And I saw, and behold: see 4.1. New Revised Standard Version is better: “I looked, and there was” (see Translator’s New Testament, Good News Translation, New American Bible, Revised).

A white horse, and its rider had a bow: in all four instances the horse is referred to first, after which comes a description of the rider (see verses 4, 5, 8). It seems more natural to say “I saw a man with a bow, riding on a white horse,” but it is better to follow the order of the Greek text and refer first to the horse. The white horse symbolizes conquest and victory. In cultures where horses are unknown, a translator should not try to find an equivalent animal from that culture. The picture in this context is of a horse, but a mule, camel, or some other animal that can be ridden may be used as long as it is commonly ridden. However, since the colors of the horses are important, an animal such as a zebra should not be employed. So a picture of a horse, along with a description of it in a footnote or glossary item, will be helpful to readers.

Its rider: in some languages there may not be a general word like rider to refer to someone who is riding an animal, and so it may be necessary to say “and the one who was riding it,” or “the one who was mounted on it.” If possible it is better to avoid something like “person,” or “man,” or “angel.” It may be necessary to say “something that looked like a person (or, human).” The problem may be especially difficult in verse 8, where the rider’s name is given.

A bow: this weapon requires arrows, and it may be necessary to say “a bow and arrows.” Where bow and arrows are unknown, it may be necessary to say “a weapon” or “a weapon that shoots darts (or, missiles),” without specifying what kind of weapon it is, while carefully avoiding the implication that it is a firearm, that is, a gun that shoots bullets. The weapon should be recognized as useful in battle.

A crown was given to him: as in 4.4, 10, the crown is a sign of equal authority and power; the rider is crowned a king. The passive was given implies that God, or an angel, gave him the crown of a king. However, since it is not certain who the agent is, in languages that do not have the passive it will be possible to say “he received a crown” or “… a chief’s hat.”

Went out: that is, out of heaven, over the earth, in order to do battle. In some languages it will be necessary to translate “went out of heaven over the earth to….”

Conquering and to conquer: Translator’s New Testament translates “a victor searching for victory”; Bible en français courant “as a conqueror and to conquer again,” or it can be “as one who has already conquered, and will conquer again.” In languages where the verb conquer requires an object, one may say “conquer others” or “conquer his enemies.”

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on The Revelation to John. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1993. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .