English Standard Version
Revelation 6:1
1Now I watched when the Lamb opened one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures say with a voice like thunder, "Come!"
Revelation 6:1 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)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.
- New International Version (NIV)I watched as the Lamb opened the first of the seven seals. Then I heard one of the four living creatures say in a voice like thunder, “Come!”
- New King James Version (NKJV)Now I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals; and I heard one of the four living creatures saying with a voice like thunder, “Come and see.”
- New Living Translation (NLT)As I watched, the Lamb broke the first of the seven seals on the scroll. Then I heard one of the four living beings say with a voice like thunder, “Come!”
Context of Revelation 6:1
Now I watched when the Lamb opened one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures say with a voice like thunder, "Come!" 2And I looked, and behold, a white horse! And its rider had a bow, and a crown was given to him, and he came out conquering, and to conquer. 3When he opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature say, "Come!"
Read all of Revelation 6Revelation 6:1 word by word
Καὶ εἶδον ὅτε ἤνοιξεν τὸ ἀρνίον μίαν ἐκ τῶν ἑπτὰ σφραγίδων καὶ ἤκουσα ἑνὸς ἐκ τῶν τεσσάρων ζῴων λέγοντος ὡς φωνὴ βροντῆς· ἔρχουRead the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Andκαίkai · andG2532
- I sawὁράωhoraō · to see: seeG3708
- whenὅτεhote ho te hē te tō te · whenG3753
- the Lambὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- the Lambἀρνίονarnion · lambG721
- openedἀνοίγωanoigō · to openG455
- oneεἷςheis · oneG1520
- ofἐκek ex · out fromG1537
- the sealsσφραγίςsphragis · sealG4973
- I heardἀκούωakouō · to hearG191
- as it wereὡςhōs · as/whenG5613
- the noiseφωνήphōnē · voice/sound: voiceG5456
- of thunderβροντήbrontē · thunderG1027
- the fourτέσσαρεςtessares tessara · fourG5064
- beastsζῷονzōon · living thingG2226
- sayingλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
- Comeἔρχομαιerchomai · to come/goG2064
- seeβλέπωblepō · to seeG991
Cross-references for Revelation 6:1
- Revelation 5:5And one of the elders said to me, "Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals."
- Revelation 4:5From the throne came flashes of lightning, and rumblings and peals of thunder, and before the throne were burning seven torches of fire, which are the seven spirits of God,
- Revelation 10:3and called out with a loud voice, like a lion roaring. When he called out, the seven thunders sounded.
- Revelation 11:19Then God's temple in heaven was opened, and the ark of his covenant was seen within his temple. There were flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake, and heavy hail.
- Revelation 6:3When he opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature say, "Come!"
- Revelation 4:6and before the throne there was as it were a sea of glass, like crystal. And around the throne, on each side of the throne, are four living creatures, full of eyes in front and behind:
- Acts 4:20for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard."
Commentaries on Revelation 6:1
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 1When the Lamb opened one of the seals - It is worthy of remark that the opening of the seals is not merely a declaration of what God will do, but is the exhibition of a purpose then accomplished; for whenever the seal is opened, the sentence appears to be executed. It is supposed that, from Revelation 6:1-11:19, the calamities which should fall on the enemies of Christianity, and particularly the Jews, are pointed out under various images, as well as the…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1And I saw - Or, I looked. He fixed his eye attentively on what was passing, as promising important disclosures. No one had been found in the universe who could open the seals but the Lamb of God Revelation 5:2-4; and it was natural for John, therefore, to look upon the transaction with profound interest. When the Lamb opened one of the seals - See the notes on Revelation 5:1, Revelation 5:5. This was the first or outermost of the seals, and its being…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 1The opening of the seals, The first, second, third, and fourth. (1-8) The fifth. (9-11) The sixth. (12-17) Verses 1-8 Christ, the Lamb, opens the first seal: observe what appeared. A rider on a white horse. By the going forth of this white horse, a time of peace, or the early progress of the Christian religion, seems to be intended; its going forth in purity, at the time when its heavenly Founder sent his apostles to teach all nations, adding, Lo! I am…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-8The four horses and their riders (see Zechariah 1:8–11; 6:1–8) represent the world's power structures. Their actions lead mainly to war, violence, economic imbalance, and death. Because of this, it is useless to place our hope in these human systems of power.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-17Compare Note, see on Re 5:1. Many (Mede, Fleming, Newton, &c.) hold that all these seals have been fulfilled, the sixth having been so by the overthrow of paganism and establishment of Christianity under Constantine's edict, A.D. 312. There can, however, be no doubt that at least the sixth seal is future, and is to be at the coming again of Christ. The great objection to supposing the seals to be finally and exhaustively fulfilled (though, probably…Read the comment
Topics related to Revelation 6:1
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Revelation 6
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Illustrated New Testament
- Burkitt’s Expository Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Family Bible Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- The People’s New Testament
- Robertson’s Word Pictures
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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