17:16a
And the ten horns and the beast that you saw:
The Greek phrase is literally “the ten horns that you saw and the beast.” John had already seen the beast. This phrase emphasizes the fact that John had already seen the ten horns. For example:
the ten horns that you saw, they and the beast (Revised Standard Version)
the ten horns: This phrase refers figuratively here to the ten kings. In some languages a literal translation would wrongly refer only to the beast’s ten horns, not the ten kings. If that is true in your language, you may want to:
• Explain the meaning in your translation. For example:
the ten horns, ⌊namely the ten kings,⌋
• Translate the literal meaning and explain its meaning in a footnote. An example footnote is:
This phrase refers figuratively here to the ten kings.
• Translate the meaning without the figure of speech. For example:
the ten kings
hate: This word means “feel strong dislike toward someone and detest him.”
17:16b
They will leave her desolate and naked: The Greek clause is literally “they will make her desolate and naked” (as in the Revised Standard Version). They will take Babylon’s possessions and her clothes. But it also describes her in a figurative way as being alone and shamed. Other ways to translate this clause are:
They will take all her possessions and clothes from her
-or-
They will strip her naked and leave her destitute (Revised English Bible)
-or-
They will take everything she has and leave her naked (New Century Version)
They will leave her desolate: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as leave her desolate refers here to being left with nothing. For example:
they will take away everything she has (Good News Translation)
17:16c
and will eat her flesh: This clause refers to the way a fierce animal attacks a person and devours the dead body. For example:
They will eat her body (New Century Version)
This clause refers figuratively to the beast and the ten kings fiercely attacking Babylon and destroying her.
flesh: This word refers to the skin and muscles. But it can also include all the parts of the body that animals can eat.
17:16d
burn her with fire: They burned the parts of the body that they did not eat.
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