20:5a

The rest of the dead:
This phrase refers to dead people who did not come to life in 20:4f.

20:5b

This is the first resurrection: This clause refers back to the resurrection in 20:4f. In some languages it is more natural to use the word “that” when referring back to that event. For example:

That is the first resurrection

the first resurrection: The word resurrection refers to when God causes people to come back to life. This will be the first time that a group of people will be resurrected. It is an event. In some languages it is necessary or more natural to translate this word using a verb. For example:

the first time that ⌊God⌋ resurrects people
-or-
the first time when ⌊God⌋ causes people to live again
-or-
when ⌊God⌋ first raises ⌊a group of⌋ people from death

General Comment on 20:5a–b

The phrase “the first resurrection” (20:5b) refers to those believers of 20:4b–f. But 20:5a tells about what happens one thousand years later (20:12). You should indicate that 20:5a is extra information about what happens to the other people. Some English versions do this by using parentheses. You may want to:

• Put 20:5a after 20:5b. For example:

5b This is the first resurrection. 5a The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended.

• Put 20:5a after all the information about the believers whom God resurrected at this time (20:5b–6d). For example:

5–6 This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy are those who have part in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years.

The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended.

• Use parentheses on 20:5a as the New International Version and Good News Translation do.

• Move 20:5a and use parentheses. For example:

This is the first resurrection. (The rest of the dead did not come back to life until the thousand years had ended.) (New Living Translation (2004))

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