I was given: either by God or by an angel. One may also translate “Someone gave me…” or “God gave me…,” but the former rendering is probably more accurate, as we do not know the actual agent; we can only guess.

A measuring rod like a staff: the meaning of the Greek is better expressed by New Jerusalem Bible “a long cane like a measuring rod”; note Revised English Bible “a long cane to use as a measuring rod,” New International Version “a reed like a measuring rod”; Chewa has “a reed for measuring with (that looked) like a walking stick.” The first word, kalamos, designates a reed, or a cane (see its use in 21.15: Good News Translation “measuring stick”); the second word, rabdos, is a staff, or a rod. Elsewhere in Revelation it refers to the “iron rod” (or, scepter) used by Jesus Christ (12.5; 19.15) and his followers (2.27). It is better to follow Good News Translation or New Jerusalem Bible in translating the passage here.

I was told: this translates the masculine singular participle “saying”; the speaker is God (see “my two witnesses” in verse 3). So in languages that do not use the passive, one must say “God told me” or “God commanded me.”

Rise and measure: the Greek verb translated Rise by Revised Standard Version functions as an auxiliary when used in connection with a verb of action; it does not imply that the one addressed is sitting or lying down. Something like Bible en français courant is better, “Go measure,” or Revised English Bible, New International Version “Go and measure.” New Revised Standard Version and New American Bible, Revised “Come and measure” changes the point of reference and seems to imply that the temple to be measured is in heaven. But since this temple is on earth, it is better to translate “Go and measure.” The purpose of this measuring is to measure off the area and the people, that is, to isolate them, to put them under divine protection, in order to keep them from being affected by the disasters that are coming. Measure means to gauge the size of something or survey something to determine its size or boundaries.

The temple of God and the altar and those who worship there: this temple is on earth, the Jerusalem Temple (as verse 2 makes clear); here it is a symbol of the Church, the people of God. The translation can be “the Temple, which belongs to God” or “the Temple, where God is worshiped,” or “the temple where they worship God.” The Greek word translated temple usually means the central sanctuary, not the whole Temple complex, and a translator may use the specific word for sanctuary, if two different words exist in the language.

The altar: this is either the altar for burning incense (as in 8.3, 5; 9.13; see also 6.9) or the altar for offering sacrifices, which was not in the sanctuary but outside, in the priests’ court. In the Jerusalem Temple the altar for burning incense was in the Holy Place, near the entrance to the Most Holy Place. (See Exo 38.1-7 for a description of the altar for offering sacrifice in front of the Tent of the Presence.) It is more probable that here the altar of sacrifice is meant; but the translation will say simply the altar, without further identifying it.

And those who worship there: in Greek the imperative verb measure has the worshipers as direct object also. It is strange to speak of “measuring” people, so it seems better to say either “count” or “number” them. The demonstrative pronoun there refers to the Temple, not specifically to the altar.

An alternative translation model for this verse is:

• Someone gave me a stick (or, piece of wood) that looked like what people use for measuring things, and God commanded me, “Go and measure my temple and the altar, and count those people who are worshiping me there.

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on The Revelation to John. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1993. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .