Revelation 6:2

6:2 So ¹  I looked, ²  and here came ³  a white horse! The ⁴  one who rode it ⁵  had a bow, and he was given a crown, ⁶  and as a conqueror ⁷  he rode out to conquer.

Revelation 3:9

3:9 Listen! ⁸  I am going to make those people from the synagogue ⁹  of Satan – who say they are Jews yet ¹⁰  are not, but are lying – Look, I will make ¹¹  them come and bow down ¹²  at your feet and acknowledge ¹³  that I have loved you.

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¹ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the implied result of hearing the voice summon the first rider.

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, ercou) as mentioned in the text-critical note on 6:1. Thus, for these copyists it was redundant to add “and I looked” again.

³ tn The phrase “and here came” expresses the sense of καὶ ἰδού (kai idou).

⁴ tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.

⁵ 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 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.

⁶ sn See the note on the word crown in Rev 3:11.

⁷ tn 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.”

⁸ tn Grk “behold” (L&N 91.13).

⁹ sn See the note on synagogue in 2:9.

¹⁰ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “yet” to indicate the contrast between what these people claimed and what they were.

¹¹ tn The verb here is ποιέω (poiew), but in this context it has virtually the same meaning as δίδωμι (didwmi) used at the beginning of the verse. Stylistic variation like this is typical of Johannine literature.

¹² tn The verb here is προσκυνήσουσιν (proskunhsousin), normally used to refer to worship.

¹³ tn Or “and know,” “and recognize.”