Revelation 9:9

9:9 They had breastplates ¹  like iron breastplates, and the sound of their wings was like the noise of many horse-drawn chariots charging into battle.

Revelation 9:17

9:17 Now ²  this is what the horses and their riders ³  looked like in my ⁴  vision: The riders had breastplates that were fiery red, ⁵  dark blue, ⁶  and sulfurous ⁷  yellow in color. ⁸  The ⁹  heads of the horses looked like lions’ heads, and fire, smoke, and sulfur ¹⁰  came out of their mouths.

¹ tn Or perhaps, “scales like iron breastplates” (RSV, NRSV) although the Greek term θώραξ (qwrax) would have to shift its meaning within the clause, and elsewhere in biblical usage (e.g., Eph 6:14; 1 Thess 5:8) it normally means “breastplate.” See also L&N 8.38.

² tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “now” to indicate the introduction of the description of the horses and riders, which is somewhat parenthetical in the narrative.

³ tn Grk “and those seated on them.”

⁴ tn Grk “the vision”; the Greek article has been translated as a possessive pronoun (ExSyn 215).

⁵ tn L&N 79.31 states, “‘fiery red’ (probably with a tinge of yellow or orange).”

⁶ tn On this term BDAG 1022 s.v. ὑακίνθινος states, “hyacinth-colored, i.e. dark blue (dark red?) w. πύρινος Rv 9:17.”

⁷ tn On this term BDAG 446 s.v. θειώδης states, “sulphurous Rv 9:17.”

⁸ sn The colors of the riders’ breastplates parallel the three plagues of fire, smoke, and sulfur in v. 18.

⁹ tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.

¹⁰ tn Traditionally, “brimstone.”