SIL Translator’s Notes on Revelation 2020 – Page 17

SIL Translator’s Notes on Revelation 15:1

Section 15:1–8

Seven angels held seven plagues and victorious believers sang

In this section, John saw another sign in heaven. The sign was seven angels ready to cause seven plagues. He also saw a group of believers who had not submitted to Satan. They sang a song of praise to God and Jesus. Then he saw the seven angels prepare to inflict the plagues on those who refused to submit to God.

Other examples of headings for this section are:

John saw seven angels ⌊empowered to cause seven plagues⌋ and a group of believers in heaven
-or-
The believers who were victorious over the beast ⌊sang praise⌋

Paragraph 15:1

15:1a

Then I saw another great and marvelous sign in heaven: The Greek clause is literally “I saw another sign in heaven great and marvelous.” The phrase great and marvelous describes the sign. It occurs last in the clause to emphasize the fact that John thought that the sign was great and marvelous. For example:

I saw in heaven another sign, indeed a great and marvelous one:

great: Here the word great refers to the intensity or importance of the sign. The word here does not refer to the size of the sign. Other ways to translate this word are:

spectacular
-or-
important

marvelous: This word refers to something that causes wonder, awe, or amazement. Other ways to translate this word are:

wonderful (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
amazing (Good News Translation)

sign: The word sign refers to something that has a symbolic meaning. It suggests or points to something other than itself. Other ways to translate this word are:

mysterious sight (Good News Translation)
-or-
portent (Revised Standard Version)

See how you translated this word in 12:1 or 13:13.

heaven: The word heaven refers here to the place where God lives.

15:1b–c

The sign (15:1a) is described here. The Berean Standard Bible indicates this with a colon (:) at the end of 15:1a. The Revised Standard Version uses a comma (,) and allows the context to imply the connection in English. Other ways to translate this connection are:

There were… (Good News Translation)
-or-
which was…
-or-
namely,…

seven angels with the seven final plagues, with which the wrath of God is completed: The words after the long dash explain why these plagues were the last plagues. Other ways to translate this are:

seven plagues, which are the last ones, because they are the final expression of God’s anger (Good News Translation)
-or-
seven plagues. These plagues are the last ones because when they occur God’s anger is finished
-or-
seven plagues. These plagues are the last ones because God’s anger will end after they happen

with: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as with is literally “having.” The word “having” indicates that the angels were somehow holding the plagues. They would mix these plagues in the bowls (15:7b). Other ways to translate this word are:

who had (New American Standard Bible)
-or-
bearing
-or-
bringing

plagues: This word refers to disasters that harm a lot of people. It can refer to diseases that kill many people. It can refer to locusts that damage many crops. See how you translated this word in 6:8 or 11:6.

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All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
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SIL Translator’s Notes on Revelation 17:4

17:4a

The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet: The dress that the woman wore was made of purple and scarlet cloth. Purple cloth was very expensive at that time. It was worn only by the most important officials.

Scarlet cloth was also somewhat expensive at that time. It was worn only by the very wealthy or by military leaders. Other ways to translate this clause are:

The woman wore purple and scarlet clothing (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
The woman wore an ⌊expensive⌋ purple and scarlet dress

purple: Purple is a mix of blue and red.

Use the proper color word or use the name of something purple in your area. For example:

lavender color
-or-
the color of eggplant

17:4b

and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as adorned means “wearing.” The woman was wearing jewelry and other ornaments in order to make herself look attractive. This showed how wealthy she was. Other ways to translate these words are:

adorned with gold and jewels and pearls (New Revised Standard Version)
-or-
was decorated all over with gold and valuable stones and pearls

gold: The word gold refers to a rare metal of a somewhat yellow color. It was the most expensive metal at that time. It is naturally shiny and beautiful. See how you translated this word in 1:12 or 9:20.

precious stones: This phrase refers to rare stones that are naturally beautiful or become beautiful when shaped and polished. These rare stones are precious or expensive. The Revised Standard Version translates this phrase as:

jewels

The foundation of the new Jerusalem is made of 12 different precious stones. See the descriptions and pictures of those kinds of precious stones in the notes at 21:19–20.

pearls: The word pearls refer to hard, shiny spheres up to 10 millimeters (half an inch) across. They are found in the shellfish called oysters. Pearls are often very beautiful. Good ones are very valuable.

