Revelation 6:8 kjv

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 unto 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.

Revelation 6:8 nkjv

So I looked, and behold, a pale horse. And the name of him who sat on it was Death, and Hades followed with him. And power was given to them over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword, with hunger, with death, and by the beasts of the earth.

Revelation 6:8 niv

I looked, and there before me was a pale horse! Its rider was named Death, and Hades was following close behind him. They were given power over a fourth of the earth to kill by sword, famine and plague, and by the wild beasts of the earth.

Revelation 6:8 esv

And I looked, and behold, a pale horse! And its rider's name was Death, and Hades followed him. And they were given authority over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword and with famine and with pestilence and by wild beasts of the earth.

Revelation 6:8 nlt

I looked up and saw a horse whose color was pale green. Its rider was named Death, and his companion was the Grave. These two were given authority over one-fourth of the earth, to kill with the sword and famine and disease and wild animals.

Revelation 6 verses

Revelation 6 8 Meaning

Revelation 6:8 describes the opening of the fourth seal, which unleashes a devastating judgment upon the earth. A pale, or livid, horse emerges, ridden by Death, who is closely followed by Hades. They are granted specific divine authority over a fourth of the earth's inhabitants, enabling them to bring about widespread mortality through four primary means: warfare (sword), scarcity (famine), disease (pestilence), and attacks by wild animals. This signifies a massive, divinely ordained catastrophe leading to a significant loss of human life.

Revelation 6 8 Context

Revelation chapter 6 describes the opening of the first six of the seven seals by the Lamb. Each seal unleashes a distinct vision and judgment upon the earth, escalating in intensity. The first four seals are represented by four horses with riders, often called the "Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse." The pale horse is the fourth in this sequence, following the white horse (conquest or righteous advance), the red horse (war and bloodshed), and the black horse (famine and economic injustice). This sequence progresses from broader, overarching themes to increasingly specific and severe forms of global distress and mortality.

Historically, John's original audience lived under the Pax Romana, a time of purported peace and stability enforced by the Roman Empire, which often presented itself as divine and invincible. The vision of these devastating judgments served as a powerful polemic against Rome's claims of ultimate sovereignty and divine favor. It asserted that God, not Caesar, held ultimate authority over peace and war, life and death, and that even the empire's greatest boasts could be undone by divine decree through these agents of destruction.

Revelation 6 8 Word analysis

• And I looked, and behold (καὶ εἶδον, καὶ ἰδοὺ, kai eidon, kai idou): A common introductory phrase in prophetic visions, signaling that the observer is witnessing something striking and significant unfold before their eyes. The "behold" (ἰδοὺ) draws particular attention to the shocking nature of what is revealed.
• a pale horse! (ἵππος χλωρὸς, hippos chlōros):
  • Hippos: Refers to a horse, commonly associated with swift movement, power, and often warfare.
  • Chlōros: Transliterated as "chlorine," indicating its original meaning: green. However, in this context, it signifies a sickly, pallid, or greenish-yellow color, like that of a decaying corpse or diseased skin. It distinctly sets it apart from the previous horses, immediately conveying a sense of death, sickness, decay, and dread.
• And its rider's name was Death (ὁ ἔχων τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ Θάνατος, ho echōn to onoma autou Thanatos):
  • Thanatos: The Greek word for "Death," here personified as an active agent. Not merely the abstract concept, but a powerful entity capable of inflicting mass mortality, fulfilling the gruesome symbolism of the pale horse.
• and Hades followed him (καὶ ὁ ᾍδης ἠκολούθει μετ' αὐτοῦ, kai ho Hadēs ēkolouthei met' autou):
  • Hadēs: The realm of the dead, the underworld, or the grave in Greek thought. It is personified here as a companion or close follower of Death. This imagery underscores the enormity of the coming fatalities: Death strikes, and Hades collects the vast multitude of souls. Their joint appearance emphasizes that the casualties will be so great that the grave itself expands to receive them. Hades here does not mean Hell (Gehenna) as a place of eternal torment but the holding place of the deceased.
• And authority was given to them (καὶ ἐδόθη αὐτοῖς ἐξουσία, kai edothē autois exousia):
  • Edothē: The Greek verb "was given," rendered in the passive voice. This "divine passive" is crucial. It asserts that the power exercised by Death and Hades is not intrinsic to them or random, but rather granted and permitted by God. This emphasizes God's sovereign control even over these agents of destruction; these judgments are part of His plan.
  • Exousia: Refers to authority, power, or legitimate right to act.
• over a fourth of the earth (ἐπὶ τὸ τέταρτον τῆς γῆς, epi to tetarton tēs gēs):
  • "Fourth": A precise fraction. This indicates that the judgment is widespread and horrific in its scope, affecting a significant portion of humanity, but it is not a total annihilation. It's a massive, yet contained and divinely measured, calamity.
  • "Earth": Refers to the inhabited world or specific geographical region under judgment.
• to kill with sword (ἀποκτεῖναι ἐν ῥομφαίᾳ, apokteinai en rhomphaia):
  • Rhomphaia: A long sword or saber. Symbolizes death by war, violence, conflict, or judicial execution.
• and with famine (καὶ ἐν λιμῷ, kai en limō):
  • Limos: Death by starvation due to scarcity, agricultural failure, or disruption caused by war.
• and with pestilence (καὶ ἐν θανάτῳ, kai en thanatō):
  • Thanatō: While this word usually means "death," in this context, alongside sword, famine, and wild beasts, it specifically denotes "plague" or "pestilence," widespread epidemic disease that results in death. This distinguishes it from "Thanatos" as the rider's name.
• and by wild beasts of the earth (καὶ ὑπὸ τῶν θηρίων τῆς γῆς, kai hypo tōn thērion tēs gēs):
  • Thērion: Wild animals. This mode of death signifies a profound breakdown of natural order and human dominion, where humanity is so decimated or desperate that it falls prey to creatures usually subdued. It’s a biblical sign of God's judgment (e.g., Lev 26:22, Eze 14:21).

