SIL Translator’s Notes on Revelation 2020 – Page 5

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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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 1:1

1:1a

This is the revelation of Jesus Christ: In Greek this phase is more literally “The revelation of Jesus Christ.” This phrase introduces the book. In some languages it is more natural to translate this phrase as a complete clause or sentence, as the Berean Standard Bible and some other English versions have done. For example:

This is the revelation of Jesus Christ. (Berean Standard Bible, God’s Word)
-or-
This ⌊book/letter/writing⌋ is the revelation of Jesus Christ,

This phrase indicates that Jesus Christ revealed the things in this book to John. Other ways to translate this are:

This is a revelation from Jesus Christ, (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
The revelation from Jesus Christ (New International Version (2011))
-or-
This book is the record of the events that Jesus Christ revealed. (Good News Translation)

revelation of Jesus Christ: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as revelation refers to something unknown that someone shows/reveals to someone else. In some languages it is more natural to translate this phrase using a verb. For example:

things revealed by Jesus Christ
-or-
hidden things/knowledge that Jesus Christ told
-or-

⌊ hidden/secret⌋ knowledge that Jesus Christ revealed

Christ: The word Christ is a title for Jesus. It means “the anointed one.” The Hebrew word mashiah (English: “Messiah”) has the same meaning. The Jews used it to refer to the person whom God promised would save/free his people and rule them. Here the word Christ describes Jesus as the Christ.

Some ways to translate Christ are:

• Use a title or a descriptive phrase in your language that has the same meaning as Christ. For example:

⌊God’s⌋ Anointed/Chosen One
-or-

⌊Promised⌋ Deliverer
-or-
the Rescuer-King

• Use the major language word, spell it as people in your language would say it, and include a phrase that explains the meaning. For example:

Karisiti, the appointed one
-or-
Cristo, the Savior whom God promised to send

• Use the major language word, spell it as people in your language would say it, and indicate in some way that it is a title. For example:

the Kirisita

• Use the word Messiah, if it is more clearly a title used only for Jesus. Spell it as people in your language would say it and indicate in some way that it is a title. For example:

⌊the⌋ Mesaaia

If you have translated other New Testament books, see how you translated this word there. Also, if you have a footnote explaining this word in Matthew 1:1, Mark 1:1, Luke 2:11, or John 1:17, you may want to repeat it here.

which God gave Him: This clause tells the reader more about the revelation. In some languages a literal translation would wrongly indicate that Jesus had other revelations but God only gave this one to him. If that is true in your language, translate this clause so that it tells more about this revelation. One way to do that is to start a new sentence here. For example:

It was given to him by God.
-or-
God gave it to him.

gave: The word gave indicates that God showed these revelations to Jesus. In some languages a word other than gave is more natural. For example:

showed (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
told

1:1b

His servants: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as servants refers to believers. It indicates that believers must obey the things God tells them to do.

The Greek word can also be translated as “slaves.” However, it is important not to indicate or imply that it is a position of shame or humiliation. A servant of God has a position of honor. Other ways to translate this word are:

his workers
-or-
the people who serve him
-or-
his people, they work for him
-or-
his people, they do his will

His: The pronoun His probably refers here to God.

must soon come to pass: Here the phrase must soon come to pass indicates that the events in the revelation will certainly happen soon. God has decided that all these events will happen, so they will certainly happen. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

must soon happen (New Century Version)
-or-
will soon necessarily/indeed occur
-or-
has been determined ⌊by God⌋ to happen soon
-or-
will definitely/certainly occur soon

1:1c

He made…known: The person that the pronoun He refers to is unclear. It is probably Jesus. In some languages it is more natural to say to whom this pronoun refers. For example:

Christ made these things known (Good News Translation)

made…known: This phrase refers to revealing something through signs. Here, the signs are things and events that have symbolic meanings. There are many things that are symbolic in Revelation, for example: the dragon (12:3) and the woman on the scarlet beast (17:3).

