REV 6:6 Parallel Verse View

Note: This view shows ‘verses’ which are not natural language units and hence sometimes only part of a sentence will be visible—click on any Bible version abbreviation down the left-hand side to see the verse in more of its context. Normally the OET discourages the reading of individual ‘verses’, but this view is only designed as a tool for doing comparisons of different translations—the older translations are further down the page (so you can read up from the bottom to trace the English translation history). The OET segments on this page are still very early looks into the unfinished texts of the Open English Translation of the Bible—please double-check these texts in advance before using in public.

Text critical issues=small word differences Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, orange:accusative/object, pink:genitive/possessor, cyan:dative/indirect object.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

ULT And I heard something like a voice in the midst of the four living creatures saying, “A choenix of wheat for a denarius and three choenices of barley for a denarius, but do not harm the oil and the wine.”

UST Then I heard a sound like a voice coming from among the four living beings. It said, “Make wheat so scarce that a person will have to work an entire day to earn enough money to buy one liter of it. Also make barley so scarce that a person will have to work an entire day to earn enough money to buy three liters of it. However, make sure that olive oil and wine remain so plentiful that their prices do not increase.”

6:6 Greek A choenix of wheat for a denarius. A choenix was a Greek dry measure equivalent to 1.92 pints or 0.91 liters. A denarius was customarily a day’s wage for a laborer; see Matthew 20:2.

MSB And I heard[fn] a voice from among the four living creatures, saying, “A quart of wheat for a denarius,[fn] and three quarts of barley for a denarius, and do not harm the oil and wine.”

6:6 CT includes what sounded like.

6:6 Greek A choenix of wheat for a denarius; A choenix was a Greek dry measure equivalent to 1.92 pints or 0.91 liters. A denarius was customarily a day’s wage for a laborer; see Matthew 20:2.

BLB And I heard something like a voice in the midst of the four living creatures, saying, "A choenix of wheat for a denarius, and three choenixes of barley for a denarius; and you should not injure the oil and the wine."

AICNT And I heard [something like][fn] 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, and do not harm the oil and the wine.”

6:6, something like: Absent from some manuscripts. BYZ TR

OEB And I heard what seemed to be a voice, coming from among the four creatures, crying – “A quart of wheat for a silver coin, and three quarts of barley for a silver coin! But do not harm the oil and the wine.”

WEBBE I heard a voice in the middle of the four living creatures saying, “A choenix[fn] of wheat for a denarius, and three choenix of barley for a denarius! Don’t damage the oil and the wine!”

6:6 A choenix is a dry volume measure that is a little more than a litre (a little more than a quart).

WMBB (Same as above including footnotes)

NET Then I heard something like a voice from among the four living creatures saying, “A quart of wheat will cost a day’s pay and three quarts of barley will cost a day’s pay. But do not damage the olive oil and the wine!”

LSV and I heard a voice in the midst of the four living creatures saying, “A measure of wheat for a denarius, and three measures of barley for a denarius, and you may not injure the oil and the wine.”

FBV I heard what seemed to be a voice coming from among the four living creatures that said, “Two pounds of wheat cost a day's wages, and three pounds of barley cost the same.[fn] But don't damage the oil or the wine.”[fn]

6:6 Two pounds/three pounds—an approximate measurement. The Greek measure is about one quart, or just over one liter. The point being made here is just how expensive basic foods have become.

6:6 The command to the rider is not to inflict damage on these other staple food items.

TCNT Then I heard [fn]a voice from among the four living creatures saying, “A measure of wheat for a denarius, and three measures of barley for a denarius, and do not damage the oil and wine.”

6:6 a [81.2%] 𝔐^A+,C,K [81.2%] ¦ something like a 𝔐^A− ANT CT [18.3%]

T4T I heard a voice that sounded like it was coming from among the four living creatures. It was saying ◄to the horseman/to the man who was sitting on the black horse►, “A quart of wheat will cost so much that a man must work a whole day to earn enough money to buy it, and three quarts of barley will sell for the same price. But do not cut off the supply of olive oil or the wine [MTY]!”

LEB And I heard something like 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, and do not damage the olive oil and the wine!”

BBE And a voice came to my ears, from the middle of the four beasts, saying, A measure of grain for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny: and see that you do no damage to the oil and the wine.

Moff and I heard like a voice in the midst of the four living Creatures saying, "A shilling for a quart of wheat, a shilling for three quarts of barley; but harm not oil and wine!"

