SIL Translator’s Notes on Revelation 2020 – Page 25

SIL Translator’s Notes on Revelation 13:18

Paragraph 13:18

13:18a

Here is a call for wisdom: The Greek clause is literally “Here is wisdom” (as in the King James Version and New American Standard Bible). The Greek clause urges readers to be wise regarding interpreting the meaning of the number. Other ways to translate this clause are:

Wisdom is needed here (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
This takes wisdom (New Century Version)

wisdom: The word wisdom means “be able to understand events and know what should be done.”

In some languages it is more natural to translate wisdom as a phrase. For example:

wise words
-or-
right and just thinking

See how you translated this word in 5:12 or 7:12.

13:18b

Let the one who has insight: The Greek clause is literally “The (person) having understanding.” The clause is addressed to anyone who can understand things easily or learn quickly. Other ways to translate this clause are:

him who has understanding (New American Standard Bible)
-or-
Whoever is intelligent (Good News Translation)
-or-
Any smart person
-or-
if you are smart enough (Contemporary English Version)

calculate the number of the beast: This command can mean either:

(1) Use math to relate the name to the number.

(2) Discern carefully the relationship between the name and the number.

If possible, translate this command so that it allows both meanings. Other ways to translate it are:

figure out the meaning of the number of the beast (Good News Translation)
-or-
interpret the number of the beast (New Jerusalem Bible)

13:18c

for: This word indicates that 13:18c explains “the number of the beast” in 13:18b.

it is the number of a man: There are several ways to interpret this clause. The main interpretations are:

(1) It refers to a particular man. For example:

the number stands for the name of someone (Good News Translation)

(2) It refers to mankind in general. For example:

it is a human number (Revised Standard Version)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), because the beast is represented as an individual rather than as a characteristic of mankind.

13:18d

666: The Greek phrase is literally “six hundred sixty-six.” Numerals (1,2,3…) were not used in Greek at that time. Translate this number using either numerals or number words.

Some languages do not have large number words such as “hundred.” If that is true in your language, you may want to use the number from the major language. You may use numerals such as 666 or number words such as “six hundred sixty-six.”

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SIL Translator’s Notes on Revelation 16:4

Paragraph 16:4–7

16:4a–b

third: This refers to the next item after the second one. If counted, this item would be counted as number three. See how you translated this word in 4:7 or 14:9.

springs of water: This phrase refers to places where water rises out of the ground. In some languages the word springs already indicates that water comes from them. If this is true in your language, do not translate the phrase of water. For example:

springs

SIL Translator’s Notes on Revelation 17:15

Paragraph 17:15–18

17:15a–c

The waters you saw, where the prostitute was seated, are peoples and multitudes and nations and tongues: The phrase peoples and multitudes and nations and tongues explains the symbol of The waters…where the prostitute was seated.

17:15b

waters: This word refers generally to any body of water. It includes rivers, creeks, lakes, ponds, springs of water, and perhaps even oceans. Some languages have a general word for all these. For example:

water/river

But some languages do not have a general word for any body of water. If that is true in your language, you may want to use a list. For example:

rivers, creeks, lakes, and ponds

See how you translated this word in 17:1.

prostitute: This word refers to a woman who has sexual relations for money. A prostitute often entices men to have sexual relations with her. Translate this word as you did in 17:1. But you should not repeat the footnote here.

17:15c

peoples and multitudes and nations and tongues: This list is similar to the lists in 5:9, 7:9, 11:9, 13:7, and 14:6. Here the word multitudes replaces “tribe.”

peoples: In the singular, “people,” the Greek word refers to a whole people group that shares a common culture and language. It can also refer to a whole country, which may have many people groups within it. In the plural, peoples, it refers to a number of those groups. For example:

nations (Good News Translation)

multitudes: This word refers to large groups of people. It is often translated as “crowds.” But probably larger groups are meant here. For example:

populations (Revised English Bible)

nations: This word refers to whole people groups. They may be grouped by culture, language, or nationality. For example:

country

tongues: This word refers to grouping people by what language they speak, their “mother tongue.”

