This is a complex sentence, and the precise meaning of some of the phrases is in doubt.

And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders: this is difficult to understand. But as previously described, the throne is in the center, the four living creatures are standing at the four sides of the throne (4.6), and the twenty-four elders are sitting on their thrones in a circle around the throne (4.4). The Greek says quite literally “in the middle of (or, among) the throne and the four living creatures, and in the middle of (or, among) the elders.” Good News Translation and others translate “(standing) in the center (or, middle) of the throne.” This is what the Greek seems to require, especially in light of 7.17. But it is possible that the text means “in the center of the four living creatures around the throne.” The picture is of the throne, with the living creatures close to it, and the elders in a larger circle around the living creatures and the throne. The Lamb is right in the center, either on or near the throne. Good News Translation “standing in the center of the throne” does not seem very likely and will even appear comical in some languages. The following verse states that the Lamb went and took the scroll from the right hand of the person sitting on the throne. This indicates that John sees the Lamb standing close by the throne rather than in it or on it. So in most languages it will give a less confusing picture to say that the Lamb “was standing near the throne.”

I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain: Revised Standard Version, Good News Translation, and others capitalize Lamb, indicating thereby that it is a title; but it may be better to say “a lamb.” In languages that have two different terms for male and female lambs, here and elsewhere in Revelation the male form should be used; and in certain languages “lamb” will be translated as “male child of a sheep.” In cultures where sheep exist but do not have the economic and religious significance that they had in Palestine, it will be helpful to give a detailed description of sheep in a glossary item for the reader. The description as though it had been slain does not modify the participle standing; rather it applies to the lamb, which is obviously a figure of Christ. The Greek word translated Lamb is used only in Revelation as a title of Christ; elsewhere in the New Testament it appears only (in the plural) in John 21.15, with quite a different sense. In John 1.29, 36; Acts 8.32; and 1 Peter 1.19 a different Greek word for “lamb” is used, but this makes no significant difference for translators, since both terms refer to the same kind of animal. The passive participle slain ultimately refers to the death of Christ (verse 9; see 13.8). What is meant is that the lamb, though alive, had marks on its body that showed it had been killed. If a passive form of the verb is not available, care must be taken in the use of an active form, with the subject specified. And, as applied to a lamb, the verb “to slay” has the specific sense of “to sacrifice”; so Revised English Bible “a Lamb with the marks of sacrifice on him”; New Jerusalem Bible “a Lamb that seemed to have been sacrificed.” The best translation may be “The lamb looked like someone (or, people) had killed (or, sacrificed) it.” And, as Good News Translation and others have done, standing should be separated from as though it had been slain (or, sacrificed).

With seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth: the clause which are the seven spirits … applies only to seven eyes, not to both seven horns and … seven eyes. But, as elsewhere, the Greek here is ambiguous. In the Bible a horn is a symbol of strength and power; the eyes represent the ability of God to see and know everything. For the seven spirits see 1.4; 4.5. The passive sent out implies that God is the agent; it is God who sent the seven spirits throughout the whole world (so New Jerusalem Bible).

An alternative translation model for this verse is:

• I saw a male sheep standing near the king’s seat. He was surrounded by the four living creatures and the important old leaders. He looked like people had killed (or, sacrificed) him.

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 .