6
The Lamb opens the seals
The first seal
1 Καὶ εἶδον ὅτι* ἤνοιξεν τὸ Ἀρνίον μίαν ἐκ τῶν ἑπτὰ σφραγίδων,† καὶ ἤκουσα ἑνὸς ἐκ τῶν τεσσάρων ζῴων λέγοντος, ὡς φωνὴ‡ βροντῆς, «Ἔρχου.» 2 Καὶ εἶδον καὶ ἰδού,§ ἵππος λευκός, καὶ ὁ καθήμενος ἐπ᾿ αὐτὸν* ἔχων τόξον. Καὶ ἐδόθη αὐτῷ στέφανος· καὶ ἐξῆλθεν νικῶν, καὶ ἵνα νικήσῃ.
The second seal
3 Καὶ ὅτε ἤνοιξεν τὴν δευτέραν σφραγῖδα† ἤκουσα τοῦ δευτέρου ζῴου λέγοντος, «Ἔρχου.» 4 Καὶ‡ ἐξῆλθεν ἄλλος ἵππος, πυρρός,§ καὶ τῷ καθημένῳ ἐπ᾿ αὐτὸν* ἐδόθη αὐτῷ λαβεῖν τὴν εἰρήνην ἐκ† τῆς γῆς,‡ ἵνα ἀλλήλους σφάξωσιν·§ καὶ ἐδόθη αὐτῷ μάχαιρα μεγάλη.
The third seal
5 Καὶ ὅτε ἤνοιξεν τὴν σφραγῖδα τὴν τρίτην,* ἤκουσα τοῦ τρίτου ζῴου λέγοντος, «Ἔρχου.» Καὶ εἶδον καὶ ἰδού,† ἵππος μέλας, καὶ ὁ καθήμενος ἐπ᾿ αὐτὸν‡ ἔχων§ ζυγὸν ἐν τῇ χειρὶ αὐτοῦ. 6 Καὶ ἤκουσα* φωνὴν ἐν μέσῳ τῶν τεσσάρων ζῴων λέγουσαν· «Χοῖνιξ σίτου δηναρίου, καὶ τρεῖς χοίνικες κριθῆς† δηναρίου· καὶ τὸ ἔλαιον καὶ τὸν οἶνον μὴ ἀδικήσῃς.»
The fourth seal
7 Καὶ ὅτε ἤνοιξεν τὴν σφραγῖδα τὴν τετάρτην, ἤκουσα φωνὴν‡ τοῦ τετάρτου ζῴου λέγοντος,§ «Ἔρχου.» 8 Καὶ εἶδον καὶ ἰδού,* ἵππος χλωρός, καὶ ὁ καθήμενος ἐπάνω αὐτοῦ, ὄνομα αὐτῷ Θάνατος,† καὶ ὁ ᾍδης ἀκολουθεῖ‡ μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ.§ Καὶ ἐδόθη αὐτῷ* ἐξουσία ἐπὶ τὸ τέταρτον τῆς γῆς, ἀποκτεῖναι† ἐν ῥομφαίᾳ καὶ ἐν λιμῷ καὶ ἐν θανάτῳ, καὶ ὑπὸ τῶν θηρίων τῆς γῆς.
The fifth seal
9 Καὶ ὅτε ἤνοιξεν τὴν πέμπτην σφραγῖδα, εἶδον ὑποκάτω τοῦ θυσιαστηρίου τὰς ψυχὰς τῶν ἀνθρώπων‡ τῶν ἐσφαγμένων διὰ τὸν λόγον τοῦ Θεοῦ καὶ διὰ τὴν μαρτυρίαν τοῦ Ἀρνίου§ ἣν εἶχον. 10 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;» 11 Καὶ ἐδόθη* αὐτοῖς ἑκάστῳ† στολὴ λευκή,‡ καὶ ἐρρέθη αὐτοῖς ἵνα ἀναπαύσωνται§ ἔτι χρόνον,* ἕως οὗ† πληρώσωσιν‡ καὶ οἱ σύνδουλοι αὐτῶν καὶ οἱ ἀδελφοὶ αὐτῶν,§ οἱ μέλλοντες ἀποκτένεσθαι* ὡς καὶ αὐτοί.
