Section 7:1–8

Angels put God’s seal on 144,000 people

In this section, John saw angels put God’s seal on 144,000 people from Israel. This seal indicates that these people belong to God.

Other examples of headings for this section are:

The 144,000 of Israel Sealed (New Revised Standard Version)
-or-
The 144,000 Are Marked for God (Contemporary English Version)

Paragraph 7:1–8

7:1a

After this: The word this refers to the event in 6:16–17. In some languages it is more natural to use the word “that.”

angels: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as angels refers here to spirit beings who serve God. See how you translated this word in 1:1 or 5:2.

the four corners of the earth: This idiom refers to four places that are as far away from each other as possible. 7:1b implies that these four places are the sources for the winds. In many languages, winds come from the north, south, east, and west. Here, the idiom implies that the angels control the wind over the whole world. Some languages do not have an idiom that refers to four places that are as far away from each other as possible. If that is true in your language, you may want to:

• Use the four words north, south, east, and west. For example:

in/at the north, the east, the south, and the west of the earth

• Translate the meaning without the idiom. For example:

in/at the four places on the earth far distant from each other

7:1b–c

holding back its four winds so that no wind would blow: The phrase its four winds refers to winds from the north, south, east, and west. Together they represent wind from any direction. Other ways to translate this clause are:

stopping the four winds of the earth so that no wind would blow
-or-
preventing all wind from blowing on the earth

blow: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as blow probably refers to strong winds that damage things. The angels prevented the winds from causing this damage. But the Greek word may also refer to any kind of wind, strong or gentle.

sea: The word sea refers to large bodies of water. A sea is often so large that someone standing on one side cannot see the other side. Here it refers to oceans in general. Some languages do not have a word or phrase for “sea.” If that is true in your language, you may want to:

• Explain the meaning in your translation. For example:

the saltwater ⌊place⌋
-or-
large body of water
-or-
large round water

• Use the major language word.

See how you translated this word in 5:13. The word sea is symbolic, so you should not name a particular sea.

© 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.

9:6a–d

In those days men will seek death and will not find it; they will long to die, but death will escape them: The words men will seek death and will not find it (9:6a–b) have the same meaning as the words they will long to die, but death will escape them (9:6c–d). Repeating the same meaning using different words emphasizes that meaning. If possible, emphasize the meaning naturally in your language.

In some languages repeating one’s words has a different use. If that is true in your language, emphasize the meaning in a natural way. For example:

During those days men will intently seek to die, but will not find a single way ⌊to die⌋

9:6a

men: Here the word men refers to both men and women.

seek death: The people will suffer so much severe pain from the locusts that they will want to die. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

want to die (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
look for a way to die (New Century Version)

9:6b

and will not find it: This clause indicates that the people will not die even though they want to. Other ways to translate this clause are:

but they will not be able to (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
but find none

9:6c

they will long to die: The word long refers to desiring or wanting something. For example:

hope for death (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
desire to die (King James Version)

9:6d

death will escape them: The word escape refers to eluding someone or something. For example:

death will flee from them (Good News Translation)

This clause is used figuratively to refer to people not being able to die. In some languages a literal translation would not have that meaning. If that is true in your language, you may want to:

• Use a different word or figure of speech that gives this meaning. For example:

death will not come to them
-or-
they will not be able to meet with death
-or-
death is far from them

• Translate the meaning without the figure of speech. For example:

they will not be able to die

© 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.

13:2a

The beast I saw was like a leopard: In some languages it may not be necessary to repeat the phrase I saw. For example:

This beast looked like a leopard. (New Century Version)

leopard: A leopard is a big cat like a jaguar, tiger, or panther, but smaller. It has tan skin with black spots. They are about 1.5 meters (5 feet) long, excluding the tail. They weigh between 40 and 70 kilograms (90–150 pounds). They eat other animals.

In some languages people are not familiar with leopards. If that is true in your language, you may want to:

• Use the major language word for leopard and perhaps add a descriptive word or phrase. For example:

⌊fierce⌋ leopard/jaguar

• Describe a leopard. For example:

a fierce animal ⌊called a leopard⌋
-or-
a spotted puma/panther/tiger
-or-
a large, fierce cat ⌊called a leopard⌋

But using the word “cat” should not imply that it is about the size of a house cat.

13:2b

with the feet of a bear: A bear’s foot is big and hairy with long claws.

