SIL Translator’s Notes on Revelation 20:3

20:3a

shut it: The Greek word here can mean both “shut” and “lock.” The angel had the key to the Abyss. A key implies that there was a door with a lock. The angel both shut the door and locked it with the key.

In some languages it is more natural to mention the door in your translation. For example:

shut ⌊the door

“Lock the door” implies first shutting the door. In some languages, a literal translation would not imply shutting the door. If that is true in your language, you may want to include the implied meaning. For example:

shut and⌋ locked ⌊the door

sealed: This word refers to putting something on the door to indicate the door is not to be opened. Only the person with the proper authority should open it.

In some languages people are not familiar with this process of sealing doors. If that is true in your language, you may want to use a word or phrase that indicates that kind of deed. For example:

affixed with an ⌊official⌋ stamp/seal
-or-
There was a mark stuck to it ⌊so that it might not be opened except by the right person

someone put a mark/seal on the door and doorjamb ⌊to show that it should be opened only by those with the authority to do so

See how you translated this word in 5:1.

it: This pronoun refers to the Abyss. In some languages it is more natural to explain the pronoun it as referring to the door of the Abyss. For example:

its ⌊door

20:3b

so that he could not deceive the nations: Here, the word so introduces the purpose for seizing Satan, binding him, throwing him into the Abyss, locking the door, and sealing it. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

so that he could not deceive the nations (NET Bible)
-or-
The angel did this so he could not trick the people of the earth (New Century Version)

the nations: Here the word nations refers to the various countries and people groups living on the earth.

20:3c

until the thousand years were complete: This phrase indicates that after one thousand years God would no longer bind/restrain Satan. Then Satan would again deceive the nations. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

until the one thousand years were finished (NET Bible)
-or-
until the 1,000 years were over (God’s Word)

thousand: Some languages do not have words for large numbers. If that is true in your language, you may want to:

Use numerals. For example:

1,000 (God’s Word)

Use the major language word.

General Comment on 20:3b–c

In some languages it is necessary or more natural to talk about events in the order they happen. If that is true in your language, consider how to translate the information in 20:3b–c. For example:

3b to keep him from deceiving the nations anymore 3c during the thousand years
-or-

3c so that a thousand years would go by 3b before the dragon could fool the nations again (Contemporary English Version)

20:3d

After that: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as that is literally “these (things).” It refers to what John had seen in 20:1–3c. For example:

After those things ⌊happened

he must be released: This clause is passive. Some languages must use an active clause. For example:

someone⌋ must release him

he must be: The Greek words are literally “it is necessary for him to be.” God’s plan includes allowing Satan to be free after the thousand years are over. Another way to translate this phrase is:

he will certainly be

for a brief period of time: This phrase refers to the time during which the events of 20:7–10 take place.

© 2020 by SIL International®
Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0.
All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.

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