Revelation 6:10
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?
Study Note
Study Note
The martyrs under the altar cry out 'How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?' — echoing the imprecatory psalms (Psalm 6:3; 79:5, 10) and introducing the eschatological question that structures much of the Apocalypse. The location 'under the altar' recalls the Levitical rite in which the blood of sacrificial animals was poured at the base of the altar — the martyrs' deaths are interpreted as priestly sacrifice. The cry 'how long?' (heōs pote) is the characteristic lament of the persecuted righteous (Habakkuk 1:2; Revelation 6:11), framing divine delay as a theological question demanding answer. John's vision responds that vindication is certain but the full number of martyrs must yet be completed — an answer that neither removes urgency nor grants premature resolution.
Other Translations
and they cried with a great voice, saying, How long, O Master, the holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?
and they were crying with a great voice, saying, `Till when, O Master, the Holy and the True, dost Thou not judge and take vengeance of our blood from those dwelling upon the land?'
And they gave a great cry, saying, How long will it be, O Ruler, holy and true, before you take your place as judge and give punishment for our blood to those on the earth?
Cross References
And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother’s blood crieth unto me from the ground.
For the Lord shall judge his people, and repent himself for his servants, when he seeth that their power is …
Rejoice, O ye nations, with his people: for he will avenge the blood of his servants, and will render vengeance …
And Samson called unto the Lord, and said, O Lord God, remember me, I pray thee, and strengthen me, I …
The Lord judge between me and thee, and the Lord avenge me of thee: but mine hand shall not be …
When he maketh inquisition for blood, he remembereth them: he forgetteth not the cry of the humble.
How long wilt thou forget me, O Lord? for ever? how long wilt thou hide thy face from me?
Lord, how long wilt thou look on? rescue my soul from their destructions, my darling from the lions.
The righteous shall rejoice when he seeth the vengeance: he shall wash his feet in the blood of the wicked.
So that a man shall say, Verily there is a reward for the righteous: verily he is a God that …