Wymth And I heard what seemed to be a voice speaking in the midst of the four living creatures, and saying, "A quart of wheat for a shilling, and three quarts of barley for a shilling; but do not injure either the oil or the wine."

ASV And I heard as it were a voice in the midst of the four living creatures saying, A measure of wheat for a shilling, and three measures of barley for a shilling; and the oil and the wine hurt thou not.

DRA And I heard as it were a voice in the midst of the four living creatures, saying: Two pounds of wheat for a penny, and thrice two pounds of barley for a penny, and see thou hurt not the wine and the oil.

YLT and I heard a voice in the midst of the four living creatures saying, 'A measure of wheat for a denary, and three measures of barley for a denary,' and 'The oil and the wine thou mayest not injure.'

Drby And I heard as a voice in the midst of the four living creatures saying, A choenix of wheat for a denarius, and three choenixes of barley for a denarius: and do not injure the oil and the wine.

RV And I heard as it were a voice in the midst of the four living creatures saying, A measure of wheat for a penny and three measures of barley for a penny; and the oil and the wine hurt thou not.
(And I heard as it were a voice in the midst of the four living creatures saying, A measure of wheat for a penny and three measures of barley for a penny; and the oil and the wine hurt thou/you not. )

SLT And I heard a voice in the midst of the four living creatures saying, A measure of wheat for a drachma, and three measures of barley for a drachma; and thou shouldest not injure the oil and the wine.

Wbstr And I heard a voice in the midst of the four living beings say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine.

KJB-1769 And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine.
(And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts/animals say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou/you hurt not the oil and the wine. )

KJB-1611 And I heard a voice in the midst of the foure beastes say, [fn]A measure of wheate for a penie, and three measures of barley for a penie, and see thou hurt not the oyle and the wine.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from punctuation and footnotes)

6:6 The word chænix signifieth a measure containing one wine quart, and the twelfth part of a quart.

Bshps And I hearde a voyce in the myddes of the foure beastes saye: A measure of wheate for a penie, and three measures of barly for a penie, and oyle and wine see thou hurt not.
(And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts/animals say: A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny, and oil and wine see thou/you hurt not.)

Gnva And I heard a voice in the mids of the foure beastes say, A measure of wheate for a penie, and three measures of barly for a peny, and oyle, and wine hurt thou not.
(And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts/animals say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny, and oil, and wine hurt thou/you not. )

Cvdl And I herde a voyce in the myddes of the foure beastes saye: a measure of whete for a peny, and thre measures of barly for a peny: and oyle and wyne se thou hurte not.
(And I herd/heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts/animals say: a measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a peny: and oil and wine see thou/you hurt not.)

TNT And I herd a voyce in the myddes of the .iiii. bestes saye: a measure of whete for a peny and iii. measures of barly for a peny: and oyle and wyne se thou hurte not.
(And I herd a voice in the midst of the .iiii. bestes say: a measure of wheat for a penny and iii. measures of barley for a peny: and oil and wine see thou/you hurt not. )

Wycl And Y herde `as a vois in the myddil of the foure beestis, seiynge, A bilibre of wheete for a peny, and thre bilibris of barli for a peny; and hirte thou not wyn, ne oile.
(And I heard as a voice in the middle of the four beasts/animals, saying, A bilibre of wheat for a penny, and three bilibris of barley for a peny; and hurt thou/you not wine, nor oil.)

Luth Und ich hörete eine Stimme unter den vier Tieren sagen: Ein Maß Weizen um einen Groschen und drei Maß Gerste um einen Groschen; und dem Öle und Wein tu kein Leid.
(And I heard a/one voice under the four animals say: A measure(n)/extent wheat around/by/for a Groschen and three measure(n)/extent barley around/by/for a Groschen; and to_him oils and wine do/act no/not Leid.)

