Revelation of John 6:1-8
The Seven Seals
1 I looked on when the Lamb opened one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures saying with a thunderous voice, ▼▼tn Grk “saying like a voice [or sound] of thunder.”
“Come!” ▼▼tc The addition of “and see” (καὶ ἴδε or καὶ βλέπε [kai ide or kai blepe]) to “come” (ἔρχου, erchou) in 6:1, 3-5, 7 is a gloss directed to John, i.e., “come and look at the seals and the horsemen!” But the command ἔρχου is better interpreted as directed to each of the horsemen. The shorter reading also has the support of the better witnesses.
2So ▼▼tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the implied result of hearing the voice summon the first rider.
I looked, ▼▼tc The reading “and I looked” (καὶ εἶδον, kai eidon) or some slight variation (e.g., ἶδον, idon) has excellent ms support (א A C P 1611) and its omission seems to come through the mss that have already placed “and look” (καὶ ἴδε or καὶ βλέπε [kai ide or kai blepe]) after the verb “come” (ἔρχου, erchou) as mentioned in the text-critical note on 6:1. Thus, for these copyists it was redundant to add “and I looked” again.
and here came ▼▼tn The phrase “and here came” expresses the sense of καὶ ἰδού (kai idou).
a white horse! The ▼▼tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
one who rode it ▼▼tn Grk “the one sitting on it.”
▼▼sn The one who rode it. The identity of the first rider on the white horse has been discussed at great length by interpreters. Several answers are given: (1) A number understand the rider on the white horse to be Christ himself, identifying this horse and rider with the one mentioned in 19:11, where the identification is clear (cf. 19:13, 16). It must be noted, though, that there is little in common between the two riders beyond the white horse. The word for “crown” is different, the armament is different, and the context here is different (conquest vs. retribution), with three other horsemen bringing catastrophe following. (2) Others see the rider on the white horse representing a spirit of military conquest that dominates human history and leads to the catastrophes that follow. (3) Another possibility is that the white horse rider represents the Antichrist, who appears later in Rev 11:7; 13:17, and is similar to Christ in 19:11 in that they both ride a white horse. This interpretation has been discussed at length by M. Rissi, “The Rider on the White Horse: A Study of Revelation 6:1-8,” Int 18 (1964): 407-18. This interpretation is the most probable one.
had a bow, and he was given a crown, ▼ and as a conqueror ▼▼tn The participle νικῶν (nikōn) has been translated as substantival, the subject of the verb ἐξῆλθεν (exēlthen). Otherwise, as an adverbial participle of manner, it is somewhat redundant: “he rode out conquering and to conquer.”
he rode out to conquer. 3 Then ▼▼tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision.
when the Lamb ▼▼tn Grk “he”; the referent (the Lamb) has been specified in the translation for clarity here and throughout the rest of the chapter.
opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature saying, “Come!” 4And another horse, fiery red, ▼▼tn L&N 79.31 states, “‘fiery red’ (probably with a tinge of yellow or orange).”
came out, and the one who rode it ▼▼tn Grk “the one sitting on it.”
was granted permission ▼▼tn The word “permission” is implied; Grk “it was given to him to take peace from the earth.”
to take peace from the earth so that people would butcher ▼ one another, and he was given a huge sword. 5 Then ▼▼tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision.
when the Lamb opened the third seal I heard the third living creature saying, “Come!” So ▼▼tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the implied result of the summons by the third creature.
I looked, ▼▼tc The reading “and I looked” (καὶ εἶδον, kai eidon) or some slight variation (e.g., ἶδον, idon) has excellent ms support (א A C P 1611) and its omission seems to have come through the mss that have already placed “and look” (καὶ ἴδε or καὶ βλέπε [kai ide or kai blepe]) after the verb “come” (ἔρχου, erchou) in 6:1. Thus, for these copyists it was redundant to add “and I looked” again.
and here came ▼▼tn The phrase “and here came” expresses the sense of καὶ ἰδού (kai idou).
a black horse! The ▼▼tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
one who rode it ▼▼tn Grk “the one sitting on it.”
had a balance scale ▼▼sn A balance scale would have been a rod held by a rope in the middle with pans attached to both ends for measuring.
in his hand. 6Then ▼▼tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision.
I heard something like a voice from among the four living creatures saying, “A quart ▼ of wheat will cost a day’s pay, ▼▼tn Grk “a quart of wheat for a denarius.” A denarius was one day’s pay for an average worker. The words “will cost” are used to indicate the genitive of price or value; otherwise the English reader could understand the phrase to mean “a quart of wheat to be given as a day’s pay.”
and three quarts of barley will cost a day’s pay. But ▼▼tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “but” to indicate the contrast present in this context.
do not damage the olive oil and the wine!” 7 Then ▼▼tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision.
when the Lamb opened the fourth seal I heard the voice of the fourth living creature saying, “Come!” 8So ▼▼tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the implied result of the summons by the fourth creature.
I looked ▼▼tc The reading “and I looked” (καὶ εἶδον, kai eidon) or some slight variation (e.g., ἶδον, idon) has excellent ms support (א A C P 1611) and its omission seems to have come through the mss that have already placed “and look” (καὶ ἴδε or καὶ βλέπε [kai ide or kai blepe]) after the verb “come” (ἔρχου, erchou) in 6:1. Thus, for these copyists it was redundant to add “and I looked” again.
and here came ▼▼tn The phrase “and here came” expresses the sense of καὶ ἰδού (kai idou).
a pale green ▼▼tn A sickly pallor, when referring to persons, or the green color of plants. BDAG 1085 s.v. χλωρός 2 states, “pale, greenish gray…as the color of a pers. in sickness contrasted with appearance in health…so the horse ridden by Death…ἵππος χλωρός Rv 6:8.” Because the color of the horse is symbolic, “pale green” is used in the translation. Cf. NIV, NCV “pale”; NASB “ashen.”
horse! The ▼▼tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
name of the one who rode it ▼▼tn Grk “the one sitting on it.”
was Death, and Hades followed right behind. ▼▼tn Grk “And Hades was following with him.” The Greek expression μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ (met’ autou, “with him”) is Semitic and indicates close proximity. The translation “followed right behind” reflects this.
They ▼▼tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style. Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, a new sentence was started here in the translation.
were given authority over a fourth of the earth, to kill its population with the sword, ▼▼tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
famine, and disease, ▼▼tn Grk “with death.” θάνατος (thanatos) can in particular contexts refer to a manner of death, specifically a contagious disease (see BDAG 443 s.v. 3; L&N 23.158).
and by the wild animals of the earth.
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