Revelation 6:4
New International Version
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.

New Living Translation
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.

English Standard Version
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.

Berean Standard Bible
Then another horse went forth. It was bright red, and its rider was granted permission to take away peace from the earth and to make men slay one another. And he was given a great sword.

Berean Literal Bible
And another horse went forth, bright red; and to the one sitting on it, to him was granted to take the peace from the earth, and that they will slay one another; and a great sword was given to him.

King James Bible
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.

New King James Version
Another horse, fiery red, went out. And it was granted to the one who sat on it to take peace from the earth, and that people should kill one another; and there was given to him a great sword.

New American Standard Bible
And another, a red horse, went out; and to him who sat on it, it was granted to take peace from the earth, and that people would kill one another; and a large sword was given to him.

NASB 1995
And another, a red horse, went out; and to him who sat on it, it was granted to take peace from the earth, and that men would slay one another; and a great sword was given to him.

NASB 1977
And another, a red horse, went out; and to him who sat on it, it was granted to take peace from the earth, and that men should slay one another; and a great sword was given to him.

Legacy Standard Bible
And another, a red horse, went out; and to him who sits on it, it was given to him to take peace from the earth, and that men would slay one another; and a great sword was given to him.

Amplified Bible
And another, a fiery red horse [of bloodshed], came out; and its rider was empowered to take peace from the earth, so that men would slaughter one another; and a great sword [of war and violent death] was given to him.

Christian Standard Bible
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.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Then another horse went out, a fiery red one, and its horseman was empowered to take peace from the earth, so that people would slaughter one another. And a large sword was given to him.

American Standard Version
And another horse came forth, a red horse: and to him that sat thereon it was given to take peace from the earth, and that they should slay one another: and there was given unto him a great sword.

Contemporary English Version
Then another horse came out. It was fiery red. And its rider was given the power to take away all peace from the earth, so people would slaughter one another. He was also given a big sword.

English Revised Version
And another horse came forth, a red horse: and to him that sat thereon it was given to take peace from the earth, and that they should slay one another: and there was given unto him a great sword.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
A second horse went out. It was fiery red. Its rider was given the power to take peace away from the earth and to make people slaughter one another. So he was given a large sword.

Good News Translation
Another horse came out, a red one. Its rider was given the power to bring war on the earth, so that people should kill each other. He was given a large sword.

International Standard Version
A second horse went out. It was fiery red, and its rider was given permission to take peace away from the earth and to make people slaughter one another. So he was given a large sword.

Majority Standard Bible
Then another horse went forth. It was bright red, and its rider was granted permission to take away peace from the earth and to make men slay one another. And he was given a great sword.

NET Bible
And another horse, fiery red, came out, and the one who rode it was granted permission to take peace from the earth, so that people would butcher one another, and he was given a huge sword.

New Heart English Bible
Another came forth, a fiery red horse. To him who sat on it was given power to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another. There was given to him a great sword.

Webster's Bible Translation
And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat upon him to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given to him a great sword.

Weymouth New Testament
And another horse came out--a fiery-red one; and power was given to its rider to take peace from the earth, and to cause men to kill one another; and a great sword was given to him.

World English Bible
Another came out, a red horse. To him who sat on it was given power to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another. There was given to him a great sword.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And there went forth another horse—fire-colored, and to him who is sitting on it, there was given to him to take peace from the earth, and that they may slay one another, and there was given to him a great sword.

Berean Literal Bible
And another horse went forth, bright red; and to the one sitting on it, to him was granted to take the peace from the earth, and that they will slay one another; and a great sword was given to him.

Young's Literal Translation
and there went forth another horse -- red, and to him who is sitting upon it, there was given to him to take the peace from the land, and that one another they may slay, and there was given to him a great sword.

Smith's Literal Translation
And another horse came forth fiery red: and it was given to him sitting upon him to take peace from the earth, and that they should slaughter one another: and a great sword was given to him.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And there went out another horse that was red: and to him that sat thereon, it was given that he should take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another, and a great sword was given to him.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And another horse went forth, which was red. And it was granted to him who was sitting upon it that he would take peace from the earth, and that they would kill one another. And a great sword was given to him.

New American Bible
Another horse came out, a red one. Its rider was given power to take peace away from the earth, so that people would slaughter one another. And he was given a huge sword.

