21:19a
The foundations of the city walls were adorned with: This clause is passive. God caused the foundations to be decorated. Some languages must use an active or intransitive clause. For example:
⌊God⌋ had adorned the foundations of the city walls with
-or-
⌊God⌋ had caused the foundations of the city walls to be beautiful with
-or-
The foundations of the city walls were
were adorned: Here, the Greek word probably indicates that God adorned these foundation stones by making each foundation out of one gemstone (jasper, sapphire, and so on). For example:
were fashioned out of (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)
-or-
Each of the twelve foundations was a precious stone. (Contemporary English Version)
every kind of precious stone: Each of the twelve foundation stones was a precious stone. The phrase every kind indicates that only precious stones were used. For example:
the most precious stones
-or-
very precious gemstones
21:19b
The first foundation was jasper: The Berean Standard Bible adds the word was to make the English natural. The first foundation stone was made of jasper. Other ways to translate this clause are:
the first of the foundation-stones being jasper (Revised English Bible)
-or-
The first foundation stone was ⌊made of⌋ jasper
-or-
The first foundation was jasper stone
See how you translated the word jasper in 21:18.
the second sapphire: The noun “foundation” and the verb “was” are implied but not repeated here. In some languages it is more natural to repeat some or all of the implied words. For example:
the second ⌊foundation⌋ ⌊was⌋ a sapphire
-or-
The second ⌊foundation⌋ ⌊was made of⌋ sapphire
sapphire: This name in Greek is spelled sapfiros. This word refers to a kind of blue stone that light shines through.
In some languages people are not familiar with sapphire. If that is true in your language, you may want to:
• Use a descriptive phrase. For example:
a shiny, glassy/transparent blue stone ⌊named⌋ sapphire
• Use the major language word for sapphire. If people are not familiar with this word, explain it in a footnote. An example footnote is:
Sapphire is a kind of blue stone. Light shines through it.
21:19c
chalcedony: This name in Greek is spelled chalkēdon, where the “ch” is pronounced like a “k” without stopping the air in the mouth. This word probably refers to a kind of light tan stone with brown areas that shines brightly in the sun.
Another English word for chalcedony is:
agate (Good News Translation)
Light reflects off the surface of this stone. Light does not shine through this stone like it does through glass.
In some languages people are not familiar with chalcedony. If that is true in your language, you may want to:
• Use a descriptive phrase. For example:
a shiny, tan and brown stone ⌊named⌋ chalcedony
• Use the major language word for chalcedony. If people are not familiar with this word, explain it in a footnote. An example footnote is:
Chalcedony is a kind of tan and brown stone. It shines brightly.
emerald: This word refers to a kind of bright green stone through which light shines.
In some languages people are not familiar with emerald. If that is true in your language, you may want to:
• Use a descriptive phrase. For example:
a shiny, glassy/transparent green stone ⌊named⌋ emerald
• Use the major language word for emerald. If people are not familiar with this word, explain it in a footnote. An example footnote is:
Emerald is a kind of bright green stone. Light shines through it.
See how you translated this word in 4:3.
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