14:3a
they sang a new song:
The pronoun they probably refers to the 144,000 men/believers (14:1b).
sang: The Greek grammar probably indicates that they sang for some time. For example:
were singing (New Jerusalem Bible)
before the throne: This phrase refers to God’s throne in heaven. In some languages a literal translation would wrongly refer to a different throne. If that is true in your language, you may want to include the implied information. For example:
before the throne ⌊in heaven⌋
-or-
before ⌊God’s⌋ throne
14:3b
living creatures: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as living creatures is literally “living (ones).” The word refers to beings that are like angels. The living creatures speak and praise God (4:8). Other ways to translate this phrase are:
living beings (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
living things/ones
See how you translated this phrase in 4:6.
elders: Here the word elders refers to those who have authority. These people (or angels) were leaders who had God as their leader. For example:
leaders (God’s Word)
These verses do not say whether the elders were people or angels. So you should use a word like “elder” or “leader” that can refer to either people or angels.
There were twenty-four elders. They are not included in the count of “four.”
See how you translated this word in 4:4.
14:3c
And no one could learn the song except the 144,000: This clause indicates that only the 144,000 men/believers could learn this song. Another way to translate this clause is:
Only the 144,000 ⌊men/believers⌋ could learn this song
14:3d
who had been redeemed from the earth: This clause tells the reader more about the 144,000 men/believers. In some languages a literal translation would wrongly indicate that there are other groups of 144,000 and only this group could learn this song. If that is true in your language, translate this clause so that it tells more about the 144,000. One way to do that is to start a new sentence here. For example:
They had been redeemed from the earth.
who had been redeemed: This clause is passive. Some languages must use an active clause. For example:
whom ⌊God⌋ has redeemed from the earth
redeemed: God paid a price to receive the 144,000. That price was the death of his Son. Other ways to translate this word are:
purchased from the earth (New American Standard Bible)
-or-
ransomed from the earth (Revised English Bible)
from the earth: This phrase probably indicates that God had purchased these men/people from all over the earth. They were purchased from the world and separated from it in some way. It probably does not refer to God removing them from the earth.
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