General Comment on 17:15c

The meanings of the three words: “peoples,” “multitudes,” and “nations” are similar. All four words (including “tongues”) are used to emphasize that the “waters” represent people from every kind of people group. Some languages do not have three similar words like “peoples,” “multitudes,” and “nations.” If that is true in your language, you may want to:

• Use fewer words. For example:

peoples and languages and nations

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

peoples and regions/lands and nations and languages

SIL Translator’s Notes on Revelation 19:5

19:5a

a voice came from the throne: John does not say who spoke here, but it does not refer to God (19:5b). Translate this phrase so that it refers to someone other than God. For example:

speech from the throne
-or-

⌊someone⌋ said from the throne ⌊on God’s behalf⌋

19:5b

Praise our God, all you who serve Him, and those who fear Him, small and great alike!: The voice addresses all you who serve Him, and those who fear Him, small and great alike. This address comes after the command. In some languages it is more natural to have the address first. For example:

All you his servants, you who fear him, both small and great, praise our God!

all you who serve Him, and those who fear Him, small and great alike: These words refer to believers. The words describe them in three ways:

(a) They are his servants.

(b) They fear him.

Translate in a way that all three descriptions apply to believers. Other ways to translate these words are:

all his servants, all who fear him, from the least to the greatest (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
all who serve and fear him, no matter who you are (God’s Word)
-or-
all you his servants, indeed all who fear him, both lowly and great

those who fear Him: Here the word fear means “respect” or “revere.” People who fear God think about him in awe. They also realize he is all-powerful and can do as he chooses, so they respect him. This is not the type of fear that means “afraid” or “frightened.”

In some languages the word fear only means “be afraid.” If that is true in your language, you may want to:

• Include the implied meaning of “respect” or “revere” in your translation. For example:

Fear ⌊and respect/revere⌋ God

• Translate the meaning of fear as “respect” or “revere.” For example:

have reverence for (Good News Translation)
-or-
honor (New Century Version)
-or-
respect

small and great alike: This phrase refers to believers of low status and believers of high status. It implies people of all classes and position in society. The phrase does not refer to physical size. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

humble and great alike
-or-
both of high and lowly position/place

SIL Translator’s Notes on Revelation 21:1

Section 21:1–8

John saw the new heaven and earth

In this section, John saw a new heaven, a new earth, and a new Jerusalem. John also heard someone explain that God now lives with his people. The person also spoke about those who did not follow God.

Other examples of headings for this section are:

The new heaven and earth descended, and God began living with his people
-or-
All things made new (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)

Paragraph 21:1–4

21:1a

Then: The Greek word here is the usual word that indicates that the story continues. However, here it introduces a new part of the story. Use a natural way to introduce a new part of the story in your language.

a new heaven and a new earth: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as heaven can also mean “sky” as in 20:11b. Here it probably refers to everything in the universe that surrounds the earth. So the phrase heaven…and…earth probably refers to all of creation.

In some languages a literal translation would wrongly refer only to the place where God lives and the place where people live. If that is true in your language, you may want to:

• Translate the correct meaning in your translation. For example:

a new earth and sky ⌊and everything else that God newly made⌋
-or-
a new earth and a new sky ⌊and all that is in them⌋

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

This saying refers to a whole new universe.

a new earth: The word earth refers to the whole world here: the land and sea.

21:1b

for: This conjunction introduces the reason that there was a new heaven and earth.

the first heaven and earth had passed away: This clause indicates that the first heaven and earth no longer existed. For example:

the first heaven and earth had ceased to exist (NET Bible)

the first heaven and earth: This phrase probably refers to the same things as in 20:11b. But there are some English translations that use the English word “sky” instead of heaven. In both verses, the phrase refers to all of creation. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

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

the first heaven: The word heaven here probably has the same meaning as in 21:1a.

21:1c

and the sea was no more: The Greek clause is literally “no sea existed anymore.” The new earth did not have a sea. In Jewish culture, the sea was a symbol of chaos and evil. So John probably used the sea as a symbol for chaos and evil.

You should translate following the Greek or English. But you may want to explain the implied information in a footnote. For example:

In Jewish culture, the sea was a symbol of chaos and evil.

sea: The word sea refers to a large body of water. A sea is often so large that someone standing on one side cannot see the other side. Here the word sea refers to seas and oceans in general. See how you translated this word in 5:13 or 20:13.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Revelation 22:6

22:6a

Then the angel: This is the same angel as in 21:9a and 22:1a.

These words: This phrase refers to everything revealed to John. For example:

Everything you have heard (New Living Translation (2004))

faithful: This word refers to something that someone can depend on. What God said will certainly happen. Other ways to translate this word are:

reliable (NET Bible)
-or-
can be trusted (Good News Translation)

See how you translated this word in 21:5.

