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Revelation 6
New Catholic Bible

Prelude to the End of Times: Israel and the Church[a]

Chapter 6

The First Four Seals and the Horsemen.[b]1 Then, in my vision, I saw the Lamb break open the first of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures shout in a voice like thunder, “Come!” 2 I looked, and before my eyes I saw a white horse, and its rider was holding a bow. He was given a crown, and he rode forth as a victor to amass still further conquests.

3 When he broke open the second seal, I heard the second living creature shout, “Come!” 4 And another horse came forth; it was red. Its rider was empowered to take away peace from the earth so that people would slay each other. He was given a large sword.[c]

5 When he broke open the third seal, I heard the third living creature shout, “Come!” I looked, and there was a black horse, and its rider was holding a pair of scales[d] in his hand. 6 Then I heard what sounded like a voice emanating from the midst of the four living creatures, saying, “A quart of wheat costs a day’s wages, and three quarts of barley cost a day’s wages. But do not damage the olive oil or the wine.”

7 When he broke open the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature shout, “Come!” 8 I looked, and there was a pale green horse. Its rider was named Death, and Hades[e] followed close behind. They were given authority over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword, famine, and plague, and by means of wild beasts.

The Fifth Seal: Vision of the Martyrs.[f] 9 When he broke open the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been slain on account of the word of God and for witnessing to it. 10 They shouted in a loud voice, “How long is it to be, holy and true Master, before you judge the inhabitants of the earth[g] and avenge our death?”

11 Each of them was given a white robe,[h] and they were instructed to be patient for a little longer until the roll was completed of their fellow servants and brethren who were still to be killed as they themselves had been.

12 The Sixth Seal: the Universe Disturbed.[i] In my vision, when he broke open the sixth seal, there was a violent earthquake. The sun turned as black as coarse sackcloth, the moon became as red as blood, 13 and the stars in the sky fell to earth like unripe figs dislodged from a tree when shaken by a strong wind. 14 The heavens were torn apart like a scroll being rolled up, and every mountain and island was dislodged from its place.

15 Then the kings of the earth, the nobles, and the commanders, the rich and the powerful, and the whole population, both slaves and free, hid themselves in caves and among the rocks of the mountains. 16 They shouted to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of the one who sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb. 17 For the great day of their wrath has come, and who can endure it?”

Footnotes

  1. Revelation 6:1 The book of destiny is probably not a scroll in the classical sense. It is a document that is folded and then sealed, folded and sealed, etc., seven times. It resembles a Roman legal document. Thus, as each seal is broken, part of the document becomes legible. When the seventh seal is broken (Rev 8:1), the hour is going to sound; but we are still living in suspense: trumpets will sound, one after another until the seventh one; then the great act will be played out (Rev 11:15).
    Nonetheless, the unfurling of the wrath is not described to frighten believers; the author wants to strengthen them, to announce to them that the destiny of the world has been turned around and God’s plan is on the way to being fulfilled. In accord with the perspectives of the prophecies and the Gospel, a Remnant will be saved, the community of Christ and the true People of God (Rev 7). All the chapters that follow seem to interpret the history of the world in the perspective of the destiny reserved for the Jewish people. Yet the end of Jerusalem and its destruction are not the end of history; they are only a turning point (Rev 10:1—11:13)—then the time of the nations can truly begin (Rev 12:1—19:10).
  2. Revelation 6:1 The first secrets are unveiled. Already the images are terrifying. The colors of the horses suffice to create fright. Three horsemen sow war, famine, and pestilence, those great scourges in which the ancients see God’s judgment on proud and indifferent ages and on unjust people (see, e.g., Lev 26:21-26; Deut 32:34; Ezek 5:17; 6:11f; 7:14f; 12:16; 14:13-21; 33:27; Jer 15:2-4; Mt 24:6f). Hades follows in the wake of the last horseman to swallow the victims into its gloomy abode.
    There is some doubt about the figure of the first horseman, crowned and mounted on a white horse. Is it Christ, or a false Messiah, or simply another scourge, the well-known scourge of the voracious beasts who decimate travelers? The allegory of the four horses and horsemen who ride out into the four quarters of the world is taken from Zechariah (1:8-10; 6:1-8).
  3. Revelation 6:4 A large sword: symbol of war.
  4. Revelation 6:5 Scales: symbol of hunger: food is rationed and sold at very high prices. The rider with the scales probably represents social injustice. A day’s wages: literally, “a denarius.”
  5. Revelation 6:8 Hades: personification of the abode of the dead, i.e., the netherworld (see notes on Rev 1:9-20 and Mt 16:18).
  6. Revelation 6:9 Persecution is unleashed. The victims, as though immolated in sacrifice, are all reunited around God and already clothed in the garment of joy. This presence of the victims attests that oppression has been lifted on earth. For the people of the Bible possess too great a sense of justice to imagine that such violent injustices as persecutions constitute an indifferent thing in the eyes of God and that they can go unpunished forever. They are like a challenge to God (see Lk 18:7). God must intervene, and bloody persecutions are among the signs of the end (see Mk 13:9-13).
  7. Revelation 6:10 Inhabitants of the earth: i.e., humankind in its hostility to God (see Rev 3:10; 8:13; 11:10; 13:8, 12; 17:2, 8).
  8. Revelation 6:11 White robe: symbol of the joy and triumph of the Resurrection (see Rev 3:5, 18; 11:10; 13:8, 12; 17:2, 8). Until the roll was completed of their fellow servants and brethren who were still to be killed: there was an apocalyptic idea in the air—sparked by noncanonical literature—that God rules the world according to a predetermined time schedule (see 2 Esdras 4:35-37) and that the death of a certain number of the righteous must occur before the end takes place (see 1 Enoch 47:4).
  9. Revelation 6:12 The cosmic destruction announces the Day of the Lord (see Isa 34:4; Mk 13:6, 24f). It is an astonishing spectacle that this firmament will be rolled up like a large scroll. The cosmos enters a phase of distortion and convulsion. The threat hangs over everyone; no one escapes the paralyzing fear. The author uses to great advantage many of the images of the Old Testament (see Isa 2:10, 19; 34:4; Hos 10:8; Joel 2:11; 3:4).
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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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Revelation 6
New King James Version

