11:6a–b
These witnesses have power to shut the sky so that no rain will fall: This clause indicates that the two witnesses are able to prevent rain from falling. God gave them the authority to do this. It is implied that they actually do shut the sky. Other ways to translate this clause are:
They have authority to shut up the sky so that there will be no rain (Good News Translation)
-or-
These witnesses have authority to shut the sky in order to keep rain from falling (God’s Word)
-or-
These men are able to shut the sky so it does not rain ⌊and they do so⌋
These witnesses: The Greek word is literally “These.” The ending on the Greek word may imply two men or a man and a woman. Other ways to translate this Greek word are:
These two (Revised English Bible)
-or-
They (Contemporary English Version)
power to shut the sky so that no rain will fall: The word shut symbolically indicates that the witnesses are able to prevent rain from falling.
In some languages the meaning of this figure of speech is not clear or natural. If that is true in your language, translate its meaning. For example:
the power to stop the sky from raining (New Century Version)
-or-
able to prevent any rain ⌊from falling⌋
11:6b
during the days of their prophecy: This phrase refers to the 1,260 days in 11:3b. It may imply that the witnesses would prevent rain over the whole earth during that whole time. Or it may imply that they would prevent rain over different parts of the earth for shorter times. You should translate this phrase so that it allows either interpretation. Other ways to translate this phrase are:
during the days of their prophesying (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
while they are prophesying (Contemporary English Version)
the days of their prophecy: This phrase refers to the 1,260 days when God gives the witnesses messages to tell the people. Other ways to translate this phrase are:
the time they speak what God has revealed (God’s Word)
-or-
the time when they were telling people what God has revealed to them
11:6c
and power to turn the waters into blood: It is again implied that the witnesses actually do what they have the power or ability to do. For example:
they are able to change the waters into blood ⌊and they do so⌋
the waters: The word waters refers generally to springs, rivers, lakes, oceans, and underground water. Use a word or phrase that can refer generally to various bodies of water. For example:
various bodies of water
-or-
all kinds/sorts of bodies of water
Some languages cannot refer generally to various bodies of water. If that is true in your language, list several different bodies of water. For example:
the rivers and oceans (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
the oceans, rivers, and lakes
11:6d
strike the earth with every kind of plague: This clause refers to causing plagues that hurt people. People everywhere will be affected. Other ways to translate this clause are:
afflict the earth with every kind of plague (Revised English Bible)
-or-
cause all kinds of plagues on people over the whole earth
plague: This word refers to disasters that harm a lot of people. It can refer to diseases that kill many people. It can refer to locusts that damage many crops. Some languages do not have a general word such as plague. If that is true in your language, you may need to use a descriptive phrase. For example:
calamities/disasters that cause much death
-or-
things that cause people to suffer
See how you translated this word in 9:18.
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