22:6b

The Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets:
The phrase the God of the spirits of the prophets describes the phrase The Lord. For example:

the Lord God who inspires the prophets (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
God the Lord speaks to the spirits of his prophets, and

the God of the spirits of the prophets: There are two ways to interpret the Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as the God of :

(1) It indicates that God has a relationship with the spirits of the prophets. He gives messages to the prophets. For example:

God, who inspires his prophets (New Living Translation (2004))

(2) It indicates that God gives the Holy Spirit to the prophets. For example:

God, who gives his Spirit to the prophets (Good News Translation)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), because the Greek word for spirits is plural, so it probably refers to the spirits of the prophets. Other ways to translate this phrase according to interpretation (1) are:

the God who speaks to the spirits of the prophets
-or-
the God who is connected to the spirits of the prophets

prophets: The prophets are people to whom God gives a message. The message (often called a “prophecy”) 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 10:7 or 18:20.

His angel: This phrase may refer to the angel of 1:1 or it may refer to the angel of 4:1. You should translate this phrase without describing to which angel this phrase refers.

22:6c

His servants: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as servants can also be translated as “slaves.” Here the phrase refers to believers serving God. The difference between “slaves” and “servants” is not important here. See how you translated the word servants in 22:3.

what must soon take place: This phrase refers to all the events that are revealed in this book. For example:

what must happen very soon (Good News Translation)

See how you translated a similar phrase in 1:1 (“what must soon come to pass”).

must: Here the word must indicates that the events are required to happen. God has decided that these events will happen, and he will not change his mind. Other ways to translate this word are:

will necessarily
-or-
has been determined to

take place: The words take place mean “happen” (as in the Good News Translation).

SIL Translator’s Notes on Revelation 1:12

Paragraph 1:12–16

1:12a

to see the voice that was speaking: The phrase the voice represents the person who spoke to John. In some languages it is more natural to refer to that person here. For example:

to see who was speaking (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
to see the person who spoke with that voice

1:12b–13c

In these verses the lampstands, the long robe, and the sash may imply a situation similar to that of a Jewish priest leading worship at the temple. A priest wore a long robe and sash, and a lampstand stood in the temple. These things may also imply high status for Jesus. Your translation should allow for one or both implied meanings.

1:12b

And having turned: John already referred to the action of turning in 1:12a. So referring to it a second time here emphasizes that action and what John saw. Other ways to translate this clause are:

And immediately upon turning
-or-
And when I turned (New International Version)
-or-
and so/indeed

golden: The word golden indicates that the lampstands were made of gold. Gold is a rare metal of a somewhat yellow color. It was the most expensive metal at that time. It is naturally shiny and beautiful. Below is a picture of a gold coin made in the Roman era of Caesar Augustus (who was the Roman emperor when Jesus was born).

Some languages do not have a word for “gold.” If that is true in your language, you should use the word from the major language in your area. The people in your language may not be familiar with gold. If that is true in your language, you may want to include a footnote. For example:

Gold is a rare metal of a somewhat yellow color. It was the most expensive metal at that time. It is naturally shiny and beautiful.

lampstands: A lampstand is a 1–2 meter (3–6 feet) tall rack or pillar for holding a lamp. It has a place for a lamp on its top. This context implies that there were lamps on the lampstands. There were many kinds and styles of lampstand. John did not say what kind of lampstand he saw. The drawing here only shows generally what lampstands look like.

A lamp in John’s time was a small clay or metal container in which people burned oil. The lamp was shaped to hold a wick on one side. The exact kind of lamp is not important here. So if you translate the term lampstand with a phrase that means “a holder for a lamp,” in that phrase you should use a word that refers generally to a lamp or light-producing device. Some of the styles of lamps used in John’s time are shown below.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Revelation 2:25

2:25

Nevertheless: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Nevertheless introduces something important. There is possible contrast to 2:24d here. Other ways to translate this Greek word are:

In any case
-or-
Only (New International Version)
-or-
However (NET Bible)

hold fast to what you have: The phrase what you have probably refers generally to Christ’s commands and teaching. It does not refer to earthly goods. Other ways to translate this clause are:

continue to follow me as you have been
-or-
you must hold firmly to the teaching you have (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
continue in your loyalty (New Century Version)

until I come: This phrase refers to the second coming of Jesus. You may already have a usual way to refer to the second coming. If so, you may want to use it here. For example:

until I come again

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Source: SIL Translator’s Notes on Revelation 2020