Commentaries:
Robertson's Word Pictures (NT)
And I saw and behold (kai eidon kai idou). This combination is frequent in the Apocalypse (Revelation 4:1; Revelation 6:2, Revelation 6:5, Revelation 6:8; Revelation 14:1, Revelation 14:14; Revelation 19:11).
A white horse (ippov leukov). In Zechariah 6:1-8 we have red, black, white, and grizzled bay horses like the four winds of heaven, ministers to do God's will. White seems to be the colour of victory (cf. the white horse of the Persian Kings) like the white horse ridden by the Roman conqueror in a triumphant procession.
Had (exwn). Agreeing in gender and case with o kaqhmenov.
A bow (tocon). Old word (Zechariah 9:13 f. of a great bow), here only in N.T.
Was given (edoqh). First aorist passive indicative of didwmi.
A crown (stefanov). See on Revelation 4:4 for this word.
He came forth (echlqen). Second aorist active indicative of ecerxomai, either to come out or to go out (went forth).
Conquering (nikwn). Present active participle of nikaw.
And to conquer (kai ina nikhsh). Purpose clause with ina and the first aorist active subjunctive of nikaw. Here wv nikhswn (future active participle with wv) could have been used. The aorist tense here points to ultimate victory. Commentators have been busy identifying the rider of the white horse according to their various theories. "It is tempting to identify him with the Rider on the white horse in Revelation 19:11 f., whose name is 'the Word of God'" (Swete). Tempting, "but the two riders have nothing in common beyond the white horse."
Other Robertson's Word Pictures (NT) entries containing Revelation 6:2:
Hebrews 9:10
Revelation 4:2
Revelation 6:2
Revelation 6:4
Revelation 6:5
Revelation 7:2
Revelation 9:7
Revelation 12:3
Revelation 19:11
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