Some languages do not have a word for pearls. If that is true in your language, you may want to:

• Use the major language word. You may then want to explain it in your translation or in a footnote. Some examples for explaining in your translation are:

⌊beautiful⌋ pearls
-or-

⌊expensive things called⌋ pearls

An example footnote is:

A pearl is a hard, shiny sphere about 5–10 millimeters across. It is found in a kind of shellfish called the oyster. They are often very beautiful. Good ones are very valuable.

• Use something that people wear in your area that is beautiful and valuable. You may then want to include a footnote that explains the original word. An example is:

Literally: “pearls.” A pearl is a hard, shiny sphere about 5–10 millimeters across. It is found in a kind of shellfish called the oyster. They are often very beautiful. Good ones are very valuable.

17:4c

She held in her hand a golden cup: In some languages it is not necessary to use both the word held and the phrase in her hand. If this is true in your language, translate naturally. For example:

She had a golden cup in her hand (New Century Version)
-or-
She was holding a gold cup

golden: The word golden indicates that the cup was made of gold. See how you translated this word in 1:12 or 8:3.

cup: It is probably implied that the cup was a fancy, ornamental cup. For example:

goblet (New Living Translation (2004))

17:4d

abominations: This phrase refers to things that are detestable or very awful. The phrase refers to the woman’s sinful life and deeds. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

abominable things (New International Version)
-or-
obscenities (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
detestable things (NET Bible)

the impurities of her sexual immorality: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as impurities refers to impure things. These are things/deeds that God detests. The phrase refers to the results of the woman’s disgusting sexual practices. Those are again a figurative reference to the shameful things she did with the kings of the earth and its inhabitants (17:2). Other ways to translate this phrase are:

unclean things of her immorality (New American Standard Bible)
-or-
the impurities of her immorality (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
the foul things/practices of her sexual sins

SIL Translator’s Notes on Revelation 18:18

18:18a

the smoke rising from the fire that consumes her: The phrase the fire that consumes her refers to the beast and the ten kings burning Babylon (17:16). The Greek grammar and the Berean Standard Bible have the focus on Babylon and the event of burning. The focus is not on who burned her. Here are some others way to say this:

the smoke from the fire that burned her
-or-
the smoke as she burned (New Jerusalem Bible)

If possible, keep the focus on her and the event of burning.

18:18b

“What city was ever like this great city?”: This is a rhetorical question. It emphasizes that the people of the sea think that Babylon was the greatest city in all of history. Translate this clause in a way that emphasizes that Babylon was the greatest city. Some ways to do that are:

• Use a rhetorical question. For example:

Has there ever been a city as great as this (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
How could there ever be a city greater than this one?

• Use a statement. For example:

There never has been another city like this great city! (Good News Translation)

great: The city is called great because it had a vast empire and great influence. The word may include the meaning of “large,” but that is not the most important meaning here.

they will exclaim: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as exclaim is usually translated as “cried out” (as in the Revised Standard Version). The Greek word refers to speaking loudly so that many people can hear what was said. For example:

shouted (Contemporary English Version)

See how you translated this word in 6:10 or 7:10, where the Berean Standard Bible translates it as “cried out.”

SIL Translator’s Notes on Revelation 20:5

20:5a

The rest of the dead:
This phrase refers to dead people who did not come to life in 20:4f.

20:5b

This is the first resurrection: This clause refers back to the resurrection in 20:4f. In some languages it is more natural to use the word “that” when referring back to that event. For example:

That is the first resurrection

the first resurrection: The word resurrection refers to when God causes people to come back to life. This will be the first time that a group of people will be resurrected. It is an event. In some languages it is necessary or more natural to translate this word using a verb. For example:

the first time that ⌊God⌋ resurrects people
-or-
the first time when ⌊God⌋ causes people to live again
-or-
when ⌊God⌋ first raises ⌊a group of⌋ people from death

General Comment on 20:5a–b

The phrase “the first resurrection” (20:5b) refers to those believers of 20:4b–f. But 20:5a tells about what happens one thousand years later (20:12). You should indicate that 20:5a is extra information about what happens to the other people. Some English versions do this by using parentheses. You may want to:

• Put 20:5a after 20:5b. For example:

5b This is the first resurrection. 5a The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended.

• Put 20:5a after all the information about the believers whom God resurrected at this time (20:5b–6d). For example:

5–6 This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy are those who have part in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years.

The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended.

