8:1 {And when he opened} (kai hotan ˆnoixen). Here modal an is used with hote (used about the opening of the preceding six seals), but hotan is not here rendered more indefinite, as is sometimes true (Mr 3:11; Re 4:9), but here and possibly (can be repetition) in Mr 11:19 it is a particular instance, not a general rule (Robertson, "Grammar", p. 973).
{There followed a silence} (egeneto sigˆ). Second aorist middle of ginomai. "There came silence." Dramatic effect by this profound stillness with no elder or angel speaking, no chorus of praise nor cry of adoration, no thunder from the throne (Swete), but a temporary cessation in the revelations. See 10:4.
{About the space of half an hour} (h“s hˆmi“ron). Late and rare word (hˆmi, half, h“ra, hour), here only in N.T. Accusative of extent of time.

8:2 {Stand} (hestˆkasin). Perfect active of histˆmi (intransitive). Another "hebdomad" so frequent in the Apocalypse. The article (the seven angels) seems to point to seven well-known angels. In Enoch 20:7 the names of seven archangels are given (Uriel, Raphael, Raguel, Michael, Sariel, Gabriel, Remiel) and "angels of the Presence" is an idea like that in Isa 63:9. We do not know precisely what is John's idea here.
{Seven trumpets} (hepta salpigges). We see trumpets assigned to angels in Mt 24:31; 1Th 4:16; 1Co 15:52; Re 4:1,4. See also the use of trumpets in Jos 6:13; Joe 2:1. These seven trumpets are soon to break the half hour of silence. Thus the seven trumpets grow out of the opening of the seventh seal, however that fact is to be interpreted.

8:3 {Another angel} (allos aggelos). Not one of the seven of verse 2 and before they began to sound the trumpets. This preliminary incident of the offering of incense on the altar covers verses 3-6.
{Stood} (estathˆ). Ingressive first aorist passive of histˆmi (intransitive), "took his place."
{Over the altar} (epi tou thusiastˆriou). See 6:9 for the word for the burnt-offering, here apparently the altar of incense (clearly so in Lu 1:11; possibly also Re 9:13), but it is not clear that in apocalyptic the distinction between the two altars of the tabernacle and temple is preserved. Aleph C Q have the genitive, while A P have the accusative epi to thusiastˆrion.
{A golden censer} (liban“ton chrusoun). Old word for frankincense (from libanos, Mt 2:11; Re 18:13), but here alone in N.T. and for censer, as is plain by the use of chrusoun (golden) with it. Cf. 1Ki 7:50.
{Much incense} (thumiamata polla). See 5:8 for thumiama (the aromatic substance burnt, also in 18:13), but here for the live coals on which the incense falls.
{That he should add} (hina d“sei). Sub-final clause (subject of edothˆ, was given, singular because thumiamata neuter plural) with hina and the future active indicative of did“mi, to give, instead of d“i, the second aorist subjunctive.
{Unto the prayers} (tais proseuchais). Dative case. In 5:18 the thumiamata are the prayers.
{Upon the golden altar} (epi to thusiastˆrion to chrusoun to). Accusative case here, not genitive as above, and apparently the altar of incense as indicated by the word golden (Ex 30:1ff.; Le 4:17). Note triple article here to (once before the substantive, once before the adjective, once before the adjunct "the one before the throne").

8:4 {The smoke} (ho kapnos). Old word, in N.T. only Ac 2:19; Re 8:4; 9:2f., 17f.; 14:11; 15:8; 18:9,18; 19:3. Here from the incense in the angel's hand.
{With the prayers} (tais proseuchais). So associative-instrumental case, but it may be dative as in verse 3 (for).

8:5 {Taketh} (eilˆphen). Vivid dramatic perfect active indicative of lamban“ as in 5:7, "has taken." The angel had apparently ]aid aside the censer. Hardly merely the pleonastic use of lamban“ (Joh 19:23). John pictures the scene for us. {Filled} (egemisen). He drops back to the narrative use of the first aorist active indicative of gemiz“.
{With the fire} (ek tou puros), live coals from the altar (cf. Isa 6:6).
{Cast} (ebalen). Second aorist active indicative of ball“. See Ge 19:24 (Sodom); Eze 10:2 and Christ's bold metaphor in Lu 12:49. See this use of ball“ also in Re 8:7; 12:4,9,13; 14:19.
{Followed} (egenonto). Came to pass naturally after the casting of fire on the earth. Same three elements in 4:5, but in different order (lightnings, voices, thunders), lightning naturally preceding thunder as some MSS. have it here. Perhaps ph“nai, the voices of the storm (wind, etc.).

8:6 {Prepared themselves} (hˆtoimasan hautous). First aorist active indicative of hetoimaz“. They knew the signal and got ready.
{To sound} (hina salpis“sin). Sub-final (object) clause with hina and the first aorist ingressive active subjunctive of salpiz“. The infinitive could have been used.

