Paragraph 19:10
19:10a
So I fell at his feet: Here this clause refers to kneeling and putting the face to the ground with arms outstretched toward someone. This position showed complete humility before that person and honored him. The word fell implies a quick and complete action. It does not refer to accidentally falling. Other ways to translate this clause are:
I prostrated myself before him
-or-
I threw myself down at his feet (NET Bible)
-or-
I bowed down at the angel’s feet (New Century Version)
-or-
I knelt at the feet of the angel (Contemporary English Version)
See how you translated the verb at 19:4 (“fell down”).
worship: This word refers to honoring someone or something as sacred/divine. Other ways to translate this word are:
venerate
-or-
revere
See how you translated this word in 13:4 or 19:4.
19:10b
Do not do that: The Greek clause is literally “See not.” It is a command to John not to do what he was doing. John was not to prostrate himself before the angel. Other ways to translate this clause are:
Do not do it! (New International Version (1984))
-or-
Do not worship/honor me
19:10c
19:10c is a reason why John should not worship the angel. In some languages it is more natural to clearly indicate it is the reason. For example:
⌊For⌋ I am…
I am a fellow servant with you: This clause indicates that the angel served God just as John served God. They both did the things that God told them to do. For example:
I am a servant together with you (Good News Translation)
fellow servant: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as servant can also mean “slave.” It indicates that the angel did what God told him to do. The difference between “slave” and “servant” is not important here.
Some languages do not have a single word for “slave.” If that is true in your language, you may want to refer generally to those who serve God. Or if the word “slave” is not appropriate for believers in your language, you may want to refer generally to those who serve God. For example:
one who serves God as you do
See how you translated the word servant in 10:7 or 15:3.
19:10d–f
the testimony of Jesus…the testimony of Jesus: This phrase occurs in both 19:10d and 19:10f. It probably has the same meaning in both places. There are two ways to interpret this phrase:
(1) It indicates that believers give their testimony about Jesus. For example:
bear their witness to Jesus. …those who bear witness to Jesus (Revised English Bible)
(2) It indicates that Jesus gave the testimony. For example:
the truth that Jesus revealed (Good News Translation)
Many English versions translate the Greek grammar literally as of, as the Berean Standard Bible does. It is not possible to tell which interpretation they follow. You may also translate this phrase in a similar way. But some languages must choose either interpretation (1) or interpretation (2). If that is true in your language, it is recommended that you follow interpretation (1).
19:10d
your brothers: Here the word brothers refers to other believers. It refers to both men and women. Other ways to translate this phrase are:
your brothers and sisters (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
your siblings in believing/faith
-or-
your fellow believers
who rely on the testimony of Jesus: This clause tells the reader more about the believers (“your brothers”). In some languages a literal translation would wrongly indicate that only some believers rely on the testimony of Jesus. If that is true in your language, translate this clause so that it tells more about all believers. One way to do that is to start a new sentence here. For example:
They rely on the testimony of Jesus.
rely on: Here, the phrase rely on indicates that the believers continue to believe that their testimony about Jesus is true. Other ways to translate this phrase are:
are faithful to
-or-
have
testimony: The word testimony means “the words spoken about what one saw or knows.” The word testimony is often used when the person speaking is expected to be truthful and accurate. Other ways to translate this word are:
witness (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
message (New Century Version)
See how you translated this word in 12:17 or 17:6 (where the Berean Standard Bible translates it as “witnesses”).
19:10e
Worship God: This command indicates that John should worship only God. He should never worship an angel or anyone else. It was not a command to begin worshiping God at that moment. For example:
Worship only God. (New Living Translation (2004))
19:10f
For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy: There are two ways to interpret who spoke:
(1) The angel spoke this clause.
(2) John wrote his own thought here.
It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1).
For: This conjunction introduces an explanation about “the testimony of Jesus” (19:10d).
the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy: The word “spirit” probably means “essence” or “main principle” here. For example:
the testimony of Jesus is the essence of prophecy
-or-
the testimony of Jesus is the main principle of prophecy
This clause is generally understood in several ways that are close in meaning:
(a) The purpose of prophecy is to testify about Jesus.
(b) Anyone telling others about Jesus is, in effect, prophesying to them.
(c) Words of true prophecy agree with what Jesus said and did.
Translate the phrase the testimony of Jesus in a way that is similar in meaning to your translation of that phrase in 19:10d.
prophecy: The word prophecy refers to a message that God gives to someone. The message may include a vision, as in Ezekiel 1 and Daniel 8. A prophecy may reveal something about past events, current events, or future events. The prophet speaks the prophecy to the people or writes it down for their use.
Some languages do not have a word for prophecy. If that is true in your language, you may want to:
• Use a descriptive phrase. For example:
direct message from God
-or-
God’s ⌊new⌋ message
-or-
a message that God has revealed
• Use the major language word. If people are not familiar with this word, explain it in a footnote. Example footnotes are:
The word “prophecy” refers to a message that God gives to someone. The message may be words or visions. A “prophecy” may speak about something that happened in the past, something currently happening, or something that will happen in the future.
-or-
See the footnote on “prophecy” at 1:3.
See how you translated this word in 1:3.
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