What are the frogs of Rev ?

[MNoBody]

very interesting, thank you

the hieroglyph in that meme has been altered somewhat from the original
but that can be seen on the wikipedia image, as their glyph is more likely to be the authentic one.

 

[Gavin Luckenbach]

I'm not sure if this has been mentioned, but there is also a plague of frogs in Exodus upon Egypt-- another animal in association with evil powers, and terror.

Frogs are also just... gross, and carry all sorts of diseases, something ancient Egyptians and Romans would have associated with them probably.

The fact that they come from the mouth does suggest impurity of speech, lies, propaganda, and false truths like you said.

I think much of Revelations should be interpreted either allegorically (alongside the historical persecution of ancient Christian churches in Rome) as well as John's literal spiritual vision, "anagogicaly" (spiritually and symbolically.) Some idea of what frogs meant to Hellenistic Jews may help us. Again, the plague on Egypt, and now a plague on all the nations in power that currently oppress God's people-- but these ones also deceive and lead them to war?

We must also, however, heed the warning at the end of the book: Revelation 22:18-19

Revelations is incredible because it also forces us to be humble, and in awe. Here is an article on the 4 types of Biblical exegesis used historically. hermeneutics | Definition, History, Types, & Facts. Revelations seems to usually be understood as deeply symbolic so it's important to consider these things-- especially within the context of the culture and time in which they were written.

 

[Mark La Buda]

Rev 16:13 And I saw three un-clean inspired expressions that looked like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon and wild beast ...14 They are, in fact, expressions inspired by demons and [they] perform signs, and go forth to the kings of the entire inhabited earth, to gather them together to the war of the great day of God the Almighty.

If I may, I'll suggest one answer, maybe you have another?

Spirits are invisible and intangible; hence the "unclean spirits like frogs" symbolize propaganda, proclamations and messages rather than tangible things.

A frog is a kind of animal that has a big mouth, assumes much wisdom, looks wise, bluffs a great deal, swells up and makes much noise.
Notice that Revelation has three unclean spirits like frogs. Could this signify a trio of declarations, principles and proclamations ? All of these are from God's point of view: boastful, arrogant and claim much.

If we are to assume that the "Dragon" is Satan and his spiritual organization,
and the beast the visible part of his organization made up of the commercial, political and ecclesiastical factors.

This could be an example of such claims:

One:
God is a liar and his word is unreliable, contradictory and unpractical, ignore him, and those who advocate his cause.
Two:
We have the only established form of government and guardian of religious truth that is proper,we will make the earth into a fit place to live.
Three:
Our wealth, power and science is our god, not Jehovah. We are the spiritual guardians for the people, nothing else should be heard or considered.

Can you hear the frogs? What do you think they mean ?

I know of only two references/discussions to “frogs” in the Bible.-Exodus 8:2-15 and Revelation 16:13, 14.

In Exodus, the frogs were referred to as a plague and when they died, they stunk. In Revelation, they are mentioned as symbolic as to “…unclean expressions…out of the mouth…of the dragon…wild beast…false prophets.” “…demons…go forth to the kings of the entire earth….”

To me, this seems to represent symbolic religious propaganda that is mentioned at Revelation 15:5 (world empire of false religion); and, it stinks like the frogs in Exodus.