17:10a

There are also seven kings: There is a verse numbering issue here. The Good News Translation and some versions include this sentence at the end of 17:9. You should place this sentence where the major language version does.

This clause is a second explanation of the symbolic meaning of the seven heads.

kings: Here the word kings may refer to many kinds of powerful leaders. They may not be the leaders of distinct countries. The word could even refer to rulers of empires. (An empire consists of more than one country.)

17:10b

Five have fallen: Here the words have fallen may figuratively indicate that these five kings are either:

(1) no longer ruling,

(2) no longer alive.

These verses do not say why they have fallen. You should not explain why they have fallen. For example:

Five of them have already gone (New Jerusalem Bible)

17:10c

one is: Here the word is probably indicates that this king was ruling either:

(1) at the time when the vision is fulfilled,

(2) at the time when John saw the vision.

You should not explain when this occurs. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

one still rules (Good News Translation)

17:10d

has not yet come: This phrase probably indicates that this king had not yet begun to reign. For example:

has not yet come ⌊to the throne⌋
-or-
has not yet become ⌊a ruler⌋

17:10e

he must remain for only a little while: Here the word must indicates that God is in control and has determined that this will happen. The phrase remain for only a little while indicates that God will let this king rule for only a short time. Other ways to translate this clause are:

he will rule for only a little while (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
his reign will be brief (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-

⌊God⌋ will let him stay for only a little while

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Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0.
All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.

18:24a–b

And: This Greek conjunction probably indicates that 18:24a–b continues telling more reasons why Babylon was destroyed. For example:

For (JPB)

there was found in her the blood of prophets and saints, and of all who had been slain on the earth: There are two ways to interpret who spoke these words:

(1) The angel who began speaking in 18:21 continues speaking here. The ending quote mark occurs at the end of 18:24.

(2) The angel stopped speaking at 18:23 and John wrote his own thoughts here. The ending quote mark occurs at the end of 18:23.

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1).

18:24a

there was found in her the blood: In the Greek, the phrase in her is emphasized by being first in the clause. If possible, emphasize this phrase.

In some English versions, the verb phrase there was found occurs before the subject (blood). This is an English poetic style that also emphasizes the verb phrase. In the Greek, the verb is not emphasized. Other ways to translate this clause are:

The blood of prophets, God’s people, and everyone who had been murdered on earth was found in it (God’s Word)
-or-
In your streets flowed the blood… (New Living Translation (2004))

This clause indicates that the city was responsible for killing prophets, saints, and all others who were killed. For example:

You are guilty of the death… (New Century Version)

This clause is passive. Some ways to translate it are:

• Use a passive clause. For example:

In her was seen the blood

• Use an active clause. For example:

⌊God⌋ has found her responsible for the blood…

• Use a verb that implies that God considered her to be responsible. For example:

She is guilty/responsible for the blood…
-or-
She is guilty of killing…

in her: The Greek uses the pronoun her to refer to Babylon. In 18:23a–d the angel used the second person pronoun “you.” In some languages it is more natural to continue using the second person. For example:

In you

Or you may have continued to use the pronoun “she” in 18:23a–d, based on how you translated 18:21c–d. If that is true, continue using “she/her” here. Also see note on 18:21c–24b.

of prophets and saints: The prophets are saints who have the gift of prophecy. For example:

prophets and ⌊other⌋ saints

prophets: A prophet is a person to whom God gives a message. The message may include a vision, as in Ezekiel 1 and Daniel 8. The message, called a prophecy, may reveal something about past events, current events, or future events. The prophet speaks God’s message to the people or writes it down for their use. See how you translated this word in 18:20.

saints: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as saints means “holy ones.” It refers to all believers. See how you translated this word in 18:20.

18:24b

all who had been slain on the earth: This clause is passive. Some languages must use an active clause. For example:

all whom ⌊others⌋ have slain on the earth

© 2020 by SIL International®
Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0.
All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.

Section 20:11–15

God judged the dead

In this section, John saw God sitting on his throne. God judged all people according to what they had done. If they had not followed God, he threw them into the lake of fire. These people did not have their names in the Book of Life.

