If the sentence seems too long and unwieldy, a translation can easily place a full stop at the end of verse 12 and begin a new sentence in verse 13 (Bible en français courant, Revised English Bible, Nova Tradução na Linguagem de Hoje).

In the midst of the lampstands: this can be stated “among the lampstands,” “standing among them,” or “in the middle of them.” They may have been arranged in a row or in a circle, and in certain languages this will have to be made explicit. If the translator determines that the lampstands were in a circle, one may say “standing with the lampstands in a circle around him.” However, if it is decided that the lampstands were in a row, one may say, for example, “Standing in the middle of the row of lampstands.”

One like a son of man: what John sees is a figure that appears to be a human being. From what follows, the reader knows that this one is the glorified Christ. The phrase a son of man reflects Dan 7.13, which RSV translates “there came one like a son of man.” The title that in the Gospels Jesus uses of himself, “the Son of Man,” is also obviously related to Dan 7.13, but it does not seem likely that here the author means “one like the Son of Man” (as New Revised Standard Version has it). In English, at least, “a son of man” (New International Version, New American Bible, Revised), or “a Son of man” (New Jerusalem Bible), or even “a Son of Man” (Phillips) means nothing. Many translations are like Good News Translation: “a figure like a man” (Barclay), “a being like a man” (An American Translation), “One who resembled a human being” (Moffatt), “someone with a human appearance” (Biblia Dios Habla Hoy), “a being that looked like a man” (Nova Tradução na Linguagem de Hoje), “a figure like a man” (Revised English Bible). It is recommended that translations follow one of these renderings.

Clothed with a long robe: this is a single piece of clothing that reaches to the feet, a vestment indicating dignity and rank. In some languages one must say “a long cloth outer garment.”

A golden girdle round his breast: this is better translated by New Revised Standard Version “a golden sash across his chest.” It is impossible to determine what this “sash” or “band” (Good News Translation) was made of; perhaps linen, with the use of much gold thread, or else a gold metal band. It served to keep the robe in place. New Revised Standard Version “a golden sash across his chest” gives the picture of a sash coming down diagonally from one shoulder to the waist. Whatever it was, it was definitely not a belt around the waist (as New Jerusalem Bible has it). If in a certain language one must state whether the sash was gold-colored or was actually made out of gold, it should be translated clearly one way or the other; for example, “a gold-colored band (or, sash)” or “a sash made of (the metal) gold.”

An alternative translation model for this verse is the following:

• A being who looked like a man was standing in the middle of the lampstands. He was wearing a robe (or, a long cloth outer garment) that reached to his feet, and a gold-colored sash across his chest.

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 .