Revelation 6:4

Then another horse went forth. It was bright red, and its rider was granted permission to take away peace from the earth and to make men slay one another. And he was given a great sword.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — John records a vision triggered when the Lamb opens the second seal, causing the second living creature to command the event. The scene occurs sequentially between the opening of the second and third seals.

The words — The Greek highlights ἐξῆλθεν (exēlthen), meaning "went forth," and ἄλλος (allos), meaning "another," to mark this mount as a distinct addition to the prior seal's opening. It also records πυρρὸς (purros), literally "bright red," describing the horse's color.

The thread — This imagery links to Zechariah 6:2, which lists red horses among divine patrols, and Matthew 10:34, where Jesus states he brings not peace but a sword. Revelation 13:10 later repeats the sword motif in its warning about captivity and death.

Why it lands — The text states that peace is removed from the earth by granted permission and that a great sword is given to a rider to enable mutual slaughter. It requires the reader to recognize that widespread violence operates under divine allowance rather than autonomous human causation.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Greek words

King James Version

And 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.

Cross-references

Zechariah 6:2 The first chariot had red horses, the second black horses,
Matthew 10:34 Do not assume that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.
Revelation 13:10 “If anyone is destined for captivity, into captivity he will go; if anyone is to die by the sword, by the sword he must be killed.” Here is a call for the perseverance and faith of the saints.
Revelation 17:6 I could see that the woman was drunk with the blood of the saints and witnesses for Jesus. And I was utterly amazed at the sight of her.
Zechariah 1:8 I looked out into the night and saw a man riding on a red horse. He was standing among the myrtle trees in the hollow, and behind him were red, sorrel, and white horses.
Ezekiel 30:24 I will strengthen the arms of Babylon’s king and place My sword in his hand, but I will break the arms of Pharaoh, who will groan before him like a mortally wounded man.
Daniel 5:19 Because of the greatness that He bestowed on him, the people of every nation and language trembled in fear before him. He killed whom he wished and kept alive whom he wished; he exalted whom he wished and humbled whom he wished.
John 19:11 Jesus answered, “You would have no authority over Me if it were not given to you from above. Therefore the one who handed Me over to you is guilty of greater sin.”
Revelation 12:3 Then another sign appeared in heaven: a huge red dragon with seven heads, ten horns, and seven royal crowns on his heads.
Revelation 17:3 And the angel carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness, where I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was covered with blasphemous names and had seven heads and ten horns.