Paragraph 9:1–6

9:1a

Then the fifth angel sounded his trumpet: Translate this clause in a similar way to the other angels sounding their trumpets. See 8:7 or 8:12.

fifth: The word fifth refers to the next item after four other things. If counted, this item would be counted as number five. Other ways to translate this word are:

the one after the other four
-or-
the one after the four of them
-or-
another (after the other four)

9:1b

a star that had fallen: This phrase indicates that the star had already fallen. For example:

a star that had previously fallen

(New International Version🙂 sky: The Greek word that the New International Version translates as sky can refer either to the sky or to heaven. Here John has only said that the star had fallen to the earth. So he probably meant sky here.

9:1c

and it was given the key: This clause is passive. Some languages must use an active clause. For example:

⌊Someone/They⌋ gave the key to him
-or-

⌊God had someone⌋ give the key to him
-or-
The star received the key

it: The pronoun it refers to the “star” mentioned in 9:1b. Another way to translate this pronoun is:

The star (New International Version)

to: The key opened or unlocked the shaft of the Abyss. In some languages it is more natural to include that implied information in your translation. For example:

to ⌊open⌋
-or-
that ⌊unlocks⌋

the pit of the Abyss: There are several ways to interpret the Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as the pit of the Abyss :

(1) It means the shaft that leads to the Abyss. The Abyss is deeper in the earth, and this is the shaft that connects to it. For example:

the shaft leading down to the Abyss (New Jerusalem Bible)

(2) It means the pit is the Abyss. The Abyss is a pit that has no bottom. For example:

the bottomless pit (New American Standard Bible)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), because the word Abyss means more than a hole in the ground.

(New International Version🙂 shaft: This word refers to a very deep hole that goes straight down or goes in a mostly downward direction. Other ways to translate this word are:

downward tunnel/cave
-or-
hole

Abyss: The word Abyss refers to a very deep pit or chasm. It indicates that the pit or chasm was too deep to measure. Here it probably refers to something underground rather than a chasm, since a shaft leads to it. Here the Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Abyss refers to an underground place where the spirits of dead people and demons lived. Other ways to translate this word are:

bottomless pit (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
hole deep beyond measure
-or-
cave/cavern leading to the place of the dead

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