5:8a–b

fell down: Here the phrase fell down refers to kneeling and putting the face to the ground with arms outstretched toward someone. The elders and creatures did this deliberately in order to show humility before God and to honor him. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

prostrated themselves (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
threw themselves to the ground (NET Bible)

Some languages have a different action that shows complete humility and honor to someone. If that is true in your language, you may want to use that action here. See how you translated this phrase in 3:9 or 4:10.

5:8c

Each one: This phrase probably refers to both the living creatures and the elders. Many English versions do not try to make it clear whether this word refers to both groups or just the elders. For example, the New Jerusalem Bible says:

each one of them

Some scholars think this refers only to the elders. For example, the Revised English Bible says:

Each of the elders

harp: A harp is a stringed instrument which is used to make music. There were several types of harps.

If harps are not known in your area, you may want to:

• Use a descriptive phrase. For example:

stringed musical instrument ⌊called a harp⌋

• Use the major language word. If people are not familiar with this word, explain it in a footnote. An example footnote is:

A harp is a stringed musical instrument.

5:8d

golden bowls: Here these bowls were the kind used to burn incense.

They were not the kind used for eating. They were probably shaped like bowls used in eating. But you should not refer to them as “soup dishes” or anything else referring to food.

golden: The word golden indicates that the bowls were made of gold. Gold is a rare metal of a somewhat yellow color. It was the most expensive metal known at that time. It is naturally shiny and beautiful. See how you translated this word in 1:12.

incense: The word incense refers to the dried sap of certain kinds of trees. The dried sap burns slowly to make a sweet-smelling smoke. Incense is often used as a part of worship.

In some languages people are not familiar with incense. If that is true in your language, you may want to:

• Explain the word in your translation. For example:

⌊special tree⌋ resin/sap ⌊called incense⌋ burned to give/release a sweet smell
-or-
sweet smelling ⌊tree⌋ resin/sap ⌊called incense⌋

• Use the major language word. If people are not familiar with this word, explain it in a footnote. An example footnote is:

Incense is the dried sap of certain trees. The dried sap burns slowly to make a sweet-smelling smoke. People often burned incense as part of their worship.

5:8e

which are the prayers of the saints: This clause tells the reader more about the bowls full of incense. The clause indicates that the incense in each bowl is a symbol for the prayers of the saints.

Be sure to translate this in such a way that it is clear that John is informing his readers what these bowls represent. He is not distinguishing them from other bowls by saying in what way they differ. If it would be helpful in your language, translate these words so that they tell more about the incense. One way to do that is to start a new sentence here. For example:

The incense in the bowls was the prayers of the saints.

In some languages it will be necessary to indicate explicitly that the incense is a symbol. For example:

which are ⌊symbolically⌋ the prayers of the saints
-or-
The incense represents the prayers of the saints

the saints: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as saints means “holy ones.” The word does not refer to a small group of believers who were extremely godly. Here the word refers to all believers. For example:

God’s people (Good News Translation)

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