Wormwood is the name of the star that falls from heaven in Revelation 8:10–11. Its fall makes a third of the rivers and springs bitter, and many die from the waters. The vision carries a fearful gravity: water that sustains life becomes a source of death.
Wormwood in Revelation
The third angel sounds a trumpet, and a great star falls, burning like a lamp. The next verse names that star Wormwood and describes the bitterness of the affected waters.
Is Wormwood an angel or a star?
The passage names Wormwood as the star. It distinguishes that star from the third angel who sounds the trumpet. These verses do not explicitly call Wormwood a rebellious angel or supply an individual angelic biography.
A vision of judgment
For believers reading Revelation, this is a solemn scene to approach with reverence. The account joins heavenly signs, bitter waters and human loss. Reading closely lets its weight register without adding events or identities that the passage does not give.
This article follows the wording of Revelation 8:10–11. It does not present one interpretation of the vision’s symbolism as the teaching of all Christians.
Explore related entries
Browse the A–Z list of angel names, compare the orders of angels, or read the guide to source traditions.
Sources
- Revelation 8:10–11, King James Version: the third trumpet, the falling star and the bitter waters.