1
Καὶ εἶδον ὅτε ἤνοιξεν τὸ ἀρνίον μίαν ἐκ τῶν ἑπτὰ σφραγίδων, καὶ ἤκουσα ἑνὸς ἐκ τῶν τεσσάρων ζῴων λέγοντος ὡς φωνῇ βροντῆς· Ἔρχου.
And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures saying as with a voice of thunder, "Come!"
Vision-narrative onsetκαίThe seal-cycle begins. The paratactic καί + aorist εἶδον is the seer's recurring formula (cf. 5:1, 6, 11); the Lamb of ch. 5, alone worthy, now breaks the first seal of the scroll, and a cherub summons the first horseman.
Καὶandcoordinating conjunction (narrative καί)καί: Hebraic-style narrative connector, εἶδον … καί … driving the vision forward.
εἶδονI sawAor Act Indic 1 Sg · ὁράωmain verb (vision formula)→ aoristic — global act of seeing the opened sealὁράω: the seer's keynote verb of apocalyptic perception; introduces each new tableau.
ὅτεwhentemporal conjunctionὅτε: 'when,' marking the moment of the seal's opening.
ἤνοιξενopenedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀνοίγωverb of temporal clause→ aoristic — the decisive act of breaking the sealἀνοίγω: to open; the Lamb's opening of each seal releases its event.
τὸtheNominativearticle
ἀρνίονLambNominativesubjectἀρνίον: the slain-yet-standing Lamb of ch. 5, the only one worthy to open the scroll; diminutive in form but the dominant Christ-title of the book.
μίανoneAccusativedirect object (of ἤνοιξεν)εἷς: 'one (of),' partitive; the first of the seven.
ἐκofpreposition + genitive (partitive)ἐκ: partitive 'from among.'
τῶνtheGenitivearticle
ἑπτὰsevenGenitiveattributive numeralἑπτά: seven; the perfect, complete number of the scroll's seals.
σφραγίδωνsealsGenitivepartitive genitiveσφραγίς: seal; the sealed scroll of 5:1 whose breaking unfolds God's decree.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
ἤκουσαI heardAor Act Indic 1 Sg · ἀκούωmain verb (auditory vision)→ aoristic — the act of hearingἀκούω: paired with ὁράω throughout; the seer both sees and hears the unfolding drama.
ἑνὸςoneGenitivegenitive object of ἤκουσα (person heard)εἷς: 'one of,' partitive; the first cherub speaks.
ἐκofpreposition + genitive (partitive)ἐκ: 'from among.'
τῶνtheGenitivearticle
τεσσάρωνfourGenitiveattributive numeralτέσσαρες: four; the four living creatures of 4:6, each summoning a horseman.
ζῴωνliving creaturesGenitivepartitive genitiveζῷον: the cherubic 'living creature' of 4:6–8 (Ezek 1; Isa 6), not a 'beast' (θηρίον).
λέγοντοςsayingPres Act Ptc · Gen Sg Neut · λέγωattributive/adverbial participle (agreeing with ἑνὸς … ζῴων)→ imperfective — the ongoing utterance heardλέγω: introducing the cherub's summons; the genitive agrees with the creature heard.
ὡςascomparative particleὡς: 'as, like'; the seer's habitual hedge for likening heavenly realities to earthly sounds.
φωνῇa voiceDativedative of manner/comparisonφωνή: voice, sound; here likened to thunder, the sound of theophany (cf. 4:5).
βροντῆςof thunderGenitivegenitive of source/qualityβροντή: thunder; the awesome, peal-like voice of the cherub.
ἜρχουCome!Pres Mid Impv 2 Sg · ἔρχομαιimperative (summons to the horseman)→ imperfective imperative — the calling-forth of the riderἔρχομαι: 'come!'; addressed not to the seer but to the rider, summoning him onto the stage (so the bare ἔρχου, against the later 'come and see').
2
καὶ εἶδον, καὶ ἰδοὺ ἵππος λευκός, καὶ ὁ καθήμενος ἐπ’ αὐτὸν ἔχων τόξον, καὶ ἐδόθη αὐτῷ στέφανος, καὶ ἐξῆλθεν νικῶν καὶ ἵνα νικήσῃ.
And I saw, and behold, a white horse, and the one sitting on it held a bow, and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer.
First horseman revealedκαίThe first horseman: white, crowned, bow-bearing, riding out in conquest. The colour and the conquering have drawn divergent reading — Christ/the gospel, or a militant conqueror parallel to the destructive three that follow; the διδωμι-passives ('was given') mark each rider as commissioned, not autonomous.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
εἶδονI sawAor Act Indic 1 Sg · ὁράωmain verb (vision formula)→ aoristic — the seer's act of seeingὁράω: vision verb opening the tableau.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
ἰδοὺbeholdpresentative interjectionἰδού: 'look!'; fossilized aorist imperative used as a pointer, dramatizing the appearance of each horse.
ἵπποςa horseNominativenominative of exclamation (verbless)ἵππος: horse; the four coloured horses echo Zechariah 1 and 6.
λευκόςwhiteNominativepredicate/attributive adjectiveλευκός: white; in Revelation the colour of victory, purity, and heaven (cf. 19:11, the white horse of Christ).
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
ὁthe oneNominativearticle (substantizing the participle)
καθήμενοςsittingPres Mid Ptc · Nom Sg Masc · κάθημαιsubstantival participle (subject)→ imperfective — the rider as seated, in commandκάθημαι: 'sit'; ὁ καθήμενος is the fixed designation of each rider (and of God on the throne).
ἐπ’onpreposition + accusativeἐπί: 'upon,' with acc. of the mounted position.
αὐτὸνitAccusativeobject of ἐπί
ἔχωνholdingPres Act Ptc · Nom Sg Masc · ἔχωparticiple for finite verb (Semitic, predicative)→ imperfective — possession of the weaponἔχω: 'have, hold'; the nominative participle functions as the main verb, 'held a bow.'
τόξονa bowAccusativedirect objectτόξον: bow; weapon of the distant, mounted archer — the Parthian terror, or the conqueror's arms.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
ἐδόθηwas givenAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · δίδωμιmain verb (divine passive)→ aoristic — the grant of authorityδίδωμι: 'give'; the recurring 'divine passive' (vv.2, 4 ×2, 8, 11) — each rider is permitted, his scope set by God.
αὐτῷto himDativeindirect object (dat. of recipient)
στέφανοςa crownNominativesubject of ἐδόθηστέφανος: victor's wreath/crown, the laurel of triumph (not διάδημα, the royal diadem).
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
ἐξῆλθενhe went outAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐξέρχομαιmain verb→ aoristic — the rider's going forthἐξέρχομαι: 'go out'; the horseman rides onto the stage of history.
νικῶνconqueringPres Act Ptc · Nom Sg Masc · νικάωadverbial participle (manner)→ imperfective — the conquering as in progressνικάω: 'conquer'; the keynote verb of the book (the overcomer's promises of chs. 2–3), here of the rider's victorious advance.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
ἵναthatpurpose conjunctionἵνα: introducing the purpose clause, 'in order that he might conquer.'
νικήσῃhe might conquerAor Act Subj 3 Sg · νικάωsubjunctive of purpose→ aoristic — the goal viewed as a whole, complete conquestνικάω: the aim of the going-out — 'conquering and to conquer,' a relentless drive to total victory.
3
Καὶ ὅτε ἤνοιξεν τὴν σφραγῖδα τὴν δευτέραν, ἤκουσα τοῦ δευτέρου ζῴου λέγοντος· Ἔρχου.
And when he opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature saying, "Come!"
Second seal openedκαίThe pattern repeats: seal-opening, a cherub's summons, the horse's appearance. The economy of the formula heightens the relentless onrush of the four riders.
Καὶandcoordinating conjunction
ὅτεwhentemporal conjunctionὅτε: 'when,' marking the seal's opening.
ἤνοιξενhe openedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀνοίγωverb of temporal clause→ aoristic — the act of openingἀνοίγω: the Lamb opens the second seal.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle
σφραγῖδαsealAccusativedirect objectσφραγίς: seal; the second of the seven.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (attributive position)
δευτέρανsecondAccusativeattributive ordinalδεύτερος: second.
ἤκουσαI heardAor Act Indic 1 Sg · ἀκούωmain verb→ aoristic — act of hearingἀκούω: the seer hears the second cherub.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle
δευτέρουsecondGenitiveattributive ordinalδεύτερος: second; the cherub with the face of an ox (4:7).
ζῴουliving creatureGenitivegenitive object of ἤκουσα (person heard)ζῷον: the second living creature.
λέγοντοςsayingPres Act Ptc · Gen Sg Neut · λέγωattributive participle (agreeing with ζῴου)→ imperfective — the utterance heardλέγω: introducing the summons.
ἜρχουCome!Pres Mid Impv 2 Sg · ἔρχομαιimperative (summons)→ imperfective imperative — calling forth the riderἔρχομαι: 'come!'; the second cherub's summons to the red horse.
4
καὶ ἐξῆλθεν ἄλλος ἵππος πυρρός, καὶ τῷ καθημένῳ ἐπ’ αὐτὸν ἐδόθη αὐτῷ λαβεῖν τὴν εἰρήνην ἐκ τῆς γῆς καὶ ἵνα ἀλλήλους σφάξουσιν, καὶ ἐδόθη αὐτῷ μάχαιρα μεγάλη.
And another horse went out, fiery-red, and to the one sitting on it it was granted to take peace from the earth, so that they would slaughter one another, and a great sword was given to him.
Second horseman — warκαίThe red horseman: the removal of peace and the unleashing of internecine slaughter. πυρρός ('fiery red') is the colour of blood and fire; the 'great sword' (μάχαιρα μεγάλη) is the instrument of war and judicial execution. The double 'was given' again frames the carnage as permitted, bounded.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
ἐξῆλθενwent outAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐξέρχομαιmain verb→ aoristic — the horse's going forthἐξέρχομαι: the second horse rides out.
ἄλλοςanotherNominativeattributive adjectiveἄλλος: 'another (of the same kind),' a further horse in the series.
ἵπποςhorseNominativesubjectἵππος: horse.
πυρρόςfiery-redNominativeattributive/predicate adjectiveπυρρός: 'fire-coloured, red' (from πῦρ); the hue of blood and conflagration — war.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
τῷto the oneDativearticle (substantizing participle; dat.)
καθημένῳsittingPres Mid Ptc · Dat Sg Masc · κάθημαιsubstantival participle (dat. of recipient, fronted)→ imperfective — the rider seatedκάθημαι: 'sit'; the rider as recipient of the grant.
ἐπ’onpreposition + accusativeἐπί: 'upon.'
αὐτὸνitAccusativeobject of ἐπί
ἐδόθηit was grantedAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · δίδωμιmain verb (divine passive)→ aoristic — the grant of permissionδίδωμι: divine passive; the rider's mandate is permitted from above.
αὐτῷto himDativeresumptive indirect object (Semitic redundancy)αὐτός: resuming the fronted τῷ καθημένῳ — a Hebraic pleonastic dative.
λαβεῖνto takeAor Act Inf · λαμβάνωcomplementary/epexegetic infinitive→ aoristic — the act of taking peace awayλαμβάνω: 'take'; defining what was granted — to remove peace from the earth.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle
εἰρήνηνpeaceAccusativedirect object of λαβεῖνεἰρήνη: peace; here civic/social order, removed so that war erupts.
ἐκfrompreposition + genitive (separation)ἐκ: 'from, out of.'
τῆςtheGenitivearticle
γῆςearthGenitiveobject of ἐκγῆ: earth, land; the sphere from which peace is taken.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
ἵναthatpurpose/result conjunctionἵνα: introducing the consequence — 'so that they would slaughter one another.'
ἀλλήλουςone anotherAccusativereciprocal pronoun (object)ἀλλήλων: 'one another'; the horror of mutual, fratricidal slaughter.
σφάξουσινthey would slaughterFut Act Indic 3 Pl · σφάζωfuture indicative after ἵνα (vivid result)→ future — the impending carnageσφάζω: 'slay, butcher' (as a sacrificial victim, cf. the Lamb of 5:6 and the souls of 6:9) — brutal, throat-cutting slaughter.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
ἐδόθηwas givenAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · δίδωμιmain verb (divine passive)→ aoristic — the granting of the weaponδίδωμι: divine passive again, equipping the rider.
αὐτῷto himDativeindirect object
μάχαιραswordNominativesubject of ἐδόθημάχαιρα: short sword/dagger, weapon of war and of the magistrate's lethal authority (Rom 13:4).
μεγάληgreatNominativeattributive adjectiveμέγας: great; the magnitude of the slaughter the sword effects.
5
Καὶ ὅτε ἤνοιξεν τὴν σφραγῖδα τὴν τρίτην, ἤκουσα τοῦ τρίτου ζῴου λέγοντος· Ἔρχου. καὶ εἶδον, καὶ ἰδοὺ ἵππος μέλας, καὶ ὁ καθήμενος ἐπ’ αὐτὸν ἔχων ζυγὸν ἐν τῇ χειρὶ αὐτοῦ.
And when he opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature saying, "Come!" And I saw, and behold, a black horse, and the one sitting on it held a balance in his hand.
