Revelation 6:10 Meaning and Explanation
“And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The martyrs cry out, asking how long until the holy and true Lord judges and avenges their blood.
What Does Revelation 6:10 Mean?
The souls beneath the altar lift a loud cry, the ancient prayer of the suffering: 'How long?' They appeal not for private revenge but to the Lord, 'holy and true,' as Judge of all the earth, asking when He will set right the wrong done to them. It is a plea handed entirely into God's keeping, leaving justice where it belongs.
This cry gives words to every faithful heart that has waited long for God to act. It is honest about the ache for justice, yet it trusts that justice rests with the One who is holy and true, not with our own hands. The believer may carry the same question, 'How long?', and bring it to the same place, confident that the Judge hears and that His timing, though slow to us, is never careless.
Revelation 6:10 in the Original Language
despotes (δεσπότης), 'Lord' -- a sovereign master with full authority, here addressed as the rightful Judge.
Frequently Asked Questions About Revelation 6:10
What does Revelation 6:10 mean?
The martyrs cry out, asking how long until the holy and true Lord judges and avenges their blood.