Revelation 6:8

6 And I heard what sounded like a voice from among the four living creatures, saying, “A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius, and do not harm the oil and wine.”

7 And when the Lamb opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature say, “Come!”

Then I looked and saw a pale green horse. Its rider’s name was Death, and Hades followed close behind. And they were given authority over a fourth of the earth, to kill by sword, by famine, by plague, and by the beasts of the earth.

9 And when the Lamb opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony they had upheld.

10 And they cried out in a loud voice, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You avenge our blood and judge those who dwell upon the earth?”

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
Then I looked and saw a pale green horse. Its rider’s name was Death, and Hades followed close behind. And they were given authority over a fourth of the earth, to kill by sword, by famine, by plague, and by the beasts of the earth.
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.
WEB
And behold, a pale horse, and the name of he who sat on it was Death. Hades followed with him. Authority over one fourth of the earth, to kill with the sword, with famine, with death, and by the wild animals of the earth was given to him.
ASV
And I saw, and behold, a pale horse: and he that sat upon him, his name was Death; and Hades followed with him. And there was given unto them authority over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with famine, and with death, and by the wild beasts of the earth.
DARBY
And I saw: and behold, a pale horse, and he that sat upon it, his name [was] Death, and hades followed with him; and authority was given to him over the fourth of the earth to slay with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and by the beasts of the earth.
BLB
And I looked, and behold, a pale green horse, and the one sitting on it, the name of him [was] Death, and Hades was following with him; and authority was given to them over the fourth of the earth, to kill with sword, and with famine, and with plague, and by the beasts of the earth.
ÅB
Og jeg så, og se, en gul hest, og han som satt på den, hans navn var døden, og dødsriket fulgte med ham; og det ble gitt dem makt over fjerdedelen av jorden, til å drepe med sverd og med sult og med pest og ved villdyrene på jorden.
OTB
Jeg så, og se, en blek hest! Rytteren het Døden, og Dødsriket fulgte tett etter ham. De fikk makt over en fjerdedel av jorden, til å drepe med sverd, hunger, pest og ved jordens ville dyr.
B1930
Og jeg så, og se, en gul hest, og han som satt på den, hans navn var døden, og dødsriket fulgte med ham; og det blev gitt dem makt over fjerdedelen av jorden, til å drepe med sverd og med sult og med pest og ved villdyrene på jorden.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Hosea 13:14

    I will ransom them from the power of Sheol; I will redeem them from Death. Where, O Death, are your plagues? Where, O Sheol, is your sting? Compassion is hidden from My eyes.

    Read in context
  • Jeremiah 15:2–3

    If they ask you, ‘Where shall we go?’ you are to tell them that this is what the LORD says: ‘Those destined for death, to death; those destined for the sword, to the sword; those destined for famine, to famine; and those destined for captivity, to captivity.’

    Read in context
  • Revelation 1:18

    the Living One. I was dead, and behold, now I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of Death and of Hades.

    Read in context
  • Zechariah 6:3

    the third white horses, and the fourth dappled horses—all of them strong.

    Read in context
  • Ezekiel 14:13–21

    “Son of man, if a land sins against Me by acting unfaithfully, and I stretch out My hand against it to cut off its supply of food, to send famine upon it, and to cut off from it both man and beast,

    Read in context
  • Ezekiel 5:12

    A third of your people will die by plague or be consumed by famine within you, a third will fall by the sword outside your walls, and a third I will scatter to every wind and unleash a sword behind them.

    Read in context
  • Jeremiah 16:4

    “They will die from deadly diseases. They will not be mourned or buried, but will lie like dung on the ground. They will be finished off by sword and famine, and their corpses will become food for the birds of the air and beasts of the earth.”

    Read in context
  • Revelation 20:13–14

    The sea gave up its dead, and Death and Hades gave up their dead, and each one was judged according to his deeds.

    Read in context