Revelation 6:4
What does Revelation 6:4 mean?
A plain-English look at Revelation 6:4 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Revelation 6:4 means
A red horse appears, its rider empowered to take peace from the earth so that people kill one another, and he is given a great sword. Red evokes bloodshed. This is not merely international war but also internal violence and civil strife—societies turning on themselves. The peace removed is a gift God can withdraw, revealing how dependent human communities are on His restraint. The “great sword” symbolizes significant, widespread conflict. As with the first rider, the authority is granted, underscoring divine sovereignty even over human rage. The verse portrays the bitter fruit of unbridled ambition: once conquest begins, violence follows, and the world bleeds under heaven’s permitted judgment.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And anotherhorsecame forth, a red horse: and to him that sat thereon it was given to take peace from the earth, and that they should slay one another: and there was given unto him a great sword.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And 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.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And anotherhorsecame forth, a red horse: and to him that sat thereon it was given to take peace from the earth, and that they should slay one another: and there was given unto him a great sword.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And another horse came out, a red horse; and it was given to him who was seated on it to take peace from the earth, so that people might put one another to death: and there was given to him a great sword.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862and there went forth another horse--red, and to him who is sitting upon it, there was given to him to take the peace from the land, and that one another they may slay, and there was given to him a great sword.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And there went out another horse that was red. And to him that sat thereon, it was given that he should take peace from the earth: and that they should kill one another. And a great sword was given to him.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And another, a red horse, went forth; and to him that sat upon it, to him it was given to take peace from the earth, and that they should slay one another; and there was given to him a great sword.
Context
Following conquest, the second seal unveils war and bloodshed. The sequence shows a realistic progression: expansion breeds conflict, and conflict escalates into killing among peoples. This prepares for the next seal (verses 5–6), where economic scarcity and famine strike as typical consequences of warfare and disorder. Keeping the pattern in view helps the reader see that these are not isolated symbols but interlocking judgments, each amplifying the misery introduced by the former.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Revelation 13:10
If any man is for captivity, into captivity he goeth: if any man shall kill with the sword, with the sword must he be killed. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.
- Matthew 10:34
Think not that I came to send peace on the earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.
- Zechariah 6:2
In the first chariot were red horses; and in the second chariot black horses;
- John 19:11
Jesus answered him, Thou wouldest have no power against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath greater sin.
- Revelation 17:6
And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. And when I saw her, I wondered with a great wonder.
- Revelation 17:3
And he carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness: and I saw a woman sitting upon a scarlet-colored beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.
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