Revelation 6:11
in Revelation 6Then each of them was given a white robe and told to rest a little while longer, until the full number of their fellow servants, their brothers, were killed, just as they had been killed.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And there was given them to each one a white robe; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little time, until their fellow-servants also and their brethren, who should be killed even as they were, should have fulfilled their course.
KJV
And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.
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This verse in Revelation 6
Commentary
17 notes on this verseA commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
Even if it be omitted, is it to be inferred that the "season" is short as compared with eternity? BENGEL fancifully made a season (Greek, "chronus," the word here used) to be one thousand one hundred and eleven one-ninth years, and a time (Re 12:12, 14, Greek, "kairos") to be a fifth of a season, that is, two hundred and twenty-two two-ninths years.
This site's exposition
under the altar the souls
on Revelation 6:9-11
The fifth seal shows under the altar the souls of those who had been slain, crying How long, the cry of Psalms 79:5 and 94:3. They receive a white robe and wait until the full number is complete.
This site's exposition
told to rest a little while longer
Tertullian saw the souls of the slain rest a little while in sure hope, each given a white robe, until their brothers share their glory. Henry saw the white robe as a sign of victory and honor. Their rest lasts until the number is full.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers5 voices
Having said these things, they first put on white robes. This was a symbol of being purified by their own blood and of laying aside all impurity. Then they hear: "rest a little longer, until their fellow servants and their brothers, who were to be …
A commentator
Victorinus of PettauCommentary on the Apocalypse of the Blessed John · Written before 304.
proposed
He who sees all things would have us to know that these saints, therefore-that is, the souls of the slain-are asking for vengeance for their blood, that is, of their body, from those that dwell upon the earth; but because in the last time, moreover, the reward of the saints will be perpetual, and the condemnation of the wicked shall come, it was told them to wait. And for a solace to their body, there were given unto each of them white robes. They received, says he, white robes, that is, the gift of the Holy Spirit.
We believe that this was revealed to them by the knowledge of divine wisdom, that since the impious will inevitably be punished with eternal punishment and since the fountain of heavenly grace will flow forth unto the end of the world, many will until then …
The Word of God shows that when the time of vengeance comes, conversion will not then help the evil person evade punishment but avenging wrath will destroy him with due damnation. For that will be a time not of remission but of retribution, not of …
But if anyone with precipitate haste rashly thinks that he can grant remission of sins to all or dares to rescind the precepts of the Lord, not only is this of no advantage to the lapsed but it is even a hindrance. Not to have observed the judgment of the Lord, and to think that his mercy is not first to be implored, but after condemning the Lord to presume on one's own power, is to have provoked his wrath.
9 more voices on this verse
The Medieval Church5 voices
In this passage the saints are shown praying for the consummation of the world. Therefore, they are told to have patience until the completion of the brothers, so that "apart from them they would not be made perfect," as the apostle says. The white robes …
And white robes were given to every one of them one; and it was said to them, that they should rest yet for a little time, till the number of their fellow servants, and of their brethren, who are to be slain, even as they, …
The spirits of the elect who dwell in that heavenly city can be understood as asking in the name of the Savior on their own behalf too, since they clearly desire the coming of the period of universal judgment and the resurrection of their bodies, …
And each of them was given a white robe. Now, the souls of the saints have individual robes, rejoicing in their blessed immortality. But when their bodies rise again, according to Isaiah, they will possess double in their land.
And it was told to them that they should rest for a little while longer, etc. The desire for resurrection is not denied, but it is deferred due to the increase of the brethren yet to be gathered. For even the joy of the souls …
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
(1.) What was given to them-- white robes, the robes of victory and of honour; their present happiness was an abundant recompence of their past sufferings. (2.) What was said to them--that they should be satisfied, and easy in themselves, for it would not be long ere the number of their fellow-sufferers would be fulfilled.
A time - This word has a peculiar meaning in this book, to denote which, we may retain the original word chronos. Here are two classes of martyrs specified, the former killed under heathen Rome, the latter, under papal Rome. The former are commanded to rest till the latter are added to them.
And white robes were given to everyone of them,....
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
White robes - The emblems of purity, innocence, and triumph. They should rest yet for a little season - This is a declaration that, when the cup of the iniquity of the Jews should be full, they should then be punished in a mass. They were determined to proceed farther, and God permits them so to do; reserving the fullness of their punishment till they had filled up the measure of their iniquity.
