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The Opening of the Scroll
5 Then[a] I saw in the right hand of the one who was seated on the throne a scroll written on the front and back[b] and sealed with seven seals.[c] 2 And I saw a powerful angel proclaiming in a loud voice: “Who is worthy to open the scroll and to break its seals?” 3 But[d] no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or look into it. 4 So[e] I began weeping bitterly[f] because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or to look into it. 5 Then[g] one of the elders said[h] to me, “Stop weeping![i] Look, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David, has conquered;[j] thus he can open[k] the scroll and its seven seals.”
6 Then[l] I saw standing in the middle of the throne[m] and of the four living creatures, and in the middle of the elders, a Lamb that appeared to have been killed.[n] He had[o] seven horns and seven eyes, which[p] are the seven[q] spirits of God[r] sent out into all the earth. 7 Then[s] he came and took the scroll[t] from the right hand of the one who was seated on the throne, 8 and when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders threw themselves to the ground[u] before the Lamb. Each[v] of them had a harp and golden bowls full of incense (which are the prayers of the saints).[w] 9 They were singing a new song:[x]
“You are worthy to take the scroll
and to open its seals
because you were killed,[y]
and at the cost of your own blood[z] you have purchased[aa] for God
persons[ab] from every tribe, language,[ac] people, and nation.
10 You have appointed[ad] them[ae] as a kingdom and priests[af] to serve[ag] our God, and they will reign[ah] on the earth.”
11 Then[ai] I looked and heard the voice of many angels in a circle around the throne, as well as the living creatures and the elders. Their[aj] number was ten thousand times ten thousand[ak]—thousands times thousands— 12 all of whom[al] were singing[am] in a loud voice:
“Worthy is the lamb who was killed[an]
to receive power and wealth
and wisdom and might
and honor and glory and praise!”
13 Then[ao] I heard every creature—in heaven, on earth, under the earth, in the sea, and all that is in them—singing:[ap]
“To the one seated on the throne and to the Lamb
be praise, honor, glory, and ruling power[aq] forever and ever!”
14 And the four living creatures were saying “Amen,” and the elders threw themselves to the ground[ar] and worshiped.
The Seven Seals
6 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,[as] “Come!”[at] 2 So[au] I looked,[av] and here came[aw] a white horse! The[ax] one who rode it[ay] had a bow, and he was given a crown,[az] and as a conqueror[ba] he rode out to conquer.
3 Then[bb] when the Lamb[bc] opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature saying, “Come!” 4 And another horse, fiery red,[bd] came out, and the one who rode it[be] was granted permission[bf] to take peace from the earth, so that people would butcher[bg] one another, and he was given a huge sword.
5 Then[bh] when the Lamb opened the third seal I heard the third living creature saying, “Come!” So[bi] I looked,[bj] and here came[bk] a black horse! The[bl] one who rode it[bm] had a balance scale[bn] in his hand. 6 Then[bo] I heard something like a voice from among the four living creatures saying, “A quart[bp] of wheat will cost a day’s pay[bq] and three quarts of barley will cost a day’s pay. But[br] do not damage the olive oil and the wine!”
7 Then[bs] when the Lamb opened the fourth seal I heard the voice of the fourth living creature saying, “Come!” 8 So[bt] I looked[bu] and here came[bv] a pale green[bw] horse! The[bx] name of the one who rode it[by] was Death, and Hades followed right behind.[bz] They[ca] were given authority over a fourth of the earth, to kill its population with the sword,[cb] famine, and disease,[cc] and by the wild animals of the earth.
9 Now[cd] when the Lamb opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been violently killed[ce] because of the word of God and because of the testimony they had given. 10 They[cf] cried out with a loud voice,[cg] “How long,[ch] Sovereign Master,[ci] holy and true, before you judge those who live on the earth and avenge our blood?” 11 Each[cj] of them was given a long white robe and they were told to rest for a little longer, until the full number was reached[ck] of both their fellow servants[cl] and their brothers who were going to be killed just as they had been.
