SIL Translator’s Notes on Revelation 2020

SIL Translator’s Notes on Revelation 18:22

18:22a–b

And the sound of harpists and musicians, of flute players and trumpeters, will never ring out in you again: This clause indicates that no one will ever make music in Babylon after this time. This clause is passive. Some languages must use an active clause. For example:

⌊No one⌋ will ever hear the music of harpists and musicians, flute players, and trumpeters in you again.
-or-
Harpists and musicians, flute players and trumpeters will never make music in you again.

18:22a

the sound of harpists and musicians, of flute players and trumpeters: This phrase refers to four different kinds of musicians. The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as musicians usually refers generally to people who know how to play any musical instrument. Here it may mean “singer.” For example:

The music of harps and of human voices, of players of the flute and the trumpet (Good News Translation)

harpists: The word harpists refers to people who know how to play harps. A harp is a stringed instrument. For example:

people playing harps (New Century Version)

See how you translated this word in 14:2.

musicians: This Greek word refers generally to those who make music, either by singing or with instruments. This word occurs in a list of people playing particular instruments, so it seems more likely that it refers to singers. For example:

singers (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
minstrels (Revised Standard Version)

(Here the word “minstrel” refers to someone who sings and possibly plays an instrument at the same time.)

flute players: A flute is a tube with holes that the players cover to make music when they blow air over the sharp edge at the end.

A flute may also be a series of pipes of different lengths that make different notes.

trumpeters: The word “trumpet” refers to a musical instrument that was often used to alert people to danger. It was also used to announce important messages. At that time trumpets were made from metal or from animal horns. A trumpeter blows into a trumpet in such a way as to make the trumpet sound.

The particular kind of trumpet is not important here. In some languages people use trumpets made of animal horn, shell, bamboo, or other material. If that is true in your language, you may want to use the word for that kind of trumpet here.

Some languages do not have a word for trumpeters. If that is true in your language, you can:

• Use a word for a person who uses a loud instrument, preferably one that someone blows into.

• Use a method of announcing in your area.

• Use the major language word for trumpeters.

See how you translated the word “trumpet” in 1:10 or 8:2.

18:22b

will never ring out in you again: The pronoun you refers to the city of Babylon. In some languages it is more natural to refer to the city indirectly. For example:

will never be heard in your/her city again
-or-
will never be heard in that city again

Also see note at 18:21c–24b.

will never ring out: In Greek, this clause is passive. See note at 18:22a–b.

18:22c

Nor will any craftsmen of any trade be found in you again: This clause indicates that there will be no workmen in the city of Babylon after this time. People will no longer be making things in the city. This clause is passive. Some languages must use an active clause. For example:

⌊no one⌋ will ever see/find a craftsman of any trade in you again
-or-
There will be no more skilled craftsmen at work there.

craftsmen of any trade: This phrase refers to people who have the ability to make things such as houses, furniture, baskets, or tools. For example:

craftsmen of every skill (New Jerusalem Bible)

Some languages do not have a general word for craftsmen. If that is true in your language, you may want to begin with a list of kinds of workers and end with “others.” For example:

housebuilders, basketmakers, or other workers like that

18:22d

nor the sound of a millstone be heard in you again: This clause indicates that no one will be grinding grain in the city of Babylon after this time. It is passive. Some languages must use an active clause. For example:

no one will ever hear the sound of a millstone ⌊grinding grain⌋ in you again

sound of a millstone: This phrase refers to the sound of scraping one flat stone against another with wheat between the stones. This action grinds the wheat into flour. Women did this every day. They used the flour to make bread for their families.

In some languages people are not familiar with using stones for grinding grain. If that is true in your language, you may want to:

• Explain the work that is done with the millstone. For example:

the sound of grinding grain (Contemporary English Version)

• Use a general word for preparing food. For example:

sound of preparing food

You may then want to include a footnote to explain the Greek words. For example:

Literally: “the sound of a millstone.” A millstone is used to grind grain into flour for bread. At that time, every day people would grind grain.