New Revised Standard Version
And out came another horse, bright red; its rider was permitted to take peace from the earth, so that people would slaughter one another; and he was given a great sword.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And there went out another horse, and it was red, and to him who sat on it was given power to take away peace from the earth, that people should kill one another: and there was given to him a great sword.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And a red horse went out, and to him who sat upon it was given to take peace from The Earth and to kill each one, and a great sword was given to him.
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
And there went forth another horse, which was red; and to him that sat on him was given to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another; and there was given to him a great sword.

Godbey New Testament
And there went out a red horse: and to him sitting on him it was given to take peace from the earth, and that they shall slay one another: and a great sword was given him.

Haweis New Testament
And there went out another horse flame-coloured; and to him who sat thereon there was power given to take peace from the earth, and that men should kill each other; and there was given to him a great sword.

Mace New Testament
and there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon, to banish peace from the land, and to make men kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword.

Weymouth New Testament
And another horse came out--a fiery-red one; and power was given to its rider to take peace from the earth, and to cause men to kill one another; and a great sword was given to him.

Worrell New Testament
And there went forth another horse, a red one; and to him who was sitting thereon it was given to take peace from the earth, and that they should slay one another; and there was given to him a great sword.

Worsley New Testament
And there came out another horse, which was red: and it was given to him, that sat upon it, to take peace from the earth, that they should kill one another: and there was given him a great sword.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Second Seal: War
3And when the Lamb opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature say, “Come!” 4Then another horse went forth. It was bright red, and its rider was granted permission to take away peace from the earth and to make men slay one another. And he was given a great sword. 5And when the Lamb opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, “Come!” Then I looked and saw a black horse, and its rider held in his hand a pair of scales.…

Cross References
Matthew 24:6-7
You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. These things must happen, but the end is still to come. / Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places.

Zechariah 1:8-10
I looked out into the night and saw a man riding on a red horse. He was standing among the myrtle trees in the hollow, and behind him were red, sorrel, and white horses. / “What are these, my lord?” I asked. And the angel who was speaking with me replied, “I will show you what they are.” / Then the man standing among the myrtle trees explained, “They are the ones the LORD has sent to patrol the earth.”

Zechariah 6:1-8
And again I lifted up my eyes and saw four chariots coming out from between two mountains—mountains of bronze. / The first chariot had red horses, the second black horses, / the third white horses, and the fourth dappled horses—all of them strong. ...

Daniel 7:21
As I watched, this horn was waging war against the saints and prevailing against them,

Daniel 8:24
His power will be great, but it will not be his own. He will cause terrible destruction and succeed in whatever he does. He will destroy the mighty men along with the holy people.

Ezekiel 38:21
And I will summon a sword against Gog on all My mountains, declares the Lord GOD, and every man’s sword will be against his brother.

Jeremiah 25:15-17
This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, said to me: “Take from My hand this cup of the wine of wrath, and make all the nations to whom I send you drink from it. / And they will drink and stagger and go out of their minds, because of the sword that I will send among them.” / So I took the cup from the LORD’s hand and made all the nations drink from it, each one to whom the LORD had sent me,

Jeremiah 51:20-23
“You are My war club, My weapon for battle. With you I shatter nations; with you I bring kingdoms to ruin. / With you I shatter the horse and rider; with you I shatter the chariot and driver. / With you I shatter man and woman; with you I shatter the old man and the youth; with you I shatter the young man and the maiden. ...

Isaiah 19:2
“So I will incite Egyptian against Egyptian; brother will fight against brother, neighbor against neighbor, city against city, and kingdom against kingdom.

Isaiah 34:2
The LORD is angry with all the nations and furious with all their armies. He will devote them to destruction; He will give them over to slaughter.

2 Thessalonians 2:3-4
Let no one deceive you in any way, for it will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness—the son of destruction—is revealed. / He will oppose and exalt himself above every so-called god or object of worship. So he will seat himself in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God.

1 Thessalonians 5:3
While people are saying, “Peace and security,” destruction will come upon them suddenly, like labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.

Luke 21:9-10
When you hear of wars and rebellions, do not be alarmed. These things must happen first, but the end is not imminent.” / Then He told them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.

Mark 13:7-8
When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. These things must happen, but the end is still to come. / Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, as well as famines. These are the beginning of birth pains.

Matthew 10:34-36
Do not assume that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. / For I have come to turn ‘a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. / A man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’


Treasury of Scripture

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 to him a great sword.

horse.

