Wahyu 6:1--8:6
Konteks6:1 I looked on when the Lamb opened one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures saying with a thunderous voice, 1 “Come!” 2 6:2 So 3 I looked, 4 and here came 5 a white horse! The 6 one who rode it 7 had a bow, and he was given a crown, 8 and as a conqueror 9 he rode out to conquer.
6:3 Then 10 when the Lamb 11 opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature saying, “Come!” 6:4 And another horse, fiery red, 12 came out, and the one who rode it 13 was granted permission 14 to take peace from the earth, so that people would butcher 15 one another, and he was given a huge sword.
6:5 Then 16 when the Lamb opened the third seal I heard the third living creature saying, “Come!” So 17 I looked, 18 and here came 19 a black horse! The 20 one who rode it 21 had a balance scale 22 in his hand. 6:6 Then 23 I heard something like a voice from among the four living creatures saying, “A quart 24 of wheat will cost a day’s pay 25 and three quarts of barley will cost a day’s pay. But 26 do not damage the olive oil and the wine!”
6:7 Then 27 when the Lamb opened the fourth seal I heard the voice of the fourth living creature saying, “Come!” 6:8 So 28 I looked 29 and here came 30 a pale green 31 horse! The 32 name of the one who rode it 33 was Death, and Hades followed right behind. 34 They 35 were given authority over a fourth of the earth, to kill its population with the sword, 36 famine, and disease, 37 and by the wild animals of the earth.
6:9 Now 38 when the Lamb opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been violently killed 39 because of the word of God and because of the testimony they had given. 6:10 They 40 cried out with a loud voice, 41 “How long, 42 Sovereign Master, 43 holy and true, before you judge those who live on the earth and avenge our blood?” 6:11 Each 44 of them was given a long white robe and they were told to rest for a little longer, until the full number was reached 45 of both their fellow servants 46 and their brothers who were going to be killed just as they had been.
6:12 Then 47 I looked when the Lamb opened the sixth seal, and a huge 48 earthquake took place; the sun became as black as sackcloth made of hair, 49 and the full moon became blood red; 50 6:13 and the stars in the sky 51 fell to the earth like a fig tree dropping 52 its unripe figs 53 when shaken by a fierce 54 wind. 6:14 The sky 55 was split apart 56 like a scroll being rolled up, 57 and every mountain and island was moved from its place. 6:15 Then 58 the kings of the earth, the 59 very important people, the generals, 60 the rich, the powerful, and everyone, slave 61 and free, hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains. 6:16 They 62 said to the mountains and to the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of the one who is seated on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb, 63 6:17 because the great day of their 64 wrath has come, and who is able to withstand it?” 65
7:1 After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth so no wind could blow on the earth, on the sea, or on any tree. 7:2 Then 66 I saw another angel ascending from the east, 67 who had 68 the seal 69 of the living God. He 70 shouted out with a loud voice to the four angels who had been given permission 71 to damage the earth and the sea: 72 7:3 “Do not damage the earth or the sea or the trees until we have put a seal on the foreheads of the servants 73 of our God.” 7:4 Now 74 I heard the number of those who were marked with the seal, 75 one hundred and forty-four thousand, sealed from all 76 the tribes of the people of Israel: 77
7:5 From the tribe of Judah, twelve thousand were sealed,
from the tribe of Reuben, twelve thousand,
from the tribe of Gad, twelve thousand,
7:6 from the tribe of Asher, twelve thousand,
from the tribe of Naphtali, twelve thousand,
from the tribe of Manasseh, twelve thousand,
7:7 from the tribe of Simeon, twelve thousand,
from the tribe of Levi, twelve thousand,
from the tribe of Issachar, twelve thousand,
7:8 from the tribe of Zebulun, twelve thousand,
from the tribe of Joseph, twelve thousand,
from the tribe of Benjamin, twelve thousand were sealed.