12 Then[cm] I looked when the Lamb opened the sixth seal, and a huge[cn] earthquake took place; the sun became as black as sackcloth made of hair,[co] and the full moon became blood red;[cp] 13 and the stars in the sky[cq] fell to the earth like a fig tree dropping[cr] its unripe figs[cs] when shaken by a fierce[ct] wind. 14 The sky[cu] was split apart[cv] like a scroll being rolled up,[cw] and every mountain and island was moved from its place. 15 Then[cx] the kings of the earth, the[cy] very important people, the generals,[cz] the rich, the powerful, and everyone, slave[da] and free, hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains. 16 They[db] said to the mountains and to the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of the one who is seated on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb,[dc] 17 because the great day of their[dd] wrath has come, and who is able to withstand it?”[de]
Footnotes
- Revelation 5:1 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence within the narrative.
- Revelation 5:1 tn Grk “written on the inside and the outside” (an idiom for having writing on both sides).
- Revelation 5:1 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.”
- Revelation 5:3 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “but” to indicate the contrast present in this context.
- Revelation 5:4 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the implied result of no one being found worthy to open the scroll.
- Revelation 5:4 tn Grk “much.”
- Revelation 5:5 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence within the narrative.
- Revelation 5:5 tn Grk “says” (a historical present).
- Revelation 5:5 tn The present imperative with μή (mē) is used here to command cessation of an action in progress (ExSyn 724 lists this verse as an example).
- Revelation 5:5 tn Or “has been victorious”; traditionally, “has overcome.”
- Revelation 5:5 tn The infinitive has been translated as an infinitive of result here.
- Revelation 5:6 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence within the narrative.
- Revelation 5:6 tn Perhaps, “in the middle of the throne area” (see L&N 83.10).
- Revelation 5:6 tn Or “slaughtered”; traditionally, “slain.” The phrase behind this translation is ὡς ἐσφαγμένον (hōs esphagmenon). The particle ὡς is used in Greek generally for comparison, and in Revelation it is used often to describe the appearance of what the author saw. This phrase does not imply that the Lamb “appeared to have been killed” but in reality was not, because the wider context of the NT shows that in fact the Lamb, i.e., Jesus, was killed. See 13:3 for the only other occurrence of this phrase in the NT.
- Revelation 5:6 tn Grk “killed, having.” Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, a new sentence was started here in the translation by supplying the pronoun “he.”
- Revelation 5:6 sn The relative pronoun which is masculine, referring back to the eyes rather than to the horns.
- Revelation 5:6 tc There is good ms evidence for the inclusion of “seven” (ἑπτά, hepta; P24 א 2053 2351 MK). There is equally good ms support for the omission of the term (A 1006 1611 MA). It may have been accidentally added due to its repeated presence in the immediately preceding phrases, or it may have been intentionally added to maintain the symmetry of the phrases or more likely to harmonize the phrase with 1:4; 3:1; 4:5. Or it may have been accidentally deleted by way of homoioteleuton (τὰ ἑπτά, ta hepta). A decision is difficult in this instance. NA28 also does not find the problem easy to solve, placing the word in brackets to indicate doubts as to its authenticity.
- Revelation 5:6 sn See the note on the phrase the seven spirits of God in Rev 4:5.
- Revelation 5:7 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision.
- Revelation 5:7 tn The words “the scroll” are not in the Greek text, but are implied. Direct objects were frequently omitted in Greek when clear from the context.
- Revelation 5:8 tn Grk “fell down.” BDAG 815 s.v. πίπτω 1.b.α.ב. has “fall down, throw oneself to the ground as a sign of devotion or humility, before high-ranking persons or divine beings.”
- Revelation 5:8 tn Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, a new sentence was started here in the translation.
- Revelation 5:8 sn This interpretive comment by the author forms a parenthesis in the narrative.
- Revelation 5:9 tn The redundant participle λέγοντες (legontes) has not been translated here.