Third seal — the black horseκαίThe third horseman: black, bearing the merchant's balance-scale (ζυγός), the emblem of famine, where staples are weighed out and sold by measure (Lev 26:26; Ezek 4:16).
Καὶandcoordinating conjunction
ὅτεwhentemporal conjunctionὅτε: 'when.'
ἤνοιξενhe openedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀνοίγωverb of temporal clause→ aoristic — the openingἀνοίγω: the Lamb opens the third seal.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle
σφραγῖδαsealAccusativedirect objectσφραγίς: the third seal.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (attributive)
τρίτηνthirdAccusativeattributive ordinalτρίτος: third.
ἤκουσαI heardAor Act Indic 1 Sg · ἀκούωmain verb→ aoristic — act of hearingἀκούω: the seer hears the third cherub.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle
τρίτουthirdGenitiveattributive ordinalτρίτος: third; the cherub with a human face (4:7).
ζῴουliving creatureGenitivegenitive object of ἤκουσαζῷον: the third living creature.
λέγοντοςsayingPres Act Ptc · Gen Sg Neut · λέγωattributive participle (agreeing with ζῴου)→ imperfective — the utteranceλέγω: introducing the summons.
ἜρχουCome!Pres Mid Impv 2 Sg · ἔρχομαιimperative (summons)→ imperfective imperative — calling forth the riderἔρχομαι: 'come!'; summons to the black horse.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
εἶδονI sawAor Act Indic 1 Sg · ὁράωmain verb (vision formula)→ aoristic — act of seeingὁράω: vision verb.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
ἰδοὺbeholdpresentative interjectionἰδού: 'look!', presenting the black horse.
ἵπποςa horseNominativenominative of exclamationἵππος: horse.
μέλαςblackNominativeattributive adjectiveμέλας: black; the colour of mourning, scarcity, and famine.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
ὁthe oneNominativearticle (substantizing the participle)
καθήμενοςsittingPres Mid Ptc · Nom Sg Masc · κάθημαιsubstantival participle (subject)→ imperfective — the rider seatedκάθημαι: 'sit'; the third rider.
ἐπ’onpreposition + accusativeἐπί: 'upon.'
αὐτὸνitAccusativeobject of ἐπί
ἔχωνholdingPres Act Ptc · Nom Sg Masc · ἔχωparticiple for finite verb (predicative)→ imperfective — possession of the scalesἔχω: 'hold'; nominative participle as main verb.
ζυγὸνa balanceAccusativedirect objectζυγός: yoke; here a pair of balance-scales — bread weighed and rationed in famine (Ezek 4:16).
ἐνinpreposition + dative (location)ἐν: 'in.'
τῇtheDativearticle
χειρὶhandDativeobject of ἐνχείρ: hand.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession
6
καὶ ἤκουσα ὡς φωνὴν ἐν μέσῳ τῶν τεσσάρων ζῴων λέγουσαν· Χοῖνιξ σίτου δηναρίου, καὶ τρεῖς χοίνικες κριθῶν δηναρίου· καὶ τὸ ἔλαιον καὶ τὸν οἶνον μὴ ἀδικήσῃς.
And I heard what seemed a voice in the midst of the four living creatures saying, "A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius; but do not harm the oil and the wine."
The famine pricesκαίThe voice from the centre — near the throne — fixes the famine economy: a day's wage buys a single ration of wheat, or three of inferior barley, while the oil and wine (the staples of vine and olive, here apparently spared) are not to be harmed. Scarcity for the poor, judgment that yet stops short of total ruin.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
ἤκουσαI heardAor Act Indic 1 Sg · ἀκούωmain verb→ aoristic — act of hearingἀκούω: the seer hears the price-decree.
ὡςas it werecomparative particle (hedge)ὡς: 'like, as it were'; softening 'a voice' — the apocalyptic reticence about heavenly speech.
φωνὴνa voiceAccusativeobject of ἤκουσαφωνή: voice; unidentified, but located at the throne's centre — a divine pronouncement.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (location)ἐν: 'in.'
μέσῳthe midstDativeobject of ἐν (substantival adj.)μέσος: 'middle, midst'; ἐν μέσῳ τῶν … ζῴων locates the voice at the heart of the throne-vision (cf. 4:6; 5:6).
τῶνtheGenitivearticle
τεσσάρωνfourGenitiveattributive numeralτέσσαρες: four.
ζῴωνliving creaturesGenitivepartitive/locative genitiveζῷον: the four living creatures.
λέγουσανsayingPres Act Ptc · Acc Sg Fem · λέγωattributive participle (agreeing with φωνὴν)→ imperfective — the ongoing utteranceλέγω: introducing the decree; feminine accusative agreeing with φωνήν.
Χοῖνιξa quartNominativenominative of price/exclamationχοῖνιξ: a 'choenix,' roughly a quart — one man's daily grain ration.
σίτουof wheatGenitivegenitive of contentσῖτος: wheat, the superior grain.
δηναρίουfor a denariusGenitivegenitive of priceδηνάριον: denarius, a labourer's daily wage (Matt 20:2) — here the cost of a single day's bread, famine prices.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
τρεῖςthreeNominativeattributive numeralτρεῖς: three.
χοίνικεςquartsNominativenominative of priceχοῖνιξ: quart; three of barley for the same coin.
κριθῶνof barleyGenitivegenitive of contentκριθή: barley, the cheaper grain, food of the poor and of animals.
δηναρίουfor a denariusGenitivegenitive of priceδηνάριον: again the day's wage.
καὶbutcoordinating conjunction (adversative here)καί: here adversative, 'yet, but,' marking the limit on the famine.
τὸtheAccusativearticle (fronted object)
ἔλαιονoilAccusativedirect object of ἀδικήσῃςἔλαιον: olive oil; a staple spared — the famine is bounded, or the luxuries of the wealthy untouched.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
τὸνtheAccusativearticle
οἶνονwineAccusativedirect object of ἀδικήσῃςοἶνος: wine; with the oil, the produce of vine and olive, here protected.
μὴnotnegative (with subjunctive prohibition)μή: negative of prohibition.
ἀδικήσῃςharmAor Act Subj 2 Sg · ἀδικέωaorist subjunctive of prohibition→ aoristic — the prohibited act as a wholeἀδικέω: 'wrong, damage'; μὴ + aor. subj. forbids the harming — the oil and wine are off-limits to the famine.
7
Καὶ ὅτε ἤνοιξεν τὴν σφραγῖδα τὴν τετάρτην, ἤκουσα φωνὴν τοῦ τετάρτου ζῴου λέγοντος· Ἔρχου.
And when he opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature saying, "Come!"