7:9 After these things I looked, and here was 78 an enormous crowd that no one could count, made up of persons from every nation, tribe, 79 people, and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb dressed in long white robes, and with palm branches in their hands. 7:10 They were shouting out in a loud voice,
“Salvation belongs to our God, 80
to the one seated on the throne, and to the Lamb!”
7:11 And all the angels stood 81 there in a circle around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they threw themselves down with their faces to the ground 82 before the throne and worshiped God, 7:12 saying,
“Amen! Praise and glory,
and wisdom and thanksgiving,
and honor and power and strength
be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!”
7:13 Then 83 one of the elders asked 84 me, “These dressed in long white robes – who are they and where have they come from?” 7:14 So 85 I said to him, “My lord, you know the answer.” 86 Then 87 he said to me, “These are the ones who have come out of the great tribulation. They 88 have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb! 7:15 For this reason they are before the throne of God, and they serve 89 him day and night in his temple, and the one seated on the throne will shelter them. 90 7:16 They will never go hungry or be thirsty again, and the sun will not beat down on them, nor any burning heat, 91 7:17 because the Lamb in the middle of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.” 92
8:1 Now 93 when the Lamb 94 opened the seventh seal there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. 8:2 Then 95 I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them. 8:3 Another 96 angel holding 97 a golden censer 98 came and was stationed 99 at the altar. A 100 large amount of incense was given to him to offer up, with the prayers of all the saints, on the golden altar that is before the throne. 8:4 The 101 smoke coming from the incense, 102 along with the prayers of the saints, ascended before God from the angel’s hand. 8:5 Then 103 the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and threw it on the earth, and there were crashes of thunder, roaring, 104 flashes of lightning, and an earthquake.
8:6 Now 105 the seven angels holding 106 the seven trumpets prepared to blow them.
[6:1] 1 tn Grk “saying like a voice [or sound] of thunder.”
[6:1] 2 tc The addition of “and see” (καὶ ἴδε or καὶ βλέπε [kai ide or kai blepe]) to “come” (ἔρχου, ercou) in 6:1, 3-5, 7 is a gloss directed to John, i.e., “come and look at the seals and the horsemen!” But the command ἔρχου is better interpreted as directed to each of the horsemen. The shorter reading also has the support of the better witnesses.
[6:2] 3 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the implied result of hearing the voice summon the first rider.
[6:2] 4 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
[6:2] 5 tn The phrase “and here came” expresses the sense of καὶ ἰδού (kai idou).
[6:2] 6 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
[6:2] 7 tn Grk “the one sitting on it.”
[6:2] 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.
[6:2] 8 sn See the note on the word crown in Rev 3:11.
[6:2] 9 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.”
[6:3] 10 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision.
[6:3] 11 tn Grk “he”; the referent (the Lamb) has been specified in the translation for clarity here and throughout the rest of the chapter.
[6:4] 12 tn L&N 79.31 states, “‘fiery red’ (probably with a tinge of yellow or orange).”
[6:4] 13 tn Grk “the one sitting on it.”
[6:4] 14 tn The word “permission” is implied; Grk “it was given to him to take peace from the earth.”
[6:4] 15 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.”
[6:5] 16 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision.
[6:5] 17 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the implied result of the summons by the third creature.
[6:5] 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
[6:5] 19 tn The phrase “and here came” expresses the sense of καὶ ἰδού (kai idou).
[6:5] 20 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
[6:5] 21 tn Grk “the one sitting on it.”
[6:5] 22 sn A balance scale would have been a rod held by a rope in the middle with pans attached to both ends for measuring.
[6:6] 23 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision.
[6:6] 24 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.”
[6:6] 25 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.”
[6:6] 26 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “but” to indicate the contrast present in this context.
[6:7] 27 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision.
[6:8] 28 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the implied result of the summons by the fourth creature.
[6:8] 29 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
[6:8] 30 tn The phrase “and here came” expresses the sense of καὶ ἰδού (kai idou).
[6:8] 31 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.”
[6:8] 32 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
[6:8] 33 tn Grk “the one sitting on it.”
[6:8] 34 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.
[6:8] 35 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.