ClVg Et audivi tamquam vocem in medio quatuor animalium dicentium: Bilibris tritici denario et tres bilibres hordei denario, et vinum, et oleum ne læseris.[fn]
(And I_heard as_if voice in/into/on in_the_middle four of_animals they_will_sayium: Bilibris wheat penny and three bilibres barley penny, and wine, and oil not læseris. )

6.6 Et audivi tanquam. Quia hic in pugna hæreticorum, ubi est majus periculum, prætenditur auxilium. Bilibris. Quasi dicat: O fideles, ne timeatis eos qui antea vos poterant lædere; et vos diaboli, ne lædatis istos, quia non proficietis, quia bilibris tritici, etc. Tritici. Per triticum intelliguntur perfectiores, qui per tribulationem attriti igne decocti sunt, Deo cibus suavis. Hordeum sunt minores in eodem genere. Vinum, prælo quidem attriti, sed non ita excocti, acres tantum in se, et alios ad bene operandum inebriantes: oleum sunt non alios inebriantes, sed prius orationibus ungentes. Et vivum et oleum ne læseritis. Id est istos qui sunt refecti vino, id est sanguine meo, et oleo, id est Spiritu sancto uncti. Vinum similiter emitur denario uno.

6.6 And I_heard as_if. Because this/here in/into/on fight of_heretics, where it_is greater periculum, beforetenditur help/aid(n). Bilibris. As_if let_him_say: O faithful, not be_afraid them who/which previously you(pl) they_could lædere; and you(pl) devils, not lædatis these, because not/no proficietis, because bilibris wheat, etc. Tritici. Per wheat are_understood perfectiores, who/which through tribulationm worn_out with_fire decocti are, to_God food sweet. Hordeum are minors in/into/on the_same in_general. Vinum, beforelo indeed worn_out, but not/no so/thus excocti, acres only in/into/on himself, and others to well to_work inebriantes: oil are not/no others inebriantes, but first/before prayers ungentes. And alive and oil not læseritis. That it_is these who/which are refecti wine, that it_is blood mine, and with_oil, that it_is By_Spirit holy uncti. Vinum likewise buysur penny one.

UGNT 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.
(kai aʸkousa hōs fōnaʸn en mesōi tōn tessarōn zōōn legousan, ⱪoinix sitou daʸnariou, kai treis ⱪoinikes krithōn daʸnariou, kai to elaion kai ton oinon maʸ adikaʸsaʸs.)

SBL-GNT 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.
(kai aʸkousa ⸀hōs fōnaʸn en mesōi tōn tessarōn zōōn legousan; Ⱪoinix sitou daʸnariou, kai treis ⱪoinikes ⸀krithōn daʸnariou; kai to elaion kai ton oinon maʸ adikaʸsaʸs.)

RP-GNT 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.
(Kai aʸkousa fōnaʸn en mesōi tōn tessarōn zōōn legousan, Ⱪoinix sitou daʸnariou, kai treis ⱪoinikes krithaʸs daʸnariou; kai to elaion kai ton oinon maʸ adikaʸsaʸs.)

TC-GNT Καὶ ἤκουσα [fn]φωνὴν ἐν μέσῳ τῶν τεσσάρων ζῴων λέγουσαν, Χοῖνιξ σίτου δηναρίου, καὶ τρεῖς χοίνικες [fn]κριθῆς δηναρίου· καὶ τὸ ἔλαιον καὶ τὸν οἶνον μὴ ἀδικήσῃς.
(Kai aʸkousa fōnaʸn en mesōi tōn tessarōn zōōn legousan, Ⱪoinix sitou daʸnariou, kai treis ⱪoinikes krithaʸs daʸnariou; kai to elaion kai ton oinon maʸ adikaʸsaʸs. )

6:6 φωνην [81.2%] 𝔐^A+,C,K ¦ ως φωνην 𝔐^A− ANT CT [18.3%]

6:6 κριθης 𝔐^A−,C,K [78.4%] ¦ κριθων 𝔐^A+ CT [20.2%]

Key for above GNTs: yellow:punctuation differs, red:words differ (from our SR-GNT base).

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 6:1–17: The Lamb opened the first six seals

In this section, Jesus, the Lamb, opened six of the seven seals on the scroll. The opening of each of the first four seals revealed a rider and a horse who would cause a different kind of trouble for people on the earth. The opening of the fifth seal revealed all the people who had been killed because of their faith. The opening of the sixth seal caused the whole universe to be shaken and moved.