Fourth seal openedκαίThe fourth and last of the horsemen-summons; uniquely here the seer hears 'the voice' (φωνὴν) of the cherub, before the most terrible rider of all.
Καὶandcoordinating conjunction
ὅτεwhentemporal conjunctionὅτε: 'when.'
ἤνοιξενhe openedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀνοίγωverb of temporal clause→ aoristic — the openingἀνοίγω: the Lamb opens the fourth seal.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle
σφραγῖδαsealAccusativedirect objectσφραγίς: the fourth seal.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (attributive)
τετάρτηνfourthAccusativeattributive ordinalτέταρτος: fourth.
ἤκουσαI heardAor Act Indic 1 Sg · ἀκούωmain verb→ aoristic — act of hearingἀκούω: the seer hears the fourth cherub.
φωνὴνthe voiceAccusativedirect object of ἤκουσαφωνή: voice; the cherub's summoning cry.
τοῦof theGenitivearticle
τετάρτουfourthGenitiveattributive ordinalτέταρτος: fourth; the cherub like a flying eagle (4:7).
ζῴουliving creatureGenitivegenitive of possession (of the voice)ζῷον: the fourth living creature.
λέγοντοςsayingPres Act Ptc · Gen Sg Neut · λέγωattributive participle (agreeing with ζῴου)→ imperfective — the utteranceλέγω: introducing the summons.
ἜρχουCome!Pres Mid Impv 2 Sg · ἔρχομαιimperative (summons)→ imperfective imperative — calling forth the riderἔρχομαι: 'come!'; summons to the pale horse.
8
καὶ εἶδον, καὶ ἰδοὺ ἵππος χλωρός, καὶ ὁ καθήμενος ἐπάνω αὐτοῦ ὄνομα αὐτῷ ὁ Θάνατος, καὶ ὁ ᾅδης ἠκολούθει μετ’ αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἐδόθη αὐτοῖς ἐξουσία ἐπὶ τὸ τέταρτον τῆς γῆς ἀποκτεῖναι ἐν ῥομφαίᾳ καὶ ἐν λιμῷ καὶ ἐν θανάτῳ καὶ ὑπὸ τῶν θηρίων τῆς γῆς.
And I saw, and behold, a pale-green horse, and the one sitting on it — his name was Death, and Hades was following with him; and authority was given to them over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword and with famine and with plague and by the wild beasts of the earth.
Fourth horseman — Death and HadesκαίThe climactic horseman: χλωρός, the livid green of a corpse; its rider is Death personified, with Hades (the grave) trailing to gather the slain. The fourfold instrument — sword, famine, plague, beasts — is the classic covenant-curse tetrad (Lev 26; Ezek 14:21), now loosed on a fourth of the earth: terrible, yet partial and bounded.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
εἶδονI sawAor Act Indic 1 Sg · ὁράωmain verb (vision formula)→ aoristic — act of seeingὁράω: vision verb.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
ἰδοὺbeholdpresentative interjectionἰδού: 'look!', presenting the pale horse.
ἵπποςa horseNominativenominative of exclamationἵππος: horse.
χλωρόςpale-greenNominativeattributive adjectiveχλωρός: 'green' (of vegetation), here the sickly yellow-green of a corpse — the pallor of death and disease.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
ὁthe oneNominativearticle (substantizing participle)
καθήμενοςsittingPres Mid Ptc · Nom Sg Masc · κάθημαιsubstantival participle (subject, nom. absolute)→ imperfective — the rider seatedκάθημαι: 'sit'; the rider, left as a hanging nominative resumed by αὐτῷ.
ἐπάνωuponimproper preposition + genitiveἐπάνω: 'on top of, upon'; varying the usual ἐπί.
αὐτοῦitGenitiveobject of ἐπάνω
ὄνομαnameNominativenominative (subject of verbless 'his name was…')ὄνομα: name; ὄνομα αὐτῷ, a Semitic idiom, '(the) name to him (was)…'.
αὐτῷto himDativedative of possessionαὐτός: 'his,' completing 'his name (was).'
ὁtheNominativearticle (with proper name)
ΘάνατοςDeathNominativepredicate nominative (the name)θάνατος: Death, here personified as the rider's name; the last enemy (cf. 1:18; 20:14).
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
ὁtheNominativearticle (with proper name)
ᾅδηςHadesNominativesubjectᾅδης: Hades, the realm/grave of the dead, here personified, trailing Death to receive its victims (cf. 1:18; 20:13–14).
ἠκολούθειwas followingImpf Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀκολουθέωmain verb→ imperfective (imperfect) — the continual followingἀκολουθέω: 'follow'; the durative imperfect pictures Hades coming on behind, gathering the dead.
μετ’withpreposition + genitive (accompaniment)μετά: 'with.'
αὐτοῦhimGenitiveobject of μετά
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
ἐδόθηwas givenAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · δίδωμιmain verb (divine passive)→ aoristic — the grant of authorityδίδωμι: divine passive; even Death's reach is delegated and limited.
αὐτοῖςto themDativeindirect object (Death and Hades)αὐτός: plural, 'to them' — Death and Hades together.
ἐξουσίαauthorityNominativesubject of ἐδόθηἐξουσία: authority, power-to-act; the warrant for the killing.
ἐπὶoverpreposition + accusative (extent/authority over)ἐπί: 'over,' marking the scope of the authority.
τὸtheAccusativearticle
τέταρτονfourthAccusativesubstantival adjective (object of ἐπί)τέταρτος: a fourth part; the limited, partial scope of the judgment.
τῆςof theGenitivearticle
γῆςearthGenitivepartitive genitiveγῆ: earth.
ἀποκτεῖναιto killAor Act Inf · ἀποκτείνωepexegetic infinitive (defining the authority)→ aoristic — the act of killingἀποκτείνω: 'kill'; the deadly content of the granted authority.
ἐνwithpreposition + dative (instrument)ἐν: instrumental, 'by means of.'
ῥομφαίᾳswordDativedative of instrumentῥομφαία: large broadsword; war and the sword, first of the four covenant-curses.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
ἐνwithpreposition + dative (instrument)ἐν: instrumental.
λιμῷfamineDativedative of instrumentλιμός: famine; the second curse, picking up the black horse of vv.5–6.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
ἐνwithpreposition + dative (instrument)ἐν: instrumental.
θανάτῳplagueDativedative of instrumentθάνατος: lit. 'death,' here in the LXX sense of 'pestilence, plague' (Ezek 14:21) — the third curse.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
ὑπὸbypreposition + genitive (agent)ὑπό: 'by,' marking the agent — the wild beasts.
