Discovery BoxRevelation 6:5-8 
Context6:5 Then 1 when the Lamb opened the third seal I heard the third living creature saying, “Come!” So 2 I looked, 3 and here came 4 a black horse! The 5 one who rode it 6 had a balance scale 7 in his hand. 6:6 Then 8 I heard something like a voice from among the four living creatures saying, “A quart 9 of wheat will cost a day’s pay 10 and three quarts of barley will cost a day’s pay. But 11 do not damage the olive oil and the wine!”
6:7 Then 12 when the Lamb opened the fourth seal I heard the voice of the fourth living creature saying, “Come!” 6:8 So 13 I looked 14 and here came 15 a pale green 16 horse! The 17 name of the one who rode it 18 was Death, and Hades followed right behind. 19 They 20 were given authority over a fourth of the earth, to kill its population with the sword, 21 famine, and disease, 22 and by the wild animals of the earth.
1 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision.
2 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the implied result of the summons by the third creature.
3 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
4 tn The phrase “and here came” expresses the sense of καὶ ἰδού (kai idou).
5 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
6 tn Grk “the one sitting on it.”
7 sn A balance scale would have been a rod held by a rope in the middle with pans attached to both ends for measuring.
8 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision.
9 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.”
10 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.”
11 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “but” to indicate the contrast present in this context.
12 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision.
13 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the implied result of the summons by the fourth creature.
14 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
15 tn The phrase “and here came” expresses the sense of καὶ ἰδού (kai idou).
16 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.”
17 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
18 tn Grk “the one sitting on it.”
19 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.
20 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.
21 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
22 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).
