Revelation 6:11
What does Revelation 6:11 mean?
A plain-English look at Revelation 6:11 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Revelation 6:11 means
They are each given a white robe, a sign of purity, victory, and acceptance, and told to rest a little time longer. God’s answer includes comfort now and a promise of vindication later. The delay has purpose: more fellow-servants and brothers will be killed as they were, and their number or course must be fulfilled. This does not trivialize suffering; it situates it within God’s sovereign plan. The white robe assures them their status before God is secure, even as history continues. The command to rest invites trust—justice is coming, but God gathers all His witnesses before He unveils its fullness.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And there was given them to each one a white robe; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little time, until their fellow-servants also and their brethren, who should be killed even as they were, should have fulfilled their course.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And there was given them to each one a white robe; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little time, until their fellow-servants also and their brethren, who should be killed even as they were, should have fulfilled their course.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And there was given to every one a white robe, and they were ordered to take their rest for a little time, till the number was complete of the other servants, their brothers, who would be put to death, even as they had been.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862and there was given to each one white robes, and it was said to them that they may rest themselves yet a little time, till may be fulfilled also their fellow-servants and their brethren, who are about to be killed--even as they.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And white robes were given to every one of them one; And it was said to them that they should rest for a little time till their fellow servants and their brethren, who are to be slain even as they, should be filled up.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And there was given to them, to each one a white robe; and it was said to them that they should rest yet a little while, until both their fellow-bondmen and their brethren, who were about to be killed as they, should be fulfilled.
Context
This concludes the fifth seal by answering the martyrs’ “How long?” with divine timing and present consolation. With heaven’s perspective established—God sees, clothes, and schedules vindication—the narrative moves in verse 12 to the sixth seal, where cosmic signs and terror among all classes of people display that the day of wrath has drawn near. The comfort of verse 11 thus stands alongside the warning that judgment for the unrepentant is imminent.
v.10and they cried with a great voice, saying, How long, O Master, the holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?
v.11This passage
v.12And I saw when he opened the sixth seal, and there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the whole moon became as blood;
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Revelation 7:9
After these things I saw, and behold, a great multitude, which no man could number, out of every nation and ofalltribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, arrayed in white robes, and palms in their hands;
- Revelation 14:13
And I heard a voice from heaven saying, Write, Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from henceforth: yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors; for their works follow with them.
- Daniel 12:13
But go thou thy way till the end be; for thou shalt rest, and shalt stand in thy lot, at the end of the days.
- Isaiah 26:20
Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast.
- John 16:2
They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the hour cometh, that whosoever killeth you shall think that he offereth service unto God.
- Hebrews 11:40
God having provided some better thing concerning us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.
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