τῶνtheGenitivearticle
θηρίωνwild beastsGenitivegenitive of agent (after ὑπό)θηρίον: wild beast; the fourth curse (Ezek 14:21) — not the apocalyptic Beast, but ravening animals.
τῆςof theGenitivearticle
γῆςearthGenitivegenitive of place/originγῆ: earth.
9
Καὶ ὅτε ἤνοιξεν τὴν πέμπτην σφραγῖδα, εἶδον ὑποκάτω τοῦ θυσιαστηρίου τὰς ψυχὰς τῶν ἐσφαγμένων διὰ τὸν λόγον τοῦ θεοῦ καὶ διὰ τὴν μαρτυρίαν ἣν εἶχον.
And when he opened the fifth seal, I saw beneath the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God and because of the testimony which they held.
Fifth seal — the martyrs' soulsκαίThe scene shifts from the four riders to the altar. Beneath it — as the blood of sacrifices was poured at the altar's base (Lev 4:7) — are the souls of the martyrs, slain (the same σφάζω as v.4 and the slain Lamb of 5:6) for God's word and their witness. Their cause, not their persons, is the focus.
Καὶandcoordinating conjunction
ὅτεwhentemporal conjunctionὅτε: 'when.'
ἤνοιξενhe openedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀνοίγωverb of temporal clause→ aoristic — the openingἀνοίγω: the Lamb opens the fifth seal.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle
πέμπτηνfifthAccusativeattributive ordinalπέμπτος: fifth.
σφραγῖδαsealAccusativedirect objectσφραγίς: the fifth seal.
εἶδονI sawAor Act Indic 1 Sg · ὁράωmain verb (vision formula)→ aoristic — act of seeingὁράω: vision verb.
ὑποκάτωbeneathimproper preposition + genitiveὑποκάτω: 'underneath'; the souls at the altar's base, where sacrificial blood was poured (Lev 4:7).
τοῦtheGenitivearticle
θυσιαστηρίουaltarGenitiveobject of ὑποκάτωθυσιαστήριον: the heavenly altar (cf. 8:3); the martyrs' deaths are a sacrifice offered to God.
τὰςtheAccusativearticle
ψυχὰςsoulsAccusativedirect object of εἶδονψυχή: soul, life; here the conscious persons of the dead martyrs awaiting vindication.
τῶνof thoseGenitivearticle (substantizing participle)
ἐσφαγμένωνhaving been slainPerf Pass Ptc · Gen Pl Masc · σφάζωsubstantival participle (genitive of possession)→ perfect — the slain in their abiding stateσφάζω: 'slaughter'; the perfect marks their martyred condition as settled and enduring — the same verb as the slain Lamb (5:6).
διὰbecause ofpreposition + accusative (cause)διά: 'on account of,' causal.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle
λόγονwordAccusativeobject of διάλόγος: word; the divine message for which they died.
τοῦofGenitivearticle
θεοῦGodGenitivegenitive of source/possessionθεός: God.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
διὰbecause ofpreposition + accusative (cause)διά: causal.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle
μαρτυρίανtestimonyAccusativeobject of διάμαρτυρία: testimony, witness; the confession that cost them their lives (cf. 1:9; 12:11).
ἣνwhichAccusativerelative pronoun (object of εἶχον)ὅς: relative pronoun, 'which.'
εἶχονthey heldImpf Act Indic 3 Pl · ἔχωverb of relative clause→ imperfective (imperfect) — the testimony they kept holdingἔχω: 'have, hold'; the imperfect of their steadfast maintenance of the witness.
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;
And they cried out with a great voice, saying, "How long, O holy and true Master, will you not judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?"
The martyrs' cry — 'how long?'καίThe martyrs' lament, in the idiom of the imprecatory psalms (Ps 79:5, 10; Zech 1:12): 'how long?' They appeal to God as δεσπότης — sovereign Master — holy and true, to execute the just judgment and avenge their blood. Not private vengeance but the vindication of God's righteousness against the unrepentant world.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
ἔκραξανthey cried outAor Act Indic 3 Pl · κράζωmain verb→ aoristic — the cry as a single actκράζω: 'cry out, shout'; the loud, urgent appeal of the martyrs.
φωνῇwith a voiceDativedative of mannerφωνή: voice.
μεγάλῃgreatDativeattributive adjectiveμέγας: great, loud.
λέγοντεςsayingPres Act Ptc · Nom Pl Masc · λέγωparticiple of attendant circumstance (introducing speech)→ imperfective — the utteranceλέγω: the recurring λέγοντες introducing direct speech.
Ἕωςuntilpreposition/conjunction (with πότε)ἕως: 'until'; ἕως πότε, 'how long?', the cry of the lament-psalms.
πότεwheninterrogative adverbπότε: 'when?'; ἕως πότε = 'how long?'
ὁONominativearticle (nominative for vocative)
δεσπότηςMasterNominativenominative for vocative (address)δεσπότης: sovereign master, lord (of a slave-owner); stresses God's absolute authority to judge.
ὁtheNominativearticle (attributive)
ἅγιοςholyNominativeattributive adjectiveἅγιος: holy; the just Judge who must vindicate righteousness.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
ἀληθινόςtrueNominativeattributive adjectiveἀληθινός: true, faithful, genuine; God's reliability to keep his word of justice.
οὐnotnegativeοὐ: 'not'; 'how long … not?', i.e. how long before you act?
κρίνειςdo you judgePres Act Indic 2 Sg · κρίνωmain verb (of the question)→ imperfective — judging awaited as ongoing/imminentκρίνω: 'judge'; the forensic act of rendering verdict on the world.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
ἐκδικεῖςavengePres Act Indic 2 Sg · ἐκδικέωmain verb (of the question)→ imperfective — the vindication soughtἐκδικέω: 'avenge, vindicate'; to right the wrong of their murder, a judicial not personal vengeance (cf. Deut 32:43; Ps 79:10).
τὸtheAccusativearticle
αἷμαbloodAccusativedirect objectαἷμα: blood; the shed life that cries for justice (Gen 4:10).
ἡμῶνourGenitivegenitive of possession
ἐκonpreposition + genitive (source of the vengeance, Semitic)ἐκ: 'from,' here 'avenge from/upon' (Hebraic ἐκδικέω ἐκ), exacting justice from the persecutors.
τῶνthose whoGenitivearticle (substantizing participle)
κατοικούντωνdwellPres Act Ptc · Gen Pl Masc · κατοικέωsubstantival participle (object of ἐκ)→ imperfective — habitual dwellingκατοικέω: 'dwell'; οἱ κατοικοῦντες ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς, 'the earth-dwellers,' the book's standing term for unbelieving, hostile humanity (3:10; 8:13).
ἐπὶonpreposition + genitive (place)ἐπί: 'on, upon.'
