Revelation 6:9-11
Context6:9 Now 1 when the Lamb opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been violently killed 2 because of the word of God and because of the testimony they had given. 6:10 They 3 cried out with a loud voice, 4 “How long, 5 Sovereign Master, 6 holy and true, before you judge those who live on the earth and avenge our blood?” 6:11 Each 7 of them was given a long white robe and they were told to rest for a little longer, until the full number was reached 8 of both their fellow servants 9 and their brothers who were going to be killed just as they had been.
1 tn 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.
2 tn Or “murdered.” See the note on the word “butcher” in 6:4.
3 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
4 tn Grk “voice, saying”; the participle λέγοντες (legontes) is redundant in contemporary English and has not been translated here.
5 tn The expression ἕως πότε (ews pote) was translated “how long.” Cf. BDAG 423 s.v. ἕως 1.b.γ.
6 tn The Greek term here is δεσπότης (despoths; see L&N 37.63).
7 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
8 tn Grk “until they had been completed.” The idea of a certain “number” of people is implied by the subject of πληρωθῶσιν (plhrwqwsin).
9 tn 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.