- Revelation 5:9 tn Or “slaughtered”; traditionally, “slain.”
- Revelation 5:9 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).”
- Revelation 5:9 tc The Greek text as it stands above (i.e., the reading τῷ θεῷ [tō theō] alone) is found in codex A. א 2050 2344 M sy add the term “us” (ἡμᾶς, hēmas), either before or after τῷ θεῷ, as an attempt to clarify the object of “purchased” (ἠγόρασας, ēgorasas). A few mss (1 vgms) delete the reference to God altogether and simply replace it with “us” (ἡμᾶς). This too is an attempt to remove ambiguity in the phrase and provide an object for “purchased.” The shorter reading, supported by the best witness for Revelation, best accounts for the other readings.
- Revelation 5:9 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.
- Revelation 5:9 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.
- Revelation 5:10 tn The verb ἐποίησας (epoiēsas) is understood to mean “appointed” here. For an example of this use, see Mark 3:14.
- Revelation 5:10 tc The vast majority of witnesses have αὐτούς (autous, “them”) here, while the Textus Receptus reads ἡμᾶς (hēmas, “us”) with insignificant support (pc gig vgcl sa Prim Bea). There is no question that the original text read αὐτούς here.
- Revelation 5:10 tn The reference to “kingdom and priests” may be a hendiadys: “priestly kingdom.”
- Revelation 5:10 tn The words “to serve” are not in the Greek text, but are implied by the word “priests.”
- Revelation 5:10 tc The textual problem here between the present tense βασιλεύουσιν (basileuousin, “they are reigning”; so A 1006 1611 MK) and the future βασιλεύσουσιν (basileusousin, “they will reign”; so א 1854 2053 MA lat co) is a difficult one. Both readings have excellent support. On the one hand, the present tense seems to be the harder reading in this context. On the other hand, codex A elsewhere mistakes the future for the present (20:6). Further, the lunate sigma in majuscule script could have been overlooked by some scribes, resulting in the present tense. All things considered, there is a slight preference for the future.
- Revelation 5:11 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision.
- Revelation 5:11 tn Grk “elders, and the number of them was.” Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, a new sentence was started here in the translation.
- Revelation 5:11 tn Or “myriads of myriads.” Although μυριάς (murias) literally means “10,000,” the point of the combination here may simply be to indicate an incalculably huge number. See L&N 60.9.
- Revelation 5:12 tn The words “all of whom” are not in the Greek text, but have been supplied to indicate the resumption of the phrase “the voice of many angels” at the beginning of the verse.
- Revelation 5:12 tn Grk “saying.”
- Revelation 5:12 tn Or “slaughtered”; traditionally, “slain.”
- Revelation 5:13 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision.
- Revelation 5:13 tn Grk “saying.”
- Revelation 5:13 tn Or “dominion.”
- Revelation 5:14 tn Grk “fell down.” BDAG 815 s.v. πίπτω 1.b.α.ב. has “fall down, throw oneself to the ground as a sign of devotion or humility, before high-ranking persons or divine beings.”
- Revelation 6:1 tn Grk “saying like a voice [or sound] of thunder.”
- Revelation 6:1 tc The addition of “and see” (καὶ ἴδε or καὶ βλέπε [kai ide or kai blepe]) to “come” (ἔρχου, erchou) 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.
- Revelation 6:2 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the implied result of hearing the voice summon the first rider.
- Revelation 6:2 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, erchou) as mentioned in the text-critical note on 6:1. Thus, for these copyists it was redundant to add “and I looked” again.
- Revelation 6:2 tn The phrase “and here came” expresses the sense of καὶ ἰδού (kai idou).
