SIL Translator’s Notes on Revelation 2020 – Page 50

SIL Translator’s Notes on Revelation 1:19

Paragraph 1:19–20

1:19a–b

write down the things you have seen, and the things that are, and the things that will happen after this: There are two ways to interpret the connection between the phrase the things you have seen, the phrase the things that are, and the phrase the things that will happen after this :

(1) The three phrases express three things that Jesus wanted John to write about. The three phrases poetically describe the whole revelation. For example:

what you have seen and what is and what will happen after these things (Contemporary English Version)

(2) The first phrase express the things that Jesus wanted John to write about. The last two phrases explain the first phrase. The first phrase refers generally to the whole revelation. For example:

the things you see, both the things that are now and the things that will happen afterward (Good News Translation)
-or-
all that you see of present happenings and what is still to come (New Jerusalem Bible)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), because a plain “and” occurs before the second phrase and before the third phrase. But if the major language version follows interpretation (2), you may want to follow that.

1:19a

the things you have seen: This phrase refers to what John has already seen (1:10–18). The phrase implies the things John has heard as well. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

whatever you saw
-or-
the things you saw
-or-
all that you have seen ⌊here⌋

1:19b

the things that are: This phrase refers to the events currently happening and the prophecies to the churches (chapters 2 and 3). Other ways to translate this phrase are:

the things that are now (Good News Translation)
-or-
present happenings (New Jerusalem Bible)

the things that will happen after this: This phrase refers to the prophecies about the future (chapters 4 to 22). Other ways to translate this phrase are:

the things that will happen afterward (Good News Translation)
-or-
what will happen after

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SIL Translator’s Notes on Revelation 3:3

3:3a

what you have received and heard: This phrase refers to the gospel. It includes the teaching of the apostles, both spoken and written teaching. The English verb received implies that someone else gave what they received. God gave the gospel to the apostles and believers.

In some languages the words “take” and “receive” are translated by the same verb. In some languages this verb does not imply that someone else gave something. Your translation should imply or indicate that God gave the gospel. For example:

the teaching that you were given and that you heard (Contemporary English Version)

Hearing the gospel comes before accepting it. In some languages it is more natural to place the word “hearing” first. For example:

what you heard and received/accepted

3:3b

Keep it: Here the phrase Keep it refers to following the gospel (what the believers had received) and valuing it. See how you translated this Greek word (Berean Standard Bible: “obey”) in 1:3.

repent: This word refers to changing one’s mind and actions. Jesus wanted the people in the church at Sardis to stop sinning and begin obeying God. Other ways to translate this are:

turn to me again (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
change your hearts ⌊and lives⌋
-or-
leave the ways of sin ⌊and follow the ways of God⌋

See how you translated this word in 2:5.

3:3c

I will come like a thief: This phrase refers to approaching someone in a way that this person does not notice him. The way Jesus will come like a thief is explained in 3:3d. Jesus will come unexpectedly, like thieves do. The phrase like a thief does not mean he will come to steal.

In some languages a literal translation would wrongly indicate that Jesus will come to steal. If that is true in your language, you may want to:

• Use the example that people in your language use for someone or something unexpected and unwelcome. For example, there might be a saying for someone who conducts surprise inspections or examinations. You may then want to explain the Greek word in a footnote. An example footnote is:

Literally: “thief.” Here the words “come like a thief” means “come unexpectedly.”

• Clearly indicate that 3:3d explains 3:3c. For example:

I will come like a thief, that is, 3d you will not know at what time I will come to you.

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

I will come unexpectedly

You may then want a footnote to explain the literal words. An example footnote is:

Literally: “I will come like a thief.” Here these words indicates that Jesus will come unexpectedly.

3:3d

you will not know: The Greek clause has two words that mean “not.” This emphasizes the meaning of not. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

you will not know in any way
-or-
you will have no clue

hour: Here this word refers generally to the moment when Jesus would come to them.

I will come upon you: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible literally translates as upon probably means “against” here. Jesus will come against those at Sardis who do not repent. He will come to punish them. Use the way that is natural in your language to indicate this. For example:

I will come against you (English Standard Version)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Revelation 5:2

5:2a

mighty angel: The word mighty probably indicates physical strength. This angel is able to speak with a voice that can be heard everywhere.

angel: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as angel here refers to a spirit being who serves God. See how you translated this word in 1:1.

proclaiming: This word refers to speaking publicly. It is usually done loudly so that everyone can hear. For example:

announced (Good News Translation)

5:2b

Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?: This is a real question. The speaker asked if anyone was great enough to open the scroll. This person must be suitable or fitting to the task or have the proper authority to open it. For example:

Who deserves to open the scroll and break the seals on it? (God’s Word)

to break the seals and open the scroll: The Greek order of these two clauses is “open the scroll and break its seals” (as in the Revised Standard Version). But the seals must be broken before the scroll can be opened, so the Berean Standard Bible has the clause break the seals first.

