4:4a

Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones: This clause probably indicates that the twenty-four other thrones were arranged in a circle around God’s throne. For example:

In a circle around the throne were twenty-four other thrones (Good News Translation)

twenty-four other thrones: The Berean Standard Bible adds the word other to show that God’s throne is not included when John counted the twenty-four…thrones. Indicate this in a natural way in your language.

4:4b

and on these thrones sat twenty-four elders: The Greek clause is literally “and on the thrones twenty-four elders sitting.” This clause probably emphasizes the phrase “on the thrones.” Consider how to emphasize this phrase in your language. Other ways to translate this clause are:

and seated on the thrones were twenty-four elders (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
upon the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting (New American Standard Bible)
-or-
on these thrones sat 24 leaders (God’s Word)

One elder was sitting on each throne. For example:

And on each of these thrones there was an elder (Contemporary English Version)

In some languages it is more natural to begin a new sentence here. For example:

Twenty-four elders were sitting on these thrones….

elders: Here the Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as elders refers to people or other beings who have authority. For example:

leaders (God’s Word)

These verses do not say whether the elders were people, angels, or some other being. So you should use a general word that can refer to either human beings or spirit beings such as angels.

4:4c

dressed in white: The Greek clause here is literally “having been clothed in white garments.” The Greek word for “garments” is a general word for clothing. The Berean Standard Bible and many other English versions leave the kind of clothing implied. Other ways to translate this clause are:

clad in white garments (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
wearing white clothes (God’s Word)

See how you translated a similar clause in 3:4 (“in white”).

4:4d

golden crowns: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as crowns can refer to two kinds of headgear. It can refer to a wreath worn as a sign of victory over competitors, as in 2:10e or 3:11c. But here it probably refers to the kind of crowns that kings wore.

Here the crowns of the elders are a symbol of leadership, like the crowns of kings. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

headpieces/hats of rulers made of gold
-or-
gold headdresses like kings/leaders wear

golden: Something which is golden is made of a shiny, yellow metal called “gold,” which is very valuable. In some languages people are not familiar with things which are golden. If that is true in your language, you may want to describe it. For example:

⌊expensive⌋ gold
-or-

⌊valuable⌋ metal/stones called gold

See how you translated the word “gold” in 3:18.

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