9:15a

the four angels who had been prepared: Earlier, God had prepared these angels for the task of killing one third of mankind. The clause is passive. Some languages must use an active clause. For example:

whom ⌊God⌋ had prepared ⌊beforehand⌋

the four angels: This phrase refers to the same four angels of 9:14b. For example:

These four angels (New Jerusalem Bible)

9:15b

for this hour and day and month and year: This phrase refers to the exact time in history that these angels are released. The four time words in this phrase emphasizes the fact that it is an exact time. God chose that time, and it will happen at that time.

In some languages it is more natural to start with the longest time period (year) and end with the shortest time period (hour). For example:

for this very year and month and day and hour

this: The Greek word is literally “the.” The Berean Standard Bible translates the Greek word as this to help indicate an exact time. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

that (God’s Word)
-or-
this exact

hour: Here the word hour refers to a point in time. The angels were prepared to begin at that exact time.

In some languages a literal translation would not have the correct meaning. If that is true in your language, you may want to:

• Use a word or phrase for an exact time. For example:

moment
-or-

⌊exact⌋ time

• Use the word or phrase from the major language.

In some languages, the phrase “day and month and year” may imply the exact time of day. If that is true in your language, translating the word hour may not be necessary. For example:

for this very day and month and year

9:15c

were released: This clause is passive. Some languages must use an active clause. For example:

⌊the sixth angel⌋ released them

a third of mankind: Here the word third means “one part out of three parts.” For example, in a group of three thousand people, one thousand people would die. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

one part in three ⌊parts⌋ of mankind
-or-
one of every three of all people
-or-
one part of mankind and two parts not

See how you translated the phrase a third of in 8:7 (in “a third of the trees”).

mankind: The word mankind refers to all the people living on the earth. Other ways to translate this word are:

all people/humans
-or-
all the people of the earth

General Comment on 9:15a–c

All of 9:15a–b is the subject phrase for the main verb phrase “were released” in 9:15c. In some languages it is more natural to make 9:15a–b a background sentence. For example:

15a These four angels had been kept ready 15b for this very hour and day and month and year. 15c And at this time they were released to kill a third of mankind.

This example uses active clauses instead of passive ones:

15a God had prepared these four angels 15b for this very hour and day and month and year. 15c And at this time the sixth angel released them to kill a third of mankind.

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