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. — Revelation 6:4
A Horse of Fire: Unleashing Judgment through Grammar
This dramatic apocalyptic verse unleashes the second horseman of the apocalypse: a fiery red horse symbolizing conflict and bloodshed. The Greek grammar in this single sentence orchestrates a chain of violent outcomes, structured through strategic use of aorist verbs, infinitives, subjunctives, and divine passives that build momentum from heavenly decree to earthly destruction.
ἐξῆλθεν…καὶ ἐδόθη: The Structure of Divine Permission
The opening verb ἐξῆλθεν (“went out”) sets the apocalyptic scene in motion. It is in the aorist, indicating the decisive moment this horse entered the world. Repeated twice in the verse, ἐδόθη (“it was given”) introduces a key theological theme: divine permission. The rider is not acting autonomously—he is authorized. This use of the divine passive implies that the events, though violent, are under the sovereign hand of God.
Purpose and Infinitive Chains
Two constructions follow ἐδόθη: first, the infinitive λαβεῖν (“to take”) and then the purpose clause ἵνα ἀλλήλους σφάξωσι (“in order that they might slaughter one another”). The infinitive expresses what the rider is empowered to do: remove peace. The subjunctive expresses the resulting chaos: mutual slaughter. The grammar shows that this is not merely war from a single agent, but societal collapse—all are turned against each other.
Vocabulary of Violence
Two violent words dominate the verse: σφάζω (“to slaughter”), typically used in sacrificial or brutal contexts, and μάχαιρα (“sword”), the tool of execution and rebellion. The final phrase—μάχαιρα μεγάλη (“a great sword”)—functions as both a literal weapon and a symbolic representation of immense destruction. Its placement at the end provides rhetorical weight and apocalyptic finality.
Parsing the Core Verbs
| Greek Verb | Root | Tense | Voice | Mood | Form | English Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ἐξῆλθεν | ἐξέρχομαι | Aorist | Active | Indicative | 3rd Person Singular | he went out |
| ἐδόθη | δίδωμι | Aorist | Passive | Indicative | 3rd Person Singular | it was given |
| λαβεῖν | λαμβάνω | Aorist | Active | Infinitive | — | to take |
| σφάξωσι | σφάζω | Aorist | Active | Subjunctive | 3rd Person Plural | they might slaughter |
The Sword that Shattered Peace
The grammar of Revelation 6:4 intensifies the theological message: divine judgment is unleashed not through chaotic randomness, but through structured, grammatically ordered permission. The repeated ἐδόθη phrases, the shift from infinitive to subjunctive, and the arrival of the μάχαιρα μεγάλη combine to show that the second horseman doesn’t merely bring war—he removes peace itself. The sword is not just a symbol of violence; it is the punctuation at the end of grammar’s prophecy.