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "a pale horse! And its rider's name was Death, and Hades followed him": This phrase masterfully portrays the essence of the fourth seal – an embodiment of sickness leading to vast numbers of casualties, with Death striking down and Hades absorbing the consequences. It’s a unified vision of mass demise and its grim outcome.
• "And authority was given to them over a fourth of the earth": The critical element here is divine control. The phrase "was given" clearly states that the immense power wielded by Death and Hades is not arbitrary evil or an independent force but is part of God's sovereign allowance and specific judgment, impacting a significant but bounded portion of the global population.
• "to kill with sword and with famine and with pestilence and by wild beasts of the earth": This forms a classic prophetic quartet of divine judgments. Echoing multiple Old Testament passages (notably Eze 14:21), these specific means signify a comprehensive and multi-faceted judgment that brings about a breakdown of all societal stability – war, resource collapse, widespread disease, and the untamed forces of nature turning against humanity.

Revelation 6 8 Bonus section

• Old Testament Archetype: The detailed enumeration of "sword, famine, pestilence, and wild beasts" as specific instruments of divine judgment finds its deepest roots in the prophetic warnings of the Old Testament. Passages such as Ezekiel 14:21 explicitly list these as God's "four dreadful acts of judgment." This linkage provides powerful context for John's original audience, who would recognize these specific calamities as manifestations of God's righteous wrath against disobedience.
• Progressive Intensity: The sequence of the first four seals illustrates a progression from broader geopolitical conflict (white and red horses) to more direct consequences of human suffering (black horse for famine), culminating in the pale horse encompassing widespread death across multiple devastating avenues. This progression emphasizes the escalating nature of God's judgments as world history unfolds.
• Counter-Imperial Claim: In an age when Roman emperors claimed to bring universal peace and prosperity, the vision of Death and Hades being given authority to bring sword, famine, pestilence, and beasts acts as a stark theological counter-claim. It reminds the audience that ultimate power and control rest not with earthly rulers but with God, who can use the very forces that maintain the empire's power to bring about its downfall or judgment upon its inhabitants.

Revelation 6 8 Commentary

Revelation 6:8 unveils a terrifying aspect of divine judgment: widespread death orchestrated through multiple, devastating means. The sickly hue of the fourth horse, ridden by personified Death and followed by Hades (the realm of the dead), vividly portrays the immense scale of coming mortality. The crucial point is that this devastation is not chaotic or random but precisely administered: "authority was given to them." This passive construction affirms God's ultimate sovereignty over these dreadful events, even Death and the grave. They are merely agents in His divine plan, highlighting His omnipotence even in judgment. The "fourth of the earth" signifies a global reach but also a defined limit, reminding us that God's judgments are purposeful and measured, not an uncontrolled annihilation. The four specified instruments of death—sword (war), famine (scarcity), pestilence (disease), and wild beasts—are a historically recognized quartet of divine judgments found extensively in the Old Testament, representing the complete unraveling of life and order due to sin and rebellion. This verse underscores the severity of God's wrath and the real consequences of humanity's refusal to repent, while simultaneously assuring believers that even in the darkest periods of history, God remains utterly in control. It prompts believers to remain steadfast in faith and offers a stark warning for the world to turn to the Lord.