Revelation 6:9–11

6:9 Now38 when the Lamb opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been violently killed39 because of the word of God and because of the testimony they had given. 6:10 They40 cried out with a loud voice,41 “How long,42 Sovereign Master,43 holy and true, before you judge those who live on the earth and avenge our blood?” 6:11 Each44 of them was given a long white robe and they were told to rest for a little longer, until the full number was reached45 of both their fellow servants46 and their brothers who were going to be killed just as they had been.

38	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.
39	tn Or “murdered.” See the note on the word “butcher” in 6:4.
40	tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
41	tn Grk “voice, saying”; the participle λέγοντες (legontes) is redundant in contemporary English and has not been translated here.
42	tn The expression ἔως πότε (eōs pote) was translated “how long.” Cf. BDAG 423 s.v. ἕως 1.b.γ.
43	tn The Greek term here is δεσπότης (despotēs; see L&N 37.63).
44	tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
45	tn Grk “until they had been completed.” The idea of a certain “number” of people is implied by the subject of πληρωθῶσιν (plērōthōsin).
46	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.