In some languages people are not familiar with bears. If that is true in your language, you may want to:

• Add a description of the feet. For example:

⌊big, hairy feet with long claws⌋ like those of a bear

• Describe the feet without referring to a bear. For example:

big, hairy feet with long claws

Then you may want to indicate the literal words in a footnote, using the major language word for bear. For example:

Literally: “feet like bear’s feet.”
-or-
Literally: “feet like bear’s feet.” A bear’s foot is big and hairy with long claws.

feet: In some languages it is more natural to use a word that refers to the feet of animals. For example:

paws (New Jerusalem Bible)

13:2c

the mouth of a lion: A lion has a large mouth with sharp teeth. In some languages people are not familiar with lions. If that is true in your language, you may want to:

• Add a description of the mouth. For example:

⌊large⌋ mouth ⌊with sharp teeth⌋ like that of a lion

• Describe the mouth without referring to a lion. For example:

large mouth with sharp teeth

You may want to explain the literal words in a footnote, using the major language word for lion. For example:

Literally: “a mouth like a lion’s mouth.”
-or-
Literally: “a mouth like a lion’s mouth.” A lion has a large mouth with sharp teeth.

13:2d

And the dragon gave the beast his power and his throne and great authority: The dragon shared his power, throne, and authority with the beast. For example:

The dragon gave the beast his own power, his throne, and his vast authority (Good News Translation)

power: This word refers to the ability to do something. The dragon was strong and powerful. He caused the beast to become strong and powerful too.

throne: This word refers to the official chair of a king. When the king is seated on his throne, he rules over his people and his country. Therefore, the throne is a symbol for authority to rule. The dragon ruled as king, and he caused the beast to rule also. Other ways to translate this word are:

chair of ruling people
-or-
leader’s place to rule

See how you translated this word at 1:4.

authority: This word refers to having the right and power to control or rule over someone or something. Here the word is general. The dragon had the right and power to do as he wanted. He shared this right and power with the beast.

© 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.

14:16a–b

This sentence continues using the metaphor that compares gathering people to harvesting grain.

14:16a

swung His sickle over the earth: The person probably swung his sickle close to the ground. He reaped the whole earth.

14:16b

the earth was harvested: This clause is passive. Some languages must use an active clause. For example:

⌊he⌋ gathered the harvest of the earth
-or-
harvested the crops (Contemporary English 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.

16:20a

Then every island fled: This clause indicates in a poetic way that the islands sank into the sea. The earthquake caused them to sink. For example:

All the islands disappeared. (Good News Translation)

16:20b

and no mountain could be found: This clause indicates that the earthquake caused the mountains to crumble and fall down. The reason that no mountain could be found was because they were not there any longer. This is a passive clause. Some languages must use an active or intransitive clause. For example:

⌊no one⌋ could find the mountains
-or-
the mountains disappeared (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
all the mountains vanished (Good News Translation)

© 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.

18:13a

cinnamon: This word refers to a spice made from the inner bark of cinnamon trees. In some languages people are not familiar with cinnamon. If that is true in your language, you may want to:

• Explain the word in your translation. For example:

spice called cinnamon
-or-
cinnamon spice

• Use the major language word. If people are not familiar with this word, explain it in a footnote. For example:

Cinnamon is a spice made from the inner bark of cinnamon trees.

spice: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as spice refers to the extract from a plant of India called amomum. This is probably the spice that is today called black cardamom.

In some languages people are not familiar with amomum or cardamom. If that is true in your language, you may want to:

• Use the major language word. If people are not familiar with this word, explain that it is a spice. For example:

cardamom ⌊spice⌋

• Use the major language word. If people are not familiar with this word, explain it in a footnote. An example footnote is:

This word refers to a spice which comes from a plant called amomum.

incense: The word incense refers to the dried sap of certain kinds of trees. The dried sap burns slowly to make a sweet-smelling smoke. Incense is often used as a part of worship.

In some languages people are not familiar with incense. If that is true in your language, you may want to:

• Explain the word in your translation. For example:

⌊special tree⌋ resin/sap ⌊called incense⌋ burned to give/release a sweet smell
-or-
sweet smelling ⌊tree⌋ resin/sap ⌊called incense⌋

• Use the major language word. If people are not familiar with this word, explain it in a footnote. For example:

Incense is the dried sap of certain trees. The dried sap burns slowly to make a sweet-smelling smoke. People often burned incense as part of their worship.

See how you translated this word in 5:8.

myrrh: The word myrrh refers to a product from the sap of the myrrh bush. People use it to make a highly valued ointment and perfume.

In some languages people are not familiar with myrrh. If that is true in your language, you may want to:

• Explain the word in your translation. For example:

myrrh ⌊bush⌋ sap ⌊made into perfume⌋
-or-
sweet smelling ⌊bush⌋ sap ⌊called myrrh⌋

• Use the major language word. If people are not familiar with this word, explain it in a footnote. An example footnote is:

Myrrh comes from the sap of the myrrh bush. People use it to make a highly valued ointment and perfume.

frankincense: The word frankincense refers to a product from the sap of several kinds of trees. People dry the sap, grind it into a powder, then burn it to make a good-smelling smoke. It can also be an ingredient in perfume.

