Revelation 6:9

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

8 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.

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?”

11 Then each of them was given a white robe and told to rest a little while longer, until the full number of their fellow servants, their brothers, were killed, just as they had been killed.

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
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.
KJV
And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:
WEB
When he opened the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been killed for the Word of God, and for the testimony of the Lamb which they had.
ASV
And when he opened the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of them that had been slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:
DARBY
And when it opened the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of them that had been slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held;
BLB
And when He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those having been slain because of the word of God and because of the testimony that they had.
ÅB
Og da det åpnet det femte segl, så jeg under alteret deres sjeler som var myrdet for Guds ords skyld, og for det vitnesbyrds skyld som de hadde;
OTB
Da Lammet åpnet det femte seglet, så jeg under alteret sjelene til dem som var blitt drept for Guds ord og for vitnesbyrdet de hadde holdt fast ved.
B1930
Og da det åpnet det femte segl, så jeg under alteret deres sjeler som var myrdet for Guds ords skyld, og for det vidnesbyrds skyld som de hadde;

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Revelation 20:4

    Then I saw the thrones, and those seated on them had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image, and had not received its mark on their foreheads or hands. And they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.

    Read in context
  • John 16:2

    They will put you out of the synagogues. In fact, a time is coming when anyone who kills you will think he is offering a service to God.

    Read in context
  • Revelation 1:9

    I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation and kingdom and perseverance that are in Jesus, was on the island of Patmos because of the word of God and my testimony about Jesus.

    Read in context
  • Revelation 12:11–17

    They have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony. And they did not love their lives so as to shy away from death.

    Read in context
  • Revelation 2:13

    I know where you live, where the throne of Satan sits. Yet you have held fast to My name and have not denied your faith in Me, even in the day when My faithful witness Antipas was killed among you, where Satan dwells.

    Read in context
  • Revelation 11:3–7

    And I will empower my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.”

    Read in context
  • 2 Timothy 1:8

    So do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, or of me, His prisoner. Instead, join me in suffering for the gospel by the power of God.

    Read in context
  • Revelation 16:7

    And I heard the altar reply: “Yes, Lord God Almighty, true and just are Your judgments.”

    Read in context