A denarius (Rev 6:6)

“I heard

What seemed to be

A voice

In the midst

Of the four living creatures

Saying,

‘A quart of wheat

For a denarius.

Three quarts of barley

For a denarius.

But do not damage

The olive tree

And the wine!’”

καὶ ἤκουσα ὡς φωνὴν ἐν μέσῳ τῶν τεσσάρων ζῴων λέγουσαν Χοῖνιξ σίτου δηναρίου, καὶ τρεῖς χοίνικες κριθῶν δηναρίου· καὶ τὸ ἔλαιον καὶ τὸν οἶνον μὴ ἀδικήσῃς.

John said, “I heard (καὶ ἤκουσα) what seemed to be a voice (ὡς φωνὴν) in the midst (ἐν μέσῳ) of the four living creatures (τῶν τεσσάρων ζῴων) saying (λέγουσαν), ‘A quart (Χοῖνιξ) of wheat (σίτου) for a denarius (δηναρίου).  Three quarts (καὶ τρεῖς χοίνικες) of barley (κριθῶν) for a denarius (δηναρίου).  But do not damage (μὴ ἀδικήσῃς) the olive tree (καὶ τὸ ἔλαιον) and the wine (καὶ τὸν οἶνον)!’”  This is the only use of this Greek word that appears only in Revelation and not in any other canonical biblical NT writing, the word Χοῖνιξ, that means a choenix, a Greek dry measure of less than a quart, equivalent to 1.92 pints, and the word κριθῶν, that means barley.  John heard the voice coming from the four living creatures, not explicitly from any one individual.  There seems to be an implication that a famine is coming.  The denarius was a full day’s pay.  Thus, a ration of wheat and barley was available.  Barley was less expensive and only mentioned here in Revelation.  However, the olive trees and vineyard did not seem to be damaged like the earlier crops of wheat and barley.  Have you ever lacked for food?

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