Revelation 6:4 kjv

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.

Revelation 6:4 nkjv

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.

Revelation 6:4 niv

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.

Revelation 6:4 esv

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.

Revelation 6:4 nlt

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.

Revelation 6 verses

Revelation 6 4 Meaning

Revelation 6:4 describes the breaking of the second seal, revealing a red horse whose rider is granted power to remove peace from the earth, causing people to slaughter one another, and given a great sword. This imagery powerfully depicts the ushering in of widespread conflict, war, and internal strife, divinely permitted as a judgment upon the world. It signifies a profound disruption of global harmony, leading to an era dominated by violence and mutual destruction.

Revelation 6 4 Context

Revelation 6:4 stands as the second vision among the series of seven seals, following the first rider on a white horse (representing conquest or the Gospel). The scene is part of a prophetic revelation to John about the end times, portraying the judgments released by God through Christ as the Lamb opens each seal on a scroll. The red horse and its rider represent the unleashing of widespread warfare and bloodshed, intensifying the tribulation and indicating a loss of order and harmony globally. It follows the initial advance of the first horseman, suggesting that even perceived victory or religious zeal (potentially linked to the first horse) will quickly give way to violent conflict, tearing apart nations and communities from within. This specific judgment, divinely permitted, initiates an era marked by the devastating consequences of human enmity and rebellion against God, manifesting as a pervasive absence of peace and an increase in mutual destruction.

Revelation 6 4 Word analysis

• And another horse: (καὶ ἄλλος ἵππος, kai allos hippos)

  • ἄλλος (allos): "another" or "a different one." This word emphasizes that this horseman is distinct from the first rider yet shares the same fundamental category (horse and rider), continuing the sequence of divine judgments.
  • This immediately establishes a continuation of the seals' unfolding sequence, maintaining the pattern set by the previous verse.

• fiery red: (πυρρός, pyrros)

  • πυρρός (pyrros): Signifies the color of fire or blood. It directly symbolizes war, bloodshed, violence, and intense destruction. This color is chosen to visually communicate the immediate consequence of this seal's opening.
  • The vivid color immediately signals the nature of this rider's mission.

• went out: (ἐξῆλθεν, exēlthen)

  • ἐξῆλθεν (exēlthen): "It came out," "went forth," or "proceeded." Similar to the first horse, it suggests an active release or divine sending, emerging from God's presence or permission as the seal is broken.

• And it was granted to the one who sat on it: (καὶ τῷ καθημένῳ ἐπ’ αὐτὸ ἐδόθη, kai tō kathēmenō ep’ auto edothē)

  • ἐδόθη (edothē): "it was given," "it was granted." This is a divine passive, indicating that the power and authority given to this rider come from God. The rider acts not independently but as an agent of divine will. This crucial detail highlights God's sovereign control over even these devastating events.

• to take peace from the earth: (ἆραι τὴν εἰρήνην ἐκ τῆς γῆς, arai tēn eirēnēn ek tēs gēs)

  • ἆραι (arai): "to take away," "to lift up." Implies a removal, a forceful eradication of peace.
  • τὴν εἰρήνην (tēn eirēnēn): "the peace." The definite article implies that it's the general peace, any semblance of tranquility or harmony, that will be removed from humanity. It's not just a specific peace treaty, but the very concept of peaceful coexistence.
  • ἐκ τῆς γῆς (ek tēs gēs): "from the earth." Indicates a global, universal scope. This judgment impacts the entire world, not just a localized region.
  • This phrase indicates a complete disruption of societal harmony, a transition from relative peace to pervasive conflict.

