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Revelation 8:11
ESV The name of the star is Wormwood. A third of the waters became wormwood, and many people died from the water, because it had been made bitter.
NIV the name of the star is Wormwood. A third of the waters turned bitter, and many people died from the waters that had become bitter.
NASB The star is named Wormwood; and a third of the waters became wormwood, and many people died from the waters because they were made bitter.
CSB The name of the star is Wormwood, and a third of the waters became wormwood. So, many of the people died from the waters, because they had been made bitter.
NLT The name of the star was Bitterness. It made one-third of the water bitter, and many people died from drinking the bitter water.
KJV And the name of the star is called Wormwood: and the third part of the waters became wormwood; and many men died of the waters, because they were made bitter.
NKJV The name of the star is Wormwood. A third of the waters became wormwood, and many men died from the water, because it was made bitter.

What does Revelation 8:11 mean?

This passage describes one of the trumpet judgments, in this case a burning star that falls from heaven onto a third of the rivers and springs of water. Here, John names this "star," which is called Wormwood. Wormwood is a bitter desert plant found in the regions surrounding the Middle East, in Syria, and in Palestine. It is related to the plant from which the alcoholic drink absinthe is made. Added to alcohol, absinthe can cause complete deterioration of the brain. As seen by John in this Revelation, when the star Wormwood fell into the waters, it poisoned those who drank the water, killing many.

While the judgment described here is literal, Wormwood also symbolizes the bitterness of the consequences of sin. We see something similar in the Old Testament. When the Hebrews journeyed through the Negev, they came upon bitter water at Marah (Exodus 15:23). When the people complained to Moses (Exodus 15:24), he called upon the Lord (Exodus 15:25). In response, the Lord showed him a log. When Moses threw the log into the water, the water became sweet. Similarly, because of Jesus' death on a wooden cross, God can remove the bitter sins of life and make life sweet.
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