τῆςtheGenitivearticle
γῆςearthGenitiveobject of ἐπίγῆ: earth.
11
καὶ ἐδόθη αὐτοῖς ἑκάστῳ στολὴ λευκή, καὶ ἐρρέθη αὐτοῖς ἵνα ἀναπαύσονται ἔτι χρόνον μικρόν, ἕως πληρωθῶσιν καὶ οἱ σύνδουλοι αὐτῶν καὶ οἱ ἀδελφοὶ αὐτῶν οἱ μέλλοντες ἀποκτέννεσθαι ὡς καὶ αὐτοί.
And there was given to each of them a white robe, and they were told that they should rest yet a little while, until the number of their fellow-servants and their brothers who were about to be killed as they themselves had been should be complete.
The answer — white robes and a little whileκαίThe answer to 'how long?' is twofold: a white robe — vindication, purity, and the assurance of victory granted already — and a 'little while' to rest, until the full, divinely appointed number of martyrs is complete. Justice is certain but not yet; the delay is filled by the testimony, and martyrdom, of those still to come.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
ἐδόθηwas givenAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · δίδωμιmain verb (divine passive)→ aoristic — the granting of the robeδίδωμι: divine passive; God himself bestows the robe.
αὐτοῖςto themDativeindirect object
ἑκάστῳto eachDativedative in apposition (distributive)ἕκαστος: 'each'; the gift is to every individual martyr.
στολὴa robeNominativesubject of ἐδόθηστολή: long festal robe; the dress of the redeemed and vindicated (7:9, 14).
λευκήwhiteNominativeattributive adjectiveλευκός: white; purity, victory, and heavenly glory.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
ἐρρέθηit was saidAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (divine passive)→ aoristic — the word spoken to themλέγω (suppletive ἐρρέθη): 'it was told them'; the divine answer to their cry.
αὐτοῖςto themDativeindirect object
ἵναthatconjunction (content of the command)ἵνα: introducing the content of what was said — 'that they should rest.'
ἀναπαύσονταιthey should restFut Mid Indic 3 Pl · ἀναπαύωfuture indicative after ἵνα→ future — the rest enjoinedἀναπαύω: 'rest, repose'; they are to wait at peace, their vindication assured though deferred.
ἔτιyetadverb (time)ἔτι: 'still, yet'; the rest continues a while longer.
χρόνονa whileAccusativeaccusative of durationχρόνος: time, span.
μικρόνlittleAccusativeattributive adjectiveμικρός: little, short; the delay is brief in God's reckoning.
ἕωςuntilconjunction (temporal, with subjunctive)ἕως: 'until'; marking the appointed terminus of the waiting.
πληρωθῶσινshould be completedAor Pass Subj 3 Pl · πληρόωsubjunctive in indefinite temporal clause→ aoristic — the completion viewed as a wholeπληρόω: 'fill, complete'; the fixed number of martyrs reaches its full tally (cf. the 'full number,' πλήρωμα).
καὶalsoadverbial/ascensive καίκαί: 'also,' adding the still-future martyrs to those already slain.
οἱtheNominativearticle
σύνδουλοιfellow-servantsNominativesubject of πληρωθῶσινσύνδουλος: fellow-slave; the martyrs are God's slaves alongside their brethren and the angels (cf. 19:10).
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of relationship
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
οἱtheNominativearticle
ἀδελφοὶbrothersNominativesubject (coordinate with σύνδουλοι)ἀδελφός: brother; fellow-believers, bound in the same destiny of witness and suffering.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of relationship
οἱthose whoNominativearticle (substantizing participle)
μέλλοντεςare aboutPres Act Ptc · Nom Pl Masc · μέλλωsubstantival/attributive participle→ imperfective — impending actionμέλλω: 'be about to'; the martyrs yet to come, whose death is foreseen and fixed.
ἀποκτέννεσθαιto be killedPres Pass Inf · ἀποκτείνωcomplementary infinitive (with μέλλοντες)→ imperfective — the killing in prospectἀποκτείνω: 'kill'; the future martyrdoms that complete the number.
ὡςascomparative particleὡς: 'as, just as.'
καὶalsoadverbial καίκαί: 'even, also'; ὡς καὶ αὐτοί, 'as they too (were).'
αὐτοίthey themselvesNominativeintensive pronoun (subject of implied verb)αὐτός: 'themselves'; the martyrs already slain, the pattern for those to follow.
12
Καὶ εἶδον ὅτε ἤνοιξεν τὴν σφραγῖδα τὴν ἕκτην, καὶ σεισμὸς μέγας ἐγένετο, καὶ ὁ ἥλιος ἐγένετο μέλας ὡς σάκκος τρίχινος, καὶ ἡ σελήνη ὅλη ἐγένετο ὡς αἷμα,
And I saw when he opened the sixth seal, and there was a great earthquake, and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the whole moon became like blood,
Sixth seal — cosmic upheaval beginsκαίThe sixth seal unleashes the day-of-the-LORD imagery: earthquake, sun darkened, moon turned to blood (Isa 13:10; Joel 2:10, 31). The created order, witness to the Creator, is convulsed at the approach of judgment.
Καὶandcoordinating conjunction
εἶδονI sawAor Act Indic 1 Sg · ὁράωmain verb (vision formula)→ aoristic — act of seeingὁράω: vision verb.
ὅτεwhentemporal conjunctionὅτε: 'when.'
ἤνοιξενhe openedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀνοίγωverb of temporal clause→ aoristic — the openingἀνοίγω: the Lamb opens the sixth seal.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle
σφραγῖδαsealAccusativedirect objectσφραγίς: the sixth seal.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (attributive)
ἕκτηνsixthAccusativeattributive ordinalἕκτος: sixth.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
σεισμὸςearthquakeNominativesubjectσεισμός: earthquake, shaking; a recurring sign of theophany and judgment (8:5; 11:13; 16:18).
μέγαςgreatNominativeattributive adjectiveμέγας: great; the magnitude of the convulsion.
ἐγένετοthere wasAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · γίνομαιmain verb→ aoristic — the event's coming-to-passγίνομαι: 'come to be, happen'; the earthquake occurs.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
ὁtheNominativearticle
ἥλιοςsunNominativesubjectἥλιος: sun; darkened, as in the day-of-the-LORD prophecies (Joel 2:31).
ἐγένετοbecameAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · γίνομαιlinking verb→ aoristic — the transformationγίνομαι: 'become.'
μέλαςblackNominativepredicate adjectiveμέλας: black; the sun's light extinguished.
ὡςascomparative particleὡς: 'like, as.'
σάκκοςsackclothNominativecomparison (nom. after ὡς)σάκκος: sackcloth, coarse mourning-cloth; the sun black as funeral garb.
