Paragraph 6:9–11

6:9a

fifth: This refers to the next item after the fourth one. If counted, this item would be counted as number five.

6:9b

I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain: This clause indicates that these believers were like sacrifices. These believers had followed God even when doing so meant that others would kill them. In that way, they offered their lives to God as a sacrifice.

under the altar: This phrase probably refers to at the base or bottom of the altar. See drawing below.

altar: On earth, an altar is a platform on which people offer sacrifices or gifts to God. The animal sacrifices are cooked or burned there. Below is one artist’s idea of the appearance of the altar where the Jews offered animal sacrifices and gifts in front of the temple in Jerusalem.

However the altar of this verse is in heaven in John’s vision. People do not offer animal or food sacrifices on it. But in some languages the usual translation of altar refers to sacrificing. For example:

burning-place
-or-
bench of sacrificing
-or-
offering burning table

The people of many languages will understand that this usual translation of altar, being in heaven, will be different than altars on earth and will not be an altar on which to offer animals. But in some languages the usual translation of altar will imply animal sacrifice in heaven. If that is true in your language, use a more general word or phrase. For example:

gift-giving place
-or-
bench of gifts to God
-or-
offering table

souls: This word refers to the essential part of a person. It is the part of him that does not die when his body dies. For example:

spirits

The same word is used in Matthew 10:28 and Acts 2:27.

those who had been slain: The Greek grammar indicates that these people were killed earlier, before John saw them. The clause is passive. Some languages must use an active clause. For example:

those whom ⌊others⌋ have slain

slain: Here, the word slain refers to someone killing these believers. Other ways to translate this word are:

killed (Good News Translation)
-or-
executed

6:9c

for the word of God and for the testimony they had upheld: This part of the verse explains why these believers had been killed. Unbelievers hated and killed them because they had spoken God’s word and kept the testimony.

for the word of God: Here the phrase the word of God refers to what God said. It is the message from God to people. The believers believed this word of God. They probably also told it to others.

In some languages it is necessary to explain what was done with the word of God. For example:

because ⌊they believed⌋ God’s message
-or-
because ⌊they followed⌋ God’s word

for the testimony they had upheld: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as upheld means “kept,” “preserved,” or “possessed.” There are two ways to interpret it:

(1) It means kept, preserved, or possessed here. Believers followed the testimony even though others persecuted them and killed them. They did not try to change it so that people would be happy with them. For example:

because they were faithful to…the message they had received (New Century Version)

(2) It means give or tell here. Believers told others about Jesus and his gospel even though people persecuted and killed them. For example:

for the testimony they had given (New Revised Standard Version)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), because the Greek lexicons support it and not interpretation (2).

testimony: The word testimony means “the words spoken about what one saw or heard.” Here it probably refers to what Jesus did while on earth and who he claimed to be: the Messiah and King of all kings. Other ways to translate this word are:

truth revealed ⌊by Jesus⌋
-or-
message ⌊about Jesus⌋

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