Revelation 12:3
And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads.

Revelation 17:3,6
So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns…

Zechariah 1:8
I saw by night, and behold a man riding upon a red horse, and he stood among the myrtle trees that were in the bottom; and behind him were there red horses, speckled, and white.

power.

Revelation 13:10
He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.

Exodus 9:16,17
And in very deed for this cause have I raised thee up, for to shew in thee my power; and that my name may be declared throughout all the earth…

Isaiah 37:26,27
Hast thou not heard long ago, how I have done it; and of ancient times, that I have formed it? now have I brought it to pass, that thou shouldest be to lay waste defenced cities into ruinous heaps…

and there.

Psalm 17:13
Arise, O LORD, disappoint him, cast him down: deliver my soul from the wicked, which is thy sword:

Isaiah 10:5,6
O Assyrian, the rod of mine anger, and the staff in their hand is mine indignation…

Ezekiel 30:24,25
And I will strengthen the arms of the king of Babylon, and put my sword in his hand: but I will break Pharaoh's arms, and he shall groan before him with the groanings of a deadly wounded man

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Bright Cause Earth Fiery Fiery-Red Forth Granted Great Horse Kill Peace Permitted Power Red Rider Sat Seated Sitting Sword Thereon
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Bright Cause Earth Fiery Fiery-Red Forth Granted Great Horse Kill Peace Permitted Power Red Rider Sat Seated Sitting Sword Thereon
Revelation 6
1. The First Seal: Rider on White Horse
3. The Second Seal: War
5. The Third Seal: Famine
7. The Fourth Seal: Death
9. The Fifth Seal: Martyrs
12. The Sixth Seal: Terror














Then another horse went forth
The phrase "another horse" indicates a continuation of the vision of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. The Greek word for "another" (ἄλλος, allos) suggests a sequence or series, emphasizing that this horse is part of a larger divine plan. The imagery of horses in biblical prophecy often symbolizes swift action and power, drawing from ancient Near Eastern and Greco-Roman contexts where horses were associated with war and conquest.

It was bright red
The color "bright red" (πυρρός, pyrrhos) is significant, symbolizing bloodshed and war. In the ancient world, red was often associated with Mars, the Roman god of war, and it evokes the imagery of blood and fire. This vivid color sets the tone for the destructive mission of the rider, aligning with the biblical theme of divine judgment.

and its rider was granted permission
The phrase "granted permission" (ἐδόθη, edothē) underscores the sovereignty of God in the unfolding events. The passive voice indicates that the rider's authority is not inherent but bestowed, reflecting the biblical principle that all power is ultimately subject to God's will. This aligns with the broader scriptural narrative that God allows certain events to occur for the fulfillment of His divine purposes.

to take peace from the earth
The removal of "peace" (εἰρήνη, eirēnē) signifies a divinely sanctioned disruption of harmony. In the biblical context, peace is not merely the absence of conflict but a state of wholeness and well-being. The loss of peace suggests a period of chaos and turmoil, reminiscent of the prophetic warnings in the Old Testament about the consequences of turning away from God.

and to make men slay one another
The phrase "make men slay one another" (σφάξουσιν ἀλλήλους, sphaxousin allēlous) highlights the internal strife and violence that will characterize this period. The Greek verb "slay" (σφάζω, sphazō) conveys a sense of slaughter or butchery, indicating widespread and brutal conflict. This reflects the biblical theme of human depravity and the consequences of sin, as seen in the narratives of Cain and Abel and other scriptural accounts of fratricide.

And he was given a great sword
The "great sword" (μάχαιρα μεγάλη, machaira megalē) symbolizes the authority and means to execute judgment. In the ancient world, the sword was a symbol of power and authority, often associated with military might. The adjective "great" emphasizes the magnitude of the destruction that will ensue. This imagery resonates with the biblical portrayal of divine judgment as both righteous and inevitable, serving as a call to repentance and faithfulness.

