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So[a] I looked[b] and here came[c] a pale green[d] horse! The[e] name of the one who rode it[f] was Death, and Hades followed right behind.[g] They[h] were given authority over a fourth of the earth, to kill its population with the sword,[i] famine, and disease,[j] and by the wild animals of the earth.

Now[k] when the Lamb opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been violently killed[l] because of the word of God and because of the testimony they had given. 10 They[m] cried out with a loud voice,[n] “How long,[o] Sovereign Master,[p] holy and true, before you judge those who live on the earth and avenge our blood?”

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Footnotes

  1. Revelation 6:8 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the implied result of the summons by the fourth creature.
  2. Revelation 6:8 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, erchou) in 6:1. Thus, for these copyists it was redundant to add “and I looked” again.
  3. Revelation 6:8 tn The phrase “and here came” expresses the sense of καὶ ἰδού (kai idou).
  4. Revelation 6:8 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.”
  5. Revelation 6:8 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
  6. Revelation 6:8 tn Grk “the one sitting on it.”
  7. Revelation 6:8 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.
  8. Revelation 6:8 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.
  9. Revelation 6:8 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
  10. Revelation 6:8 tn Grk “with death.” θάνατος (thanatos) can in particular contexts refer to a manner of death, specifically a contagious disease (see BDAG 443 s.v. 3; L&N 23.158).
  11. Revelation 6:9 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.
  12. Revelation 6:9 tn Or “murdered.” See the note on the word “butcher” in 6:4.
  13. Revelation 6:10 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
  14. Revelation 6:10 tn Grk “voice, saying”; the participle λέγοντες (legontes) is redundant in contemporary English and has not been translated here.
  15. Revelation 6:10 tn The expression ἕως πότε (eōs pote) was translated “how long.” Cf. BDAG 423 s.v. ἕως 1.b.γ.
  16. Revelation 6:10 tn The Greek term here is δεσπότης (despotēs; see L&N 37.63).

I looked, and there before me was a pale horse!(A) Its rider was named Death, and Hades(B) was following close behind him. They were given power over a fourth of the earth to kill by sword, famine and plague, and by the wild beasts of the earth.(C)

When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under(D) the altar(E) the souls of those who had been slain(F) because of the word of God(G) and the testimony they had maintained. 10 They called out in a loud voice, “How long,(H) Sovereign Lord,(I) holy and true,(J) until you judge the inhabitants of the earth(K) and avenge our blood?”(L)

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And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.

And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:

10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?

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