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Revelation 6
New English Translation

The Seven Seals

6 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,[a] “Come!”[b] 2 So[c] I looked,[d] and here came[e] a white horse! The[f] one who rode it[g] had a bow, and he was given a crown,[h] and as a conqueror[i] he rode out to conquer.

3 Then[j] when the Lamb[k] opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature saying, “Come!” 4 And another horse, fiery red,[l] came out, and the one who rode it[m] was granted permission[n] to take peace from the earth, so that people would butcher[o] one another, and he was given a huge sword.

5 Then[p] when the Lamb opened the third seal I heard the third living creature saying, “Come!” So[q] I looked,[r] and here came[s] a black horse! The[t] one who rode it[u] had a balance scale[v] in his hand. 6 Then[w] I heard something like a voice from among the four living creatures saying, “A quart[x] of wheat will cost a day’s pay[y] and three quarts of barley will cost a day’s pay. But[z] do not damage the olive oil and the wine!”

7 Then[aa] when the Lamb opened the fourth seal I heard the voice of the fourth living creature saying, “Come!” 8 So[ab] I looked[ac] and here came[ad] a pale green[ae] horse! The[af] name of the one who rode it[ag] was Death, and Hades followed right behind.[ah] They[ai] were given authority over a fourth of the earth, to kill its population with the sword,[aj] famine, and disease,[ak] and by the wild animals of the earth.

9 Now[al] when the Lamb opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been violently killed[am] because of the word of God and because of the testimony they had given. 10 They[an] cried out with a loud voice,[ao] “How long,[ap] Sovereign Master,[aq] holy and true, before you judge those who live on the earth and avenge our blood?” 11 Each[ar] of them was given a long white robe and they were told to rest for a little longer, until the full number was reached[as] of both their fellow servants[at] and their brothers who were going to be killed just as they had been.

12 Then[au] I looked when the Lamb opened the sixth seal, and a huge[av] earthquake took place; the sun became as black as sackcloth made of hair,[aw] and the full moon became blood red;[ax] 13 and the stars in the sky[ay] fell to the earth like a fig tree dropping[az] its unripe figs[ba] when shaken by a fierce[bb] wind. 14 The sky[bc] was split apart[bd] like a scroll being rolled up,[be] and every mountain and island was moved from its place. 15 Then[bf] the kings of the earth, the[bg] very important people, the generals,[bh] the rich, the powerful, and everyone, slave[bi] and free, hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains. 16 They[bj] said to the mountains and to the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of the one who is seated on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb,[bk] 17 because the great day of their[bl] wrath has come, and who is able to withstand it?”[bm]

