Commentaries:
Robertson's Word Pictures (NT)
Tails (ourav). Old word, in N.T. only in Revelation 9:10, Revelation 9:19; Revelation 12:4.
Like unto scorpions (omoiav skorpioiv). Aleph A wrongly have omoioiv (agreeing with skorpioiv instead of with ourav). It is a condensed idiom for "like unto the tails of the scorpions" as we have it in Revelation 13:11 (cf. Matthew 5:20; I John 2:2).
Stings (kentra). Old word from kentrew (to prick, to sting), in N.T. only here, Acts 26:14 (about Paul); I Corinthians 15:55 (about death). It is used "of the spur of a cock, the quill of the porcupine, and the stings of insects" (Vincent). It was the goad used for oxen (Proverbs 26:3; Acts 26:14).
In their tails (en taiv ouraiv autwn). This locates "their power to hurt" (h ecousia autwn adikhsai, infinitive here, ina adikhsousin in Revelation 9:4) in their tails. It might have been in other organs.
Other Robertson's Word Pictures (NT) entries containing Revelation 9:10:
Luke 8:31
1 Corinthians 15:55
Revelation 2:11
Revelation 9:3
Revelation 9:7
Revelation 9:10
Revelation 12:4
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