6:5 Then 5 when the Lamb opened the third seal I heard the third living creature saying, “Come!” So 6 I looked, 7 and here came 8 a black horse! The 9 one who rode it 10 had a balance scale 11 in his hand. 6:6 Then 12 I heard something like a voice from among the four living creatures saying, “A quart 13 of wheat will cost a day’s pay 14 and three quarts of barley will cost a day’s pay. But 15 do not damage the olive oil and the wine!”
6:7 Then 16 when the Lamb opened the fourth seal I heard the voice of the fourth living creature saying, “Come!” 6:8 So 17 I looked 18 and here came 19 a pale green 20 horse! The 21 name of the one who rode it 22 was Death, and Hades followed right behind. 23 They 24 were given authority over a fourth of the earth, to kill its population with the sword, 25 famine, and disease, 26 and by the wild animals of the earth.
1 tn L&N 79.31 states, “‘fiery red’ (probably with a tinge of yellow or orange).”
2 tn Grk “the one sitting on it.”
3 tn The word “permission” is implied; Grk “it was given to him to take peace from the earth.”
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.”
5 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision.
6 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the implied result of the summons by the third creature.
7 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
8 tn The phrase “and here came” expresses the sense of καὶ ἰδού (kai idou).
9 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
10 tn Grk “the one sitting on it.”
11 sn A balance scale would have been a rod held by a rope in the middle with pans attached to both ends for measuring.
12 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision.
13 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.”
14 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.”
15 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “but” to indicate the contrast present in this context.
16 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision.
17 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the implied result of the summons by the fourth creature.
18 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
19 tn The phrase “and here came” expresses the sense of καὶ ἰδού (kai idou).
20 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.”
21 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
22 tn Grk “the one sitting on it.”
23 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.
24 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.
25 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
26 tn 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).