• Use parentheses on 20:5a as the New International Version and Good News Translation do.

• Move 20:5a and use parentheses. For example:

This is the first resurrection. (The rest of the dead did not come back to life until the thousand years had ended.) (New Living Translation (2004))

SIL Translator’s Notes on Revelation 21:22

Paragraph 21:22–27

21:22a

But I saw no temple in the city: This sentence indicates that no temple existed in the city. Your translation should not imply that there was a temple hidden somewhere so that John did not see it. For example:

There was no temple ⌊anywhere⌋ in the city
-or-
Nowhere in the city did I see a temple

temple: The word temple refers to a building where God, or another deity, is believed to be present in a special way. People worship there. See how you translated this word in 3:12 or 16:17.

21:22b

because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple: Here the word temple refers figuratively to a place where people worship God. God and Jesus will live in the city and the people can worship them at any time and any place in the city. Other ways to translate this clause are:

the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb were themselves the temple (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are present in the city as its temple
-or-
the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are there and everyone worships in their presence

Lord: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Lord means “the one who has authority over (something),” or “owner.” God has authority over everyone. See how you translated this word in 4:8 or 19:6.

Almighty: This word is a title which means, “ the one with the power to do anything.” For example:

the All-Powerful (NET Bible)

See how you translated this word in 1:8 or 19:6.

the Lamb: This is a title for Jesus. Jewish people killed a lamb at the Passover as a sacrifice to God. The lamb has symbolic meaning as a special sacrifice and is a symbol for the Christ. See how you translated this title in 21:9.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Revelation 2:2

2:2a

I know your deeds, your labor, and your perseverance: Jesus indicated here that he knew what the believers had been doing. He was aware of all that they had done.

your deeds, your labor, and your perseverance: Here the deeds, labor, and perseverance are all things that the believers in Ephesus did because they believed in Jesus. There are two ways to interpret the connection of deeds to labor and perseverance :

(1) The words labor and perseverance indicate the kinds of deeds. For example:

what you have done—how hard you have worked and how you have endured (God’s Word)

(2) The deeds, labor, and perseverance are three separate things in a list. For example:

your deeds and your toil and perseverance (New American Standard Bible)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), because labor and perseverance can be included in the more general word deeds.

your…your…your: The pronouns are singular. They refer to the angel of the church as the representative of all the believers there. But it was the believers who had been working hard and persevering. So in many languages it is more natural to use plural pronouns here.

deeds: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as deeds means “actions” or “accomplishments.” Other ways to translate this word are:

activities (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
the things that you have done

In some languages it is more natural to translate the word deeds with a verb. For example:

I know what you have been doing

labor: This phrase refers to the great efforts that the Ephesian believers had made to follow Christ. It was difficult for them to live as believers, and they worked hard at doing what God wanted them to do. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

toil (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
the things that you have worked hard at

perseverance: This word refers to continuing to follow God even though there are hardships or people who oppose them. It is the same Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as “perseverance” in 1:9b. Other ways to translate this word are:

steadfast endurance (NET Bible)
-or-
how you…endure (Revised English Bible)
-or-
how patient you have been (Good News Translation)
-or-
how you have endured (Contemporary English Version)

See how you translated the Greek word “perseverance” in 1:9.

2:2b

you cannot tolerate those who are evil: This clause indicates that the believers at Ephesus did not accept those who are evil as fellow believers. They did not permit unbelievers to teach or have influence in the church. Other ways to translate this clause are:

you cannot accept wicked men
-or-
you reject wicked men
-or-
you oppose wicked men

those who are evil: The word evil indicates that these people did bad things. For example:

evil people (Good News Translation)

2:2c

you have tested: Here the word tested may indicate that:

(a) The believers questioned these evil people who claimed to be apostles about their beliefs.

(b) The believers observed them and compared their teachings and behavior to the teachings and behavior of Jesus.

The believers probably did both (a) and (b). Translate this in a way that allows for both meanings. For example:

You have examined (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
you carefully questioned and observed

exposed as liars: This phrase refers to what the believers in Ephesus determined after testing the false teachers. The believers saw that these false teachers were not apostles. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

have discovered that they are liars (God’s Word)
-or-
saw/realized that they had lied

those who falsely claim to be apostles: These evil people came to the believers in Ephesus and lied to them saying, “We are apostles.” Other ways to translate this phrase are:

those who call themselves apostles, and they are not (New American Standard Bible)
-or-
those who falsely say that they are apostles

apostles: In general, the Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as apostles refers to those sent with a message. They are representatives or messengers of a higher authority. Here it refers to those sent to other cities with the gospel of Jesus (such as Barnabas and Saul in Acts 13:1–3).

