SIL Translator’s Notes on Revelation 2020 – Page 50

SIL Translator’s Notes on Revelation 9:17

Paragraph 9:17–19

9:17a

Now the horses and riders: The word riders refers to the soldiers sitting on the horses. These riders may or may not have looked like people. Another way to translate this phrase is:

the horses and those who sat on them

in my vision: The Greek phrase is literally “the vision” (as in the New American Standard Bible). The phrase refers to all that John has seen and written in this book. You may add the pronoun my if it is natural in your language.

vision: Here the word vision refers to something that appears supernaturally. It is like a dream, but the person is usually awake. It is something or someone that people usually cannot see, but God causes them to see it.

looked like this: This phrase indicates that the description of the horses and riders follows in 9:17b–d.

9:17b–d

The breastplates have three colors. The colors are probably meant to match the three things that come out of their mouths. The fiery red color matches the color of fire. The dark blue color matches the color of the smoke. The sulfur yellow matches the color of sulfur.

9:17b

The riders had breastplates: The Greek phrase the Berean Standard Bible translates as The riders had breastplates is literally “having breastplates.” The Greek does not indicate if it was the riders or the “horses” mentioned in 9:17a who wore breastplates. The phrase could refer to either:

(a) the riders,

(b) both the riders and the horses.

You should translate this phrase without saying who wore the breastplates. For example

The breastplates were
-or-
Their breastplates were (New International Version)

breastplates: The breastplates are formed by a thin sheet of metal or overlapping plates of metal shaped to fit over the chest to protect the wearers. See how you translated this word in 9:9.

the colors of fire: This refers to a bright red. It is similar in color to bright red coals of a fire.

sapphire: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as sapphire refers to a deep blue or purplish-blue color.

and sulfur: The word sulfur describes the color of pure sulfur, a medium yellow. For example:

sulfur–yellow (New Jerusalem Bible)

In some languages people are not familiar with sulfur. If that is true in your language, you may want to use the usual word for yellow in your language. For example:

yellow
-or-
egg yolk yellow

9:17c

like the heads of lions: The male lion has a mane of hair around his neck. Lions eat other animals and have large sharp teeth.

In some languages people are not familiar with lions. 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 it in a footnote. For example:

A lion is a large feline/cat. It weighs about 200 kilograms. The male lion has a mane of hair over his neck. Lions eat other animals and have large sharp teeth.
-or-
See footnote on lion at 4:7.

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

the heads of ⌊fierce⌋ lions

9:17d

out of their mouths proceeded fire, smoke, and sulfur: The phrase out of their mouths is emphasized in the Greek and the Berean Standard Bible. If possible, emphasize this phrase naturally in your language.

In some languages it is more natural to have this clause in its usual place. For example:

fire, smoke, and sulfur came out of their mouths

out of their mouths: In 9:17c John described the heads of the horses. So the pronoun their probably refers to only the horses here.

smoke: The smoke was probably a dark blue color, matching the color on the breastplates. You may want to use a similar word or phrase for the color of the smoke here. For example:

⌊dark blue⌋ smoke

sulfur: The word sulfur refers to a yellow powder or soft solid. It is often found at hot springs and near volcanoes. When sulfur burns, it makes a poisonous, bad smelling gas.

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

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

⌊poisonous⌋ sulfur

• Describe sulfur. For example:

⌊poisonous⌋ yellow powder

You may then want to describe the literal word. For example:

Literally: “sulfur.” Sulfur is a powder that makes a poisonous, bad smelling gas when it burns.

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SIL Translator’s Notes on Revelation 11:17

11:17a

saying: What the elders said was part of their worship (11:16b). For example:

with these words: (NET Bible)

In some languages it is more natural to begin a new sentence here. If that is true in your language, indicate that 11:17–18 is a part of the worship. For example:

⌊In worship⌋ they said

We give thanks to You, O Lord God Almighty, the One who is and who was:
Both the Greek and the Berean Standard Bible indicate first that the speakers begin to give thanks. The direct address and the descriptive phrase is in the middle of the spoken words.