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SIL Translator’s Notes on Revelation 20:9

20:9a

And they marched: The Greek clause is literally “They went up.” The Berean Standard Bible uses the verb marched because this is the usual way in English to refer to an army traveling. Other ways to translate this clause are:

they marched up (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
Satan’s army marched (New Century Version)
-or-
they went up (New Living Translation (2004))

across the broad expanse of the earth: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as earth can also be translated as “country/region.” There are two ways to interpret it here:

(1) It refers to the whole world. For example:

all the way across the earth (Contemporary English Version)

(2) It refers to the country of Israel. For example:

They came swarming over the entire country. (New Jerusalem Bible)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1).

broad expanse: This phrase refers to something that is very broad. The vast army approaching God’s people would be very spread out. Other ways to translate this word are:

breadth (New International Version)
-or-
surface
-or-

spread over the earth

20:9b

the camp of the saints and the beloved city: The Greek words are literally “the camp of the saints and/even the beloved city.” Here, the Greek conjunction meaning “and/even” probably introduces an explanation of the phrase the camp of the saints. In other words, the camp of the saints is the beloved city. For example:

the camp of the saints, which is the beloved City (New Jerusalem Bible)

camp: This word refers to a place where a group of people live temporarily, often with some of them prepared, like soldiers, to defend the whole group. Many scholars connect this word to the encampment of the Israelites in the wilderness, as in Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy.

the saints: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as the saints is literally “holy ones.” The Berean Standard Bible usually translates the Greek word as “saints.” See how you translated this word (“saints”) in 19:8.

the beloved city: The Greek phrase is literally “the city having been loved.” For example:

the city he loves (New International Version)

These verses do not say who loves this city but they imply that God loves it. In some languages it is necessary or more natural to indicate who loves this city. For example:

the city that he loves (Revised English Bible)
-or-
the city God loves (New Century Version)

Some scholars (Aune, Beckwith, Osbourne) see this phrase referring to the earthly Jerusalem, some (Beale, Charles) to the heavenly Jerusalem, and others (Swete, Kistemaker, Smalley, Johnson, Hughes, Mounce) see it as referring to God’s people as a whole. It is hard to decide. You should not add “Jerusalem” here.

20:9c

But fire came down from heaven:
These verses do not say how the fire came down. It is implied that God caused the fire to come down. In some languages it is more natural to indicate that God caused the fire. For example:

⌊God caused⌋ fire to come down from heaven

consumed them: Here the word consumed refers to the fire consuming quickly. It can also refer to burning something until it is just ashes. The fire completely destroyed the enemies of God’s people.

them: The pronoun here refers to the armies of the nations (20:8a).

SIL Translator’s Notes on Revelation 21:26

21:26

And into the city will be brought: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as will be brought is literally “(they) will bring.” Although the Berean Standard Bible translates this word as a passive clause, it is active in the Greek. The implied pronoun “they” may refer to:

(1) the kings of the earth (21:24b);

(2) the nations (21:24a);

(3) people in general.

Some ways to translate it are:

• Use a passive clause, as the Berean Standard Bible does. For example:

shall be brought into it (Revised English Bible)

• Use an active clause with a general subject. For example:

they shall bring into it (Revised Standard Version)

• Use an active clause and refer to the nations. For example:

all the nations will bring (New Living Translation (2004))

the glory and honor of the nations: There are several ways to interpret the Greek words that the Berean Standard Bible translates as glory and honor :

(1) The words glory and honor have their usual meanings here. For example:

the nations’ grandeur and honor

(2) The word glory has its usual meaning, but the word honor refers to wealth here. For example:

The greatness and the wealth of the nations (Good News Translation)

(3) The words glory and honor refer to treasure and wealth here. For example:

their treasure and their wealth (New Jerusalem Bible)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). But you should follow the same interpretation that you used in 21:24b.

glory: Here this Greek word means “splendor,” or “majesty.” See how you translated this word in 21:24.

honor: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as honor means “respect, reverence.” See how you translated this word in 5:12 or 7:12.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Revelation 2:6

2:6a

But you have this to your credit: The Greek clause is literally “But you have this.” Here it introduces something good that the believers in Ephesus were doing. So the Berean Standard Bible and some English versions add the phrase to your credit or a similar phrase. Other ways to translate this clause are:

Yet this you do have (New American Standard Bible)
-or-
But you have this in your favor: (New International Version)
-or-
But a good thing you have/do is this:

2:6b

hate: The word hate indicates that the believers in Ephesus strongly disliked and avoided the practices of the Nicolaitans. Other ways to translate this word are:

detest (Revised English Bible)
-or-
are angry with

works of the Nicolaitans: The word works refers to deeds that the Nicolaitans did because of the beliefs of their group. Very little is known about the Nicolaitans and what wrong beliefs they had. Perhaps they claimed to follow Jesus but also followed pagan practices and sexual immorality. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

the deeds of the Nicolaitans (New American Standard Bible)
-or-
what the Nicolaitans do (Good News Translation)
-or-
the ⌊evil/immoral⌋ ways of the Nicolaitans

the Nicolaitans: The name Nicolaitans probably means “followers of Nicolaus.” However, it is not certain who this Nicolaus was. The English ending “–ans” means “the people of.” You should spell the name of the group as your language allows. For example:

the people/followers of Nicolaus
-or-
the Nicolait group

2:6c

which I also hate: This clause indicates that Jesus also hated the practices of the Nicolaitans. Other ways to translate these words are:

the way I do too
-or-
as I hate what they do

This clause tells the reader more about the Nicolaitans. In some languages a literal translation would wrongly indicate that there are other groups called Nicolaitans and Jesus only hated this group. If that is true in your language, translate this clause so that it tells more about the Nicolaitans. One way to do that is to start a new sentence here. For example:

I also hate what they’re doing. (God’s Word)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Revelation 3:10

3:10a–b

have kept…will…keep: The same Greek verb occurs twice here. However, the phrase have kept (3:10a) means “obeyed” and the phrase will…keep (3:10b) means “will protect.” The same Greek verb is used to emphasize the reason-result connection between the two clauses.

Some languages need to use different verbs in order to indicate the correct meaning in both clauses. If that is true in your language, you may want to emphasize the reason-result connection in some other way. For example:

Since you have obeyed my command to endure patiently, indeed, I will protect you during the time/hour of trial
-or-
You obeyed my message and endured. So I will protect you from the time of trouble that everyone in all the world must go through. (Contemporary English Version)

3:10a

Because: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Because here introduces a reason for what is said in 3:10b. In some languages it is more natural to introduce 3:10b as a result. For example:

10a You have kept my command to endure patiently, 10b so I will also keep…

you have kept My command to persevere: The believers in Philadelphia had continued to follow Jesus faithfully in spite of suffering. Jesus had commanded them to do that. Other ways to translate this clause are:

you have obeyed my command to persevere
-or-
You have obeyed my teaching about not giving up your faith (New Century Version)

command: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as command is literally “word.” This word may refer to a command given in a prophecy to the believers in Philadelphia. Or it may refer to a command that Jesus gave during his lifetime to all believers.

persevere: The Greek word here is the same word that is translated as “perseverance” in 2:19b. Jesus wanted the believers to continue to follow him faithfully even though they suffered because of it. See how you translated this Greek word in 2:19 or 2:2.

3:10b

I will also keep you from the hour of testing: There are two ways to interpret the Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as from :

(1) It means from. For example:

I will keep you from the hour of trial (Revised Standard Version)

(2) It means during. For example:

I will keep you safe in the time of trial (New Jerusalem Bible)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), because the Greek word means “out of,” and a different Greek word means “during.” See the note below for more information about the meaning of the word from.

I will also keep you from: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as from refers to removing something from something else. Here Jesus will remove the believers in Philadelphia from the hour of trial. Other ways to translate this word are:

I will remove you out of
-or-
I will also keep you safe from (Good News Translation)

keep you: Here the word keep refers to Jesus protecting his followers in some way. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

protect you
-or-
preserve you

the hour of testing: This phrase refers to a time of hardship. It is a time when people will suffer greatly. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

the time of trouble (Good News Translation)
-or-
the great time of testing (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
the ordeal (Revised English Bible)

hour: The word hour refers figuratively to a specific period of time. But here is not clear if it is hours, days, months, or years. Use a word or phrase that allows that general meaning.

testing: This word can mean “testing” or “trial” or “hardship.” God will test people with hardship to see if they will obey or trust him. You may want to see how you translated this word in 2:10 (“to test”), Luke 8:13, or James 1:2, or refer to the notes there.