[6:8] 36 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
[6:8] 37 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).
[6:9] 38 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.
[6:9] 39 tn Or “murdered.” See the note on the word “butcher” in 6:4.
[6:10] 40 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
[6:10] 41 tn Grk “voice, saying”; the participle λέγοντες (legontes) is redundant in contemporary English and has not been translated here.
[6:10] 42 tn The expression ἕως πότε (ews pote) was translated “how long.” Cf. BDAG 423 s.v. ἕως 1.b.γ.
[6:10] 43 tn The Greek term here is δεσπότης (despoths; see L&N 37.63).
[6:11] 44 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
[6:11] 45 tn Grk “until they had been completed.” The idea of a certain “number” of people is implied by the subject of πληρωθῶσιν (plhrwqwsin).
[6:11] 46 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.
[6:12] 47 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision.
[6:12] 48 tn Or “powerful”; Grk “a great.”
[6:12] 49 tn Or “like hairy sackcloth” (L&N 8.13).
[6:12] 50 tn Grk “like blood,” understanding αἷμα (aima) as a blood-red color rather than actual blood (L&N 8.64).
[6:13] 51 tn Or “in heaven” (the same Greek word means both “heaven” and “sky”). The genitive τοῦ οὐρανοῦ (tou ouranou) is taken as a genitive of place.
[6:13] 52 tn Grk “throws [off]”; the indicative verb has been translated as a participle due to English style.
[6:13] 53 tn L&N 3.37 states, “a fig produced late in the summer season (and often falling off before it ripens) – ‘late fig.’ ὡς συκὴ βάλλει τοὺς ὀλύνθους αὐτῆς ὑπὸ ἀνέμου μεγάλου σειομένη ‘as the fig tree sheds its late figs when shaken by a great wind’ Re 6:13. In the only context in which ὄλυνθος occurs in the NT (Re 6:13), one may employ an expression such as ‘unripe fig’ or ‘fig which ripens late.’”
[6:13] 54 tn Grk “great wind.”
[6:14] 55 tn Or “The heavens were.” The Greek word οὐρανός (ouranos) can mean either “heaven” or “sky.”
[6:14] 56 tn BDAG 125 s.v. ἀποχωρίζω states, “ὁ οὐρανὸς ἀπεχωρίσθη the sky was split Rv 6:14.” Although L&N 79.120 gives the meaning “the sky disappeared like a rolled-up scroll” here, a scroll that is rolled up does not “disappear,” and such a translation could be difficult for modern readers to understand.
[6:14] 57 tn On this term BDAG 317 s.v. ἑλίσσω states, “ὡς βιβλίον ἑλισσόμενον like a scroll that is rolled up…Rv 6:14.”
[6:15] 58 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision.
[6:15] 59 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated; nor is it translated before each of the following categories, since English normally uses a coordinating conjunction only between the last two elements in a series of three or more.
[6:15] 60 tn Grk “chiliarchs.” A chiliarch was normally a military officer commanding a thousand soldiers, but here probably used of higher-ranking commanders like generals (see L&N 55.15; cf. Rev 6:15).
[6:15] 61 tn See the note on the word “servants” in 1:1.
[6:16] 62 tn Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, a new sentence was started here in the translation. Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
[6:16] 63 tn It is difficult to say where this quotation ends. The translation ends it after “withstand it” at the end of v. 17, but it is possible that it should end here, after “Lamb” at the end of v. 16. If it ends after “Lamb,” v. 17 is a parenthetical explanation by the author.
[6:17] 64 tc Most
[6:17] 65 tn The translation “to withstand (it)” for ἵστημι (Jisthmi) is based on the imagery of holding one’s ground in a military campaign or an attack (BDAG 482 s.v. B.4).
[7:2] 66 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision.
[7:2] 67 tn Grk “from the rising of the sun.” BDAG 74 s.v. ἀνατολή 2.a takes this as a geographical direction: “ἀπὸ ἀ. ἡλίου…from the east Rv 7:2; 16:12…simply ἀπὸ ἀ. …21:13.”
