Section 7:9–17
A great multitude praised God and the Lamb
In this section, John saw a new part of this vision. He saw believers rejoicing, praising, and worshiping in heaven. One of the elders around the throne (4:4) explained the vision to John.
Other examples of headings for this section are:
The vision of a huge crowd of believers and its explanation
-or-
The Great Multitude in White Robes (New International Version)
-or-
God’s People Around His Throne in Heaven (God’s Word)
Paragraph 7:9–12
7:9a
After this: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as this is literally “these (things).” It refers to the events of 7:1–8. Other ways to translate this phrase here are:
After these things I looked (New American Standard Bible)
-or-
Then as I looked
-or-
When those things were finished, I looked ⌊around/up⌋
I looked and saw: The Greek words are literally “I saw, and look.” The phrase “and look” emphasizes or calls attention to the words that follow. It also probably indicates surprise or suddenness. The word “look” is not a command to look at something. Other ways to translate these words are:
I looked again, and before my eyes appeared (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)
-or-
I looked, and suddenly/hey ⌊I⌋ saw
See how you translated these words in 6:2.
7:9b
a multitude too large to count: The word multitude means “very big crowd.” This crowd is so large that John says it is too large to count. Use the word in your language for such a large crowd.
too large to count: This clause indicates a very large number of people. God knew how many there were, but no man or woman could count them. Other ways to translate it are:
no person could count
-or-
innumerable
-or-
countless
7:9c
from every nation and tribe and people and tongue: The word every applies to each of the four groups. In some languages it is more natural to repeat it for each group. For example:
from every nation, every tribe, every people, and every language
This phrase naming the four groups is also in 5:9d. The order of the groups is different, but the meaning is the same. See how you translated this phrase in 5:9.
7:9d
standing before the throne: This phrase refers to standing before God. He is sitting on the throne. But John usually speaks indirectly about God, as in 4:2.
In some languages it is more natural to refer to the person sitting on the throne. You should refer only indirectly to God. For example:
standing before ⌊the one on⌋ the throne
-or-
standing before ⌊him who sits on⌋ the throne
In some languages it is more natural to refer to God here. For example:
standing before ⌊God sitting on⌋ the throne
Lamb: This word refers to a young sheep. Here, the word is a symbolic title for Jesus Christ. See how you translated this word in 5:6.
7:9e
robes: This word refers to a long loose garment that covers the body from the shoulders to feet. A robe also has loose sleeves covering the arms. See how you translated this word in 1:13 or 6:11.
7:9f
palm branches: Palm trees have branches that all extend from the top of the trunk. The leaves are long and flat.
In some languages people are not familiar with palm trees. If that is true in your language, you may want to:
• Use a general word referring to tree branches. You may then want to describe them. For example:
⌊flat⌋ branches
-or-
branches of the palm tree
• Use a word for a similar tree with long, flat branches.
Use the major language word. If people are not familiar with this word, you may want to explain it in a footnote. An example footnote is:
Palm trees have branches that all extend from the top of the trunk. The leaves are long and flat.
You may want to include an illustration.
To the Jewish people palm branches are symbolic of joy and victory (as in Leviticus 23:40 and John 12:13). In many languages a literal translation would not imply this symbolic meaning. If that is true in your language, you may want to:
• Explain the symbolic meaning in your translation. For example:
palm branches ⌊as a symbol of joy and victory⌋
• Explain the symbolic meaning in a footnote. For example:
Palm branches were a symbol of joy and victory.
• Use a symbol of rejoicing or victory in your language. Do not use a symbol that has incorrect connections to spirits and such things. You may then want to explain the literal word in a footnote. For example:
Literally: “palm branches.” In Jewish culture, palm branches were a symbol of joy and victory.
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