Footnotes

  1. Revelation 6:1 tn Grk “saying like a voice [or sound] of thunder.”
  2. Revelation 6:1 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.
  3. Revelation 6:2 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the implied result of hearing the voice summon the first rider.
  4. Revelation 6:2 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.
  5. Revelation 6:2 tn The phrase “and here came” expresses the sense of καὶ ἰδού (kai idou).
  6. Revelation 6:2 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
  7. Revelation 6:2 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.
  8. Revelation 6:2 sn See the note on the word crown in Rev 3:11.
  9. Revelation 6:2 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.”
  10. Revelation 6:3 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision.
  11. Revelation 6:3 tn Grk “he”; the referent (the Lamb) has been specified in the translation for clarity here and throughout the rest of the chapter.
  12. Revelation 6:4 tn L&N 79.31 states, “‘fiery red’ (probably with a tinge of yellow or orange).”
  13. Revelation 6:4 tn Grk “the one sitting on it.”
  14. Revelation 6:4 tn The word “permission” is implied; Grk “it was given to him to take peace from the earth.”
  15. Revelation 6:4 tn BDAG 979 s.v. σφάζω states, “Of the killing of a person by violence…σφάζειν τινά butcher or murder someone (4 Km 10:7; Jer 52:10; Manetho: 609 fgm. 8, 76 Jac. [in Jos., C. Ap. 1, 76]; Demetr.[?]: 722 fgm. 7; Ar. 10, 9) 1J 3:12; Rv 6:4. Pass. (Hdt. 5, 5) 5:9; 6:9; 18:24.”
  16. Revelation 6:5 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision.
  17. Revelation 6:5 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the implied result of the summons by the third creature.
  18. Revelation 6:5 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.
  19. Revelation 6:5 tn The phrase “and here came” expresses the sense of καὶ ἰδού (kai idou).
  20. Revelation 6:5 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
  21. Revelation 6:5 tn Grk “the one sitting on it.”
  22. Revelation 6:5 sn A balance scale would have been a rod held by a rope in the middle with pans attached to both ends for measuring.
  23. Revelation 6:6 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision.
  24. Revelation 6:6 tn BDAG 1086 s.v. χοῖνιξ states, “a dry measure, oft. used for grain, approximately equivalent to one quart or one liter, quart. A χ.of grain was a daily ration for one pers.…Rv 6:6ab.”
  25. Revelation 6:6 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.”
  26. Revelation 6:6 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “but” to indicate the contrast present in this context.
  27. Revelation 6:7 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision.
  28. Revelation 6:8 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the implied result of the summons by the fourth creature.
  29. Revelation 6:8 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.
  30. Revelation 6:8 tn The phrase “and here came” expresses the sense of καὶ ἰδού (kai idou).
  31. Revelation 6:8 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.”
  32. Revelation 6:8 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
  33. Revelation 6:8 tn Grk “the one sitting on it.”
  34. Revelation 6:8 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.
  35. Revelation 6:8 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.
  36. Revelation 6:8 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
  37. Revelation 6:8 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).
  38. Revelation 6:9 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “now” to indicate the introduction of a new and somewhat different topic after the introduction of the four riders.
  39. Revelation 6:9 tn Or “murdered.” See the note on the word “butcher” in 6:4.
  40. Revelation 6:10 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
  41. Revelation 6:10 tn Grk “voice, saying”; the participle λέγοντες (legontes) is redundant in contemporary English and has not been translated here.
  42. Revelation 6:10 tn The expression ἕως πότε (eōs pote) was translated “how long.” Cf. BDAG 423 s.v. ἕως 1.b.γ.
  43. Revelation 6:10 tn The Greek term here is δεσπότης (despotēs; see L&N 37.63).
  44. Revelation 6:11 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
  45. Revelation 6:11 tn Grk “until they had been completed.” The idea of a certain “number” of people is implied by the subject of πληρωθῶσιν (plērōthōsin).
  46. Revelation 6:11 tn Though σύνδουλος (sundoulos) has been translated “fellow servant,” the word does not bear the connotation of a free individual serving another. See the note on the word “servants” in 1:1.
  47. Revelation 6:12 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision.
  48. Revelation 6:12 tn Or “powerful”; Grk “a great.”
  49. Revelation 6:12 tn Or “like hairy sackcloth” (L&N 8.13).
  50. Revelation 6:12 tn Grk “like blood,” understanding αἷμα (aima) as a blood-red color rather than actual blood (L&N 8.64).
  51. Revelation 6:13 tn Or “in heaven” (the same Greek word means both “heaven” and “sky”). The genitive τοῦ οὐρανοῦ (tou ouranou) is taken as a genitive of place.
  52. Revelation 6:13 tn Grk “throws [off]”; the indicative verb has been translated as a participle due to English style.
  53. Revelation 6:13 tn L&N 3.37 states, “a fig produced late in the summer season (and often falling off before it ripens)—‘late fig.’ ὡς συκὴ βάλλει τοὺς ὀλύνθους αὐτῆς ὑπὸ ἀνέμου μεγάλου σειομένη ‘as the fig tree sheds its late figs when shaken by a great wind’ Re 6:13. In the only context in which ὄλυνθος occurs in the NT (Re 6:13), one may employ an expression such as ‘unripe fig’ or ‘fig which ripens late.’”
  54. Revelation 6:13 tn Grk “great wind.”
  55. Revelation 6:14 tn Or “The heavens were.” The Greek word οὐρανός (ouranos) can mean either “heaven” or “sky.”
  56. Revelation 6:14 tn BDAG 125 s.v. ἀποχωρίζω states, “ὁ οὐρανὸς ἀπεχωρίσθη the sky was split Rv 6:14.” Although L&N 79.120 gives the meaning “the sky disappeared like a rolled-up scroll” here, a scroll that is rolled up does not “disappear,” and such a translation could be difficult for modern readers to understand.
  57. Revelation 6:14 tn On this term BDAG 317 s.v. ἑλίσσω states, “ὡς βιβλίον ἑλισσόμενον like a scroll that is rolled up…Rv 6:14.”
  58. Revelation 6:15 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision.
  59. Revelation 6:15 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated; nor is it translated before each of the following categories, since English normally uses a coordinating conjunction only between the last two elements in a series of three or more.
  60. Revelation 6:15 tn Grk “chiliarchs.” A chiliarch was normally a military officer commanding a thousand soldiers, but here probably used of higher-ranking commanders like generals (see L&N 55.15; cf. Rev 6:15).
  61. Revelation 6:15 tn See the note on the word “servants” in 1:1.
  62. Revelation 6:16 tn Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, a new sentence was started here in the translation. Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
  63. Revelation 6:16 tn It is difficult to say where this quotation ends. The translation ends it after “withstand it” at the end of v. 17, but it is possible that it should end here, after “Lamb” at the end of v. 16. If it ends after “Lamb,” v. 17 is a parenthetical explanation by the author.
  64. Revelation 6:17 tc Most mss (A M bo) change the pronoun “their” to “his” (αὐτοῦ, autou) in order to bring the text in line with the mention of the one seated on the throne in the immediately preceding verse, and to remove the ambiguity about whose wrath is in view here. The reading αὐτῶν (autōn, “their”) is well supported by א C 1611 1854 2053 2329 2344 latt sy. On both internal and external grounds, it should be regarded as autographic.
  65. Revelation 6:17 tn The translation “to withstand (it)” for ἵστημι (histēmi) is based on the imagery of holding one’s ground in a military campaign or an attack (BDAG 482 s.v. B.4).
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Revelation 6
Contemporary English Version