τρίχινοςof hairNominativeattributive adjectiveτρίχινος: 'made of hair'; the rough black goat-hair of sackcloth (cf. Isa 50:3).
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
ἡtheNominativearticle
σελήνηmoonNominativesubjectσελήνη: moon; turned blood-red (Joel 2:31).
ὅληwholeNominativeattributive/predicate adjectiveὅλος: 'whole, entire'; the full moon wholly reddened.
ἐγένετοbecameAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · γίνομαιlinking verb→ aoristic — the transformationγίνομαι: 'become.'
ὡςlikecomparative particleὡς: 'like, as.'
αἷμαbloodNominativecomparison (nom. after ὡς)αἷμα: blood; the lunar eclipse-like crimson, omen of slaughter and judgment.
13
καὶ οἱ ἀστέρες τοῦ οὐρανοῦ ἔπεσαν εἰς τὴν γῆν, ὡς συκῆ βάλλει τοὺς ὀλύνθους αὐτῆς ὑπὸ ἀνέμου μεγάλου σειομένη,
and the stars of heaven fell to the earth, as a fig tree casts its unripe figs when shaken by a great wind,
Sixth seal continued — falling starsκαίThe stars fall (Isa 34:4), the firm fixtures of heaven dislodged. The homely simile of a storm-shaken fig tree dropping its winter figs makes the cosmic catastrophe vivid: heaven's lights drop as easily as fruit in a gale.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
οἱtheNominativearticle
ἀστέρεςstarsNominativesubjectἀστήρ: star; the heavenly luminaries falling (Isa 34:4).
τοῦofGenitivearticle
οὐρανοῦheavenGenitivegenitive of place/sourceοὐρανός: heaven, sky.
ἔπεσανfellAor Act Indic 3 Pl · πίπτωmain verb→ aoristic — the fall as a single eventπίπτω: 'fall'; the stars cast down to earth.
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (direction)εἰς: 'into, to.'
τὴνtheAccusativearticle
γῆνearthAccusativeobject of εἰςγῆ: earth.
ὡςascomparative conjunction (introducing simile)ὡς: 'as, just as'; introducing the fig-tree comparison.
συκῆa fig treeNominativesubject of βάλλεισυκῆ: fig tree.
βάλλειcastsPres Act Indic 3 Sg · βάλλωverb of the comparative clause→ imperfective (gnomic present) — what a fig tree doesβάλλω: 'throw, cast, drop'; the tree shedding its fruit.
τοὺςtheAccusativearticle
ὀλύνθουςunripe figsAccusativedirect objectὄλυνθος: late, unripe winter fig that never matures; easily shaken off.
αὐτῆςitsGenitivegenitive of possession
ὑπὸbypreposition + genitive (agent/cause)ὑπό: 'by,' marking the wind as the agent of shaking.
ἀνέμουa windGenitivegenitive of agentἄνεμος: wind.
μεγάλουgreatGenitiveattributive adjectiveμέγας: great, strong; a gale.
σειομένηbeing shakenPres Pass Ptc · Nom Sg Fem · σείωadverbial participle (temporal/causal, agreeing with συκῆ)→ imperfective — the ongoing shakingσείω: 'shake'; cognate with σεισμός (v.12) — the tree, like the earth, convulsed.
14
καὶ ὁ οὐρανὸς ἀπεχωρίσθη ὡς βιβλίον ἑλισσόμενον, καὶ πᾶν ὄρος καὶ νῆσος ἐκ τῶν τόπων αὐτῶν ἐκινήθησαν.
and the sky was split apart like a scroll being rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved out of its place.
Sixth seal continued — sky and earth dislodgedκαίThe climax of the cosmic dissolution: the sky rolled back like a scroll (Isa 34:4), and the most immovable features of the earth — mountains and islands — torn from their places. The whole stage of creation is struck before the face of God.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
ὁtheNominativearticle
οὐρανὸςskyNominativesubjectοὐρανός: sky, heaven; the visible firmament.
ἀπεχωρίσθηwas split apartAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · ἀποχωρίζωmain verb→ aoristic — the sky's partingἀποχωρίζω: 'separate, split off'; the sky parted/withdrawn like a scroll rolled shut.
ὡςlikecomparative particleὡς: 'as, like'; introducing the scroll-simile (Isa 34:4).
βιβλίονa scrollNominativecomparison (nom. after ὡς)βιβλίον: scroll, book; the heavens furled like a papyrus roll.
ἑλισσόμενονbeing rolled upPres Pass Ptc · Nom Sg Neut · ἑλίσσωattributive participle (agreeing with βιβλίον)→ imperfective — the rolling in progressἑλίσσω: 'roll up'; the scroll being wound up, vanishing the open sky.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
πᾶνeveryNominativeattributive adjectiveπᾶς: 'every, all'; totalizing — no mountain left fixed.
ὄροςmountainNominativesubjectὄρος: mountain; emblem of permanence, here uprooted.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
νῆσοςislandNominativesubject (coordinate)νῆσος: island.
ἐκout ofpreposition + genitive (separation)ἐκ: 'out of, from.'
τῶνtheGenitivearticle
τόπωνplacesGenitiveobject of ἐκτόπος: place, position.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possession
ἐκινήθησανwere movedAor Pass Indic 3 Pl · κινέωmain verb (constructio ad sensum, plural)→ aoristic — the dislodgingκινέω: 'move, dislodge'; mountains and islands wrenched from their foundations (cf. 16:20).
15
καὶ οἱ βασιλεῖς τῆς γῆς καὶ οἱ μεγιστᾶνες καὶ οἱ χιλίαρχοι καὶ οἱ πλούσιοι καὶ οἱ ἰσχυροὶ καὶ πᾶς δοῦλος καὶ ἐλεύθερος ἔκρυψαν ἑαυτοὺς εἰς τὰ σπήλαια καὶ εἰς τὰς πέτρας τῶν ὀρέων,
and the kings of the earth and the magnates and the commanders and the rich and the strong and every slave and free man hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains,
Universal terror — humanity hidesκαίA sevenfold catalogue spanning the whole social order — from kings to slaves — none exempt. All alike flee in terror, hiding in the rocks (Isa 2:10, 19, 21), the proud powers of earth as helpless as the lowest before the face of God.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
οἱtheNominativearticle
βασιλεῖςkingsNominativesubjectβασιλεύς: king; the highest earthly rulers head the list.