It is implied that the worthy person takes the scroll from God before breaking the seals. In some languages it is more natural to include that implied information. For example:

to ⌊take⌋ the scroll, break the seals, and open ⌊it⌋

break the seals: This phrase refers to breaking the wax of each seal. Breaking the seals is easy to do, but only someone with the proper authority is allowed to break the seals.

Refer here to breaking or opening the kind of seal you translated in 5:1c.

open the scroll: This phrase refers to unrolling the scroll so it can be read.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Revelation 7:3

7:3a–b

we: The pronoun we indicates that the angel had other angels helping him. It probably does not include the four angels.

have sealed: This phrase refers to marking the people with the seal in 7:2b. This mark showed who owned those people. The kind of seal or what the mark looked like is not described in these verses. Refer generally to using the seal here. For example:

put a mark of ownership
-or-
put an owner’s symbol

servants of our God: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as servants can also be translated as “slaves.” The difference between servants and slaves is not important here. Here the word servants indicates that believers belong to God and serve him. Some ways they serve him are: worshiping him, praying to him, obeying him, and working for him. For example:

those who serve our God

This phrase should refer generally to believers.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Revelation 9:8

9:8a

They had hair like that of women: The Greek is literally “they had hair like women’s hair,” as in the New American Bible, Revised Edition. It makes clear that these locusts had something that normal locusts do not have.

How it was that They had hair like that of women is not explained here. It could mean that their hair was long, surrounded the face, or was thick. You should translate this clause literally without explaining it.

9:8b

teeth like those of lions: The phrase teeth like those of lions describes teeth that are long and sharp so that they can bite deeply into other large animals. In some languages people are not familiar with lions. If that is true in your language, you may want to:

• Use a general word for the animal. For example:

their teeth were like those of a fierce animal

• Explain the meaning in your translation of what lions’ teeth were like. For example:

their teeth ⌊were long and sharp⌋

• Use the word for a similar, large, meat-eating animal that is better known in your culture. For example:

their teeth were like the teeth of tigers/panthers/leopards

9:9a–b

thoraxes like breastplates of iron: The thoraxes are the chest areas of the bodies. The breastplates are the thin sheets of metal or overlapping plates of metal armor. They are shaped to fit over the chest to protect the wearers. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

Their chests were covered with what looked like iron breastplates (Good News Translation)
-or-
They had body–armour like iron breastplates (New Jerusalem Bible)

The breastplates might be used instead of the other armor, as pictured in the note at 9:7a. Or the breastplates might be added to the other armor.

iron: At the time, iron was the strongest metal known. Today, iron is used to make cars, trucks, and many kinds of tools.

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

• Describe it in your translation. For example:

very strong metal

• Use the major language word and explain it in your translation. For example:

iron, ⌊a very strong metal,⌋

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

At the time, iron was the strongest metal known. Today, iron is used to make cars, trucks, and many kinds of tools.

9:9c

the roar of many horses and chariots rushing into battle This clause indicates that the horses were running. Many horses running together make a loud thudding and rumbling noise similar to “rolling” thunder. Chariots have wooden wheels, often with an outer ring of iron. These make much noise as they roll over the ground. The sound of the locusts’ wings was like the noise of the running horses pulling chariots. The sound continued for a long time. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

the loud noise of many horses and chariots running into battle
-or-
the loud rumbling of many horses and chariots going quickly to battle

many horses and chariots: The Greek phrase is literally “of-chariots of-horses of-many.” There are several ways to interpret this phrase. The main ones are:

(1) It refers to horses pulling chariots and that there were many of these horse chariots. For example, the Good News Translation says:

many horse-drawn chariots

(2) It indicates that there were many horses and also there were chariots. For example, the Berean Standard Bible says:

many horses and chariots

(3) It indicates that there were chariots and each chariot had many horses. For example, the New Jerusalem Bible says:

chariots with many horses

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), because there seems no reason from the Greek grammar to separate the horses from the chariots, as in interpretation (2). And it seems more likely that, for an example of a loud noise, many connects to chariots with horses and not just to horses (interpretation (3)). Other ways to translate this phrase according to interpretation (1) are:

many horse chariots
-or-
many chariots pulled by horses
-or-
many horses pulling many chariots

chariots: The word chariot refers to a vehicle with two wheels that is pulled by a horse or horses. The soldier stands in the vehicle. The wheels are made of wood and often have a band of iron around each wheel. The wheels make a rumbling noise when they roll.

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

• Use a descriptive phrase. For example:

⌊horse-drawn/pulled⌋ war vehicles

But the word or phrase you use should not refer to modern military trucks or tanks.

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

A chariot is a war vehicle with two wheels. It is pulled by one or two horses. The soldier stands in the vehicle. The wheels are made of wood and often have a band of iron around the wheels. The wheels make a rumbling noise when they roll.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Revelation 11:9

11:9a–10b

The Greek uses the present tense for the verbs “view,” “permit,” “gloat,” and “celebrate.” The Greek grammar indicates that people will do those things throughout the three and a half days. Many English versions use the future tense. They use the phrase “For three and a half days” to indicate the continuous action.