Jesus communicated this revelation to believers by sending his angel with the revelation to John. The angel showed the revelation to John. John wrote this revelation and sent it to the believers. Other ways to translate these words are:

revealed through signs
-or-
communicated (New American Standard Bible)
-or-
sent this revelation (God’s Word)
-or-
show (New Century Version)

it: The pronoun it refers to the revelation, namely, the things that Jesus revealed (1:1a).

His angel: The pronoun His probably refers here to Jesus.

angel: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as angel means “messenger.” It refers here to a spirit being who serves Christ. Some ways to translate this word are:

• Use a descriptive word or phrase. For example:

messenger
-or-

⌊good/holy⌋ spirit-being

• Use a local word that fits the biblical meaning.

• In some languages the churches may already be using the major language word for “angel.” Be sure that this word fits the biblical meaning. If some people do not know the right meaning from this word, you may want to indicate the meaning in some way. For example:

angel messenger
-or-
sacred angel spirit

Be sure that your word for “angel” is different from your words or phrases for “prophet” and “apostle.”

to His servant John: The name John refers to the author himself. John wrote about himself in the third person. This was good Greek style. In some languages it is more natural to use the first person. For example:

to his servant John, ⌊me⌋
-or-
to ⌊me⌋ John, his servant

His: This pronoun refers here to Jesus.

servant: This word has the same meaning as it does in 1:1b.

John: The traditional view is that John the Apostle wrote this Revelation. But a second century Christian, Dionysius, thought is was someone named “John the Elder” and not John the Apostle. Many scholars refuse to choose which is most likely. It is best not to name this John as “the Apostle” or “the Elder.”

General Comment on 1:1a–c

In some languages it is more natural to follow the chronological order of communicating the message. For example:

1a
⌊This book is⌋ the revelation of Jesus Christ. God gave it to him. 1c He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John,1b ⌊He/God gave it to him⌋ to show his/God’s servants what must soon take place. 2a John testifies…

SIL Translator’s Notes on Revelation 2:14

2:14a

But: Here the word But introduces Jesus’ criticisms of the believers in Pergamum:

Nevertheless (New International Version)

I have a few things against you: This statement indicates that Jesus did not like some things that the believers in Pergamum did. Other ways to translate this are:

I have a few complaints against you. (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
You do some things that I do not condone.
-or-
I find fault with some things that you do.

2:14b

because some of you hold to the teaching of Balaam: This indicates that some of the people in the church in Pergamum hold to the teaching of Balaam, as explained in 2:14c–e. Other ways to translate this clause are:

there are some among you who follow the teaching of Balaam (Good News Translation)
-or-
some of you are followers of Balaam (New Jerusalem Bible)

the teaching of Balaam: The phrase the teaching of Balaam means “what Balaam taught.”

Balaam: Balaam was a prophet mentioned in the Old Testament (Numbers 22–24; 31:8). He was not an Israelite. He tried to curse the Israelites in order to get money. He also encouraged the Israelites to worship false gods. You may want to:

• Explain who Balaam was in your translation. For example:

⌊the false/evil prophet⌋ Balaam

• Explain who Balaam was in a footnote. For example:

Balaam was a greedy false prophet.

2:14c

who taught Balak: This clause tells the reader more about Balaam. In some languages a literal translation would wrongly indicate that John was thinking of other men named Balaam and only this one taught Balak. If that is true in your language, translate this clause so that it tells more about Balaam. One way to do that is to start a new sentence here. For example:

He taught Balak…

Balak: Balak was the king of Moab during the time when Balaam was a false prophet. At this time, the people of Israel had left Egypt and were traveling to the land that God had promised them. Balak was afraid that the Israelites would destroy him and his people. So he offered Balaam money to go and curse the Israelites. He also tempted the Israelites to worship false gods. You may want to:

• Explain who Balak was in your translation. For example:

Balak ⌊the king of Moab⌋

• Explain who Balak was in a footnote. An example footnote is:

Balak was the king of Moab during the time of Balaam. At this time, the Israelites had left Egypt and were traveling to the land that God had promised them. Balak was afraid that the Israelites would destroy him and his people, so he tried to destroy the Israelites.

to place a stumbling block before the Israelites: The Greek words here are literally “put a trap/snare before the sons of Israel.” This clause indicates that Balak encouraged the people of Israel to sin. Other ways to translate this clause are:

set a trap for the Israelites (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
lead the people of Israel into sin (Good News Translation)
-or-
tempt the people of Israel ⌊into sin⌋

The two ways Balak enticed the Israelites to sin are listed in 2:14d–e.

