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The Third Seal—Famine

When He (the Lamb) broke open the third seal, I heard the third living creature call out, “Come.” I looked, and behold, a black horse [of famine]; and the rider had in his hand a pair of scales (a balance).(A) And I heard something like a voice in the midst of the four living creatures saying, “A quart of wheat for a denarius (a day’s wages), and three quarts of barley for a denarius; and do not [a]damage the oil and the wine.”(B)

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Footnotes

  1. Revelation 6:6 This may be a warning to be very careful handling olive oil and wine, which ordinarily are basic commodities, because famine will make them very expensive. The vision indicates that famine and inflation will take such a toll that a laborer will earn only enough to feed himself with wheat, or to provide barley for a small family. He will have almost nothing left for clothing, shelter, and incidentals.

And kai when hote he opened anoigō the ho third tritos seal sphragis, · ho I heard akouō the ho third tritos living creature zōon saying legō, “ Come erchomai!” And kai I looked, and kai behold idou, a black melas horse hippos! And kai · ho its autos rider kathēmai had echō a pair of scales zygos in en · ho his autos hand cheir. And kai I heard akouō what seemed to be hōs a voice phōnē in en the midst mesos of the ho four tessares living creatures zōon, saying legō, “A quart choinix of wheat sitos for a denarius dēnarion, and kai three treis quarts choinix of barley krithē for a denarius dēnarion, but kai do adikeō not harm adikeō the ho oil elaion and kai the ho wine oinos!”

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