Topical Bible: The Horse: Colours of, Mentioned: Pale or Ash Colour

◄ The Horse: Colours of, Mentioned: Pale or Ash Colour ►

Jump to: Torrey's • Library • Subtopics • Terms

Topical Encyclopedia

In the biblical context, the horse is a symbol of strength, power, and often war. Among the various colors of horses mentioned in the Scriptures, the pale or ash-colored horse holds a particularly significant place, especially in the apocalyptic literature of the New Testament.

The most notable reference to a pale horse is found in the Book of Revelation, which is rich in symbolic imagery and prophetic visions. Revelation 6:8 states: "Then I looked and saw a pale horse. Its rider’s name was Death, and Hades followed close behind. They were given authority over a fourth of the earth, to kill by sword, by famine, by plague, and by the beasts of the earth."

The Greek word used for "pale" in this passage is "chloros," which can also be translated as "greenish" or "ashen," suggesting a sickly, deathly hue. This color is emblematic of the grim nature of the horse's rider, Death, and the devastation that follows. The pale horse is the fourth of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, each of whom is associated with a specific form of divine judgment upon the earth.

In the context of Revelation, the pale horse and its rider symbolize the culmination of the destructive forces unleashed upon humanity as part of the end-times narrative. The imagery conveys a sense of inevitable mortality and the transient nature of earthly life, serving as a stark reminder of the ultimate sovereignty of God over life and death.

The pale horse's association with death and Hades underscores the biblical theme of divine justice and the eventual triumph of God's kingdom over evil. This imagery is consistent with the broader biblical narrative that emphasizes the consequences of sin and the hope of redemption through Christ.

While the pale horse is not mentioned elsewhere in the Bible, its singular appearance in Revelation has captured the imagination of theologians and believers throughout history. It serves as a powerful symbol of the eschatological realities that await humanity and the fulfillment of God's prophetic word.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Revelation 6:8
And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given to them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Naparima and Montserrat
... of them in cotton velvet jackets of the richest colours. ... a tramway, which made an
excellent horse-road, and ... that curious appearance, which I mentioned in an ...
//christianbookshelf.org/kingsley/at last/chapter x naparima and montserrat.htm

The Northern Mountains
... medal from England, and to have his name mentioned, probably to ... than that from the
bite of a horse-leech, we ... songsters, and our eyes on the colours and shapes ...
//christianbookshelf.org/kingsley/at last/chapter xi the northern mountains.htm