14:10a
he too will drink the wine: This clause begins the results of the conditional clause in 14:9b–c. For example:
then that person will also drink
too: This word indicates that the people who took the mark will also drink God’s wine. For example, the New American Standard Bible says:
also
will drink the wine: Here this phrase symbolically refers to experiencing something. The people who have taken the mark will experience God’s fury.
In some languages the meaning of the metaphor will not be clear. If that is true in your language, you may want to:
• Explain the meaning of the metaphor in a footnote. An example footnote is:
Here the phrase “drink the wine” is a metaphor for experiencing something. The people who have taken the mark will experience God’s fury.
• Translate the meaning without the metaphor. For example:
experience
-or-
undergo ⌊the terrible punishment⌋
You may then want to give the literal words in a footnote. An example footnote is:
Literally: “drink the wine.”
God’s anger: The word anger refers to strong anger. In some languages the noun anger must be translated as a verb. For example:
God being very angry
14:10b
poured undiluted into the cup of His wrath: There are two issues here.
Issue 1—Descriptive Relative Clause
This clause tells the reader more about God’s fury. In some languages a literal translation would wrongly indicate that there are other kinds of fury and only this one has been poured undiluted. If that is true in your language, translate this clause so that it tells more about God’s fury. One way to do that is to start a new sentence here. For example:
It has been poured undiluted into the cup of his wrath.
Issue 2—Metaphor
This metaphor refers to God’s great anger against those who worship the beast. Another way to translate it is:
he/God has poured out his anger without relenting
This clause continues using the metaphor of God’s fury being like wine. If you translated the meaning of the metaphor in 14:10a, you should:
• Translate the meaning of the metaphor here as well. For example:
he/they will suffer the full force of God’s wrath
-or-
He/They will suffer its full consequences!
You may then want to give the literal words in a footnote. An example footnote is:
Literally: “which has been poured full strength into the cup of his/God’s wrath.”
• Explain in 14:10b the meaning of the image in 14:10a. For example:
10a he will also drink of the wine of God’s fury. 10b God will come against him with the full amount of his anger.
-or-
10a You will have to drink the wine that God gives to everyone who makes him angry. 10b You will feel his mighty anger… (Contemporary English Version)
poured undiluted: This clause is passive. Some languages must use an active clause. For example:
which ⌊God⌋ has poured full strength
undiluted: At that time, people often mixed wine with water to dilute it. Then the wine was weaker. But God’s anger is not “diluted.” He will not withhold some of his anger.
the cup of His wrath: The word cup continues the metaphor of “wine” (14:10a). A cup was the usual container for drinking wine.
14:10c
And he will be tormented: This clause is passive. Some languages must use an intransitive clause. For example:
He will suffer torment/pain
tormented: This word refers to causing someone to suffer. Other ways to translate this word are:
brought much suffering
-or-
caused pain
See how you translated this word in 11:10.
in fire and sulfur: The Berean Standard Bible literally represents the Greek here. But the fire and sulfur were probably mixed together. Sulfur burns.
sulfur: The word sulfur refers to a yellow powder or rock-like substance that burns with intense heat. In some languages people are not familiar with sulfur. If that is true in your language, you may want to:
• Explain it in your translation. For example:
yellow rock called sulfur
• Use the major language word. If it is not well known in your language, explain it in a footnote. An example footnote is:
Sulfur is a yellow powder or rock-like substance that burns with intense heat.
See how you translated this word in 9:17.
14:10d
in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb: This phrase indicates that the angels and the Lamb will see those people tormented. For example:
in front of the holy angels and in front of the Lamb (NET Bible)
the holy angels: Here the word holy indicates that the angels are set apart for service to God. It probably also indicates that they are morally and spiritually perfect. Other ways to translate this phrase are:
angels devoted to God
-or-
angels whom God sends
-or-
sinless/blameless angels
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