Other examples for this section heading are:

The Judgment at the Great White Throne (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
The dead were judged

Paragraph 20:11–15

20:11a

great: The throne is probably called great because it is large, beautiful, and important. It is an important throne because it belongs to God.

throne: A throne is the official chair of a king. When the king is seated on his throne, he rules over his people and his country. Therefore, the word is used as a symbol for his authority to rule. Here the word throne refers to the place from where God rules.

See how you translated this word in 1:4.

the One seated on it: The word One refers to God here.

In some languages a literal translation would wrongly refer to someone other than God. If that is true in your language, you may want to refer to God in your translation. For example:

God who was seated on it
-or-
God, the one seated on it

20:11b

Earth and heaven fled from His presence: This clause is figurative language that describes the disappearance of the earth and sky. It pictures everything being cleared away, perhaps in the sense of clearing out God’s courtroom in preparation for the judging of all people. Other ways to translate this clause are:

Earth and sky left his presence
-or-
In his presence, earth and sky vanished (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
Earth and sky ran away from him (New Century Version)

Earth and heaven: Here this phrase probably refers to the whole universe. So all the things in the sky, such as the sun, moon, planets, and stars, are included here. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

all that God created/made
-or-
earth and sky ⌊and all that is in them⌋
-or-
the universe

from His presence: This phrase is emphasized in the Greek. If possible, emphasize this phrase.

20:11c

no place was found for them: This clause probably indicates that the earth and sky had completely vanished (as in 21:1b). Other ways to translate this clause are:

there was no room for them any more (Revised English Bible)
-or-
were seen no more (Good News Translation)
-or-
disappeared (New Century Version)

© 2020 by SIL International®
Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0.
All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.

1:7a

Behold: The word emphasizes or calls attention to the words that follow. The word is also used here in a somewhat literal sense, because when Jesus does come, people will indeed see him. Translate this in a way that is natural in your language for talking about a wonderful or amazing event that people will see. Other ways to translate this word are:

Hey/Wow
-or-
Remember/Consider this:

He is coming with the clouds: The pronoun He refers to Jesus Christ here. John named him in 1:5a. In some languages it is more natural to translate the pronoun He using his name because of the many words used following the mention of his name in 1:5a. For example:

Jesus is coming with the clouds (New Century Version)

This clause is similar to prophecies in the Gospels, including Matthew 24:30. This clause is also similar to Daniel 7:13. You may want a footnote to explain the connection to those prophecies. An example footnote is:

This clause is like the prophecy in Matthew 24:30. It is also similar to Daniel 7:13.

He is coming: This phrase uses the present tense. John used the present tense to emphasize that Jesus is definitely coming soon. However, the rest of the verse uses the future tense. In some languages it is more natural to use the future tense here also. For example:

He will definitely come soon

with the clouds: This phrase indicates that clouds will be near Jesus as he returns. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

on the clouds (Good News Translation)
-or-
in company with the clouds

1:7b

every eye will see Him: The phrase every eye is an idiom that means “everyone.” For example:

everyone will see him (New Century Version)

1:7c

even: Here the word even means “including” (as in the Good News Translation).

those who pierced Him: This phrase comes from Zechariah 12:10. Here it refers to the soldiers who pierced Jesus with nails and to the soldier who pierced him with a spear. But the phrase also refers to the leaders who ordered the soldiers to pierce him. More generally, it includes all people who are enemies of Jesus (John 19:34, 37).

In some languages it is more natural to say how people pierced Jesus. But the important point is that these people caused Jesus to die. For example:

those who pierced his skin ⌊with nails and spear⌋
-or-
those who nailed him to a cross ⌊so that he would die⌋
-or-
the people who caused him to die by nailing him to a cross

1:7d

all the tribes of the earth: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as tribes refers to people grouped by language or culture. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

all peoples of the earth (New International Version)
-or-
all the people-groups of the world

mourn: This word refers to being very sad or grieving. Other ways to translate this word are:

grieve
-or-
have great sorrow

because of Him: There are two ways to interpret the Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as because of :