Opening the Seven Seals

6 At the same time I saw the Lamb open the first of the seven seals, I heard one of the four living creatures shout with a voice like thunder. It said, “Come out!” 2 (A) Then I saw a white horse. Its rider carried a bow and was given a crown. He had already won some victories, and he went out to win more.

3 When the Lamb opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature say, “Come out!” 4 (B) Then another horse came out. It was fiery red. And its rider was given the power to take away all peace from the earth, so people would slaughter one another. He was also given a big sword.

5 (C) When the Lamb opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, “Come out!” Then I saw a black horse, and its rider had a balance scale in one hand. 6 I heard what sounded like a voice from somewhere among the four living creatures. It said, “A liter of wheat will cost you a whole day's wages! Three liters of barley will cost you a day's wages too. But don't ruin the olive oil or the wine.”

7 When the Lamb opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature say, “Come out!” 8 (D) Then I saw a pale green horse. Its rider was named Death, and Death's Kingdom followed close behind. They were given power over one fourth of the earth, and they could kill its people with swords, famines, diseases, and wild animals.

9 When the Lamb opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of everyone who had been killed for speaking God's message and telling about their faith. 10 They shouted, “Master, you are holy and faithful! How long will it be before you judge and punish the people of this earth who killed us?”

11 (E) Then each of those who had been killed was given a white robe and told to rest for a little while. They had to wait until the complete number of the Lord's other servants and followers would be killed.

12 (F) When I saw the Lamb open the sixth seal, I looked and saw a great earthquake. The sun turned as dark as sackcloth,[a] and the moon became red as blood. 13 (G) The stars in the sky fell to earth, just like figs shaken loose by a windstorm. 14 (H) Then the sky was rolled up like a scroll,[b] and all mountains and islands were moved from their places.

15 (I) The kings of the earth, its famous people, and its military leaders hid in caves or behind rocks on the mountains. They hid there together with the rich and the powerful and with all the slaves and free people. 16 (J) Then they shouted to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us! Hide us from the one who sits on the throne and from the anger of the Lamb. 17 (K) That terrible day has come! God and the Lamb will show their anger, and who can face it?”

Footnotes

  1. 6.12 sackcloth: A rough, dark-colored cloth made from goat or camel hair and used to make grain sacks. It was worn in times of trouble or sorrow.
  2. 6.14 scroll: See the note at 5.1.
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Revelation 6
Living Bible

6 As I watched, the Lamb broke the first seal and began to unroll the scroll. Then one of the four Living Beings, with a voice that sounded like thunder, said, “Come!”

2 I looked, and there in front of me was a white horse. Its rider carried a bow, and a crown was placed upon his head; he rode out to conquer in many battles and win the war.

3 Then he unrolled the scroll to the second seal and broke it open, too. And I heard the second Living Being say, “Come!”

4 This time a red horse rode out. Its rider was given a long sword and the authority to banish peace and bring anarchy to the earth; war and killing broke out everywhere.

5 When he had broken the third seal, I heard the third Living Being say, “Come!” And I saw a black horse, with its rider holding a pair of balances in his hand. 6 And a voice from among the four Living Beings said, “A loaf of bread for $20, or three pounds of barley flour,A loaf of bread for $20, or three pounds of barley flour, literally, “A choenix of wheat for a denarius, and three choenix of barley for a denarius” there is no olive oil or wine, literally, “do not damage the oil and wine.” but there is no olive oil or wine.”

7 And when the fourth seal was broken, I heard the fourth Living Being say, “Come!” 8 And now I saw a pale horse, and its rider’s name was Death. And there followed after him another horse whose rider’s name was Hell. They were given control of one-fourth of the earth, to kill with war and famine and disease and wild animals.