Other examples of headings for this section are:

The Lamb opened six of the seven seals

The Seals (NIV)

The first six seals are opened

6:6a

And I heard what sounded like a voice from among the four living creatures, saying,

And I heard the sound of a voice in the midst of the four living creatures saying,
Then I heard someone speak somewhere in the midst of the four living creatures. It said,

what sounded like a voice from among the four living creatures: This clause probably indicates that John could not see who spoke. It was not one of the four living creatures, God, or Jesus. But the sound of the voice came from the area where the four living creatures were. Other ways to translate this clause are:

something that sounded like a voice coming from the middle of the four living creatures (NCV)

a voice speaking where the living beings were

6:6b–d

At that time, a day’s wage for a common laborer was a silver coin called a “denarius.” A “denarius” would normally buy eight quarts of wheat or more. A “denarius” would also normally buy sixteen quarts of barley or more. Therefore, the words in 6:6b–c refer to a severe shortage of wheat and barley. They had become very expensive. But 6:6d prohibits any shortage of olive oil or wine. People used all these four foods daily to make their meals.

6:6b

“A quart of wheat for a denarius,

“A liter/quart of wheat will cost a day’s wages,
“There will be a shortage so that a whole day’s pay will buy only one day’s worth of wheat kernels/grain

A quart of wheat for a denarius: This clause has no verb. In some languages it is necessary to add a verb for good grammar. You should probably add a future verb. For example:

A quart of wheat will cost you a whole day’s wages! (CEV)

One quart of wheat will be sold for a day’s pay!

People will need a day’s wage to buy one quart of wheat!

This price is about eight times more than normal. In some languages a literal translation would not clearly indicate that the price is very high. If that is true in your language, you may want to explain the high cost in your translation. For example:

Wheat will be so expensive that a day’s wage will purchase only one quart of it instead of eight quarts!

One quart of wheat will cost much more than normal; it will cost a whole day’s wages!

quart of wheat: The grain called wheat was the daily food of many people at that time in that region. The Greek word for wheat and the kind of Greek measure probably imply wheat kernels/seeds/grain.BDAG, L&N, Lenski, Osbourne, and Kistemaker all refer to grain for the Greek word for wheat, rather than flour. The wheat kernels could be eaten directly or ground into flour for bread.

A quart of wheat would make enough bread for one person for one day. People in some languages do not normally eat wheat bread. If that is true in your language, you may want to:

Use the daily food common to your area. This might be rice, corn, or some other kind of food. You may want to include a footnote to explain the literal word. An example footnote is:
Literally: “wheat.” Wheat bread was the daily food of many people at that time.
Use the major language word. If people are not familiar with this word, explain it in a footnote. An example footnote is:
Wheat was the daily food of many people at that time.
Wheat was the daily food in that place at that time. Bread is made from wheat. A quart/liter of wheat flour would make enough bread for one person for one day.

quart: The Greek word here refers to a measurement that is about equal to a quart or a liter. In some languages people are more familiar with liters than quarts. If that is true in your language, you may want to use the word “liter” here.

a denarius: At that time, one denarius paid the wage for one day of work by a laborer or farm worker. This was a low wage. Only poor people worked for one denarius a day.

The high prices on food indicates that people would have to work all day just to pay for enough food to eat that day. In your translation you may want to:

Follow the NIV and use the phrase “a day’s wages” or a similar phrase. For example:
the money earned from a whole day of working
a day’s pay. You may then want to explain the Greek word in a footnote. For example:
Literally, “a denarius.” This was a Roman coin that a laborer or farm worker received for one day of work. It was a poor person’s wage.
Use a word for a day’s wage for a poor person. For example:
a silver coin You may then want to explain the Greek word in a footnote. For example:
Literally, “a denarius.” This was a Roman coin that a laborer or farm worker received for one day of work.
Spell the Greek word as someone in your language would say it and explain its meaning in a footnote. If you have used the word “denarius” in the Gospels, you may want to use it here. An example footnote is:
A denarius was a Roman coin that a laborer or farm worker received for one day of work.

6:6c

and three quarts of barley for a denarius,

and three liters/quarts of barley will cost a day’s wages,
or three day’s worth of barley seeds/grain.

three quarts of barley for a denarius: The word barley refers to a cheaper grain than wheat. Poor people often bought barley instead of wheat. This price is about five times more than normal. Poor people in some languages do not normally eat barley bread. If that is true in your language, you may want to:

General Comment on 6:6b–c

Use the daily food common to poor people in your area. It should be a food different than the word you used in 6:6b. You may then want to include a footnote to explain the literal word. For example:
Literally: “barley.” Barley was the daily food of poor people at that time.
Explain barley in a footnote. For example:
“Barley” was the daily food of poor people at that time.
“Barley” was the daily food of poor people at that time. A low quality bread is made from barley. Three quarts/liters of barley was enough food for a small family for one day.

