7:2a
from the east: The Greek phrase is literally “from the rising of the sun” (as in the Revised Standard Version). This phrase is probably a poetic way to refer to the east. A more literal translation is:
where the sun rises (New Jerusalem Bible)
7:2b
seal: Here the word seal refers to a device that puts a mark on something. The mark usually is a unique shape. Each mark identifies the owner. At that time, each king would have a ring with a unique seal that was used to make such marks. Below is an example of a ring with a seal.
The word seal has a different meaning here than at 5:1.
In some languages people are not familiar with this kind of seal. If that is true in your language, you may want to:
• Use a descriptive phrase. For example:
device/tool for marking ownership
-or-
symbol putting/marking thing
-or-
signet ring
• Use the major language word. If people are not familiar with this word, explain it in a footnote. An example footnote is:
The word “seal” refers to a device that puts a mark on something or someone. The mark shows to whom the thing or person belongs.
the living God: The word living here refers to God as being alive. God is a living being as opposed to idols which are not alive. Some other examples for translating are:
the alive God
-or-
the God who lives ⌊forever⌋
7:2c
he called out in a loud voice: Here, the phrase called out in a loud voice probably implies that the angel had a powerful voice. Other ways to translate this phrase are:
he cried out with a powerful voice
-or-
he shouted in a great voice
7:2d
the four angels who had been given power to harm the land and the sea: This phrase refers to the four angels in 7:1. God gave them the power and authority to harm the entire earth. The Greek is literally “the four angels to whom was given to them to harm the land and sea.” The Berean Standard Bible adds the word power to make the phrase natural in English. Other ways to translate this phrase are:
the four angels whose duty was to devastate land and sea (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
the four angels who had been given permission to damage the earth and the sea (NET Bible)
-or-
the four angels who had been allowed to harm the earth and sea (God’s Word)
who had been given power: This clause is passive. Some languages must use an active clause. God gave them the power. For example, the New Century Version says:
to whom God had given power
General Comment on 7:2a–d
7:2d includes new information about the four angels. In some languages it is more natural to put that information before the information about the new angel. For example:
2d The four angels had been given power to harm the land and the sea. 2a Then I saw another angel coming up from the east, 2b having the seal of the living God. 2c He said in a loud voice to the four angels,
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