The sixth seal
12 Καὶ εἶδον, καὶ† ὅτε ἤνοιξεν τὴν σφραγῖδα τὴν ἕκτην, καὶ‡ σεισμὸς μέγας ἐγένετο· καὶ ὁ ἥλιος μέλας ἐγένετο§ ὡς σάκκος τρίχινος, καὶ ἡ σελήνη* ἐγένετο ὡς αἷμα. 13 Καὶ οἱ ἀστέρες τοῦ οὐρανοῦ ἔπεσον† εἰς τὴν γῆν, ὡς συκῆ βάλλει‡ τοὺς ὀλύνθους αὐτῆς ὑπὸ μεγάλου ἀνέμου§ σειομένη. 14 Καὶ ὁ οὐρανὸς ἀπεχωρίσθη, ὡς βιβλίον ἑλισσόμενον,* καὶ πᾶν ὄρος καὶ νῆσος ἐκ τῶν τόπων αὐτῶν ἐκινήθησαν.
15 Καὶ οἱ βασιλεῖς τῆς γῆς καὶ οἱ μεγιστᾶνες καὶ οἱ χιλίαρχοι καὶ οἱ πλούσιοι† καὶ οἱ ἰσχυροί,‡ καὶ πᾶς δοῦλος καὶ πᾶς ἐλεύθερος,§ ἔκρυψαν ἑαυτοὺς εἰς τὰ σπήλαια καὶ εἰς τὰς πέτρας τῶν ὀρέων. 16 Καὶ λέγουσιν τοῖς ὄρεσιν καὶ ταῖς πέτραις· «Πέσετε* ἐφ᾿ ἡμᾶς καὶ κρύψατε ἡμᾶς ἀπὸ προσώπου τοῦ καθημένου ἐπὶ τοῦ θρόνου† καὶ ἀπὸ τῆς ὀργῆς τοῦ Ἀρνίου· 17 ὅτι ἦλθεν ἡ ἡμέρα ἡ μεγάλη τῆς ὀργῆς αὐτοῦ,‡ καὶ τίς δύναται σταθῆναι;»
* 6:1 οτι f35 Ma,b,d¼,e⅓,f,i⅔ CP,RP,HF,OC ¦ οτε Md,e⅔,g,h,i⅓ ℵA,C,NU,TR (Assimilation to the following seals?) † 6:1 επτα σφραγιδων f35 Ma,b,d⅓,ept,f,g,h,i A,C,CP,RP,HF,OC,NU ¦ 2 Md⅔,ept TR ¦ 1 ℵ ‡ 6:1 φωνη rell ¦ φωνης Me⅔ TR ¦ φωνην ℵ[+12 assorted mss] ¦ — Md⅔ transpose § 6:2 ειδον (ιδον A,C) και ιδου f35 Md,ept,h,i⅓ (A,C)CP,OC,NU ¦ ιδε και ιδου Ma,b,e⅓,f,i⅓ RP,HF ¦ βλεπε και ειδον και ιδου TR ¦ ιδε και ειδον (ιδον Mg⅔) και ιδου Mg,i⅓ ℵ (Note that ℵ conflates the minuscule groups, so they must be older; the “Come!” was directed to the horse, not to John [since he was right there, there would be no need to address him with a thunderous roar]; each of the living beings called out a horse.) * 6:2 αυτον rell ¦ αυτω TR † 6:3 δευτεραν (β΄ Mdpt) σφραγιδα f35 Ma,d,e¼,f,g,h⅔,i CP,RP,HF,TR ¦ ~ 2 την 1 Mb,e,h⅓ ℵA,C,OC,NU ‡ 6:4 και rell ¦ 1 ιδε 1 ειδον 1 ιδου Mb ¦ 1 ιδε 1 ιδον 1 ιδου ℵ ¦ 1 βλεπε 1 TR § 6:4 πυρρος f35 Ma¼,d⅓,ept,f⅔,hpt,i⅖ ℵC,CP,OC,NU,TR ¦ πυρος Ma,b,c¼,d⅔,ept,f⅓,g,hpt,i⅗ A,RP,HF (πυρρος is the reading of all the more faithful members of f35. As an unintentional error, ρρ→ρ would be much easier than ρ→ρρ.) * 6:4 αυτον rell ¦ αυτω Me TR † 6:4 εκ rell ¦ απο Mept TR ¦ — Me⅓,g A ‡ 6:4 γης f35 Ma,d,e⅙,f,g,h¼,i CP,RP,HF ¦ 1 και Mb,e,h ℵA,C,OC,NU,TR § 6:4 σφαξωσιν rell ¦ σφαξουσιν A,C[+5 mss]NU ¦ κατασφαξωσιν