Revelation 6 (NET)

The Seven Seals

1 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,1 “Come!”2 2 So3 I looked,4 and here came5 a white horse! The6 one who rode it7 had a bow, and he was given a crown,8 and as a conqueror9 he rode out to conquer.

3 Then10 when the Lamb11 opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature saying, “Come!” 4 And another horse, fiery red,12 came out, and the one who rode it13 was granted permission14 to take peace from the earth, so that people would butcher15 one another, and he was given a huge sword.

5 Then16 when the Lamb opened the third seal I heard the third living creature saying, “Come!” So17 I looked,18 and here came19 a black horse! The20 one who rode it21 had a balance scale22 in his hand. 6 Then23 I heard something like a voice from among the four living creatures saying, “A quart24 of wheat will cost a day’s pay25 and three quarts of barley will cost a day’s pay. But26 do not damage the olive oil and the wine!”

7 Then27 when the Lamb opened the fourth seal I heard the voice of the fourth living creature saying, “Come!” 8 So28 I looked29 and here came30 a pale green31 horse! The32 name of the one who rode it33 was Death, and Hades followed right behind.34 They35 were given authority over a fourth of the earth, to kill its population with the sword,36 famine, and disease,37 and by the wild animals of the earth.

9 Now38 when the Lamb opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been violently killed39 because of the word of God and because of the testimony they had given. 10 They40 cried out with a loud voice,41 “How long,42 Sovereign Master,43 holy and true, before you judge those who live on the earth and avenge our blood?” 11 Each44 of them was given a long white robe and they were told to rest for a little longer, until the full number was reached45 of both their fellow servants46 and their brothers who were going to be killed just as they had been.

12 Then47 I looked when the Lamb opened the sixth seal, and a huge48 earthquake took place; the sun became as black as sackcloth made of hair,49 and the full moon became blood red;50 13 and the stars in the sky51 fell to the earth like a fig tree dropping52 its unripe figs53 when shaken by a fierce54 wind. 14 The sky55 was split apart56 like a scroll being rolled up,57 and every mountain and island was moved from its place. 15 Then58 the kings of the earth, the59 very important people, the generals,60 the rich, the powerful, and everyone, slave61 and free, hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains. 16 They62 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,63 17 because the great day of their64 wrath has come, and who is able to withstand it?”65

1tn Grk “saying like a voice [or sound] of thunder.” 2tc The addition of “and see” (καὶ ἴδε or καὶ βλέπε [kai ide or kai blepe]) to “come” (ἔρχου, ercou) 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. 3tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the implied result of hearing the voice summon the first rider. 4tc 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, ercou) as mentioned in the text-critical note on 6:1. Thus, for these copyists it was redundant to add “and I looked” again. 5tn The phrase “and here came” expresses the sense of καὶ ἰδού (kai idou). 6tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style. 7tn 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 whose similarity to Christ explains the similarity with the rider in 19:11. 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. 8sn See the note on the word crown in Rev 3:11. 9tn The participle νικῶν (nikwn) has been translated as substantival, the subject of the verb ἐξῆλθεν (exhlqen). Otherwise, as an adverbial participle of manner, it is somewhat redundant: “he rode out conquering and to conquer.” 10tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision. 11tn Grk “he”; the referent (the Lamb) has been specified in the translation for clarity here and throughout the rest of the chapter. 12tn L&N 79.31 states, “‘fiery red’ (probably with a tinge of yellow or orange).” 13tn Grk “the one sitting on it.” 14tn The word “permission” is implied; Grk “it was given to him to take peace from the earth.” 15tn 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.” 16tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision. 17tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the implied result of the summons by the third creature. 18tc 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, ercou) in 6:1. Thus, for these copyists it was redundant to add “and I looked” again. 19tn The phrase “and here came” expresses the sense of καὶ ἰδού (kai idou). 20tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style. 21tn Grk “the one sitting on it.” 22sn A balance scale would have been a rod held by a rope in the middle with pans attached to both ends for measuring. 23tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision. 24tn 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.” 25tn 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.” 26tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “but” to indicate the contrast present in this context. 27tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision. 28tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the implied result of the summons by the fourth creature. 29tc 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, ercou) in 6:1. Thus, for these copyists it was redundant to add “and I looked” again. 30tn The phrase “and here came” expresses the sense of καὶ ἰδού (kai idou). 31tn 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.” 32tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style. 33tn Grk “the one sitting on it.” 34tn 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. 35tn 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. 36tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style. 37tn 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). 38tn 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. 39tn Or “murdered.” See the note on the word “butcher” in 6:4. 40tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style. 41tn Grk “voice, saying”; the participle λέγοντες (legontes) is redundant in contemporary English and has not been translated here. 42tn The expression ἕως πότε (ews pote) was translated “how long.” Cf. BDAG 423 s.v. ἕως 1.b.γ. 43tn The Greek term here is δεσπότης (despoths; see L&N 37.63). 44tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style. 45tn Grk “until they had been completed.” The idea of a certain “number” of people is implied by the subject of πληρωθῶσιν (plhrwqwsin). 46tn 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. 47tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision. 48tn Or “powerful”; Grk “a great.” 49tn Or “like hairy sackcloth” (L&N 8.13). 50tn Grk “like blood,” understanding αἷμα (aima) as a blood-red color rather than actual blood (L&N 8.64). 51tn 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. 52tn Grk “throws [off]”; the indicative verb has been translated as a participle due to English style. 53tn 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.’” 54tn Grk “great wind.” 55tn Or “The heavens were.” The Greek word οὐρανός (ouranos) can mean either “heaven” or “sky.” 56tn 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. 57tn On this term BDAG 317 s.v. ἑλίσσω states, “ὡς βιβλίον ἑλισσόμενον like a scroll that is rolled up…Rv 6:14.” 58tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision. 59tn 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. 60tn 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). 61tn See the note on the word “servants” in 1:1. 62tn 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. 63tn 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. 64tc Most mss (A Ï 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 (autwn, “their”) is well supported by א C 1611 1854 2053 2329 2344 pc latt sy. On both internal and external grounds, it should be regarded as original. 65tn The translation “to withstand (it)” for ἵστημι (Jisthmi) is based on the imagery of holding one’s ground in a military campaign or an attack (BDAG 482 s.v. B.4).