1:20a–d

This is the mystery…: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: The word This and the colon (:) at the end of 1:20b indicate that 1:20c–d describes the mystery in 1:20a–b. Some other ways to indicate this connection are:

20a–b This is the secret meaning of the seven stars you saw in my right hand, and of the seven gold lamps: 20c–d the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches… (Revised English Bible)
-or-

20a–b I will explain the mystery of the seven stars that you saw at my right side and the seven gold lampstands. 20c–d The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches… (Contemporary English Version)
-or-

20a–b Here is the secret of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand and the seven golden lampstands: 20c–d The seven lampstands are the seven churches… (New Century Version)

1:20a

mystery: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as mystery refers to truth or knowledge that people have not discovered on their own. Someone else reveals it to them. John did not know the symbolic meaning of the seven stars and the seven lampstands, but Jesus told him in 1:20c–d. Other ways to translate this word are:

the secret meaning (Good News Translation)
-or-
The hidden meaning (God’s Word)

of the seven stars: Here the word of means “about” or “concerning.”

1:20b

of the seven golden lampstands: Here the word of means “about” or “concerning.”

1:20c

The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: This clause indicates that each star represented an angel. There was one angel for each church. Other ways to translate this clause are:

The seven stars represent the angels of the seven churches
-or-
The seven stars represent seven angels, one for each of the seven churches

the angels of the seven churches: Each angel has some kind of relationship with a church. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

the angels belonging to the seven churches
-or-
the angels associated with the seven churches

angels: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as angels can also be translated as “messengers.” It refers here to spirit beings who serve God. The English versions usually translate the Greek word as angels. See how you translated this word in 1:1.

1:20d

and the seven lampstands are the seven churches: This clause indicates that each lampstand represents a church. In some languages a literal translation will not have that meaning. If that is true in your language, translate the correct meaning. For example:

the seven lampstands are ⌊symbolic of⌋ the seven churches

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