Revelation 6:10

Revelation 6:10 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?
• New International Version (NIV)They called out in a loud voice, “How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?”
• English Standard Version (ESV)They cried out with a loud voice, "O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?"
• New King James Version (NKJV)And they cried with a loud voice, saying, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?”

Context of Revelation 6:10

8I looked, and there was a pale horse, and its rider’s name was Death. Hell followed him. They were given power over one-fourth of the earth to kill people using wars, famines, plagues, and the wild animals on the earth. 9When the lamb opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slaughtered because of God’s word and the testimony they had given about him. They cried out in a loud voice, “Holy and true Master, how long before you judge and take revenge on those living on earth who shed our blood?” 11Each of the souls was given a white robe. They were told to rest a little longer until all their coworkers, the other Christians, would be killed as they had been killed. 12I watched as the lamb opened the sixth seal. A powerful earthquake struck. The sun turned as black as sackcloth made of hair. The full moon turned as red as blood.

Revelation 6:10 word by word

καὶ ἔκραξαν φωνῇ μεγάλῃ λέγοντες· ἕως πότε, ὁ δεσπότης ὁ ἅγιος καὶ ἀληθινός, οὐ κρίνεις καὶ ἐκδικεῖς τὸ αἷμα ἡμῶν ἐκ τῶν κατοικούντων ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς;Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Andκαίkai · andG2532
• they criedκράζωkrazō · to cryG2896
• with a loudμέγαςmegas · greatG3173
• voiceφωνήphōnē · voice/sound: voiceG5456
• sayingλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
• Howἕωςheōs · untilG2193
• longπότεpote · when?G4219
• O Lordὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• O Lordδεσπότηςdespotēs · masterG1203
• holyἅγιοςhagios · holyG40
• trueἀληθινόςalēthinos · trueG228
• dost thouκρίνωkrinō · to judgeG2919
• notοὐou · noG3756
• avengeἐκδικέωekdikeō · to avengeG1556
• ourἐγώegō · I/weG1473
• bloodαἷμαaima · bloodG129
• onἀπόapo · away fromG575
• them that dwellκατοικέωkatoikeō · to dwellG2730
• onἐπίepi · upon/to/againstG1909
• the earthγῆgē · earth: planetG1093

Cross-references for Revelation 6:10

• Genesis 4:10The Lord asked, “What have you done? Your brother’s blood is crying out to me from the ground.
• Psalms 9:12The one who avenges murder has remembered oppressed people. He has never forgotten their cries.
• Luke 18:7Won’t God give his chosen people justice when they cry out to him for help day and night? Is he slow to help them?
• Hebrews 12:24You have come to Jesus, who brings the new promise from God, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better message than Abel’s.
• Psalms 13:1How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me?
• Psalms 35:17O Lord, how long will you look on? Rescue me from their attacks. Rescue my precious life from the lions.
• Psalms 74:9We no longer see miraculous signs. There are no prophets anymore. No one knows how long this will last.
• Psalms 94:3How long, O Lord, will wicked people triumph? How long?
• Daniel 8:13Then I heard a holy one speaking. Another holy one said to the one who was speaking, “How long will the things in this vision—the daily burnt offering, the destructive rebellion, the surrender of the holy place, and the trampling of the army—take place?”
• Daniel 12:6One of them asked the man dressed in linen clothes who was above the river, “How long will it be until these miracles are over?”
• Zechariah 1:12Then the Messenger of the Lord said, “Lord of Armies, how much longer until you show compassion to Jerusalem and the cities of Judah? You’ve been angry with them for 70 years.”
• Revelation 3:7“To the messenger of the church in Philadelphia, write: The one who is holy, who is true, who has the key of David, who opens ⌞a door⌟ that no one can shut, and who shuts ⌞a door⌟ that no one can open, says:
• Revelation 15:3and singing the song of God’s servant Moses and the song of the lamb. They sang, “The things you do are spectacular and amazing, Lord God Almighty. The way you do them is fair and true, King of the Nations.
• Revelation 11:18“The nations were angry, but your anger has come. The time has come for the dead to be judged: to reward your servants, the prophets, your holy people, and those who fear your name, no matter if they are important or unimportant, and to destroy those who destroy the earth.”
• Revelation 16:5Then I heard the angel of the water say, “You are fair. You are the one who is and the one who was, the holy one, because you have judged these things.
• Revelation 18:20“Gloat over it, heaven, God’s people, apostles, and prophets. God has condemned it for you.”

Commentaries on Revelation 6:10

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 10And they cried with a loud voice - That is, their blood, like that of Abel, cried for vengeance; for we are not to suppose that there was any thing like a vindictive spirit in those happy and holy souls who had shed their blood for the testimony of Jesus. We sometimes say Blood cries for blood; that is, in the order of Divine justice, every murderer, and every murdering persecutor, shall be punished. O Lord - ̔ · Sovereign Lord, supreme Ruler; one having…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 9-11Verses 9-11 And when he had opened the fifth seal - notes at Revelation 5:1; Revelation 6:1. I saw under the altar - The four living creatures are no longer heard as in the opening of the first four seals. No reason is given for the change in the manner of the representation; and none can be assigned, unless it be, that having represented each one of the four living creatures in their turn as calling attention to the remarkable events about to occur…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 9-11Verses 9-11 The sight the apostle beheld at the opening the fifth seal was very affecting. He saw the souls of the martyrs under the altar; at the foot of the altar in heaven, at the feet of Christ. Persecutors can only kill the body; after that there is no more they can do; the soul lives. God has provided a good place in the better world, for those who are faithful unto death. It is not their own death, but the sacrifice of Christ, that gives them…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 10The martyrs called out to God because they trusted his power to address their grievances. How long: Is God slow to act? Will justice be served? God acts decisively (see Revelation 6:12–14). His wrath (Revelation 6:16–17) should be understood as justice, fairness, and righteousness (see Exodus 34:5–7; Nehemiah 9:17; Psalms 103:8; 145:8; Joel 2:13; Jonah 4:2; Romans 2:6–11). avenge our blood: This plea for God’s justice follows the pattern of psalms calling…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1010. How long--Greek, "Until when?" As in the parable the woman (symbol of the Church) cries day and night to the unjust judge for justice against her adversary who is always oppressing her (compare below, Re 12:10); so the elect (not only on earth, but under Christ's covering, and in His presence in Paradise) cry day and night to God, who will assuredly, in His own time, avenge His and their cause, "though He bear long with them." These passages need not…Read the comment

Topics related to Revelation 6:10

• God
• God Continued...
• Martyrdom
• Persecution

In the dictionaries

• Conquer
• Hurt
• Mighty
• Shake
• Abel (1)
• Abiezer
• Ascension
• Cry, Crying
• Eschatology of the New Testament
• Ethics

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