(1) It indicates that he is the reason they mourn, but it leaves unclear the question of why he is the reason they mourn. For example, it may be that he is coming to judge them, or it may be that they are sad that he suffered. For example:

on account of him (Revised Standard Version)

(2) It indicates here that the people mourn because they are sad that Jesus suffered. For example:

over him (Good News Translation)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), because the Greek allows for several reasons for the people to mourn. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

on account of ⌊seeing⌋ him
-or-
regarding him
-or-
because ⌊they rejected⌋ him

1:7e

So shall it be! Amen: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as So shall it be! is literally “Yes!” Like the word Amen, the word “yes” is used to express agreement that something is true. The two words are used together to emphasize that John strongly agreed. Other ways to translate these words are:

Yes! Amen! (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
Even so. Amen. (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
Indeed! True!

© 2020 by SIL International®
Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0.
All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.

Paragraph 2:20–25

2:20a

But I have this against you: The Greek words here are the same as 2:4a (“But I have this against you”). Translate it as you did in 2:4.

2:20b

You tolerate that woman Jezebel: Here the word tolerate means “allow someone to continue doing (something).” The believers at Thyatira allowed Jezebel to remain in the church even though she taught false ideas.

In some languages it is necessary or more natural to add the implied information about Jezebel. For example:

You let that woman Jezebel spread false teachings (New Century Version)

In some languages it is more natural to translate this with a negative statement. For example:

You do not put an end/stop to ⌊the activities of⌋ that woman Jezebel
-or-
You do not prevent that woman Jezebel ⌊from teaching in the church⌋

that woman Jezebel: The name Jezebel is probably symbolic of a false teacher in the church at Thyatira. That person was like the evil Queen Jezebel in the Old Testament (1 Kings 16:29–31; 18:4,19; 19:1–2; 21:1–25), because she led the people away from God.

In some languages people are not familiar with the story or reputation of Queen Jezebel. If that is true in your language, you may want to explain who she was in your translation. For example:

that ⌊evil/idolatrous⌋ woman Jezebel

You may also want to explain who she was in a footnote. An example footnote is:

The false teacher in Thyatira was given the symbolic name of Jezebel. Jezebel lived about 700 years before Jesus. She was evil, she worshiped idols, and she violently opposed God’s prophets. Stories about her are found in 1 Kings 16–21.

2:20c

who calls herself a prophetess: This clause indicates that the woman in 2:20b claimed that she was a prophet. But she was not speaking the truth. She was not a true prophet, because she did not speak God’s message. She did speak messages, but they were not from God. Other ways to translate this clause are:

who claims to be a prophetess (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
who says she is a prophetess
-or-
who makes the false claim that she speaks messages from God

This clause tells the reader more about the false teacher called Jezebel. In some languages a literal translation would wrongly indicate that there were others named Jezebel at Thyatira, but only this one called herself a prophetess. If that is true in your language, translate this clause so that it tells more about Jezebel. One way to do that is to start a new sentence here. For example:

She calls herself a prophetess.

prophetess: The word prophetess means “female prophet.” A prophet is a person whom God uses to communicate with the people. Other ways to translate the word prophetess are:

spokeswoman for God
-or-
God’s message-speaker

See how you translated the word prophetess in Luke 2:36, “prophet” in Matthew 1:22, Mark 1:2, or “prophecy” in Revelation 1:3.

2:20d

By her teaching she misleads: The Greek words are literally “she teaches and misleads.” The two verbs “teach” and “mislead” are connected because she taught things that misled people. Other ways to translate this clause are:

She teaches and misleads (God’s Word)
-or-
by her teaching deceives (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)

My servants: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as servants refers to the believers at Thyatira. It is used to indicate that the believers served and obeyed Jesus. See how you translated the word servants in 1:1.

to be sexually immoral: This phrase refers to any kind of sexual activities outside of marriage. See how you translated the phrase “sexual immorality” in 2:14.

2:20e

and to eat food sacrificed to idols: The false prophetess in Thyatira had been encouraging the believers to eat food that had been offered as a sacrifice in honor of idols. You should translate this phrase in the same way as “eat food sacrificed to idols” in 2:14.

© 2020 by SIL International®
Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0.
All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.