2:14d

they would eat food sacrificed to idols: This clause refers to attending a feast dedicated to an idol. The food was presented to the idol in order to honor the god represented by that idol. Later the people ate the food. The Israelites attended such a feast, honoring a false god instead of the true God. Other ways to translate this clause are:

eat food that had been offered to idols (Good News Translation)
-or-
join in eating what had been used to honor idols

idols: An idol is a statue or other physical representation of a god. People worship the idol.

2:14e

commit sexual immorality: This clause refers to sexual immorality of all kinds. It refers to having sexual relations with someone who is not your spouse. It does not imply that either person was married.

In your culture, you may use a euphemism for this meaning. For example:

sleep/lie with someone who was not their spouse
-or-
do wrong with someone who was not their spouse

The clause you use should be acceptable for reading aloud in public.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Revelation 3:17

3:17a

The Greek begins with a conjunction that means “because.” It indicates that 3:17a states another reason for Jesus being ready to spit the believers in Laodicea out of his mouth (3:16b). For example:

For (Revised Standard Version)

The Berean Standard Bible and some other English versions allow the context to imply the connection and do not translate the Greek conjunction here. Introduce the reason clause in 3:17a in the way that is natural in your language.

You say, ‘I am rich; I have grown wealthy…’: As in all the letters to the churches (2:1–3:22), Jesus spoke here to the angel of the church. The angel represented the believers of the church.

In some languages it is more natural to address the believers directly. If that is true in your language, use plural pronouns here. For example:

You(plur) say, ‘We(incl.) are rich; we have acquired wealth…’

You say: Here the believers were probably saying these things to themselves. For example:

You say to yourself (New Jerusalem Bible)

I am rich; I have grown wealthy: In the Greek, the first clause uses the noun “rich” and the second clause uses the verb “become rich.” Together, the two clauses emphasize that the Laodiceans were very rich. Other ways to translate these clauses are:

I am rich and have acquired great wealth (NET Bible)
-or-
I am rich, I have made a fortune (New Jerusalem Bible)

need nothing: The believers in Laodicea felt like they lacked nothing that they needed for daily living. They had everything. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

do not need a thing (New International Version)
-or-
have all I need (Good News Translation)

3:17b–18e

These sentences use physical conditions symbolically to describe spiritual conditions. The English versions translate the sentences literally rather than explaining what the symbols mean. See the translation advice in the notes and the General Comment at 3:18e.

3:17b

you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked: These words figuratively describe the spiritual condition of the believers in Laodicea. They were like wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked people because they were not trusting and obeying God.

In some languages it is necessary to indicate that Jesus was speaking symbolically. For example:

⌊spiritually⌋ you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked
-or-
your ⌊faith is lacking like someone who is⌋ wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked
-or-
you ⌊believe so little that you are like someone⌋ wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked

wretched: This word refers to being in an awful and undesirable condition. The Good News Translation translates it as:

miserable

pitiful: This word refers to someone whom others feel sorry for because of all of his difficulties and troubles. Here the word indicates that others should feel sorry for the believers in Laodicea because of these problems in their faith. Other ways to translate this word are:

pitiable (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)
-or-
pathetic

poor: This word refers to someone who lacks money and other material things. Spiritually, it describes someone who does not possess God’s spiritual blessings and riches. The believers in Laodicea had a lot of money and possessions, but they were “poor” in their faith.

blind: Someone who is physically blind is unable to see physical things. Someone who is spiritually blind is unable to understand spiritual things.

naked: This word refers to someone who is not wearing any clothes at all. Spiritually, it describes someone who does not use the qualities that God gives to believers to do his work.

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Source: SIL Translator’s Notes on Revelation 2020