8:7 {Sounded} (esalpisen). First aorist active indicative of salpiz“, repeated with each angel in turn (8:8,10,12; 9:1,13; 11:15).
{Hail and fire mingled with blood} (chalaza kai pur memigmena en haimati). Like the plague of hail and fire in Ex 9:24. The first four trumpets are very much like the plagues in Egypt, this one like a semitropical thunderstorm (Swete) with blood like the first plague (Ex 7:17ff.; Ps 106:35). The old feminine word chalaza (hail) is from the verb chala“, to let down (Mr 2:4), in N.T. only in Re 8:7; 11:19; 16:21. The perfect passive participle memigmena (from mignumi, to mix) is neuter plural because of pur (fire).
{Were cast} (eblˆthˆ). First aorist passive singular because chalaza and pur treated as neuter plural. "The storm flung itself on the earth" (Swete).
{Was burnt up} (katekaˆ). Second aorist (effective) passive indicative of katakai“, old verb to burn down (effective use of kata, up, we say). Repeated here three times for dramatic effect. See 7:1-3 about the trees and 9:4 where the locusts are forbidden to injure the grass.

8:8 {As it were} (h“s). "As if," not a great mountain, but a blazing mass as large as a mountain.
{Burning with fire} (puri kaiomenon). Present middle participle of kai“. Somewhat like Enoch 18:13, but perhaps with the picture of a great volcanic eruption like that of Vesuvius in A.D. 79. Strabo tells of an eruption B.C. 196 which made a new island (Palaea Kaumene). {Became blood} (egeneto haima). Like the Nile in the first plague (Ex 7:20ff.). Cf. also 16:3.

8:9 {Of the creatures} (t“n ktismat“n). See 5:13 for this word ktisma. Even they that had life (ta echonta psuchas). Here the nominative articular participle is in apposition with the genitive ktismat“n, as often in this book. See Ex 7:20 for the destruction of fish, and Zep 1:3.
{Was destroyed} (diephtharˆsan). Second aorist passive indicative of diaphtheir“, old compound, to corrupt, to consume, to destroy (perfective use of dia), also 11:18. The plural ploion just before the verb makes the idea plural.

8:10 {Burning as a torch} (kaiomenos h“s lampas). See 4:5; Mt 2:2, perhaps a meteor, striking at the fresh-water supply (rivers potam“n, springs pˆgas) as in the first Egyptian plague also.

8:11 {Wormwood} (ho Apsinthos). Absinthe. Usually feminine (hˆ), but masculine here probably because astˆr is masculine. Only here in N.T. and not in LXX (pikria, bitterness, cholˆ, gall, etc.) except by Aquila in Pr 5:4; Jer 9:15; 23:15. There are several varieties of the plant in Palestine.
{Became wormwood} (egeneto eis apsinthon). This use of eis in the predicate with ginomai is common in the LXX and the N.T. (16:19; Joh 16:20; Ac 5:36).
{Of the waters} (ek t“n hudat“n). As a result of (ek) the use of the poisoned waters. {Were made bitter} (epikranthˆsan). First aorist passive indicative of pikrain“. Old verb (from pikros, bitter), as in 10:9f. In a metaphorical sense to embitter in Col 3:19.

8:12 {Was smitten} (eplˆgˆ). Second aorist passive indicative of plˆss“, old verb (like plˆgˆ plague), here only in N.T. {That should be darkened} (hina skotisthˆi). Purpose clause with hina and the first aorist passive subjunctive of skotiz“, from skotos (darkness) as in Mt 24:29, but skoto“ in Re 9:2.
{And the day should not shine} (kai hˆ hˆmera mˆ phanˆi). Negative purpose clause with hina mˆ and the first aorist active subjunctive of phain“, to shed light upon, as in 18:23, not the second aorist passive subjunctive phanˆi with different accent. The eclipse here is only partial and is kin to the ninth Egyptian plague (Ex 10:21).

8:13 {An eagle} (henos aetou). "One eagle," perhaps henos (heis) used as an indefinite article (9:13; 18:21; 19:17). See 4:7 also for the flying eagle, the strongest of birds, sometimes a symbol of vengeance (De 28:49; Ho 8:1; Hab 1:8). {Flying in mid-heaven} (petomenou en mesouranˆmati). Like the angel in 14:6 and the birds in 19:17. Mesouranˆma (from mesourane“ to be in mid-heaven) is a late word (Plutarch, papyri) for the sun at noon, in N.T. only these three examples. This eagle is flying where all can see, and crying so that all can hear.
{Woe, woe, woe} (ouai, ouai, ouai). Triple because three trumpets yet to come. In 18:10,16,19 the double ouai is merely for emphasis.
{For them that dwell on the earth} (tous katoikountas). Accusative of the articular present active participle of katoike“, is unusual (Aleph Q here and also in 12:12) as in Mt 11:21. There is even a nominative in 18:10. {By reason of the other voices} (ek t“n loip“n ph“n“n). "As a result of (ek) the rest of the voices." There is more and worse to come, "of the three angels who are yet to sound" (t“n tri“n aggel“n t“n mellont“n salpizein).