^6:3Then¹⁰ when the Lamb¹¹ opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature saying, “Come!” ^6:4And another horse, fiery red,¹² came out, and the one who rode it¹³ was granted permission¹⁴ to take peace from the earth, so that people would butcher¹⁵ one another, and he was given a huge sword.

^6:5Then¹⁶ when the Lamb opened the third seal I heard the third living creature saying, “Come!” So¹⁷ I looked,¹⁸ and here came¹⁹ a black horse! The²⁰ one who rode it²¹ had a balance scale²² in his hand.

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Footnotes

10 Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision.
11 Grk “he”; the referent (the Lamb) has been specified in the translation for clarity here and throughout the rest of the chapter.
12 L&N 79.31 states, “ ‘fiery red’ (probably with a tinge of yellow or orange).”
13 Grk “the one sitting on it.”
14 The word “permission” is implied; Grk “it was given to him to take peace from the earth.”
15 979 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.”
16 Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision.
17 Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the implied result of the summons by the third creature.
18 The reading “and I looked” (καὶ εἶδον, kai eidon) or some slight variation (e.g., ἶδον, idon) has excellent support ({א A C P 1611}) and its omission seems to have come through the 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.
19 The phrase “and here came” expresses the sense of καὶ ἰδού (kai idou).
20 Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
21 Grk “the one sitting on it.”
22 A balance scale would have been a rod held by a rope in the middle with pans attached to both ends for measuring.

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

When he opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature say, “Come!” And out came another horse, bright red. Its rider was permitted to take peace from the earth, so that people should slay one another, and he was given a great sword.

When he opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, “Come!” And I looked, and behold, a black horse! And its rider had a pair of scales in his hand.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

When the Lamb opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature say, “Come!” Then another horse came out, a fiery red one. Its rider was given power to take peace from the earth and to make people kill each other. To him was given a large sword.

When the Lamb opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, “Come!” I looked, and there before me was a black horse! Its rider was holding a pair of scales in his hand.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

When he opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature say, “Come!” Then another horse went out, a fiery red one, and its rider was allowed to take peace from the earth, so that people would slaughter one another. And a large sword was given to him.

When he opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, “Come!” And I looked, and there was a black horse. Its rider held a set of scales in his hand.

NLTNew Living Translation

When the Lamb broke the second seal, I heard the second living being say, “Come!” Then another horse appeared, a red one. Its rider was given a mighty sword and the authority to take peace from the earth. And there was war and slaughter everywhere.

When the Lamb broke the third seal, I heard the third living being say, “Come!” I looked up and saw a black horse, and its rider was holding a pair of scales in his hand.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

And when he opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature saying, “Come!” And another horse came out, fiery red, and it was granted to the one seated on it to take peace from the earth, and that they would slaughter one another, and a large sword was given to him.

And when he opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature saying, “Come!” And I looked, and behold, a black horse, and the one seated on it had a balance scale in his hand.

KJV 1900King James Version

And when he had opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say, Come and see. And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword.

And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, Come and see. And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand.

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