Md * 6:5 την σφραγιδα την τριτην rell ¦ ~ 342 [6 mss]TR ¦ — Md alter and transpose † 6:5 ειδον (ιδον A) και ιδου f35 Md,ept,h,i⅓ (A)C,CP,OC,NU ¦ ιδε 23 Ma,b,e⅓,f,i⅓ RP,HF ¦ βλεπε 2123 TR ¦ ιδε 21 (ιδον Mg⅔) 23 Mg,i⅓ ℵ (ℵ conflates again.) ‡ 6:5 αυτον rell ¦ αυτω Me¼ TR § 6:5 εχων rell ¦ εχον [8 mss]CP * 6:6 ηκουσα rell ¦ 1 ως Mept,fpt,h⅓ ℵA,C,OC,NU † 6:6 κριθης rell ¦ κριθων Me,hpt ℵA,C,NU ‡ 6:7 φωνην f35 Md,e⅓(⅓)hpt 𝕻24ℵA,CP,OC,NU,TR ¦ — Ma,b,e⅓,f,g,hpt,i C,RP,HF § 6:7 λεγοντος rell ¦ λεγουσαν TR * 6:8 ειδον (ιδον A,C) και ιδου f35 Md,ept,h,i⅓ (A,C)CP,OC,NU ¦ ιδε 23 Ma,b,ept,f,ipt RP,HF ¦ βλεπε 2123 TR ¦ ιδε 21 (ιδον Mg) 23 Mg ℵ (ℵ conflates again.) † 6:8 θανατος f35 Mhpt ℵC,CP ¦ ο 1 Ma,b,d,e,f,g,hpt,i RP,HF,OC[NU]TR ¦ ο αθανατος A (The Text does not say that Hades was on a horse.) ‡ 6:8 ακολουθει f35 Md,ept CP,TR ¦ ηκολουθει Ma,b,e¼,f,h,ipt C,RP,HF,OC,NU ¦ ηκολουθη Me¼,g,i⅓ ¦ ηκολουθι ℵ(A) (John is stating a fact of human existence: Hades follows death—so it has been for 6000 years.) § 6:8 μετ αυτου f35 Md,ept,g,h⅕ A,C,CP,OC,NU,TR ¦ αυτω Ma,b,ept,f,h⅖,i ℵ,RP,HF ¦ οπισω αυτου Mh⅖ * 6:8 αυτω f35 Ma,b,ept,f,g,h⅓,i⅔ CP,RP,HF,OC ¦ αυτοις Md,ept,h⅔,i⅓ ℵA,C,NU,TR (It is death that does the killing; Hades just collects the dead.) † 6:8 επι το τεταρτον της γης αποκτειναι (C) rell ¦ ~ 612345 TR ¦ 123 μερος 456 Md ‡ 6:9 των ανθρωπων f35 Me,h⅓ ℵ(CP) ¦ — Ma,b,d,f,g,h⅔,i A,C,RP,HF,OC,NU,TR (Animals also have souls, and they are excluded here.) § 6:9 του αρνιου f35 Ma,ept,f,g,i CP,RP,HF,OC ¦ ιησου χριστου Mb ¦ — Md,ept,h ℵA,C,NU,TR * 6:10 εκραξαν f35 Ma,b,f,g,i ℵA,C,CP,RP,HF,OC,NU ¦ εκραζον Md,e,h TR † 6:10 φωνη μεγαλη f35 Ma⅕,d,e,g,h,i⅗ ℵA,C,CP,RP,OC,NU,TR ¦ φωνην μεγαλην Ma,b,f,i⅖ HF ‡ 6:10 και rell ¦ 1 ο [10 assorted mss]OC,TR § 6:10 εκ f35 Ma,b,f,hpt,i ℵA,C,CP,RP,HF,OC,NU ¦ απο Md,e,g,hpt TR * 6:11 εδοθη rell ¦ εδωθη Mg ¦ εδοθησαν TR † 6:11 αυτοις εκαστω f35 Mb,e,g,h,ipt ℵA,C,RP,OC,NU ¦ 1 Ma,f,ipt HF ¦ ~ 2 αυτων Md ¦ εκαστοις TR ¦ — (CP) [homoioteleuton] (OC is in small print.) ‡ 6:11 στολη λευκη rell ¦ στολαι λευκαι TR ¦ — (CP) § 6:11 αναπαυσωνται rell ¦ αναπαυσονται Md¼,ept,g⅔ A,NU * 6:11 ετι χρονον f35 Ma,b,f,g,i⅗ CP,RP,HF ¦ 12 μικρον Md,e,h⅗,i⅓ (A)C,OC,NU,TR ¦ επι 2 μικρον ℵ (OC is in small print.) † 6:11 ου f35 Md,e,i⅖ CP,TR ¦ — Ma,b,f,g,h⅗,i⅗ ℵA,C,RP,HF,OC,NU ¦ αν Mh⅖ ‡ 6:11 πληρωσωσιν f35 Ma,b,d⅓,e,f,g,h,i⅔ RP,HF,OC ¦ πληρωσουσιν Md⅔,e⅙,h⅕,i⅓ ¦ πληρωθωσιν A,C,CP,NU ¦ πληρωσονται TR § 6:11 αυτων f35 Mb,d,e⅔,g,h,i⅓ ℵA,C,CP,OC,NU,TR ¦ 1 και Ma,e⅓,f,i⅔ RP,HF * 6:11 αποκτενεσθαι f35 Ma⅗,d⅔,e¼,fpt,g,h⅓,i⅗ CP,RP,HF ¦ αποκτεννεσθαι Ma¼,b,e⅙,fpt,h⅕,i⅕ ℵC,OC,NU ¦ αποκτεινεσθαι Ma⅙,d⅓,ept(e⅙)hpt,i⅕ A,TR (The single vowel is clearly stronger than the diphthong, and the single consonant than the double.) † 6:12 και f35 Me⅔ CP ¦ — Ma,b,d,e⅓,f,g,h,i ℵA,C,RP,HF,OC,NU,TR (The second και is emphatic.) ‡ 6:12 και rell ¦ 1 ιδου A,TR § 6:12 μελας εγενετο f35 Ma,b,e⅕,f,g,i⅔ ℵ,CP,RP,HF,OC ¦ εγενετο μελας Ma⅙,d,e,h,i⅓ A,C,NU,TR * 6:12 σελενη f35 Ma⅙,b,d¼,e,h⅖ CP,TR ¦ 1 ολη Ma,d,e⅙,f,g,h⅗,i ℵA,C,RP,HF,OC,NU † 6:13 επεσον rell ¦ επεσαν ℵA,C,OC,NU,TR ‡ 6:13 βαλλει f35 Me,hpt,ipt A,C,CP,NU,TR ¦ αποβαλλει Md ¦ βαλλουσα Mb,g⅓ ℵ,OC ¦ βαλουσα Ma,e¼,f,gpt RP,HF (The present is stronger than the aorist.) § 6:13 μεγαλου ανεμου f35 Md,e CP,TR ¦ ~ 21 Ma,b,d¼,e⅕,f,g,h,i (ℵ)A,C,RP,HF,OC,NU (A great wind knocks down all figs.) * 6:14 ελισσομενον f35 Ma¼,b,gpt,h⅓ A,C,CP,RP,OC,NU ¦ ειλισσομενον Mb¼,d¼,e⅔ TR ¦ ελισσομενος Ma,e¼,f,gpt,hpt,i⅖ ℵ,HF ¦ ειλισσομενος Md,i⅓ (The Ionic spelling need not detain us, but what of the gender? In the context the participle modifies ‘scroll’, not ‘sky’, so the neuter is correct.) † 6:15 οι χιλιαρχοι και οι πλουσιοι rell ¦ ~ 45312 Mept,h¼ TR ‡ 6:15 και οι ισχυροι rell ¦ 13 ℵ ¦ — Me⅓ ¦ 12 δυνατοι TR § 6:15 πας ελευθερος f35 Md,e,hpt,i⅓ CP,TR ¦ 2 Ma,b,f,g,hpt,i⅔ A,C,RP,HF,OC,NU ¦ — ℵ (Remember Granville Sharp; since ‘slave’ and ‘free’ obviously refer to distinct groups, the adjective should be repeated.) * 6:16 πεσετε rell ¦ πεσατε Mdpt,gpt,h⅓ A,OC ¦ πεσεται Me⅓,i⅓ ℵC † 6:16 του θρονου f35 Ma⅕,d,e,gpt,h,i⅔ A,C,CP,RP,OC,NU,TR ¦ τω θρονω Ma,b,f,gpt,i⅓ ℵ,HF (As far as the speakers are concerned, the One on the throne is leaning forward, taking an active interest in the proceedings [genitive].) ‡ 6:17 αυτου rell ¦ αυτων Mhpt ℵC,NU