Charles Ellicott Commentary Revelation 9:7

"And the shapes of the locusts were like unto horses prepared for war; and upon their heads as it were crowns like unto gold, and their faces were as men`s faces." — Revelation 9:7 (ASV)

And the shapes . . .—Translate: And the shapes (or, forms) of the locusts were like horses prepared for war. The resemblance of the locust to the horse (especially in the head) has been noted by travelers, and is expressed in the Italian and German names cavalletta and heupferd.

The resemblance is more distinct when the horses are prepared for battle: the hard shell or scales of the locust having the appearance of armor. Therefore, it has been thought that the sacred writer here alludes to this horse-like appearance of the locust. It seems a little doubtful that this is the case, or that in this or any of the descriptions here there is any reference to the anatomical features of the locust. (See Note on Revelation 9:10.)

And on their heads were as it were crowns like gold, and their faces were as the faces of men.—Here again, there has been a desire to find some physical appearance in the locust to suggest the crown of gold: the antennae, the rugged elevation in the middle of the thorax, have been imagined to have some resemblance to a crown; and the face of the locust, it has actually been said, bears under ordinary circumstances a distant (the adjective is essential) resemblance to the human countenance.