1:18a

the Living One: The phrase the Living One is a second title. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

and the Living One
-or-
and ⌊I am⌋ the One Who Lives

The title the Living One means “the one who lives.” Jesus used it as a title for himself.

1:18b

I was dead: Here the past tense indicates that Jesus was dead in the past, but God caused him to live again. He was alive at the time he spoke to John.

In some languages it is more natural to include the implied information that Jesus was dead but now is no longer dead. For example:

⌊Previously⌋ I was dead
-or-
I was dead ⌊before⌋

behold: This word emphasizes or calls attention to the words that follow. Here it indicates that what Jesus was about to say is important. Sometimes behold is translated as “look.” However, here it is not a command to look at something.

If you have a word that emphasizes the words that follow, you may want to use it here. Some examples are:

see (New Revised Standard Version)
-or-
indeed/hey
-or-
look (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
listen

forever and ever: The Greek phrase is literally “into/unto the ages of the ages.” The phrase means “always” or “eternally.” Other ways to translate this phrase are:

for evermore (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
for all ages to come

You should translate this phrase as you did in 1:6.

1:18c

I hold the keys of: The symbol of the keys indicates that Jesus had power and authority over death and Hades. Other ways to translate this clause are:

I have the keys of (English Standard Version)
-or-
I have authority over (Good News Translation)

Hades: The word Hades refers to the place where the spirits of dead people live before God judges everyone.

Some ways to translate Hades are:

• Use the name in your language for the place of the spirits of dead people.

Use a descriptive phrase. For example:

the place of the dead (New Century Version)
-or-
the land/world of the dead

• Use the Greek word and explain it in your translation. For example:

Hades, ⌊the place of the dead⌋

• Use the Greek word and explain it in a footnote. An example footnote is:

Hades is the place where the spirits of dead people live until God judges everyone.

Or see Hades in the Key Biblical Terms.

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