καὶ ἐξῆλθεν ἄλλος ἵππος πυρρός, καὶ τῷ καθημένῳ ἐπ’ αὐτὸν ἐδόθη αὐτῷ λαβεῖν τὴν εἰρήνην ἐκ τῆς γῆς καὶ ἵνα ἀλλήλους σφάξωσι, καὶ ἐδόθη αὐτῷ μάχαιρα μεγάλη.
Main Verb and Narrative Structure: ἐξῆλθεν
The primary verb ἐξῆλθεν (aorist active indicative, 3rd person singular of ἐξέρχομαι) serves as the central narrative action, translated as “went out” or “came forth.” The aorist tense marks this as a completed event in the sequence of visionary disclosures.
This verb governs the subject ἄλλος ἵππος πυρρός—“another horse, fiery red”—a phrase that introduces the symbolic figure with vivid imagery, following apocalyptic genre conventions.
Nominal Phrase: ἄλλος ἵππος πυρρός
This phrase consists of:
– ἄλλος (nominative masculine singular): “another,” functioning as an adjective modifying ἵππος
– ἵππος (nominative masculine singular): “horse,” the subject of ἐξῆλθεν
– πυρρός (nominative masculine singular adjective): “fiery red,” agreeing with ἵππος
The word order places emphasis on the color descriptor πυρρός, a rare and intense term, highlighting the horse’s symbolic function of violence and war.
Dative Construction: τῷ καθημένῳ ἐπ’ αὐτὸν
– τῷ καθημένῳ: dative masculine singular present middle/passive participle of κάθημαι, meaning “to sit” or “to be seated”
– ἐπ’ αὐτὸν: prepositional phrase (ἐπὶ + accusative), literally “upon it” or “on it” (referring to the horse)
This participial phrase refers to the rider: “to the one sitting on it.” The dative case is used because the verb ἐδόθη governs this construction, indicating the recipient of what is given.
Aorist Passive Verb: ἐδόθη αὐτῷ
The verb ἐδόθη (aorist passive indicative, 3rd person singular of δίδωμι) appears twice in this verse and functions as a divine passive—indicating that the authority or instrument is “given” from God or heaven without naming the subject.
– The dative αὐτῷ identifies the recipient: “to him” (the rider)
This verb introduces two parallel clauses indicating what is given to the rider:
1. λαβεῖν τὴν εἰρήνην—to take peace from the earth
2. μάχαιρα μεγάλη—a great sword
Infinitival Purpose Clause: λαβεῖν τὴν εἰρήνην ἐκ τῆς γῆς
– λαβεῖν: aorist active infinitive of λαμβάνω, expressing result or purpose
– τὴν εἰρήνην: accusative singular, object of λαβεῖν
– ἐκ τῆς γῆς: prepositional phrase with genitive, “from the earth”
This construction communicates the divine permission for the rider to remove peace from the world—ushering in violence and unrest.
Subjunctive Clause with ἵνα: ἵνα ἀλλήλους σφάξωσι
– ἵνα: introduces a purpose clause
– ἀλλήλους: reciprocal pronoun in accusative plural, “one another”
– σφάξωσι: aorist active subjunctive, 3rd person plural of σφάζω, “to slay” or “to slaughter”
This purpose clause expresses the intended consequence of peace being removed: humans turning on each other in violent bloodshed. The subjunctive mood reflects contingency or result desired by divine will.
Second Grant: μάχαιρα μεγάλη
– μάχαιρα: nominative singular of μάχαιρα, meaning “sword” (often short or for close combat)
– μεγάλη: nominative singular adjective, agreeing in gender, number, and case
This noun phrase is the second object given to the rider. Though it lacks an infinitive verb like λαβεῖν, the parallel structure and second ἐδόθη supply the grammatical cohesion.
Summary of Key Grammatical Features
- ἐξῆλθεν: aorist indicative main verb, marking the horse’s emergence
- ἄλλος ἵππος πυρρός: nominative subject with descriptive adjective
- τῷ καθημένῳ ἐπ’ αὐτὸν: dative participial phrase, identifying the rider
- ἐδόθη αὐτῷ: aorist passive divine passive construction, “was given to him”
- λαβεῖν τὴν εἰρήνην: aorist infinitive expressing purpose, “to take away peace”
- ἵνα ἀλλήλους σφάξωσι: purpose clause with aorist subjunctive, “so that they might slay one another”
- μάχαιρα μεγάλη: nominative noun phrase, “a great sword” given to the rider
Stylistic and Theological Observations
Revelation 6:4 is a syntactically dense apocalyptic unit, characterized by elevated diction and symmetrical grammar. The repetition of ἐδόθη underscores divine sovereignty in apocalyptic judgment. The use of the aorist subjunctive in the ἵνα clause introduces a chilling theological outcome: divinely permitted violence, not by heavenly agents, but by humans destroying one another.
The grammar creates a cadence of doom: emergence, granting, consequence. The present participle καθημένῳ anchors the symbolic rider visually, while the infinitive and subjunctive clauses build the dramatic effect of his power.
This verse demonstrates how apocalyptic Greek, though stylistically vivid, adheres to structured Koine grammar to deliver profound theological impact.