3:10c

that is about to come upon the whole world: The Greek words are literally “that will happen to everyone in the world.” Other ways to translate this phrase are:

that will come to the whole world (New Century Version)
-or-
that is to fall upon the whole world (Revised English Bible)

come upon the whole world: Here the phrase come upon means “happen to.” All the words here indicate that the whole world will experience something difficult. Other ways to translate this are:

occur in all the world
-or-
that the whole world will experience

3:10d

to test those who dwell on the earth: This clause indicates the purpose of “the hour of testing” mentioned in 3:10b. Its purpose is to test people, to see if they really obey or trust God. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

indeed, to test/try those living on the earth
-or-
in order to test all those on this earth

In some languages explaining the purpose of the test is more natural. For example:

to test ⌊the faith of⌋ those who live on the earth

test: The Greek word here has the same basic meaning as “testing” in 3:10b. The Greek word here is a verb, but the Greek word in 3:10b is a noun. See the examples above.

General Comment on 3:10a–d

In the Greek and the Berean Standard Bible, this verse is one long sentence. In some languages it is more natural to translate it as two or more sentences. For example:

10a You have kept my command to endure patiently. 10b So I will also keep you from the hour of trial 10c that is coming upon the whole world. 10d It will test ⌊the faith of⌋ those who live on earth.
-or-

10a You have obeyed my teaching about not giving up your faith. 10b So I will keep you from the time of trouble 10c that will come to the whole world 10d to test those who live on earth. (New Century Version)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Revelation 5:9

5:9a

they sang a new song: The word new here indicates that no one had sung this song before. It was a song for this occasion. Other ways to translate this clause are:

they sang a newly composed song
-or-
they sang a song that had never been sung before

they: This pronoun refers to the four living beings and the twenty-four leaders (5:8).

5:9b–10b

These words are a song praising the Lamb. If possible, translate and print them in a way that shows that they are a song or poetry.

5:9b

Worthy: The word Worthy indicates that it was right and proper for the Lamb to open the seals. He deserved this privilege. See how you translated this word in 5:2.

Here the word Worthy is emphasized in the Greek. If possible, emphasize the word Worthy naturally in your language. For example:

Worthy are You (Berean Standard Bible, New American Standard Bible)
-or-
You are indeed worthy

open its seals: This phrase refers to breaking the seals on the scroll so that the scroll can be unrolled. You may want to use the same verb that you used for “break the seals” in 5:2.

5:9c

You were slain: The word slain means “killed” (as in the Good News Translation). This clause is passive. Some languages must use an active clause. In this verse, the exact people who killed Jesus is not important. For example:

⌊they/people⌋ killed you

5:9d

and: This conjunction indicates that the living creatures and the elders continue to tell why the Lamb was worthy.

by Your blood You purchased for God those:
This clause indicates that the Lamb died as a sacrifice. He willingly shed his blood on the cross. That was the price he paid to redeem people from the penalty of sin. By believing in him they could belong to God. Other ways to translate this clause are:

by your blood you ransomed for God saints (New Revised Standard Version)
-or-
You bought people with your blood to be God’s own (God’s Word)
-or-
by dying as a sacrifice, you paid ⌊for the way⌋ for people to belong to God

by Your blood: This phrase refers to dying as a sacrifice. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

at the cost of your own blood (NET Bible)
-or-
with the blood of your death (New Century Version)
-or-
by ⌊shedding/spilling⌋ your life blood

purchased: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as purchased refers to acquiring or obtaining something by giving something in exchange for it. Other ways to translate this word are:

bought (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
ransomed (English Standard Version)

those: Here the word those refers to people who were “purchased.” Another way to translate this word is:

people (Good News Translation)

from every tribe and tongue and people and nation: As indicated by the Berean Standard Bible, the Greek word every only occurs before the word tribe. The word tribe applies to each of the four groups. In some languages it is more natural to repeat it for each group. For example:

from every tribe, every language, every people, and every nation
-or-
from all tribes, from all languages, from all places and from all kingdoms

tribe: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as tribe can refer to a whole people group. It can also refer to a subgroup within the people group, like the English word “clan” does.

tongue: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as tongue here refers to all of the people who speak a certain language. In some languages it is more natural to refer to the people directly. For example:

people speaking every different language

people: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as people here refers to a large group of people. But it is sometimes used to refer to a whole country, which may have many people groups in it.

nation: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as nation here refers to a group of people who share a common culture. But it is sometimes used to refer to a whole country, which may have many people groups in it. It is similar in meaning to “people” above, but here it probably refers to a group of people under one government.

