Revelation 14:20

the city Probably Jerusalem, see on Revelation 14:1.

blood Isaiah 63:3.

even unto the horse bridles Literally, even unto the bridles of the horses though no horses are mentioned in the context. Probably the A. V. is right that it is meant as a mere measure, that any horseman riding there finds his horse bridle-deep in blood: but some think of the horsemen of God's avenging army in Revelation 19:14. There can hardly be a reference to the horses of chap. 6 or of Revelation 9:17.

by the space of Lit. from perhaps best translated "from a distance of."

a thousand and six hundred furlongs 200 Roman miles, or about 183 English. It is hardly likely that it is meant, that the blood covered a space of 40 furlongs squaremore probably, that it extended 1600 (or perhaps 800) in every direction from the city. It has been imagined that the distance specified stands for the length of Palestine, which is estimated by St Jerome at 160 Roman miles, by modern surveys at about 140 English.