Verse 4. - And there went out another horse that was red. There is a very general agreement that the red horse signifies war - slaughter by the sword which was given to "him that sat thereon." Slight variations of the application occur. Wordsworth, following the more ancient expositors, thinks that only that aspect of war is intended which consists in the persecution of the saints; while Alford and others would not restrict the meaning, but consider that war in general is meant, relying upon the following words, "that they should kill one another," and quoting our Lord's prophecy, "I came not to send peace, but a sword" (Matthew 10:34). Both views may be correct. Though there had never been persecution, war would be one of the great afflictions from which Christians in various ages suffer, and in which they need consolation; but we may well believe that St. John, in writing to Christians who were themselves being grievously persecuted, should refer especially to the slaughter of the saints, as one of the trials inflicted upon them with God's knowledge and permission. The Revelation, intended as a support to those to whom St. John wrote, and applying directly and specially to their situation, has vet a wider application, and foreshadows the fate of each individual Christian and the Church in general throughout all ages. And power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth; and to him that sat upon him it was given him to take peace out of the earth. The pronoun is redundant; it has no special signification (see Revelation 2:26; Revelation 3:12, 21). "The peace" (τὴν εἰρήνην); that is, peace in general, not the peace left by the first appearance. "Power" (cf. Revelation 4:11; Revelation 1:6; Revelation 7:12). A few authorities omit ἐκ, "out." "The earth" has been erroneously restricted to the Roman empire or to Judaea. The whole world is meant. Here is a repetition of our Lord's prophecy, "I came not to send peace, but a sword" (Matthew 10:34). The sword directed against the saints of God is, by God's providence, converted into an instrument for the refining and conversion of his kingdom. As in the death of Christ, Satan was foiled with his own weapon, and by death came life, so what is intended by the enemies of God to be the extermination of Christianity is the means of increasing and strengthening his Church. And that they should kill one another; that is, that among the inhabitants of the earth some should kill others. As explained above, this includes both the slaughter of the saints and war in general. The verb σφάττω, "to sacrifice," is peculiar to St. John, being found only in the Revelation and in 1 John 3:12. The use of this verb seems to imply that the vision more immediately contemplates the death of the martyrs. And there was given unto him a great sword. Here, again, μάχαιρα, though used also in a wider sense, signifies strictly the sacrificial knife, the natural instrument of the slaughter mentioned. It is the LXX. word used in Genesis 22:6, 10, in the account of the sacrifice of Isaac, where it is also closely connected with σφάττω, "to sacrifice," the verb used in this passage.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
Then
Καὶ (Kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

another
ἄλλος (allos)
Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 243: Other, another (of more than two), different. A primary word; 'else, ' i.e. Different.

horse
ἵππος (hippos)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2462: A horse. Of uncertain affinity; a horse.

went forth.
ἐξῆλθεν (exēlthen)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1831: To go out, come out. From ek and erchomai; to issue.

[It was] bright red,
πυρρός (pyrros)
Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 4450: Red, fire-colored. From pur; fire-like, i.e., flame- colored.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

its rider
τῷ (tō)
Article - Dative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

was granted permission
ἐδόθη (edothē)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1325: To offer, give; I put, place. A prolonged form of a primary verb; to give.

to take
λαβεῖν (labein)
Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active
Strong's 2983: (a) I receive, get, (b) I take, lay hold of.

peace
εἰρήνην (eirēnēn)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 1515: Probably from a primary verb eiro; peace; by implication, prosperity.

from
ἐκ (ek)
Preposition
Strong's 1537: From out, out from among, from, suggesting from the interior outwards. A primary preposition denoting origin, from, out.

the
τῆς (tēs)
Article - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

earth
γῆς (gēs)
Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 1093: Contracted from a primary word; soil; by extension a region, or the solid part or the whole of the terrene globe.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

to make men slay
σφάξουσιν (sphaxousin)
Verb - Future Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 4969: To slay, kill by violence, slaughter, wound mortally. A primary verb; to butcher or to slaughter, or, to maim.

one another.
ἀλλήλους (allēlous)
Personal / Reciprocal Pronoun - Accusative Masculine Plural
Strong's 240: One another, each other. Genitive plural from allos reduplicated; one another.

And
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

he
αὐτῷ (autō)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

was given
ἐδόθη (edothē)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1325: To offer, give; I put, place. A prolonged form of a primary verb; to give.

a great
μεγάλη (megalē)
Adjective - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3173: Large, great, in the widest sense.

sword.
μάχαιρα (machaira)
Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3162: A sword. Probably feminine of a presumed derivative of mache; a knife, i.e. Dirk; figuratively, war, judicial punishment.


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NT Prophecy: Revelation 6:4 Another came forth a red horse (Rev. Re Apocalypse)
Revelation 6:3
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