19:8a–b

There is an interpretive issue regarding the speaking of 19:8a–b. There are several ways to interpret where the speaking stops:

(1) The speaking stops at the end of 19:8a. 19:8b is John’s comment.

(2) The speaking stops at the end of 19:8b.

(3) The speaking stops at the end of 19:7d. John observed what happened in 19:8a, but 19:8b is his own thought.

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1).

19:8a

She was given clothing of fine linen, bright and pure: The Greek phrase is literally, “It was given to her that she might wear fine linen bright (and) clean.” There are two ways to interpret what is given to the bride:

(1) The bride was given permission to wear fine linen. For example:

She is permitted to wear the finest white linen (New Living Translation (1996))

(2) The bride was given linen to wear. For example:

and she has been given fine linen, shining and clean, to wear (Revised English Bible)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1).

However, the context implies that the bride put on the linen clothes. In some languages a literal translation would not imply that. If that is true in your language, you should include the implied information in your translation. For example:

She is permitted to wear the finest white linen ⌊and she put it on⌋

fine linen: Here the word fine indicates that the linen was very good quality. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

High quality linen ⌊clothing⌋
-or-
Very good linen ⌊clothing⌋
-or-
Expensive linen ⌊clothing⌋

See how you translated this phrase in 18:12.

linen: This word refers to expensive cloth made from a plant called flax. The cloth is smooth and strong yet soft.

In some languages people are not familiar with linen. If that is true in your language, you may want to:

• Explain this word in your translation. For example:

flax cloth
-or-
smooth cloth

• Use the major language word. If people are not familiar with this word, explain it in a footnote. Here are example footnotes:

Linen is an expensive cloth made from a plant called flax. The cloth is smooth and strong yet soft.
-or-
See footnote on linen at 15:6.

See how you translated this word in 15:6 or 18:12.

bright: This word indicates that the linen was shiny. Other ways to translate this word are:

shining (Good News Translation)
-or-
dazzling (New Jerusalem Bible)

19:8b

For: This Greek conjunction indicates that 19:8b explains 19:8a.

the fine linen she wears is the righteous acts of the saints: This clause explains the symbolic meaning of “fine linen” in 19:8a. These words are probably John’s, because it is unlikely that the shouting crowd (19:6a–8a) would explain the symbolic meaning of the linen. So some English versions put parentheses around the clause. Other ways to indicate that these are John’s words are:

—for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints. (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
…to wear.” For the fine linen represents the good deeds of God’s holy people. (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
dazzling, pure linen.” This fine linen represents the righteous deeds that God’s holy people do.
-or-
(The interpretation of that white cloth is the righteous deeds of the people who belong to God.)

is: This phrase indicates that the linen represents the deeds of the saints. For example:

signifies (Revised English Bible)

righteous acts: The word righteous indicates that the deeds are upright or good in God’s eyes. God wants believers to do these kinds of deeds. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

upright deeds
-or-
the deeds/things of which God approves

saints: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as saints means “holy ones.” It refers to all believers. For example:

God’s people (Good News Translation)

See how you translated this word in 18:20.

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