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NASB | Revelation 6:2 I looked, and behold, a white horse, and he who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Revelation 6:2 I looked, and behold, a white horse [of victory] whose rider carried a bow; and a crown [of victory] was given to him, and he rode forth conquering and to conquer. [Ps 45:4, 5; Zech 1:8; 6:1-8] |
Bible Question: Regarding the word "bow" used in Revelation 6:2, the NASB and KJV with Strong's Dictionary states that the translation from the original Greek word (Strong's 5115) "toxon" is "bow", with the meaning of "(Apparently as the simplest fabric)". This contextual use of word "bow" is stated to be derived from the base word (Strong's 5088) "tikto" which is defined as; "to produce (from seed, as a mother, a plant, the earth, etc.) literal or figurative: bear, be born, bring forth, be delivered, be in travail." With Strong's definition, how is the word "bow" in the application of Revelation 6:2 supposed to be understood? It is obviously not referring to a bow as a weapon of battle. Clearly the use of the word "bow" is not limited to that of a bow, as in "bow and arrow". Hank |
Bible Answer: Hello Hank and welcome to the forum. I think it would be safe to conclude that one doesn’t become an authority on the Koine Greek by just reading Strong’s, even though it is a good reference book. Type the words “Greek TOXON” is your internet search engine and you can spend hours on the word toxon and they all point to the English translation BOW. Bible Background Commentary Rev 6:2. The very image of an archer on a white horse would strike terror into the heart of a pro-Roman reader. The only mounted archers of antiquity were the Parthians, whose tactics and skills had made them Rome’s most feared enemies; old Persian armies, whose heirs the Parthians were, always included sacred white horses. Although the Old Testament uses the “bow” as a symbol of judgment by battle more generally, Roman readers would think of this eastern nation that had defeated them in some recent wars; Parthians’ skill as archers was common knowledge. Other contemporary apocalyptic writers (Similitudes of Enoch) also suggested a dreaded Parthian invasion, hence ancient readers would have readily understood that this horseman meant conquest and war. I don’t know what translation you are using but I have access to over twenty some and they all say bow. If there would have been a variation in the translations I would have suspected something but since they all agree it would be pretty hard to be suspicious don’t you think? Have fun, CDBJ |
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Questions and/or Subjects for Rev 6:2 | Author | ||
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Salko | ||
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cariad | ||
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ssalt | ||
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hankum | ||
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CDBJ | ||
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Jim Estes | ||
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Auhsoj Mulb | ||
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flyingtigerman |