Paragraph 8:12
8:12a
fourth: The word fourth refers to the next item after three other things. If counted, this item would be counted as number four. See how you translated this word in 4:7 or 6:7.
8:12b
a third of the sun and moon and stars were struck: The word struck figuratively refers to God causing that part to become dark. This clause is passive. Some languages must use an active clause. God probably ordered someone to strike the sun and moon and stars. For example:
a third of the sun became dark, a third of the moon was struck, a third of the stars were struck
-or-
⌊someone⌋ struck/affected the sun, ⌊someone⌋ struck/affected a third of the moon, ⌊someone⌋ struck/affected one out of every three stars
-or-
⌊God had someone⌋ strike/affect a third of the sun, a third of the moon, and a third of the stars.
a third of: Here the word third refers to one part out of three parts. See how you translated this phrase in 8:7.
8:12c
A third of the stars were darkened: Probably a third of the stars stopped shining. For the sun and moon, there are two ways to interpret this clause:
(1) It indicates that one part of three parts of the sun and one part of three parts of the moon became dark.
(2) It indicates that the sun and moon both gave one-third less light.
Translate possible in a way that allows either or both meanings. For example:
the light went out of a third of them (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
their light lost a third of its brightness (Good News Translation)
General Comment on 8:12b–c
The clause in 8:12c “A third of the stars were darkened” refers to what happened to the sun, moon, and stars. Some ways to indicate that are:
• Translate this clause as a new sentence that refers back to the whole previous sentence. For example:
a third of the sun, a third of the moon, and a third of the stars were struck. So a third of them became dark, (New Century Version)
• Add a word such as “each” or “all.” For example:
a third of them ⌊all⌋ became dark
-or-
one-third of ⌊each⌋ turned dark
8:12d
a third of the day was without light: This clause probably indicates that the sun did not shine for four out of twelve daylight hours. You should translate this clause without describing details, since the details were not told. For example:
A third part of the day was without light
-or-
One of three parts of the day was dark
-or-
One part of the day was dark and two parts were not dark
a third of the night as well: The phrase “was without light” is implied here but not repeated. In some languages it is more natural to repeat the phrase. For example:
a third of the night ⌊was without light⌋
-or-
a third of the night ⌊was dark⌋
-or-
the night ⌊was dark⌋ a third of the time
-or-
In the nighttime four hours didn’t have even any stars show.
-or-
at night for four hours the moon and the stars did not give light.
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