Devine Scripture

Revelation 6:1

What does Revelation 6:1 mean?

A plain-English look at Revelation 6:1 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Revelation 6:1 means

John sees the Lamb—Christ, who alone was worthy—begin to break open the sealed scroll. The action signals that history will now move forward under His authority. When the first seal is opened, one of the four living creatures, those throne guardians who praise God continually, summons the first agent of judgment with a thunderous command, “Come.” The scene teaches that coming events are not random disasters but proceed at heaven’s initiative. The Lamb’s hand opens the seal; the creature’s voice calls forth what follows. Judgment begins only when God wills, and it arrives in response to His decree, not human impulse. Heaven governs earth, even in calamity.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures saying as with a voice of thunder, Come.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and see.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures saying as with a voice of thunder, Come.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And I saw when the Lamb undid one of the stamps, and the voice of one of the four beasts came to my ears, saying as with a voice of thunder, Come and see.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures saying, as it were a voice of thunder, `Come and behold!'

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And I saw that the Lamb had opened one of the seven seals: and I heard one of the four living creatures, as it were the voice of thunder, saying: Come and see.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures saying, as a voice of thunder, Come [and see].

Context

This verse transitions from the worship of chapters 4–5 into the execution of the scroll’s contents. The one who redeemed by His blood now begins to implement God’s plan. Each of the first four seals will be accompanied by a living creature’s summons and the appearance of a horse and rider. Verse 1 establishes the pattern: opening of a seal by the Lamb, a command from a living creature, and a resulting vision that advances the judgments. What follows will unfold in deliberate, ordered sequence.

v.1This passage

v.2And I saw, and behold, a white horse, and he that sat thereon had a bow; and there was given unto him a crown: and he came forth conquering, and to conquer.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Revelation 6:3

    And when he opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature saying, Come.

  • Revelation 6:5

    And when he opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature saying, Come. And I saw, and behold, a black horse; and he that sat thereon had a balance in his hand.

  • Revelation 6:7

    And when he opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature saying, Come.

  • Revelation 4:5

    And out of the throne proceed lightnings and voices and thunders. And there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God;

  • Revelation 11:19

    And there was opened the temple of God that is in heaven; and there was seen in his temple the ark of his covenant; and there followed lightnings, and voices, and thunders, and an earthquake, and great hail.

  • Revelation 14:2

    And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and the voice which I heardwasasthe voiceof harpers harping with their harps:

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