General Comment on 5:9e

In some languages it is more natural to list these groups in a different order. For example:

from every language, tribe, people, and nation
-or-
from every tribe, people, nation, and every language ⌊on earth⌋

The four words “tribe,” “tongue,” “people,” and “nation” refer to various kinds of people groups. All four words are used to emphasize that Jesus will purchase people from all over the world for God. Some languages do not have three similar words like “tribe,” “people,” and “nation.” If that is true in your language, you may want to:

• Use fewer words. For example:

from every people and language and nation

• Use slightly different words to represent the different categories of people. For example:

from every clan and language and land and nation

SIL Translator’s Notes on Revelation 7:13

Paragraph 7:13–17

7:13a

one of the elders addressed me: The Greek words are literally “one of the elders answered and said to me.” The word “answered” probably indicates that the elder responded to the praise of the angels (7:12). He responded by speaking to John. Other ways to translate these words are:

one of the elders responded and asked me
-or-
one of the elders asked me (New International Version)
-or-
One of the elders turned to me and asked (Revised English Bible)

7:13b–c

“These in white robes,” he asked, “who are they, and where have they come from?”: This is a leading question. It causes someone to think about what the answer might be. The elder knew the answer to this question and he also knew that John did not know the answer. He asked John this question to cause John to think about the people in white robes. Since John replied, you should translate these words as a question.

These in white robes…who are they…?: The words These in white robes are emphasized in the Greek and the Berean Standard Bible by being first in the clause. Some languages will not be able to emphasize those words in that way. For example:

who are these in white robes…?

If possible emphasize the words These in white robes in another way. For example:

⌊Look at⌋ these ⌊people⌋ ⌊dressed⌋ in white robes. Who are they…?
-or-

⌊What about⌋ those ⌊people⌋ ⌊dressed⌋ in white robes? Who are they…?

who are they, and where have they come from?: These clauses are two questions. In some languages it is more natural to separate the questions. For example:

Who are they? Where have they come from?

SIL Translator’s Notes on Revelation 9:16

9:16a–b

The words here imply that the four angels controlled the army. In some languages a literal translation would not imply that the four angels controlled the army. If that is true in your language, you may want to explain the implied information in a footnote. An example footnote is:

The four angels controlled this vast army of two hundred million soldiers, because both 9:15 and 9:18 refer to killing one third of mankind.

9:16a

mounted troops: This phrase refers to soldiers riding horses. At that time, these soldiers fought using swords, spears, or bows. They fought while sitting on the backs of the horses. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

troops of cavalry (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
soldiers on ⌊war⌋ horses

In some languages people are not familiar with soldiers riding horses. If that is true in your language, you may want to explain what cavalry is in a footnote. For example:

Soldiers on horses were a very strong fighting part of an army at that time.

two hundred million: The Greek phrase is literally “twice ten thousand of ten thousand.” This may refer to a huge but indefinite number of soldiers. But all English reference versions translate according to the calculation of “twice ten thousand of ten thousand,” which is two hundred million.

In some languages combinations of number words such as two hundred million are not known. If that is true in your language, you may want to:

• Follow the literal Greek phrase. For example:

twice ten thousand times ten thousand (Revised Standard Version)

• Use both numerals and number words. For example:

200 million

• Use only numerals. For example:

200,000,000

• Use a combination of smaller number words that equal two hundred million. For example:

two hundred thousands of thousands

• Use the major language word for “million.” For example:

200 milien
-or-
two hundred miliens

9:16b

I heard their number: The word heard implies that someone said how many soldiers there were. John heard what he said. In some languages it is more natural to refer to the person speaking. For example:

I heard ⌊someone tell⌋ the number of soldiers
-or-
I heard ⌊someone say⌋ how many of them there were

Having this clause after the number (9:16a) emphasizes the number. Another example of emphasizing the number is:

this was the number I heard (Revised English Bible)

General Comment on 9:16a–b

In some languages it is more natural to have the clause about hearing the number first. If possible, then emphasize the number naturally. For example:

16b I heard 16a the number of the mounted troops, and ⌊indeed,⌋ it was two hundred million!

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Source: SIL Translator’s Notes on Revelation 2020