• and for people to slay one another: (καὶ ἵνα ἀλλήλους σφάξουσιν, kai hina allēlous sphaxōsin)

  • σφάξουσιν (sphaxousin): "they might slay," "they might slaughter." This strong verb is often used for sacrificial slaughter or violent, bloody killing, highlighting the extreme brutality and widespread carnage.
  • ἀλλήλους (allēlous): "one another," "each other." This signifies internal conflict—civil war, ethnic cleansing, neighbor fighting neighbor—not merely external national wars. It suggests the tearing apart of societal fabric.
  • This emphasizes the removal of peace results in humans turning against each other in deadly violence.

• And a great sword was given to him: (καὶ μάχαιρα μεγάλη ἐδόθη αὐτῷ, kai machaira megalē edothē autō)

  • μάχαιρα (machaira): "sword." This refers to a short sword or dagger, a common weapon for close combat. As a symbol, it represents warfare, violence, and lethal force.
  • μεγάλη (megalē): "great," "large." The addition of "great" implies a wide scope or intense degree of slaughter, signifying extensive and devastating war. It's not a small skirmish but immense, far-reaching conflict.
  • ἐδόθη (edothē): Another divine passive, reiterating that this power and instrument of destruction are also granted by divine permission.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "another horse, fiery red, went out": This directly contrasts with the white horse, immediately signaling a change from perceived victory or initial triumph to raw, destructive power. The red color sets the tone for bloodshed and violence.
  • "it was granted... to take peace from the earth": The crucial point is divine allowance. This removal of peace is not random but a sovereign act. "Peace from the earth" indicates a global impact, encompassing both international conflict and internal strife, stripping away societal stability.
  • "for people to slay one another": This phrase paints a grim picture of civil unrest, ethnic conflict, and general societal breakdown, where humanity turns upon itself in a brutal manner. It highlights a widespread, devastating mutual destruction beyond traditional interstate warfare.
  • "a great sword was given to him": The sword is the tool for executing the peace removal. The adjective "great" signifies not just its physical size, but the vast scale of destruction it enables. It emphasizes the active, widespread carnage resulting from this divine judgment.

Revelation 6 4 Bonus section

• The passive voice ("it was granted," "was given") repeatedly used in this verse (and throughout Revelation concerning the horsemen) is known as the "divine passive." It emphasizes that these horrific events, while wrought by human hands or through natural occurrences, are not outside of God's sovereign control but are permitted or ordained by Him as part of His ultimate plan and righteous judgment.
• The progression from the first white horse (conquest, potentially initial triumph) to the fiery red horse of war indicates an intensifying tribulation. It suggests that apparent progress or stability in the world (represented by the first horse) is often swiftly followed by division and violence as humanity's true nature or external forces manifest.
• The absence of peace and the prevalence of "slaying one another" stands in stark contrast to the true peace that Jesus offers, which is spiritual peace with God and inner tranquility (Jn 14:27), not necessarily the absence of worldly conflict. The events of this seal underscore the world's need for God's true peace, which the world, apart from Him, cannot provide or sustain.

Revelation 6 4 Commentary

Revelation 6:4 vividly depicts the second horseman of the Apocalypse, embodying the divine permission for global war and violent conflict. The "fiery red" color unmistakably signifies bloodshed, hatred, and the destructive consequences of human antagonism. The most critical aspect is that power was granted (ἐδόθη), underscoring that these events, though catastrophic, are under God's sovereign control and serve His purposes of judgment. This rider's mission is explicitly "to take peace from the earth," indicating a widespread cessation of harmonious existence. This isn't just about conventional wars between nations; the phrase "for people to slay one another" points to a deeper, more pervasive level of conflict, including civil strife, genocides, and mutual destruction, where the very fabric of society unravels. The "great sword" symbolizes the instrument of this universal slaughter. This seal highlights that in God's unfolding plan, an era of intense, unceasing human conflict will replace any semblance of earthly peace, serving as a powerful judgment against humanity's rebellion and sin, preparing the world for further divine intervention. This passage can be seen as a fulfillment of Christ's prophecies of wars and rumors of wars preceding the end, illustrating a profound lack of "peace on earth" as declared at His birth.