11:9a

three and a half days: Some languages do not usually refer to half a day. If that is true in your language, you may want to explain it in your translation. For example:

three ⌊whole⌋ days and ⌊part of⌋ another day
-or-
three ⌊whole⌋ days and the next day ⌊until noon⌋

all peoples and tribes and tongues and nations: The word all applies to each of the four kinds of groups. For example:

from every tribe, every language, every people, and every nation

See how you translated this phrase in 5:9 or 7:9. But note that the order of the groups is different here.

peoples: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as peoples here refers to a large group of people. But it is sometimes used to refer to a whole country, which may have many people groups in it.

See how you translated this word in 5:9 or 7:9.

tribes: This word can refer to a whole people group like “tribe” or to subgroups within the people group like “clan.”

See how you translated this word in 5:9 or 7:9.

tongues: This word refers to all the people that speak one language as a group.

nations: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as nations here refers to groups of people who share a common culture. But it is sometimes used to refer to whole countries, which may have many people groups in them. It is similar in meaning to “peoples” above, but probably it here refers to groups of people each under one government.

See how you translated this word in 5:9 or 7:9.

will view their bodies: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as view is the normal word for “look at (something).” The people looked at the bodies because they were happy that the two witnesses were now dead. The word or phrase that you use should not imply that the people were sad that the two witnesses were dead. For example:

will stare at their corpses (New Jerusalem Bible)

11:9b

will not permit them to be laid in a tomb: The people will be very upset because the two witnesses caused much suffering. So they will not let anyone bury the two witnesses. Preventing anyone to bury them shows that the people reject them. The people do not honor them in any way. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

they will refuse to bury them (New Century Version)
-or-
will not allow them to be buried (Good News Translation)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Revelation 13:4

13:4a

They worshiped: The Greek clause that the Berean Standard Bible literally translates as They worshiped refers to the people of the world (13:3c). For example:

Everyone worshiped (Good News Translation)

worshiped: This word refers to honoring someone or something as sacred/divine. The people honored the dragon and the beast as though they were gods. Other ways to translate this word are:

venerated
-or-
revered

See how you translated this word in 4:10. However, note that in that verse the elders worshiped the one true God.

13:4b–c

authority: This word refers to the dragon’s authority in 13:2d. The Revised Standard Version translates this as:

his authority

13:4d–e

Who is like the beast, and who can wage war against it?: These questions are rhetorical questions. They both imply the answer “No one.” They emphasize the people’s belief that no one is like the beast and no one can beat him in war. They praised the beast with these rhetorical questions. Translate these rhetorical questions in a way that emphasizes their belief. Some ways are:

• Use rhetorical questions. For example:

Who is as great as the beast? Who can battle the beast and win?
-or-
Is there anyone like the beast? Is there anyone who can defeat the beast?

• Use statements. For example:

There is no one as great as the beast! There is no one who can defeat the beast in battle!
-or-
No one is like this beast! No one can fight against it. (Contemporary English Version)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Revelation 14:18

14:18a

with authority over the fire: This clause indicates that the angel was responsible for keeping the fire under the altar burning. For example:

who was responsible for the fire ⌊under the altar⌋

altar: On earth, an altar is a platform on which people offer sacrifices or gifts to God. This altar is similar to the sacrificing altar in front of the Jewish temple. But this altar is in heaven in John’s vision. See how you translated this word in 6:9.

14:18b–c

called out: Here the words called out refer to speaking to someone who is far away. For example:

shouted (New Jerusalem Bible)

14:18d

the clusters of grapes from the vine of the earth: This phrase is a metaphor for people (14:19b). In some languages people will not understand the meaning of a literal translation. If that is true in your language, you may want to explain the metaphor in a footnote. For example:

The grapes here are a metaphor for the people that God judges and punishes (14:19).

the clusters of grapes: The fruits named grapes grow in bunches on vines.

grapes: The word grapes refers to small, round fruits used to make wine. In some languages people are not familiar with grapes. If that is true in your language, you may want to:

• Describe grapes. For example:

⌊clustered⌋ vine fruit

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

Grapes are a small, round fruit used to make wine.

14:18e

its: This pronoun refers to the earth’s vine here.

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Source: SIL Translator’s Notes on Revelation 2020

SIL Translator’s Notes on Revelation 1:19

SIL Translator’s Notes on Revelation 3:3

SIL Translator’s Notes on Revelation 5:2

SIL Translator’s Notes on Revelation 7:3

SIL Translator’s Notes on Revelation 9:8

SIL Translator’s Notes on Revelation 11:9

SIL Translator’s Notes on Revelation 13:4

SIL Translator’s Notes on Revelation 14:18

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