These two statements about food prices are probably instructions to the black horse and rider. The horse and rider will cause a shortage of foods used for the main part of the meal such as wheat and barley. The shortage will cause the high prices. People in some languages will not see that the shortage causes the high prices. If that is true in your language, you may want to:

Include some implied information. For example:
Cause a shortage so that a quart of wheat costs a day’s wages and three quarts of barley costs a day’s wages
The food shortage will be so severe that a quart of wheat will cost a day’s wages and three quarts of barley will cost a day’s wages
Translate literally and explain its meaning in a footnote. For example:
This verse refers to a shortage of food that people eat daily. So the prices are five to eight times higher than normal. But there will not be a shortage of other food items like cooking oil and wine.

Also, the phrase “for a denarius” is repeated in 6:6c. In some languages it is more natural to omit the phrase. For example:

^6b–cA loaf of wheat bread or three loaves of barley will cost a day’s pay. (NLT)

6:6d

and do not harm the oil and wine.”

and/but do not harm the olive oil and the wine!”
But do not ruin the oil used in cooking or the wine.”

and do not harm the oil and wine: The person speaking prohibited the horse and rider from causing a shortage of olive oil and wine.Beale, Aune, and Swete support this interpretation of this clause. Other ways to translate this clause are:

but do not harm oil and wine! (RSV)

But don’t ruin the olive oil or the wine. (CEV)

oil: The word oil here refers to olive oil. The olive is the fruit of the olive tree. Olive oil is squeezed out of it. The oil was used as cooking oil and as fuel for lamps.

In some languages people will think that the word refers to something other than cooking oil. If that is true in your language, you may want to explain its use in your translation. For example:

cooking oil

wine: Wine is made from the juice of a fruit called grapes. Grapes grow on a vine. People squeeze them and collect the juice. The juice is allowed to ferment, so wine is an alcoholic beverage.

At that time people commonly drank wine with the evening meal. People in some languages are not familiar with wine. If that is true in your language, you may want to:

Explain the meaning in your translation. For example:
common beverage called wine
fermented grape juice
wine water You may then want to explain its meaning in a footnote. For example:
Wine is a beverage made from grapes. At that time people usually drank wine with the evening meal.
Use the name of the beverage commonly used in your area with meals. You may then want a footnote to explain what wine is. For example:
Literally: “wine.” At that time, wine is a beverage that people commonly drank with the evening meal.

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

λέγουσαν

saying

This voice is giving instructions to the rider on the black horse. You could indicate that in your translation if it would be helpful to your readers. Alternate translation: [saying to the rider on the black horse]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

χοῖνιξ σίτου δηναρίου, καὶ τρεῖς χοίνικες κριθῶν δηναρίου

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Καί ἤκουσα ὡς φωνήν ἐν μέσῳ τῶν τεσσάρων ζῴων λέγουσαν Χοῖνιξ σίτου δηναρίου καί τρεῖς χοίνικες κριθῶν δηναρίου καί τό ἔλαιον καί τόν οἶνον μή ἀδικήσῃς)

The implication is that there would be famine, so that wheat and barley, the staple crops in this culture, would become scarce and very expensive. (The balance that John describes the third rider holding in the previous verse may symbolize weighing grain for sale.) You could indicate this in your translation if that would be helpful to your readers. Alternate translation: [Create famine that will cause grain to become so scarce that a choenix of wheat will cost a denarius and three choenices of barley will cost a denarius]

Note 3 topic: translate-bvolume

χοῖνιξ σίτου & τρεῖς χοίνικες κριθῶν

A choenix was a measure equivalent to about one liter or one quart. The plural of choenix is choenices. Alternate translation: [one liter of wheat … three liters of barley] or [one quart of wheat … three quarts of barley]

Note 4 topic: translate-bmoney

δηναρίου & δηναρίου

˱for˲_˓a˒_denarius & ˱for˲_˓a˒_denarius

The denarius was a silver coin that was worth a day’s wages for a laborer. You could try to express this amount in terms of current monetary values, but that might cause your Bible translation to become outdated and inaccurate, since those values can change over time. So instead you could use a general expression or give the equivalent in wages. Alternate translation, in each instance: [for one silver coin] or [for the pay for one day of work]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / doublenegatives

μὴ ἀδικήσῃς

If it would be clearer in your language, you could use a positive expression to translate this double negative that consists of the negative particle not and the negative verb harm. Alternate translation: [be careful to preserve]