9 And when he broke open the fifth seal, I saw an altar, and underneath it all the souls of those who had been martyred for preaching the Word of God and for being faithful in their witnessing. 10 They called loudly to the Lord and said, “O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long will it be before you judge the people of the earth for what they’ve done to us? When will you avenge our blood against those living on the earth?” 11 White robes were given to each of them, and they were told to rest a little longer until their other brothers, fellow servants of Jesus, had been martyred on the earth and joined them.

12 I watched as he broke the sixth seal, and there was a vast earthquake; and the sun became dark like black cloth, and the moon was blood-red. 13 Then the stars of heaven appeared to be falling to earth[b]—like green fruit from fig trees buffeted by mighty winds. 14 And the starry heavens disappeared[c] as though rolled up like a scroll and taken away; and every mountain and island shook and shifted. 15 The kings of the earth, and world leaders, and rich men, and high-ranking military officers, and all men great and small, slave and free, hid themselves in the caves and rocks of the mountains, 16 and cried to the mountains to crush them. “Fall on us,” they pleaded, “and hide us from the face of the one sitting on the throne, and from the anger of the Lamb, 17 because the great day of their anger has come, and who can survive it?”

Footnotes

  1. Revelation 6:6 A loaf of bread for $20, or three pounds of barley flour, literally, “A choenix of wheat for a denarius, and three choenix of barley for a denarius” there is no olive oil or wine, literally, “do not damage the oil and wine.”
  2. Revelation 6:13 appeared to be falling to earth, literally, “fell to the earth.”
  3. Revelation 6:14 the starry heavens disappeared, literally, “the sky departed.”
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Revelation 6
New International Version

The Seals

6 I watched as the Lamb(A) opened the first of the seven seals.(B) Then I heard one of the four living creatures(C) say in a voice like thunder,(D) “Come!” 2 I looked, and there before me was a white horse!(E) Its rider held a bow, and he was given a crown,(F) and he rode out as a conqueror bent on conquest.(G)

3 When the Lamb opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature(H) say, “Come!” 4 Then another horse came out, a fiery red one.(I) Its rider was given power to take peace from the earth(J) and to make people kill each other. To him was given a large sword.

5 When the Lamb opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature(K) say, “Come!” I looked, and there before me was a black horse!(L) Its rider was holding a pair of scales in his hand. 6 Then I heard what sounded like a voice among the four living creatures,(M) saying, “Two pounds[a] of wheat for a day’s wages,[b] and six pounds[c] of barley for a day’s wages,[d](N) and do not damage(O) the oil and the wine!”

7 When the Lamb opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature(P) say, “Come!” 8 I looked, and there before me was a pale horse!(Q) Its rider was named Death, and Hades(R) was following close behind him. They were given power over a fourth of the earth to kill by sword, famine and plague, and by the wild beasts of the earth.(S)

9 When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under(T) the altar(U) the souls of those who had been slain(V) because of the word of God(W) and the testimony they had maintained. 10 They called out in a loud voice, “How long,(X) Sovereign Lord,(Y) holy and true,(Z) until you judge the inhabitants of the earth(AA) and avenge our blood?”(AB) 11 Then each of them was given a white robe,(AC) and they were told to wait a little longer, until the full number of their fellow servants, their brothers and sisters,[e] were killed just as they had been.(AD)

12 I watched as he opened the sixth seal. There was a great earthquake.(AE) The sun turned black(AF) like sackcloth(AG) made of goat hair, the whole moon turned blood red, 13 and the stars in the sky fell to earth,(AH) as figs drop from a fig tree(AI) when shaken by a strong wind. 14 The heavens receded like a scroll being rolled up,(AJ) and every mountain and island was removed from its place.(AK)

15 Then the kings of the earth, the princes, the generals, the rich, the mighty, and everyone else, both slave and free,(AL) hid in caves and among the rocks of the mountains.(AM) 16 They called to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us(AN) and hide us[f] from the face of him who sits on the throne(AO) and from the wrath of the Lamb! 17 For the great day(AP) of their[g] wrath has come, and who can withstand it?”(AQ)

Footnotes

  1. Revelation 6:6 Or about 1 kilogram
  2. Revelation 6:6 Greek a denarius
  3. Revelation 6:6 Or about 3 kilograms
  4. Revelation 6:6 Greek a denarius
  5. Revelation 6:11 The Greek word for brothers and sisters (adelphoi) refers here to believers, both men and women, as part of God’s family; also in 12:10; 19:10.
  6. Revelation 6:16 See Hosea 10:8.
  7. Revelation 6:17 Some manuscripts his
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