Revelation 6:2-5

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.

6:3 Then ⁸  when the Lamb ⁹  opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature saying, “Come!” 6:4 And another horse, fiery red, ¹⁰  came out, and the one who rode it ¹¹  was granted permission ¹²  to take peace from the earth, so that people would butcher ¹³  one another, and he was given a huge sword.

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.

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 Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision.

⁹ tn Grk “he”; the referent (the Lamb) has been specified in the translation for clarity here and throughout the rest of the chapter.

¹⁰ tn L&N 79.31 states, “‘fiery red’ (probably with a tinge of yellow or orange).”

¹¹ tn Grk “the one sitting on it.”

¹² tn The word “permission” is implied; Grk “it was given to him to take peace from the earth.”

¹³ 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.”

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 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 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.