τῆςof theGenitivearticle
γῆςearthGenitivegenitive of relationshipγῆ: earth.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
οἱtheNominativearticle
μεγιστᾶνεςmagnatesNominativesubjectμεγιστάν: grandee, great one, court-noble.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
οἱtheNominativearticle
χιλίαρχοιcommandersNominativesubjectχιλίαρχος: 'commander of a thousand,' military tribune; the power of arms.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
οἱtheNominativearticle
πλούσιοιrichNominativesubstantival adjective (subject)πλούσιος: rich; the power of wealth.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
οἱtheNominativearticle
ἰσχυροὶstrongNominativesubstantival adjective (subject)ἰσχυρός: strong, mighty; the power of physical might.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
πᾶςeveryNominativeattributive adjectiveπᾶς: 'every'; the catalogue closes embracing the whole of mankind.
δοῦλοςslaveNominativesubjectδοῦλος: slave; the lowest social rank, paired with the free.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
ἐλεύθεροςfree manNominativesubjectἐλεύθερος: free, free-born; with δοῦλος, the merism for all classes.
ἔκρυψανhidAor Act Indic 3 Pl · κρύπτωmain verb→ aoristic — the act of hidingκρύπτω: 'hide, conceal'; the panicked flight from God's presence (Isa 2:10).
ἑαυτοὺςthemselvesAccusativereflexive pronoun (direct object)ἑαυτοῦ: reflexive, 'themselves.'
εἰςinpreposition + accusative (into/in)εἰς: 'into,' here of taking refuge in.
τὰtheAccusativearticle
σπήλαιαcavesAccusativeobject of εἰςσπήλαιον: cave, den; the hiding-place of the terrified (Isa 2:19).
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
εἰςamongpreposition + accusativeεἰς: 'into, among.'
τὰςtheAccusativearticle
πέτραςrocksAccusativeobject of εἰςπέτρα: rock, crag; the clefts of the mountains.
τῶνof theGenitivearticle
ὀρέωνmountainsGenitivegenitive (of the rocks belonging to the mountains)ὄρος: mountain.
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,
and they say to the mountains and to the rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the face of the one seated on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb,
The cry to the rocksκαίThe terrified plea of Hosea 10:8: better to be crushed by falling rock than to face the Judge. The paradox crowns the chapter — 'the wrath of the Lamb.' The slain, gentle ἀρνίον of ch. 5 is the one whose wrath the earth-dwellers cannot bear; meekness and judgment are joined in the same person.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
λέγουσινthey sayPres Act Indic 3 Pl · λέγωmain verb (historic present)→ imperfective (vivid present) — the cry dramatizedλέγω: 'say'; the historic present heightens the immediacy of the plea.
τοῖςto theDativearticle
ὄρεσινmountainsDativeindirect objectὄρος: mountain.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
ταῖςto theDativearticle
πέτραιςrocksDativeindirect objectπέτρα: rock, crag.
ΠέσετεFallAor Act Impv 2 Pl · πίπτωimperative (entreaty/command)→ aoristic imperative — the desired single actπίπτω: 'fall'; the plea of Hos 10:8 — let the rocks crush us rather than face God.
ἐφ’onpreposition + accusativeἐπί: 'upon.'
ἡμᾶςusAccusativeobject of ἐπί
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
κρύψατεhideAor Act Impv 2 Pl · κρύπτωimperative (entreaty)→ aoristic imperative — the act soughtκρύπτω: 'hide'; echoing v.15 — they beg the rocks to conceal them.
ἡμᾶςusAccusativedirect object
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (separation)ἀπό: 'from, away from.'
προσώπουthe faceGenitiveobject of ἀπόπρόσωπον: face, presence; the unbearable presence of God (Hebraic idiom).
τοῦof the oneGenitivearticle (substantizing participle)
καθημένουseatedPres Mid Ptc · Gen Sg Masc · κάθημαιsubstantival participle (genitive)→ imperfective — the enthroned oneκάθημαι: 'sit'; ὁ καθήμενος ἐπὶ τοῦ θρόνου, the standing designation of God enthroned (4:2, 9).
ἐπὶonpreposition + genitive (place)ἐπί: 'on, upon.'
τοῦtheGenitivearticle
θρόνουthroneGenitiveobject of ἐπίθρόνος: throne; the seat of God's sovereign rule and judgment (ch. 4).
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (separation)ἀπό: 'from.'
τῆςtheGenitivearticle
ὀργῆςwrathGenitiveobject of ἀπόὀργή: wrath, settled anger; the righteous judicial indignation of God and the Lamb.
τοῦof theGenitivearticle
ἀρνίουLambGenitivegenitive of possession (subjective)ἀρνίον: Lamb; the paradox 'the wrath of the Lamb' — the slain Redeemer is also the Judge whose anger none can withstand.
17
ὅτι ἦλθεν ἡ ἡμέρα ἡ μεγάλη τῆς ὀργῆς αὐτῶν, καὶ τίς δύναται σταθῆναι;
for the great day of their wrath has come, and who is able to stand?
Ground — the day of wrath has comeὅτιThe terror is grounded: the great day of the LORD (Joel 2:11; Zeph 1:14–18; Mal 3:2) has arrived — 'their wrath,' God's and the Lamb's together. The closing rhetorical question, 'who can stand?', leaves the unrepentant world without refuge and prepares for the sealing of the saints in ch. 7, who alone shall stand.
ὅτιforcausal conjunctionὅτι: 'because, for'; grounding the plea of v.16 — the reason for the terror.
ἦλθενhas comeAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἔρχομαιmain verb→ aoristic (dramatic/prophetic) — the day's arrival as accomplishedἔρχομαι: 'come'; the day of wrath has dawned — the aorist views it as already arrived.
ἡtheNominativearticle
ἡμέραdayNominativesubjectἡμέρα: day; the eschatological 'day of the LORD' (Joel 2:11; Zeph 1:14).
ἡtheNominativearticle (attributive)
μεγάληgreatNominativeattributive adjectiveμέγας: great; the 'great day' of decisive judgment.
τῆςof theGenitivearticle
ὀργῆςwrathGenitivegenitive of quality/contentὀργή: wrath; the day characterized by divine judgment.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possessionαὐτός: 'their' — of God on the throne and of the Lamb (v.16), their joint wrath.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
τίςwhoNominativeinterrogative pronoun (subject)τίς: 'who?'; the rhetorical question expecting the answer 'no one' — apart from the sealed (ch. 7).
δύναταιis ablePres Mid Indic 3 Sg · δύναμαιmain verb (of the question)→ imperfective — capability in viewδύναμαι: 'be able'; can anyone endure the day of wrath?
σταθῆναιto standAor Pass Inf · ἵστημιcomplementary infinitive→ aoristic — the act of standing/survivingἵστημι: 'stand'; to remain upright, to survive the judgment (Mal 3:2; Ps 1:5; Nah 1:6).