13:15a
The second beast was permitted: This clause is passive. Some ways to translate it are:
• Use a passive clause. For example:
Permission was given to him
-or-
it was allowed (Revised Standard Version)
• Use an active clause. Probably the dragon or the first beast gave the permission. (God allowed the second beast to have the power as a part of his plan.) For example:
⌊the dragon⌋ gave power to him
• Use a verb that implies that someone gave permission to him. For example:
he received permission
to give breath to the image of the first beast: These words probably refer to causing the statue to move and speak by some means, which John does not tell us. Other ways to translate this phrase are:
put breath into the idol, so that it could speak (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
breathe life into the image (Good News Translation)
-or-
give life to the image (NET Bible)
13:15b
so that the image could speak: This phrase implies that the image spoke. In some languages a literal translation would not imply that the statue actually spoke. If that is true in your language, indicate that it did speak. For example:
so that it spoke
13:15c
and cause all who refused to worship it to be killed: There are two ways to interpret the Greek words here:
(1) The image caused those who refused to worship it to be killed. For example:
Then the statue commanded that anyone refusing to worship it must die. (New Living Translation (2004))
(2) The beast caused those who refused to worship the image to be killed. For example:
And the second beast was given power to command all who will not worship the image of the beast to be killed. (New Century Version)
It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), because the Greek form of the two verbs “speak” and “cause” indicate that they are parts of one purpose statement for what the image will do. That purpose statement starts with “so that” in 13:15b.
cause all who refused to worship it to be killed: The clause be killed is passive. Some languages must use an active clause. For example:
cause ⌊someone⌋ to kill all who refused to worship the image
-or-
order ⌊someone⌋ to kill all who refused to worship the image, ⌊and that person did so⌋
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