21:23a
And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it: The glory of God shines upon the city, so the city needs no other lights. Other ways to translate this clause are:
The city has no need of the sun or the moon to shine on it (Good News Translation)
-or-
There is no need for the sun or moon to shine on the city
21:23b
because: This conjunction introduces the reason for there being no need for the light of the sun or moon in the city.
the glory of God illuminates the city: The word glory refers to splendor and majesty. Here the word implies brightness. Other ways to translate this clause are:
the glory of God shines on it (Good News Translation)
-or-
it was lit by the radiant glory of God (New Jerusalem Bible)
the Lamb is its lamp: This metaphor indicates that the Lamb is like a lamp for the city. The metaphor probably refers figuratively to the Lamb showing God’s glory in the new Jerusalem.
In some languages a literal translation would not indicate the figurative meaning. If that is true in your language, you may want to:
• Change the metaphor to a simile. For example:
the Lamb is ⌊like⌋ its lamp
• Explain its meaning in your translation. For example:
the Lamb ⌊shows God’s glory like⌋ a lamp
• Translate the literal meaning of the metaphor and explain its meaning in a footnote. An example footnote is:
This metaphor indicates that the Lamb shows God’s glory, like a lamp gives light.
General Comment on 21:23a–b
The reason (21:23b) occurs after the result (21:23a). In some languages the reason must come first. For example:
23b The glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp, so 23a the city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it.
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