5:1 Then 1 I saw in the right hand of the one who was seated on the throne a scroll written on the front and back 2 and sealed with seven seals. 3
“You are worthy to take the scroll
and to open its seals
because you were killed, 5
and at the cost of your own blood 6 you have purchased 7 for God
persons 8 from every tribe, language, 9 people, and nation.
6:1 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, 10 “Come!” 11
6:3 Then 12 when the Lamb 13 opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature saying, “Come!”
6:5 Then 14 when the Lamb opened the third seal I heard the third living creature saying, “Come!” So 15 I looked, 16 and here came 17 a black horse! The 18 one who rode it 19 had a balance scale 20 in his hand.
6:7 Then 21 when the Lamb opened the fourth seal I heard the voice of the fourth living creature saying, “Come!”
6:9 Now 22 when the Lamb opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been violently killed 23 because of the word of God and because of the testimony they had given.
6:12 Then 24 I looked when the Lamb opened the sixth seal, and a huge 25 earthquake took place; the sun became as black as sackcloth made of hair, 26 and the full moon became blood red; 27
1 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence within the narrative.
2 tn Grk “written on the inside and the outside” (an idiom for having writing on both sides).
3 tn L&N 6.55 states, “From the immediate context of Re 5:1 it is not possible to determine whether the scroll in question had seven seals on the outside or whether the scroll was sealed at seven different points. However, since according to chapter six of Revelation the seals were broken one after another, it would appear as though the scroll had been sealed at seven different places as it had been rolled up.”
4 tn The redundant participle λέγοντες (legontes) has not been translated here.
5 tn Or “slaughtered”; traditionally, “slain.”
6 tn The preposition ἐν (en) is taken to indicate price here, like the Hebrew preposition ב (bet) does at times. BDAG 329 s.v. ἐν 5.b states, “The ἐν which takes the place of the gen. of price is also instrumental ἠγόρασας ἐν τῷ αἵματί σου Rv 5:9 (cp. 1 Ch 21:24 ἀγοράζω ἐν ἀργυρίῳ).”
7 tc The Greek text as it stands above (i.e., the reading τῷ θεῷ [tw qew] alone) is found in codex A. א 2050 2344 Ï sy add the term “us” (ἡμᾶς, Jhmas), either before or after τῷ θεῷ, as an attempt to clarify the object of “purchased” (ἠγόρασας, hgorasa"). A few
8 tn The word “persons” is not in the Greek text, but is implied. Direct objects were often omitted in Greek when clear from the context.
9 tn Grk “and language,” but καί (kai) has not been translated since English normally uses a coordinating conjunction only between the last two elements in a series of three or more.
10 tn Grk “saying like a voice [or sound] of thunder.”
11 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.
12 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision.
13 tn Grk “he”; the referent (the Lamb) has been specified in the translation for clarity here and throughout the rest of the chapter.
14 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision.
15 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the implied result of the summons by the third creature.
16 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
17 tn The phrase “and here came” expresses the sense of καὶ ἰδού (kai idou).
18 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
19 tn Grk “the one sitting on it.”
20 sn A balance scale would have been a rod held by a rope in the middle with pans attached to both ends for measuring.
21 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision.
22 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.
23 tn Or “murdered.” See the note on the word “butcher” in 6:4.
24 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision.
25 tn Or “powerful”; Grk “a great.”
26 tn Or “like hairy sackcloth” (L&N 8.13).
27 tn Grk “like blood,” understanding αἷμα (aima) as a blood-red color rather than actual blood (L&N 8.64).