And a great portent appeared in heaven: the word translated portent usually means “sign,” “symbol,” that is, an object or event that has spiritual significance. As such it is a keyword in the Gospel of John (see John 2.11 and throughout the Gospel, where it is translated “sign” in Revised Standard Version). Here it means “an extraordinary sight,” “the appearance of an unusual (or, unique) event.” Good News Translation tries to bring out the component of hidden meaning by translating “a great and mysterious sight.” Barclay has “a sight full of meaning.” The adjective great here does not refer to size but to its effect, which New International Version tries to bring out by translating “A great and wondrous sign.” Another possible translation is “A great sign (or, sight) that amazes everyone.”

Here and in verse 3 the writer uses appeared, which in Greek is a passive verb, instead of the active “I saw,” which he usually employs (see the next vision, 13.1). This is significant, and if possible something like appeared in English and other languages should be used. A translation should not say “I saw a mysterious sight….”

In languages that have two different words for heaven, as the dwelling place of God, and the sky, the translation here and in verse 3 should say “the sky” (Good News Translation), not heaven.

A woman clothed with the sun: for the verb clothed see “wrapped” in 10.1. It may be difficult to speak of the sun as the garment worn by the woman, but the figure should be maintained: “a woman who had (or, used) the sun around her like a dress (or, clothes),” or “a woman whose dress was the sun.”

The moon under her feet: the picture does not seem to portray the woman as standing on the moon, but that she was seated, and the moon served as a footstool on which she rested her feet. The meaning may be expressed by “and her feet were resting on the moon.”

A crown of twelve stars: for crown see 4.4. The meaning may be expressed by “a crown made of twelve stars” or “a crown that had twelve stars in it.”

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 .