Rev 6:8 | NETfull | STEP | So I looked and here came a pale green horse! The name of the one who rode it was Death, and Hades followed right behind. They were given authority over a fourth of the earth, to kill its population with the sword, famine, and disease, and by the wild animals of the earth.

Revelation of John 6:8

8 So ^{▼▼ Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the implied result of the summons by the fourth creature.} I looked ^{▼▼ 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 ^{▼▼ The phrase “and here came” expresses the sense of καὶ ἰδού (kai idou).} a pale green ^{▼▼ 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 ^{▼▼ Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.} name of the one who rode it ^{▼▼ Grk “the one sitting on it.”} was Death, and Hades followed right behind. ^{▼▼ 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 ^{▼▼ 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, ^{▼▼ Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.} famine, and disease, ^{▼▼ Grk “with death.” θάνατος (qanatos) 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.