In some languages it is more natural to have the direct address and the descriptive phrase first. For example:

Lord God Almighty, the One who is and who was, we give thanks to you

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 4:8.

the One who is and who was: The elders spoke these words as a title for God. It indicates that God is eternal. Other ways to translate these words are:

the One who is and was
-or-
him who exists and ⌊who⌋ ⌊always⌋ existed

11:17b

You have taken Your great power: This clause indicates that God began to use his great power, probably in a new way. Those powers are described in the chapters of Revelation. Other ways to translate this clause are:

you have used your great power (New Century Version)
-or-
you have shown/exercised your great power
-or-
you have acted/worked very powerfully

have begun to reign: God has always reigned, but this clause refers to reigning in a new way. Other ways to translate this clause are:

have…entered upon your reign (Revised English Bible)
-or-
have begun ruling as king (God’s Word)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Revelation 13:12

13:12a

And this beast exercised all the authority: Here the word exercised means “used.” The second beast ruled with the same authority that the first beast had. For example:

The second beast uses all the authority (God’s Word)

The beast probably ruled during the whole 42 months. Translate this clause so that it indicates always doing so rather than doing this once.

of the first beast: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as of the first beast is more literally “of the first beast before him.” There are several ways to interpret the phrase “before him.” The main interpretations are:

(1) The Greek phrase means in submission to him or for his benefit. The authority of the second beast came from the first beast, and he worked for the first beast. For example:

on its behalf (New Revised Standard Version)

(2) The Greek phrase means in his presence. The second beast ruled while standing in front of the first beast. For example:

stands before (New Century Version)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), because the BDAG supports it.

13:12b

caused the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast: These words indicate that the second beast required people to worship the first beast. If they did not worship it, he would punish them. For example:

It forced the earth and all who live on it to worship the first beast (Good News Translation)

the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast: The phrase the earth and those who dwell in it refers to the people of the earth. They will worship the first beast. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

all the earth and its people (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
all the people of the world worship the first beast and ⌊made⌋ the ⌊things of the⌋ world be used for that worship

worship: This word refers to honoring someone or something as sacred/divine. Other ways to translate this word are:

venerate
-or-
revere

See how you translated this word in 13:4.

13:12c

whose mortal wound had been healed: As 13:3a indicates, one of the first beast’s heads had a fatal wound. But this clause indicates that the wound was healed. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

the one who had been wounded to death but healed
-or-
whose deadly injury had healed (New Jerusalem Bible)

This tells the reader more about the first beast. In some languages a literal translation would wrongly indicate that there were other beasts called “the first beast” and only this one had a fatal wound. If that is true in your language, translate this clause so that it tells more about the first beast. One way to do that is to start a new sentence here. For example:

His mortal wound had been healed

See how you translated a similar clause in 13:3.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Revelation 15:6

15:6a

And out of the temple came the seven angels with the seven plagues: The Greek words here use normal Greek word order. But the Berean Standard Bible and some English versions emphasize the phrase out of the temple. You should use your normal word order here. For example:

The seven angels who had the seven plagues came out of the temple (Good News Translation)

with: The Greek word is literally “having.” See how you translated this word in 15:1.

15:6b

dressed in clean and bright linen: This clause explains that their clothing was made of clean and bright linen. But it does not describe the kind of clothing. If possible, use a general word for clothing. For example:

clothed in linen, clean and bright (New American Standard Bible)
-or-
wearing clothes made of clean, shining linen

Some languages must say what kind of clothing it is. If that is true in your language, you should refer to a robe. For example:

robed in pure bright linen (Revised Standard Version)

bright: Here the word bright probably refers to the linen being bright. For example:

bright (Revised Standard Version)

linen: This word refers to expensive cloth made from a plant called flax. The cloth is smooth and strong, yet it is also soft.

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

• Explain the meaning in your translation. For example:

flax cloth
-or-
smooth cloth

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

Linen is an expensive cloth made from a plant called flax. The cloth is smooth and strong yet soft.

15:6c

girded with golden sashes around their chests: The angels were wearing sashes similar to what Jesus wore, described in 1:13. See how you translated the similar words (“with a golden sash around his chest”) there.

golden: The word golden indicates that the sashes were woven of thread 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.