In some languages people are not familiar with frankincense. If that is true in your language, you may want to:

• Explain the word in your translation. For example:

⌊tree⌋ resin/sap burned for a sweet smell ⌊called frankincense⌋
-or-
sweet/good smelling ⌊tree⌋ resin/sap ⌊called frankincense⌋

• Use the major language word. If people are not familiar with this word, explain it in a footnote. An example footnote is:

Frankincense comes from the sap of several kinds of trees. People dry the sap and burn it during worship in order to make a sweet smelling smoke. Or they add it to perfume.

18:13b

wine: Wine is an alcoholic beverage made from the juice of grapes. In some languages people are not familiar with wine. If that is true in your language, you may want to:

• Explain it in your translation. For example:

⌊alcoholic beverage of⌋ wine
-or-

⌊an alcoholic beverage made from grapes, called⌋ wine

• Use the name of the common alcoholic beverage in your area. You may then want a footnote to explain the literal word. For example:

Literally: “wine.”

See how you translated this word in 14:8 or 17:2.

olive oil: The olive is a small oval fruit. People squeeze the oil out of it. The oil is used as cooking oil and as fuel for lamps.

fine flour: The Greek word here refers to the best quality of flour. For example:

high quality flour
-or-
the best flour

wheat: The word wheat refers to a grain plant commonly grown in that part of the world. It was more expensive than barley. Poor people bought barley. So this word implies that the people of Babylon were wealthy.

18:13c

cattle: This word refers to large animals that were used for work. They carried loads, pulled plows, and did other hard work for people.

In some languages people are not familiar with cattle. If that is true in your language, you may want to:

• Explain the word in your translation. For example:

strong/pulling animals
-or-
large farm/pack animals

• Use the major language word. If people are not familiar with this word, explain it in a footnote. An example footnote is:

Cattle are large farm animals that can pull heavy loads. People eat their meat and drink their milk.

sheep: The word sheep refers to smaller farm animals. They usually stay in groups. They weigh 40 to 60 kilograms. They eat plants. Here people probably bought sheep for their wool and meat.

In some languages people are not familiar with sheep. If that is true in your language, you may want to:

• Explain the word in your translation. For example:

woolly animals ⌊called sheep⌋

• Use the major language word. If people are not familiar with this word, explain it in a footnote. An example footnote is:

This word refers to a medium-sized farm animal. People use their hair to make cloth and eat their meat.

horses: A horse is a large, four-legged animal that weighs 500 kilograms (1100 pounds) or more. They are about 1.5 meters (5 feet) high at their back. People ride horses.

In some languages people are not familiar with horses. If that is true in your language, you may want to:

• Explain the word in your translation. For example:

riding animals ⌊called horses⌋

• Use the major language word. If people are not familiar with this word, explain it in a footnote. An example footnote is:

A horse is a large animal that a person can ride. The person could direct the horse to go where he wanted.

See how you translated this word in 6:2 or 14:20.

chariots: This word refers to four-wheeled vehicles pulled by horses, like a “carriage.” The wheels were made of wood. The Greek word could refer to:

(1) Vehicles made to carry people comfortably. These chariots or “carriages” (New International Version (2011)) had seats and were usually covered to protect the people from rain.

(2) Vehicles made to carry heavy loads.

Use a word or phrase that refers to either one or both meanings.

18:13d

slaves and souls of men: The Berean Standard Bible translates the Greek words literally. There are two interpretation issues. These words can refer to people in general or to slaves. Also, they can refer to one group or two groups. The main interpretations are:

(1) The words refers to two groups of people. The word slaves refers to slaves. The phrase souls of men refers to another group of people. The second group might be prisoners of war. For example:

slaves, and even human lives (Good News Translation)

(2) The words refers to slaves as one group of people. It uses two similar phrases to emphasize the meaning. For example:

slaves, that is, human souls (Revised Standard Version)

The Berean Standard Bible is ambiguous. It is recommended that you also translate ambiguously, if possible. But if that is not possible, then follow option (1).

© 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.

19:21a

And the rest were killed with the sword that proceeded from the mouth of the One seated on the horse: This clause is passive. Some languages must use an active clause. For example:

The rider on the horse killed the rest of them with the sword that came out of his mouth

And the rest: This phrase refers to all who gathered to make war against the rider and his army, except the beast and the false prophet (19:18a–d).

the sword that proceeded from the mouth: This is the same symbolic picture as in 19:15a (“And from His mouth proceeds a sharp sword”). The change from the present tense verb “proceeds” to the past tense verb proceeded does not change the meaning. Both phrases refer generally to the sword coming out of the mouth. See how you translated that phrase in 19:15.

19:21b

gorged: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as gorged refers to eating large quantities of food. The birds had plenty to eat and probably more than enough. For example:

ate all they could (Good News Translation)

© 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.