Paragraph 2:17

2:17a

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches: Translate this statement as you did in 2:11.

2:17b

To the one who overcomes: The clause To the one who overcomes is emphasized by being placed first in the sentence. If you have a natural way in your language to emphasize this clause, you may want to do so. See how you translated it in 2:7.

overcomes: The word overcomes means “triumphs” or “obtains/wins the victory.” Here the word refers to having success over sin, evil, and pressure to turn away from Jesus. Translate this phrase as you did in 2:7.

I will give the hidden manna: This is a figurative way to say that Jesus will give a spiritual blessing to the people who overcome. This spiritual blessing is probably having fellowship with him at the end of the age.

Manna is food, so it is implied that the people who overcome would eat it. In some languages it is more natural to include this implied information. For example:

I will give some of the hidden manna ⌊to eat⌋

the hidden manna: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as hidden refers to something that someone has concealed or put in a secret place. Jesus did not say who had hidden this manna. Probably God hid it or allowed it to remain hidden.

This word implies that no one else knows where it is. Therefore, it will be ready for Jesus to give at the right time.

Some ways to translate the hidden manna here are:

• Use a passive clause. For example:

the manna that has been hidden away in heaven (New Living Translation (2004))

• Use an active clause. Probably Jesus or God hid the manna. For example:

the manna that ⌊God⌋ has hidden

manna: The Greek word manna is the name of a food that God miraculously fed to the Israelites in the desert (Exodus 16). Manna was described as “thin flakes like frost” (Exodus 16:14). It was also described as “white like coriander seed and tasted like wafers made with honey” (Exodus 16:31).

In some languages people may not realize that manna refers to a food. It is also possible that the word might be mistaken for a similar word in your language with a different meaning. If that is true in your language, you should indicate that it refers to a food. For example:

⌊food called⌋ manna
-or-

⌊the heavenly food⌋ manna

You may also want to give more information in a footnote. An example footnote is:

Manna is the name of a food that God miraculously gave to the Israelites in the desert. (See Exodus 16.)

2:17c

a white stone: The word stone probably refers to a small stone that easily fits in someone’s hand. The phrase a white stone probably symbolically refers to receiving permission to enter heaven, like receiving a ticket or pass to an event. Many English versions translate this literally.

You may want a footnote to explain the symbol. An example footnote is:

This white stone probably refers to symbolically receiving permission to enter heaven, something like receiving a ticket/pass.

inscribed with a new name: The clause inscribed with a new name is passive. Some languages must translate with an active clause or a phrase. For example:

with a new name ⌊that I/God⌋ wrote on it
-or-
with a new name on it

If you follow the second example, it should imply that someone wrote the name.

a new name: A name is already written on the stone when Jesus gives it to the believer. These verses do not say whose name it is. If possible, do not add any information about whose name it is. The new name is probably one that Jesus gives to the victorious believer. But the new name might be a new name of Jesus (3:12).

2:17d

known only to the one who receives it: This clause refers back to the “new name” that is written on the stone in 2:17c. Only the person receiving the stone will know the name on it.

The Berean Standard Bible omits “that is” from the beginning of this clause, as is possible in English here. The Greek is more literally “no one knows except the one receiving it.” Some ways to translate it are:

• Use a passive clause. For example:

a name that is known only to the person who receives it (God’s Word)

• Use an active clause. For example:

that no one knows except the one who receives it (Good News Translation)

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