Some languages do not have a word for “gold.” If that is true in your language, you should use the major language word. See how you translated this word in 1:12 or 8:3.

sashes: A sash went around the body like a belt but at chest height.

chests: This word refers to the part of the body below the shoulders but above the stomach and waist. It does not include the arms.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Revelation 17:9

Paragraph 17:9–11

17:9a

This calls for a mind with wisdom: The Greek clause is literally “Here is the mind which has wisdom” (as in the New American Standard Bible and King James Version). It urges readers to be wise regarding the symbolic meanings of the woman and the beast. The angel explained some of the symbolic meanings in 17:9–18. The reader will need wisdom to understand what the angel explained. Other ways to translate this clause are:

A mind with wisdom is needed here.
-or-
This takes/requires a mind having wisdom.
-or-
In this situation a wise mind is needed. (God’s Word)

wisdom: The word wisdom means “the ability to understand events and know what should be done.” See how you translated this word in 5:12 or 13:18.

17:9b

The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sits: The phrase seven mountains on which the woman sits explains the symbolic meaning of the seven heads. But the phrase seven mountains on which the woman sits is also symbolic itself. The city of Rome is located on seven hills. But Rome might be symbolic of a powerful country or empire. It might be symbolic of the human government controlled by the beast. You should translate the literal meaning of this phrase.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Revelation 18:23

18:23a

The light of a lamp will never shine in you again: This clause indicates in several more ways that no one will live in Babylon after this time. Other ways to translate this clause are:

Never again will the light of a lamp be seen in you (Good News Translation)
-or-

⌊No one will ever live in you, so⌋ no lamp will ever shine in you again

lamp: A lamp in Jesus’ time was a small clay bowl in which people burned oil. The bowl was shaped to hold a wick on one side. See how you translated this word in 1:12.

18:23b

and the voices of a bride and bridegroom will never call out in you again: This indicates that people will not get married in Babylon after this time. This is because no one will live there. In Greek, this clause is passive. Some languages must use an active clause, as the Berean Standard Bible models.

bride: The word refers to the woman about to marry.

bridegroom: The word refers to the man about to marry.

18:23c

For: This conjunction introduces the reason why God will destroy the city identified as Babylon. Some English versions allow the context to imply its meaning and so do not translate this conjunction.

your merchants were the great ones of the earth: The city’s merchants were the world’s great men in the sense that they were very rich and powerful. The people of the city bought many expensive things. Therefore, the merchants became rich from all that selling. This wealth made them very powerful. Other ways to translate this clause are:

Its merchants were the important people of the world (God’s Word)
-or-
Your businessmen were the most powerful in the whole world

merchants: This word refers to those who buy, sell, and trade as a job. See how you translated this word in 18:3 or 18:15.

the great ones of the earth: The merchants were great because they had a lot of wealth and influence over others. They were greater than all others. For example:

the greatest in the world (New Living Translation (2004))

18:23d

because: This Greek conjunction indicates that 18:23d is the second reason why the city was destroyed. It remained empty and ruined, as described in 18:21c–23a. For example:

and (Revised Standard Version)

all the nations were deceived by your sorcery: The phrase were deceived by your sorcery is passive. Some languages must use an active clause. For example:

By your sorcery you deceived all the nations

sorcery: The Greek word refers figuratively to how this city cleverly deceived the nations. Then they were eager to follow her. For example:

you deceived the nations with your sorceries (New Living Translation (2004))

See how you translated this word in 9:21.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Revelation 20:10

20:10a

the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur: The clause who had deceived them tells the reader more about the devil. In some languages a literal translation would wrongly indicate that there are more than one chief leader of demons. It would also indicate that only this one deceived the nations. If that is true in your language, translate these words so that they tell more about the devil. For example:

the devil was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur. He ⌊was the one who⌋ deceived the nations.
-or-
the devil, the deceiver of the nations, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur

the devil…was thrown: This clause is passive. Some languages must use an active clause. The person who threw might be God, Jesus, or the angels. For example:

⌊the angels⌋ threw the devil, who had deceived the nations
-or-

⌊on God’s behalf⌋ ⌊someone⌋ threw the devil, who had deceived the nations

devil: This refers to the leader of the evil spirits, Satan. The Greek word means “slanderer.” See how you translated this word in 20:2.

the lake of fire and sulfur: The Berean Standard Bible literally represents the Greek here. But the fire and sulfur were probably mixed together. Sulfur burns readily. Here the phrase has the same meaning as the phrase “the fiery lake of burning sulfur” in 19:20e. The Greek phrase “fire and sulfur” also occurs in 14:10. See how you translated it there.

