describes the locust-scorpion hybrids unleashed in judgment, focusing on their tails. But the Greek here is more than description — it constructs a syntax of threat, using repetition, genitive infinitive purpose, and comparative clauses.
This lesson explores how Koine Greek uses present verbs, genitive articular infinitives, and simile-based structures to convey ongoing, limited, divinely permitted destruction.
Focus Phenomena:
Similitude Clause with ὁμοίας (“like”)
Double Present Indicatives for emphasis: ἔχουσιν… ἔχουσι
Genitive Articular Infinitive of Purpose: τοῦ ἀδικῆσαι
Phrase-by-Phrase Breakdown
καὶ ἔχουσιν οὐρὰς ὁμοίας σκορπίοις καὶ κέντρα
“And they have tails like scorpions, and stingers”
This is a comparative construction using:
– ὁμοίας (“similar to”) modifying οὐρὰς (“tails”)
– σκορπίοις in the dative case — expected with ὅμοιος for comparisons
– καὶ κέντρα introduces an additional feature: stingers
Then we have the repetition:
καὶ ἐν ταῖς οὐραῖς αὐτῶν ἐξουσίαν ἔχουσι
“And in their tails, they have authority”
Followed by a genitive articular infinitive of purpose:
τοῦ ἀδικῆσαι τοὺς ἀνθρώπους μῆνας πέντε
“to harm men for five months”
Key Morphology and Parsing
ὁμοίας
Root: ὅμοιος
Form: Accusative Feminine Plural Adjective
Lexical Meaning: “like,” “similar to”
Contextual Notes: Agrees with οὐρὰς in gender/number/case; takes dative objects (e.g.,…
Learn Koine Greek 
