Revelation 6:2

6:2 So ¹  I looked, ²  and here came ³  a white horse! The ⁴  one who rode it ⁵  had a bow, and he was given a crown, ⁶  and as a conqueror ⁷  he rode out to conquer.

Revelation 6:4

6:4 And another horse, fiery red, ⁸  came out, and the one who rode it ⁹  was granted permission ¹⁰  to take peace from the earth, so that people would butcher ¹¹  one another, and he was given a huge sword.

Revelation 6:8

6:8 So ¹²  I looked ¹³  and here came ¹⁴  a pale green ¹⁵  horse! The ¹⁶  name of the one who rode it ¹⁷  was Death, and Hades followed right behind. ¹⁸  They ¹⁹  were given authority over a fourth of the earth, to kill its population with the sword, ²⁰  famine, and disease, ²¹  and by the wild animals of the earth.

¹ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the implied result of hearing the voice summon the first rider.

² 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 mss that have already placed “and look” (καὶ ἴδε or καὶ βλέπε [kai ide or kai blepe]) after the verb “come” (ἔρχου, ercou) as mentioned in the text-critical note on 6:1. Thus, for these copyists it was redundant to add “and I looked” again.

³ tn The phrase “and here came” expresses the sense of καὶ ἰδού (kai idou).

⁴ tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.

⁵ tn Grk “the one sitting on it.”

⁶ sn See the note on the word crown in Rev 3:11.

⁷ 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.”

⁸ tn L&N 79.31 states, “‘fiery red’ (probably with a tinge of yellow or orange).”

⁹ tn Grk “the one sitting on it.”

¹⁰ tn The word “permission” is implied; Grk “it was given to him to take peace from the earth.”

¹¹ 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.”

¹⁵ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the implied result of the summons by the fourth 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 mss that have already placed “and look” (καὶ ἴδε or καὶ βλέπε [kai ide or kai blepe]) after the verb “come” (ἔρχου, ercou) in 6:1. Thus, for these copyists it was redundant to add “and I looked” again.

¹⁷ tn The phrase “and here came” expresses the sense of καὶ ἰδού (kai idou).

¹⁸ 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.”

¹⁹ tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.

²⁰ tn Grk “the one sitting on it.”

²¹ 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.

²² 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.

²³ tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.

²⁴ 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).