First Seal: The Conqueror

6 Now (A)I saw when the Lamb opened one of the [a]seals; and I heard (B)one of the four living creatures saying with a voice like thunder, “Come and see.” 2 And I looked, and behold, (C)a white horse. (D)He who sat on it had a bow; (E)and a crown was given to him, and he went out (F)conquering and to conquer.

Second Seal: Conflict on Earth

3 When He opened the second seal, (G)I heard the second living creature saying, “Come [b]and see.” 4 (H)Another horse, fiery red, went out. And it was granted to the one who sat on it to (I)take peace from the earth, and that people should kill one another; and there was given to him a great sword.

Third Seal: Scarcity on Earth

5 When He opened the third seal, (J)I heard the third living creature say, “Come and see.” So I looked, and behold, (K)a black horse, and he who sat on it had a pair of (L)scales[c] in his hand. 6 And I heard a voice in the midst of the four living creatures saying, “A [d]quart of wheat for a [e]denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius; and (M)do not harm the oil and the wine.”

Fourth Seal: Widespread Death on Earth

7 When He opened the fourth seal, (N)I heard the voice of the fourth living creature saying, “Come and see.” 8 (O)So I looked, and behold, a pale horse. And the name of him who sat on it was Death, and Hades followed with him. And [f]power was given to them over a fourth of the earth, (P)to kill with sword, with hunger, with death, (Q)and by the beasts of the earth.

Fifth Seal: The Cry of the Martyrs

9 When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under (R)the altar (S)the souls of those who had been slain (T)for the word of God and for (U)the testimony which they held. 10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, (V)“How long, O Lord, (W)holy and true, (X)until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” 11 Then a (Y)white robe was given to each of them; and it was said to them (Z)that they should rest a little while longer, until both the number of their fellow servants and their brethren, who would be killed as they were, was completed.

Sixth Seal: Cosmic Disturbances

12 I looked when He opened the sixth seal, (AA)and [g]behold, there was a great earthquake; and (AB)the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the [h]moon became like blood. 13 (AC)And the stars of heaven fell to the earth, as a fig tree drops its late figs when it is shaken by a mighty wind. 14 (AD)Then the sky [i]receded as a scroll when it is rolled up, and (AE)every mountain and island was moved out of its place. 15 And the (AF)kings of the earth, the great men, [j]the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men, every slave and every free man, (AG)hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains, 16 (AH)and said to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who (AI)sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! 17 For the great day of His wrath has come, (AJ)and who is able to stand?”

Footnotes

  1. Revelation 6:1 NU, M seven seals
  2. Revelation 6:3 NU, M omit and see
  3. Revelation 6:5 balances
  4. Revelation 6:6 Gr. choinix, about 1 quart
  5. Revelation 6:6 About 1 day’s wage for a worker
  6. Revelation 6:8 authority
  7. Revelation 6:12 NU, M omit behold
  8. Revelation 6:12 NU, M whole moon
  9. Revelation 6:14 Or split apart
  10. Revelation 6:15 NU, M the commanders, the rich men,
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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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Hisgalus 6
Orthodox Jewish Bible

6 And I saw when the SEH (Lamb, SHEMOT 12:3; YESHAYAH 53:7 Moshiach) opened one of the sheva chotamot (seven seals). And I heard one of the Arbah Chayyot (four living beings) saying, as with a voice of thunder, "Come and see!

