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.

[6:2]  ¹ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the implied result of hearing the voice summon the first rider.

[6:2]  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.

[6:2]  ³ tn The phrase “and here came” expresses the sense of καὶ ἰδού (kai idou).

[6:2]  ⁴ tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.

[6:2]  ⁵ tn Grk “the one sitting on it.”

[6:2]  ⁶ sn See the note on the word crown in Rev 3:11.

[6:2]  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.”

[6:4]  ⁸ tn L&N 79.31 states, “‘fiery red’ (probably with a tinge of yellow or orange).”

[6:4]  ⁹ tn Grk “the one sitting on it.”

[6:4]  ¹⁰ tn The word “permission” is implied; Grk “it was given to him to take peace from the earth.”

[6:4]  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.”