[7:2] 68 tn Grk “having,” but v. 3 makes it clear that the angel’s purpose is to seal others with the seal he carries.
[7:2] 69 tn Or “signet” (L&N 6.54).
[7:2] 70 tn Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, a new sentence was started here in the translation. Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
[7:2] 71 tn The word “permission” is implied; Grk “to whom it was given to them to damage the earth.”
[7:2] 72 tn Grk “saying.” The participle λέγων (legwn) is redundant in contemporary English and has not been translated.
[7:3] 73 tn See the note on the word “servants” in 1:1.
[7:4] 74 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “now” to indicate the introduction of new but related material.
[7:4] 75 tn Grk “who were sealed.”
[7:4] 76 tn Normally, “every,” but since 144,000 is the total number, “all” is clearer here.
[7:4] 77 tn Grk “the sons of Israel,” normally an idiom for the Israelites as an ethnic entity (L&N 11.58). However, many scholars understand the expression in this context to refer to Christians rather than ethnic Israelites.
[7:9] 78 tn The phrase “and here was” expresses the sense of καὶ ἰδού (kai idou).
[7:9] 79 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated before each of the following categories, since English normally uses a coordinating conjunction only between the last two elements in a series of three or more.
[7:10] 80 tn The dative here has been translated as a dative of possession.
[7:11] 81 tn The verb is pluperfect, but the force is simple past. See ExSyn 586.
[7:11] 82 tn Grk “they fell down on their faces.” BDAG 815 s.v. πίπτω 1.b.α.ב. has “fall down, throw oneself to the ground as a sign of devotion or humility, before high-ranking persons or divine beings.”
[7:13] 83 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision.
[7:13] 84 tn Grk “spoke” or “declared to,” but in the context “asked” reads more naturally in English.
[7:14] 85 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the implied result of the previous question.
[7:14] 86 tn Though the expression “the answer” is not in the Greek text, it is clearly implied. Direct objects in Greek were frequently omitted when clear from the context.
[7:14] 87 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision.
[7:14] 88 tn Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, a new sentence was started here in the translation. Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
[7:15] 89 tn Or “worship.” The word here is λατρεύω (latreuw).
[7:15] 90 tn Grk “will spread his tent over them,” normally an idiom for taking up residence with someone, but when combined with the preposition ἐπί (epi, “over”) the idea is one of extending protection or shelter (BDAG 929 s.v. σκηνόω).
[7:16] 91 tn An allusion to Isa 49:10. The phrase “burning heat” is one word in Greek (καῦμα, kauma) that refers to a burning, intensely-felt heat. See BDAG 536 s.v.
[7:17] 92 sn An allusion to Isa 25:8.
[8:1] 93 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “now” to indicate the resumption of the topic of the seals.
[8:1] 94 tn Grk “he”; the referent (the Lamb) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[8:2] 95 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision.
[8:3] 96 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
[8:3] 98 sn A golden censer was a bowl in which incense was burned. The imagery suggests the OT role of the priest.
[8:3] 99 tn The verb “to station” was used to translate ἑστάθη (Jestaqh) because it connotes the idea of purposeful arrangement in English, which seems to be the idea in the Greek.
[8:3] 100 tn Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, a new sentence was started here in the translation. Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
[8:4] 101 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
[8:4] 102 tn The expression τῶν θυμιαμάτων (twn qumiamatwn) is taken as a “genitive of producer,” i.e., the noun in the genitive produces the head noun.
[8:5] 103 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision.
[8:5] 104 tn Or “sounds,” “voices.” It is not entirely clear what this refers to. BDAG 1071 s.v. φωνή 1 states, “In Rv we have ἀστραπαὶ καὶ φωναὶ καὶ βρονταί (cp. Ex 19:16) 4:5; 8:5; 11:19; 16:18 (are certain other sounds in nature thought of here in addition to thunder, as e.g. the roar of the storm?…).”
[8:6] 105 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “now” to indicate the transition to a new topic.