- Revelation 6:2 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
- Revelation 6:2 tn Grk “the one sitting on it.”sn The one who rode it. The identity of the first rider on the white horse has been discussed at great length by interpreters. Several answers are given: (1) A number understand the rider on the white horse to be Christ himself, identifying this horse and rider with the one mentioned in 19:11, where the identification is clear (cf. 19:13, 16). It must be noted, though, that there is little in common between the two riders beyond the white horse. The word for “crown” is different, the armament is different, and the context here is different (conquest vs. retribution), with three other horsemen bringing catastrophe following. (2) Others see the rider on the white horse representing a spirit of military conquest that dominates human history and leads to the catastrophes that follow. (3) Another possibility is that the white horse rider represents the Antichrist, who appears later in Rev 11:7; 13:17, and is similar to Christ in 19:11 in that they both ride a white horse. This interpretation has been discussed at length by M. Rissi, “The Rider on the White Horse: A Study of Revelation 6:1-8, ” Int 18 (1964): 407-18. This interpretation is the most probable one.
- Revelation 6:2 sn See the note on the word crown in Rev 3:11.
- Revelation 6:2 tn The participle νικῶν (nikōn) has been translated as substantival, the subject of the verb ἐξῆλθεν (exēlthen). Otherwise, as an adverbial participle of manner, it is somewhat redundant: “he rode out conquering and to conquer.”
- Revelation 6:3 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision.
- Revelation 6:3 tn Grk “he”; the referent (the Lamb) has been specified in the translation for clarity here and throughout the rest of the chapter.
- Revelation 6:4 tn L&N 79.31 states, “‘fiery red’ (probably with a tinge of yellow or orange).”
- Revelation 6:4 tn Grk “the one sitting on it.”
- Revelation 6:4 tn The word “permission” is implied; Grk “it was given to him to take peace from the earth.”
- Revelation 6:4 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.”
- Revelation 6:5 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision.
- Revelation 6:5 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the implied result of the summons by the third creature.
- Revelation 6:5 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, erchou) in 6:1. Thus, for these copyists it was redundant to add “and I looked” again.
- Revelation 6:5 tn The phrase “and here came” expresses the sense of καὶ ἰδού (kai idou).
- Revelation 6:5 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
- Revelation 6:5 tn Grk “the one sitting on it.”
- Revelation 6:5 sn A balance scale would have been a rod held by a rope in the middle with pans attached to both ends for measuring.
- Revelation 6:6 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision.
- Revelation 6:6 tn BDAG 1086 s.v. χοῖνιξ states, “a dry measure, oft. used for grain, approximately equivalent to one quart or one liter, quart. A χ.of grain was a daily ration for one pers.…Rv 6:6ab.”
- Revelation 6:6 tn Grk “a quart of wheat for a denarius.” A denarius was one day’s pay for an average worker. The words “will cost” are used to indicate the genitive of price or value; otherwise the English reader could understand the phrase to mean “a quart of wheat to be given as a day’s pay.”
- Revelation 6:6 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “but” to indicate the contrast present in this context.
- Revelation 6:7 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision.
- Revelation 6:8 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the implied result of the summons by the fourth creature.
- Revelation 6:8 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, erchou) in 6:1. Thus, for these copyists it was redundant to add “and I looked” again.
- Revelation 6:8 tn The phrase “and here came” expresses the sense of καὶ ἰδού (kai idou).
- Revelation 6:8 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.”
- Revelation 6:8 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
- Revelation 6:8 tn Grk “the one sitting on it.”
- Revelation 6:8 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.
- Revelation 6:8 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.
- Revelation 6:8 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
- Revelation 6:8 tn Grk “with death.” θάνατος (thanatos) can in particular contexts refer to a manner of death, specifically a contagious disease (see BDAG 443 s.v. 3; L&N 23.158).
- Revelation 6:9 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.
- Revelation 6:9 tn Or “murdered.” See the note on the word “butcher” in 6:4.
- Revelation 6:10 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
- Revelation 6:10 tn Grk “voice, saying”; the participle λέγοντες (legontes) is redundant in contemporary English and has not been translated here.
- Revelation 6:10 tn The expression ἕως πότε (eōs pote) was translated “how long.” Cf. BDAG 423 s.v. ἕως 1.b.γ.