2 And I saw, and, Hinei, a sus lavan (white horse), and the one sitting on it having a keshet;(bow, YECHEZKEL 39:3) and was given to him an atarah, (diadem) and he went forth conquering, intent on conquest.

3 And when he opened the chotam hasheyni (second seal), I heard hasheniyah of HaChayyot (the second of the living beings) saying, "Come and see!

4 And another sus (horse) went forth, a flame-red one, and to the one sitting on it was given him to take shalom from ha’aretz (the earth) with men slaughtering one another, and was given to him a cherev gedolah (great sword). [ZECHARYAH 1:8; 6:2]

5 And when he opened the chotam hashlishi (third seal), I heard hashlishit of HaChayyot (the third of the living beings), saying , "Come and see!" And I saw and hinei, a sus shakhor (black horse), and the one sitting on it having a pair of scales in his yad (hand). [ZECHARYAH 6:2]

6 And I heard, as it were, a kol (voice) in the midst of the Arbah Chayyot (four living beings), saying, "A quart of wheat for a denarius and shloshah quarts of barley for a denarius, but the shemen (oil) and the yayin (wine) you may not harm." [Ezek 4:16]

7 And when he opened the chotam harevi’i (the fourth seal), I heard the kol (voice) of hareve’it (the fourth) of HaChayyot (the living beings) saying, "Come and see!

8 And I saw, and, hinei, a sus yerakrak (a greenish pale horse), and the one sitting upon it, that rider’s name was Mavet, and She’ol was following with him. And there was given to them samchut (authority) over a quarter of ha’aretz (the earth), to kill with cherev (sword) and with ra’av (famine) and with mavet (death) and by the chayyot (beasts) of ha’aretz (the earth). [ZECHARYAH 6:3; HOSHEA 13:14; YIRMEYAH 15:2,3; 24:10; YECHEZKEL 5:12,17]

9 And when he opened the chotam hachamishi (fifth seal), I saw underneath the Mizbe’ach (altar) the nefashot (souls) of the ones having died al kiddush ha-Shem, having been slain as martyrs because of the dvar Hashem (word of G-d) and because of their solemn eidus (testimony) which they had given. [SHEMOT 29:12; VAYIKRA 4:7]

10 And they cried out, saying, Rabbono shel Olam, HaKadosh and HaNe’eman, ad mosai (how much longer) is it to be until you judge and avenge dahmeinu (our blood) on the inhabitants of ha’aretz (the earth)? [TEHILLIM 119:84; ZECHARYAH 1:12; DEVARIM 32:43; MELACHIM BAIS 9:7; TEHILLIM 79:10]

11 And they were each given a kittel (white robe) and it was told them that they will rest yet a little while, until the mispar (number) should be complete of their fellow avadim (servants) and their Achim b’Moshiach, the ones about to die al kiddush ha-Shem, being about to be killed as martyrs as they were.

12 And I saw when he opened the chotam hashishi (sixth seal), a great earthquake occurred and the shemesh (sun) became shakhor (black) as sackcloth made of hair and the whole levanah (moon) became like dahm. [Ps 97:4; Isa 29:6; Ezek 38:19; Isa 50:3]

13 And the kokhavim (stars) of Shomayim fell to ha’aretz (the earth), as an etz te’enah (fig tree) casts off its unripe figs when being shaken by a great wind. [YESHAYAH 34:4]

14 And Shomayim split apart as a megillah scroll being rolled up; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. [TEHILLIM 46:2; YESHAYAH 54:10; YIRMEYAH 4:24; YECHEZKEL 38:20; NACHUM 1:5]

15 And the melachim (kings) of ha’aretz (the earth) and the gedolim (great ones) and the military leaders and the oishirim (rich men) and the strong men and all avadim (slaves) and Bnei Chorin (freedmen) hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains. [YESHAYAH 2:10,19,21]

16 And they say to the mountains and to the rocks, Fall on us and hide us from the face of the One sitting on the Kes (Throne) and from the za’am (wrath, anger, 16:1f) of the SEH (Lamb, SHEMOT 12:3; YESHAYAH 53:7 Moshiach), [HOSHEA 10:8]

17 Because the Yom HaGadol, the Yom HaZa’am, the Great Day of Their Wrath has come, and who is able to stand? [Joel 1:15; 2:1,2,11,31; Zeph 1:14,15; Nah 1:6; Mal 3:2]

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