Revelation 6:5

6:5 Then when the Lamb opened the third seal I heard the third living creature saying, “Come!” So I looked, and here came a black horse! The one who rode it had a balance scale in his hand.


tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision.

tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the implied result of the summons by the third creature.

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, ercou) in 6:1. Thus, for these copyists it was redundant to add “and I looked” again.

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

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

tn Grk “the one sitting on it.”

sn A balance scale would have been a rod held by a rope in the middle with pans attached to both ends for measuring.