Revelation 9:20
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The verse highlights the profound and concerning reality that even after witnessing devastating plagues, humanity’s response wasn't repentance but a doubling down on their destructive practices, specifically idolatry and demon worship. This points to a hardened heart, where divine judgment fails to bring about the intended change, revealing a deep spiritual resistance to acknowledging the futility of their man-made objects of worship.
The rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands nor give up worshiping demons and idols of gold and silver and bronze and stone and wood, which cannot see or hear or walk,
English Standard Version (ESV)
After a devastating plague kills a third of humanity, the survivors don't change their ways. Instead, they cling even more tightly to their idols and the worship of demons, demonstrating a profound refusal to repent even in the face of God's judgment. This hardening of their hearts sets the stage for even more severe divine wrath to come.
The verse describes people worshiping 'idols of gold and silver and bronze and stone and wood.' But what does this 'idolatry' really mean in a deeper sense?
This passage zeroes in on idolatry, but it's not just about bowing down to physical objects. The commentators point out that 'the works of their hands' can represent anything we create or cling to that takes God's rightful place in our lives. This includes not only physical idols but also our own creations, systems, or even concepts that we elevate above God.
Think about it: when we prioritize wealth (gold and silver), human systems (bronze and stone), or even our own efforts and ideas (wood) over seeking God's will, we're engaging in a form of idolatry. These things cannot 'see or hear or walk' – they are lifeless and incapable of providing true guidance or salvation, just like the idols mentioned in Revelation.
The text states that people 'did not repent.' What kind of repentance does God truly seek, and what's the difference between feeling bad and turning away from sin?
This verse highlights a critical distinction in repentance. The people weren't necessarily emotionless; they might have felt terror or remorse after the plagues. However, the Bible's call to repentance is for a profound change – a 'repentance out of sin,' as one commentator puts it. This isn't just about feeling sorry for what you've done; it's about actively turning away from those sins and forsaking them.
The plagues were meant to be a wake-up call, a divine appeal for people to see the error of their ways and change course. But instead of a genuine shift in allegiance and behavior, they clung to their old habits of demon worship and idolatry. True repentance involves a decisive break from sin, a demonstrable turning the 'works of their hands' and God.
Ask a follow-up
Even after experiencing devastating plagues, people remain unrepentant. What does this reveal about God's judgment and the human heart?
This passage starkly illustrates a recurring theme in Scripture: the hardening of the human heart in the face of divine judgment. The plagues are not just random disasters; they are presented as God's attempts to break through human stubbornness and call people to Himself. Yet, for those who are deeply entrenched in sin, these judgments can paradoxically lead to further hardening rather than repentance.
When devastating events occur – whether historical plagues, personal tragedies, or societal crises – they serve as stark warnings. God uses these moments to reveal the futility of sin and the brokenness of a world apart from Him. However, if the heart remains resistant, these divine interventions can actually reinforce the cycle of sin, making people even more defiant. The inability to hate evil, as one scholar notes, is a sign of advanced moral decay, making repentance increasingly impossible.
Understand the original words
metanoeō · Greek Verb
A change of mind and heart leading to a turning away from sin and toward God. It is the central response God requires from humanity in light of His judgment and holiness.
daimonion · Greek Noun
Supernatural, malevolent beings that oppose God and lead humanity astray. They are considered the true spiritual entities behind idolatry, representing active rebellion against the Creator.
eidōlon · Greek Noun
Physical objects created by human hands—often of precious metals or materials—that are venerated instead of the true God. The Bible consistently condemns them as lifeless, worthless, and an abomination to the Lord.
The verse describes persistent idolatry and wickedness despite divine judgments. Historically, this resonates with how the post-exilic Jewish community and later, various Christian traditions, often failed to repent fully, continuing practices like idolatry and moral corruption even after significant historical calamities and divine warnings.
c. 605 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
The first wave of Judean exiles, including Daniel, were deported to Babylon. This marked the beginning of the Babylonian exile.
586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem
Nebuchadnezzar and the Babylonians destroyed Jerusalem and its Temple, leading to a massive deportation of the remaining population. This event deeply impacted Jewish identity and theology.
c. 640 AD
Rise of Islam and Arab Conquests
The emergence of Islam led to rapid Arab expansion, conquering vast territories, including former Roman lands. This is seen by some as a fulfillment of the first woe trumpet (Revelation 9:1-11).
c. 1071 AD
Turkish Expansion into Asia Minor
Following the Seljuk victory at Manzikert, Turkish peoples began to establish a significant presence in Asia Minor, encroaching on Byzantine territory.
1453 AD— this verse
Fall of Constantinople
The Ottoman Turks conquered Constantinople, marking the definitive end of the Byzantine Empire and a significant shift in power in the region.
This passage warns Israel against worshipping idols made by human hands, a direct parallel to the 'works of their hands' mentioned in Revelation 9:20, highlighting the enduring nature of idolatry as a sin.
Psalm 115:4-7This Psalm directly mocks the futility of idols made of gold, silver, bronze, stone, and wood, emphasizing that they cannot see, hear, walk, or help – mirroring the description in Revelation 9:20 and underscoring the foolishness of such worship.
Isaiah 2:8This verse speaks of the land being filled with horses and chariots and their number being endless, and also mentions idols made by human hands, showing a historical precedent for the 'works of their hands' and idolatry leading to judgment.
Romans 1:21-23This passage describes people who knew God but did not honor Him, becoming futile in their thinking and exchanging the glory of God for images of creatures, directly reflecting the unrepentant idolatry described in Revelation 9:20.
Colossians 3:5Paul calls greed idolatry, connecting it to the 'works of their hands' that modern believers must put to death, echoing the theme of idolatry being deeply ingrained in human nature and resistant to change, as seen in Revelation 9:20.
ellicottRevelation 9:20: "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:"
(20, 21) And the rest . . . —Translate, And the rest of mankind who were not slain in these plagues did not even repent of (or, out of — i.e., so as to forsake) the works of their hands, that they should not worship the demon…
clarkeRevelation 9:20: "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:"
Yet repented not - The commission which these horsemen had was against idolaters; and though multitudes of them were destroyed, yet the residue continued their senseless attachment to dumb idols, and therefore heavier judgmen…
The verse highlights the profound and concerning reality that even after witnessing devastating plagues, humanity’s response wasn't repentance but a doubling down on their destructive practices, specifically idolatry and demon worship. This points to a hardened heart, where divine judgment fails to bring about the intended change, revealing a deep spiritual resistance to acknowledging the futility of their man-made objects of worship.
After a devastating plague kills a third of humanity, the survivors don't change their ways. Instead, they cling even more tightly to their idols and the worship of demons, demonstrating a profound refusal to repent even in the face of God's judgment. This hardening of their hearts sets the stage for even more severe divine wrath to come.
After a devastating plague kills a third of humanity, the survivors don't change their ways. Instead, they cling even more tightly to their idols and the worship of demons, demonstrating a profound refusal to repent even in the face of God's judgment. This hardening of their hearts sets the stage for even more severe divine wrath to come.
"The rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands nor give up worshiping demons and idols of gold and silver and bronze and stone and wood, which cannot see or hear or walk," — The verse highlights the profound and concerning reality that even after witnessing devastating plagues, humanity’s response wasn't repentance but a doubling down on their destructive practices, spec…
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Last reviewed October 2026