The false apostles to whom Jesus referred here also claimed to have authority from him for their false teachings.

Some ways to translate this word are:

• Translate the meaning. For example:

representatives
-or-

⌊special⌋ messengers
-or-
sent-people

If this word is too general, you may want to add the phrase “of Jesus Christ.” That phrase tells from whom they claimed to receive their authority. An example is:

representatives ⌊of Jesus Christ⌋

• Use the major language word if people are familiar with this word. You may want to explain it in a footnote. An example footnote is:

The word “apostles” refers to those sent to other places with the gospel of Jesus Christ. False apostles also claimed to have authority from Jesus for their false teachings, but they were lying.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Revelation 3:6

Paragraph 3:6

3:6

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches: Translate this command as you did in 2:29.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Revelation 5:5

5:5a

Then: The Greek word here is usually translated “and” or “but.” However, this verse tells of the one exception to “no one” in 5:4. In some languages this connection must be made clear. For example:

But then
-or-
Except that

one of the elders: The word elders refers to the leaders who were worshiping God in 4:10. See how you translated the word elders there.

5:5b

Behold: The word emphasizes or calls attention to the words that follow. In some languages it will be more natural to translate it as:

Listen

Other ways to translate this word are:

Look (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
See (New International Version)

the Lion of the tribe of Judah: This phrase is a title for the Christ. In Genesis 49:9–10, Jacob prophesied that Judah would be like a lion. Jacob also said that one day all nations would obey the person with this title. Therefore, the Jews used this title for the Christ. Jesus is that descendant of Judah. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

The Lion from Judah’s tribe (Good News Translation)
-or-
the one titled The Lion Who Descended From Judah

Lion: A lion is a large, fierce, four-legged animal. It weighs about 200 kilograms (450 pounds) and is about 2 meters (6.5 feet) in length. See how you translated this word in 4:7.

tribe: Here the word tribe refers to one of the twelve groups in the nation of Israel. The groups were founded by the twelve sons of the man named Jacob, or Israel. The name “Israel” is the name for the nation of the Jews. Another way to translate this word is:

clan

the Root of David: Here the word Root probably refers to a new shoot that grows from the root of a plant after the main plant has been cut off. This phrase combines the thoughts in Isaiah 11:1 and 11:10. For example, the Revised English Bible says:

the shoot growing from David’s stock

It refers to the promised leader of God’s people who descended from King David. He was David’s heir. In some languages the meaning of the Root of David will not be clear. If that is true in your language, you may want to:

• Translate the meaning without the metaphor. For example:

the ⌊special/unique⌋ Descendant of David
-or-
the ⌊promised⌋ Heir of David
-or-
the one who renews/restores David’s kingship

• Translate literally and explain its meaning in a footnote. For example:

This phrase combines the thoughts in Isaiah 11:1 and 11:10. It indicates that one who could open the scroll was the promised leader of God’s people who descended from King David.

But if your word for “shoot” refers to ancestors, you should translate as in the first option above.

has triumphed: This phrase refers to winning a victory over enemies. Jesus followed God’s plan to redeem mankind by dying on a cross for their sins. By that act, Jesus defeated sin and death. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

has won the victory (Good News Translation)
-or-
has conquered (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
has surpassed ⌊all⌋

These verses do not say over which enemies Jesus triumphed. It is best not to add this information. But in some languages it is necessary to say over what Jesus triumphed. If that is true in your language, use a phrase that can refer generally to what he triumphed over. For example:

has triumphed ⌊over all things⌋
-or-
has prevailed ⌊over all his enemies⌋

5:5c

to open the scroll and its seven seals: The Greek clause indicates that 5:5c is the result of 5:5b. Jesus conquered his enemies, and that deed showed that he had the authority to open the scroll. For example:

so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals. (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
thus he can open the scroll and its seven seals. (NET Bible)

It is implied here that Jesus is worthy to open the scroll. In some languages this implied information must be explicit for the correct meaning. For example:

He is ⌊worthy and⌋ able to open the scroll and its seven seals
-or-
He is worthy to open the scroll and its seven seals

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Source: SIL Translator’s Notes on Revelation 2020