20:10b

into which the beast and the false prophet had already been thrown: This clause tells the reader more about the lake of burning sulfur. In some languages a literal translation would wrongly indicate that there are other lakes of burning sulfur and the beast and the false prophet had been thrown only in this one. If that is true in your language, translate this clause so that it tells more about the lake of burning sulfur. One way to do that is to start a new sentence here. For example:

The beast and the false prophet had been thrown in there.
-or-
This was the place where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown.

the beast and the false prophet had already been thrown: This clause is passive. Some languages must use an active clause. For example:

⌊Jesus⌋ had thrown the beast and the false prophet
-or-

⌊the rider on the white horse⌋ had thrown the beast and the false prophet

false prophet: A true prophet is a person who speaks the message that God gives to him. A false prophet is one who speaks a message that does not come from God. Here this phrase refers to the second beast. Other ways to translate this are:

deceitful/lying prophet
-or-
he who says he is a prophet but teaches lies
-or-
spokesman for Satan
-or-
false prophecy say-er

See how you translated this phrase in 16:13 or 19:20.

20:10c

There they will be tormented: This clause is passive. Some languages must use an active or intransitive clause. For example:

⌊The lake/fire⌋ will torment them
-or-
they will be in pain (Contemporary English Version)

tormented: This word refers to causing someone to suffer. See how you translated this word in 11:10 or 14:10.

day and night: This phrase indicates that the devil, the beast, and the false prophet will suffer continually.

forever and ever: The Greek phrase is literally “into the ages of the ages.” The word “age” refers to a very long time, so the phrase “the ages of the ages” refers to eternity. For example:

for timeless ages (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Revelation 21:27

21:27a

But nothing unclean will ever enter it: The Greek clause is literally “Every profane (thing) shall never enter it.” This clause refers to things as well as people. Translate this clause so that it includes people. For example:

Nothing ⌊or no one⌋ impure will ever enter it
-or-
No impure thing ⌊or person⌋ will ever enter it

unclean: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as unclean is literally “common” or “ordinary.” Here the word is used as an opposite to “holy.” So it means “anything that God says is bad.” Other ways to translate this word are:

unworthy (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
not holy
-or-
against God

21:27b

nor anyone who practices an abomination or a lie: The phrase “will ever enter it” is implied from 21:27a but not repeated here. In some languages it is more natural to include some or all of the implied words. For example:

nor ⌊will⌋ anyone who practices an abomination or a lie ⌊ever enter it⌋

anyone who practices an abomination: The Greek phrase is literally “the (one) doing abomination.” This phrase refers to people who do things that God considers detestable or very awful. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

anyone who does what is shameful (New International Version)
-or-
anyone who does obscene things
-or-
anyone who does what is detestable (NET Bible)

a lie: This word refers to a person who tells lies as a way of life.

21:27c

but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life: This clause is passive. Some languages must use an active or intransitive clause. Jesus probably wrote the book, since it is his. For example:

only those whose names ⌊the Lamb⌋ had written in his Book of Life
-or-
only those whose names were in the Lamb’s Book of Life

If you translate according to the last example, your translation should imply that the names were written.

the Lamb’s Book of Life: This phrase refers to a Book that has in it the names of people to whom God will give eternal Life. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

the Lamb’s Book ⌊in which is the names⌋ of ⌊those who have⌋ ⌊eternal⌋ life
-or-
the Lamb’s Book ⌊with/having the names⌋ of ⌊those to whom God will give⌋ ⌊eternal⌋ life

See how you translated the phrase “the Book of Life” in 3:5 or 20:12.

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Source: SIL Translator’s Notes on Revelation 2020