4:1a

After this I looked: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as this is plural: “these (things).” The word refers to the messages to the churches (chapters 2–3) and probably the first vision (1:10–2

6:8a

Then I looked and saw: The Greek words are literally “I saw, and look,” as in 6:2. Translate these words in the same way.

a pale green horse. Its rider’s name was Death: The Greek words are literally “a pale horse and one sitting on it, the name for him (was) Death.” The words indicate that John saw both the horse and the rider at the same time but described the horse first. Translate these words similarly to “was a white horse! Its rider held a bow” in 6:2a. For example:

a pale horse and a rider with the name of Death
-or-
someone on a pale horse, and his name was Death

pale green: The Greek word the Berean Standard Bible translates as pale green refers to a pale yellowish or greenish gray color. Here the word probably represents the color of someone very sick and dying. Other ways to translate this color are:

pale (New International Version)
-or-
sickly pale (Revised English Bible)
-or-
sickly green (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)

Death: Here the word Death is used figuratively as the name of a being. In some languages it is more natural to translate Death with a verb or a phrase. For example:

Dying
-or-
The source of death
-or-
The one who causes people to die

6:8b

Hades: The word Hades refers to the place where the spirits of dead people live before God judges everyone.

Some ways to translate Hades are:

• Use the name in your language for the place of the spirits of dead people.

Use a descriptive phrase. For example:

the place of the dead
-or-
the land/world of the dead

• Use the Greek word and explain it in your translation. For example:

Hades ⌊the place of the dead⌋

Here the word is used figuratively as the name of a being. This being named Hades follows a being named Death. Hades was not on a horse. In some languages referring to the place of the dead as a person is not natural. If that is true in your language, you may want to:

• Explain the figurative use of the word in your translation. For example:

⌊someone named⌋ Hades

• Translate literally and explain its use in a footnote. An example footnote is:

The word “Hades” is used like the name of a being. The whole clause refers figuratively to many people dying and their spirits going immediately to the place of the dead.

See how you translated this word in 1:18.

6:8c

And they were given authority: This clause is passive. Some languages must use an active clause. For example:

And ⌊God⌋ gave to them power
-or-
And they received power ⌊from God⌋

authority: The word authority refers to the authority and ability to do something. Another way to translate this word is:

power (New International Version)

over a fourth of the earth: This phrase refers to a quarter of the people living on earth at the time this prophecy occurs. In some languages it is more natural to refer to the people rather than the earth. For example:

over a fourth/quarter of ⌊the people on⌋ the earth

fourth: Here, this word means “one out of four.” For example, in a group of four thousand people, one thousand would die. Other ways to translate this word are:

one part in four ⌊parts⌋
-or-
one of four
-or-
killing one part and leaving three parts alive

6:8d

by sword, by famine, by plague, and by the beasts of the earth: These words indicate there were four ways that the pale horse and its rider caused people to die.

sword: A sword is a hand-held weapon that cuts and stabs. Here the word sword represents any weapon which someone uses to kill someone else. It is probably a symbol for war here. For example:

power…to kill people using wars (God’s Word)

See how you translated this word in 6:4.

famine: This word refers to an extreme shortage of food. During a famine, people die from hunger. Another way to translate this is:

by starvation (New Century Version)

plague: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as plague is literally “death.” Here, the Greek word probably refers to diseases or other things that kill a lot of people in many places. Other ways to translate it are:

pestilence (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
disease (New Century Version)

Some languages do not have a general word such as plague. If that is true in your language, you may need to use a descriptive phrase. For example:

things that cause much death

the beasts of the earth: Here the word beasts refers to animals that attack and kill people. In some languages the word beasts already implies the phrase of the earth. If that is true in your language, you may want to omit that phrase. For example:

wild animals (Good News Translation)

General Comment on 6:8d

In the Greek, as in the Berean Standard Bible, the first three items (sword, famine, plague) are singular, but they refer generally to one or more occurrences of each one. In some languages it is more natural to translate each one as plural. For example:

wars, famines, plagues, and the wild animals on the earth (God’s Word)

© 2020 by SIL International®
Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0.
All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.