Revelation 6:7-8
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
7 When he broke the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature call out, “Come!”[a] 8 I looked, and there was a pale green horse! Its rider’s name was Death, and Hades followed with him; they were given authority over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword, famine, and pestilence and by the wild animals of the earth.(A)
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- 6.7 Or “Go!”
Revelation 6:7-8
New English Translation
7 Then[a] when the Lamb opened the fourth seal I heard the voice of the fourth living creature saying, “Come!” 8 So[b] I looked[c] and here came[d] a pale green[e] horse! The[f] name of the one who rode it[g] was Death, and Hades followed right behind.[h] They[i] were given authority over a fourth of the earth, to kill its population with the sword,[j] famine, and disease,[k] and by the wild animals of the earth.
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- Revelation 6:7 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision.
- Revelation 6:8 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the implied result of the summons by the fourth creature.
- 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.
- Revelation 6:8 tn The phrase “and here came” expresses the sense of καὶ ἰδού (kai idou).
- 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.”
- Revelation 6:8 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
- Revelation 6:8 tn Grk “the one sitting on it.”
- 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.
- 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.
- Revelation 6:8 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
- 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).
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