The words behind it
30 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| καὶ | kai | And | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| ἐδόθη | edothe | were given | G1325 → | 412 times |
| αὐτοῖς | autois | to them | G846 → | 5565 times |
| ἑκάστῳ | hekasto | each | G1538 → | 81 times |
| στολὴ | stole | a robe | G4749 → | 9 times |
| λευκὴ | leuke | white | G3022 → | 25 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| ἐρρέθη | errethe | it was said | G2046 → | 47 times |
| αὐτοῖς | autois | to them | G846 → | 5565 times |
| ἵνα | ina | that | G2443 → | 668 times |
| ἀναπαύσονται | anapausontai | they will rest | G373 → | |
| ἔτι | eti | yet | G2089 → | 140 times |
| χρόνον | chronon | a time | G5550 → | 53 times |
| μικρὸν | mikron | little | G3398 → | 46 times |
| ἕως | he'os | until | G2193 → | |
| πληρωθῶσιν | plerothosin | may be fulfilled | G4137 → | |
| καὶ | kai | also | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| οἱ | hoi | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| σύνδουλοι | sundouloi | fellow servants | G4889 → | 10 times |
| αὐτῶν | auton | of them | G846 → | 5565 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| οἱ | hoi | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἀδελφοὶ | adelphoi | brothers | G80 → | 343 times |
| αὐτῶν, | auton | of them, | G846 → | 5565 times |
| οἱ | hoi | those | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| μέλλοντες | mellontes | being about | G3195 → | 109 times |
| ἀποκτέννεσθαι | apoktennesthai | to be killed | G615 → | 74 times |
| ὡς | hos | as | G5613 → | 500 times |
| καὶ | kai | also [had been] | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| αὐτοί.¶ | autoi | they. | G846 → | 5565 times |
καὶAnd
kaiG2532 →9120 times
ἐδόθηwere given
edotheG1325 →412 times
αὐτοῖςto them
autoisG846 →5565 times
ἑκάστῳeach
hekastoG1538 →81 times
στολὴa robe
stoleG4749 →9 times
λευκὴwhite
leukeG3022 →25 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
ἐρρέθηit was said
erretheG2046 →47 times
αὐτοῖςto them
autoisG846 →5565 times
ἵναthat
inaG2443 →668 times
ἀναπαύσονταιthey will rest
anapausontaiG373 →
ἔτιyet
etiG2089 →140 times
χρόνονa time
chrononG5550 →53 times
μικρὸνlittle
mikronG3398 →46 times
ἕωςuntil
he'osG2193 →
πληρωθῶσινmay be fulfilled
plerothosinG4137 →
καὶalso
kaiG2532 →9120 times
οἱthe
hoiG3588 →19766 times
σύνδουλοιfellow servants
sundouloiG4889 →10 times
αὐτῶνof them
autonG846 →5565 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
οἱthe
hoiG3588 →19766 times
ἀδελφοὶbrothers
adelphoiG80 →343 times
αὐτῶν,of them,
autonG846 →5565 times
οἱthose
hoiG3588 →19766 times
μέλλοντεςbeing about
mellontesG3195 →109 times
ἀποκτέννεσθαιto be killed
apoktennesthaiG615 →74 times
ὡςas
hosG5613 →500 times
καὶalso [had been]
kaiG2532 →9120 times
αὐτοί.¶they.
autoiG846 →5565 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Revelation 7:14“Sir,” I answered, “you know.” So he replied, “These are the ones who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the…
it leads to
- 1 John 1:7
But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.
- Revelation 22:14
Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and may enter the city by its gates.
- Hebrews 13:12
And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate, to sanctify the people by His own blood.
- Revelation 1:5
and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and has released us from our sins by…
- Revelation 12:11
They have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony. And they did not love their lives so as to shy away from death.
- 1 John 1:7
Through
Revelation 7:9After this I looked and saw a multitude too large to count, from every nation and tribe and people and tongue, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes…
it leads to
- Revelation 5:9
And they sang a new song: “Worthy are You to take the scroll and open its seals, because You were slain, and by Your blood You purchased for God those from every tribe and…
- John 12:13
They took palm branches and went out to meet Him, shouting: “Hosanna!” “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Blessed is the King of Israel!”
- Revelation 5:9
Through
Revelation 14:13And I heard a voice from heaven telling me to write, “Blessed are the dead—those who die in the Lord from this moment on.” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “they will rest from their labors,…
it leads to
- Revelation 20:6
Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection! The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and will reign with Him…
- Revelation 20:6
Where this verse is studied
About Revelation
This page draws on 16 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Alcuin of York, COMMENTARY ON REVELATION; Andreas of Caesarea, COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 6:11; Bede, Homilies on the Gospels 2.12; Bede, Commentary on Revelation; Cyprian, Treatise III. On the Lapsed 18; Fulgentius of Ruspe, ON THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS 2.5.2-3; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Oecumenius, Commentary on Revelation; Primasius of Hadrumetum, COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 6:11; Tertullian, Scorpiace and Victorinus of Pettau, Commentary on the Apocalypse of the Blessed John.