- Revelation 6:10 tn The Greek term here is δεσπότης (despotēs; see L&N 37.63).
- Revelation 6:11 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
- Revelation 6:11 tn Grk “until they had been completed.” The idea of a certain “number” of people is implied by the subject of πληρωθῶσιν (plērōthōsin).
- Revelation 6:11 tn Though σύνδουλος (sundoulos) has been translated “fellow servant,” the word does not bear the connotation of a free individual serving another. See the note on the word “servants” in 1:1.
- Revelation 6:12 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision.
- Revelation 6:12 tn Or “powerful”; Grk “a great.”
- Revelation 6:12 tn Or “like hairy sackcloth” (L&N 8.13).
- Revelation 6:12 tn Grk “like blood,” understanding αἷμα (aima) as a blood-red color rather than actual blood (L&N 8.64).
- Revelation 6:13 tn Or “in heaven” (the same Greek word means both “heaven” and “sky”). The genitive τοῦ οὐρανοῦ (tou ouranou) is taken as a genitive of place.
- Revelation 6:13 tn Grk “throws [off]”; the indicative verb has been translated as a participle due to English style.
- Revelation 6:13 tn L&N 3.37 states, “a fig produced late in the summer season (and often falling off before it ripens)—‘late fig.’ ὡς συκὴ βάλλει τοὺς ὀλύνθους αὐτῆς ὑπὸ ἀνέμου μεγάλου σειομένη ‘as the fig tree sheds its late figs when shaken by a great wind’ Re 6:13. In the only context in which ὄλυνθος occurs in the NT (Re 6:13), one may employ an expression such as ‘unripe fig’ or ‘fig which ripens late.’”
- Revelation 6:13 tn Grk “great wind.”
- Revelation 6:14 tn Or “The heavens were.” The Greek word οὐρανός (ouranos) can mean either “heaven” or “sky.”
- Revelation 6:14 tn BDAG 125 s.v. ἀποχωρίζω states, “ὁ οὐρανὸς ἀπεχωρίσθη the sky was split Rv 6:14.” Although L&N 79.120 gives the meaning “the sky disappeared like a rolled-up scroll” here, a scroll that is rolled up does not “disappear,” and such a translation could be difficult for modern readers to understand.
- Revelation 6:14 tn On this term BDAG 317 s.v. ἑλίσσω states, “ὡς βιβλίον ἑλισσόμενον like a scroll that is rolled up…Rv 6:14.”
- Revelation 6:15 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision.
- Revelation 6:15 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated; nor is it translated before each of the following categories, since English normally uses a coordinating conjunction only between the last two elements in a series of three or more.
- Revelation 6:15 tn Grk “chiliarchs.” A chiliarch was normally a military officer commanding a thousand soldiers, but here probably used of higher-ranking commanders like generals (see L&N 55.15; cf. Rev 6:15).
- Revelation 6:15 tn See the note on the word “servants” in 1:1.
- Revelation 6:16 tn Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, a new sentence was started here in the translation. Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
- Revelation 6:16 tn It is difficult to say where this quotation ends. The translation ends it after “withstand it” at the end of v. 17, but it is possible that it should end here, after “Lamb” at the end of v. 16. If it ends after “Lamb,” v. 17 is a parenthetical explanation by the author.
- Revelation 6:17 tc Most mss (A M bo) change the pronoun “their” to “his” (αὐτοῦ, autou) in order to bring the text in line with the mention of the one seated on the throne in the immediately preceding verse, and to remove the ambiguity about whose wrath is in view here. The reading αὐτῶν (autōn, “their”) is well supported by א C 1611 1854 2053 2329 2344 latt sy. On both internal and external grounds, it should be regarded as autographic.
- Revelation 6:17 tn The translation “to withstand (it)” for ἵστημι (histēmi) is based on the imagery of holding one’s ground in a military campaign or an attack (BDAG 482 s.v. B.4).
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