Paragraph 12:7–9

12:7a

Then a war broke out in heaven: The Greek clause is literally “And war was in heaven.” The Greek does not say when this war occurred. Scholars have many opinions about when it occurred. If possible, refer only generally to war in heaven, as the Greek and Berean Standard Bible do.

Then: Here the conjunction Then introduces another event. It does not make explicit when this other event took place.

war: This word refers to fighting by organized groups. Michael and his angels fought in an organized manner. The dragon and his angels also fought in an organized manner. This war was fought with the supernatural weapons of angels. It was not fought with earthly weapons such as guns.

In some languages it is not possible to talk of war without saying who was fighting. See the General Comment at the end of 12:7a–c.

12:7b

Michael: This name refers to one of God’s leading angels. He watches over Israel (Daniel 12:1, Jude 9).

and his angels: Michael and these angels followed God. During the war they followed Michael’s command.

fought: The Greek word refers to fighting a war. For example:

had to fight a war (God’s Word)
-or-
battled (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)

12:7c

the dragon and his angels: Satan (the dragon) was the leader of a group of angels. These angels are usually referred to as “demons” or “evil spirits” in the New Testament. If the word you use for angels only refers to good spirit beings, you may want to:

• Explain the meaning in your translation. For example:

the dragon and his ⌊evil⌋ angels
-or-
the dragon and the angels that follow him

• Use the word “demons.” For example:

the dragon and his demons

You may then want a footnote to explain the meaning of demons here. For example:

Literally: “angels.” Demons are the same kind of being as angels, but demons follow Satan and oppress people.

General Comment on 12:7a–c

In some languages it is necessary to say who was fighting. It is not possible to simply say “there was war.” For example:

7a And in heaven 7b Michael and his angels were fighting against the dragon. 7c The dragon and his angels fought back.

© 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.

14:3a

they sang a new song:
The pronoun they probably refers to the 144,000 men/believers (14:1b).

sang: The Greek grammar probably indicates that they sang for some time. For example:

were singing (New Jerusalem Bible)

before the throne: This phrase refers to God’s throne in heaven. In some languages a literal translation would wrongly refer to a different throne. If that is true in your language, you may want to include the implied information. For example:

before the throne ⌊in heaven⌋
-or-
before ⌊God’s⌋ throne

14:3b

living creatures: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as living creatures is literally “living (ones).” The word refers to beings that are like angels. The living creatures speak and praise God (4:8). Other ways to translate this phrase are:

living beings (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
living things/ones

See how you translated this phrase in 4:6.

elders: Here the word elders refers to those who have authority. These people (or angels) were leaders who had God as their leader. For example:

leaders (God’s Word)

These verses do not say whether the elders were people or angels. So you should use a word like “elder” or “leader” that can refer to either people or angels.

There were twenty-four elders. They are not included in the count of “four.”

See how you translated this word in 4:4.

14:3c

And no one could learn the song except the 144,000: This clause indicates that only the 144,000 men/believers could learn this song. Another way to translate this clause is:

Only the 144,000 ⌊men/believers⌋ could learn this song

14:3d

who had been redeemed from the earth: This clause tells the reader more about the 144,000 men/believers. In some languages a literal translation would wrongly indicate that there are other groups of 144,000 and only this group could learn this song. If that is true in your language, translate this clause so that it tells more about the 144,000. One way to do that is to start a new sentence here. For example:

They had been redeemed from the earth.

who had been redeemed: This clause is passive. Some languages must use an active clause. For example:

whom ⌊God⌋ has redeemed from the earth

redeemed: God paid a price to receive the 144,000. That price was the death of his Son. Other ways to translate this word are:

purchased from the earth (New American Standard Bible)
-or-
ransomed from the earth (Revised English Bible)

from the earth: This phrase probably indicates that God had purchased these men/people from all over the earth. They were purchased from the world and separated from it in some way. It probably does not refer to God removing them from the earth.

© 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.

16:7a

(Good News Translation🙂 Then I heard a voice from the altar saying
The Greek phrase is literally “of the altar saying.” There are two ways to interpret this clause:

(1) It indirectly indicates that someone at or near the altar spoke. For example:

a voice from the altar saying (Good News Translation)

(2) It indicates that the altar itself spoke. For example:

the altar itself say (New Jerusalem Bible)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), because the literal Greek phrase “of the altar” probably refers to someone at 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.

16:7b

Yes, Lord God Almighty: The phrase Lord God Almighty is a direct address. In some languages it is more natural to have the direct address first. For example:

Lord God Almighty, yes

Yes: Here the word Yes indicates that the speaker agrees with what the angel said (16:5b–6b).

Lord: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Lord means “the one who has authority over (others),” or “owner.” God is ruler over all things. See how you translated this word in 4:8 or 15:3.

Almighty: This word is a title meaning “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 15:3.

true and just are Your judgments: The Berean Standard Bible and other English versions have changed the order of the words in this clause. In Greek and in English doing this emphasizes the phrase true and just here.

In some languages it is more natural to use the normal order of the words. For example:

your judgments are true and just

true: Here the word true indicates that God’s judgments do not have any deceit or lie in them.

just: Here the word just refers to judging correctly. Other ways to translate this word are:

right
-or-
proper

judgments: This word refers to God’s decision to punish the people who killed the saints and prophets. See how you translated this word in 16:5.

© 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.

17:18a

And the woman you saw is the great city: The phrase the great city explains the symbolism of the woman.

woman: Here this word refers to the prostitute. In some languages it is more natural or more clear to use that word here. For example:

prostitute

great: Here this word means “important” or “well-known.” See how you translated this word in 11:8.

17:18b

rules: The great city rules the kings by its economic influence (17:1), moral influence (17:2), and religious influence (17:3, 17:6).

© 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.

19:8a–b

There is an interpretive issue regarding the speaking of 19:8a–b. There are several ways to interpret where the speaking stops:

(1) The speaking stops at the end of 19:8a. 19:8b is John’s comment.

(2) The speaking stops at the end of 19:8b.

(3) The speaking stops at the end of 19:7d. John observed what happened in 19:8a, but 19:8b is his own thought.

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1).

19:8a

She was given clothing of fine linen, bright and pure: The Greek phrase is literally, “It was given to her that she might wear fine linen bright (and) clean.” There are two ways to interpret what is given to the bride:

(1) The bride was given permission to wear fine linen. For example:

She is permitted to wear the finest white linen (New Living Translation (1996))

(2) The bride was given linen to wear. For example:

and she has been given fine linen, shining and clean, to wear (Revised English Bible)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1).

However, the context implies that the bride put on the linen clothes. In some languages a literal translation would not imply that. If that is true in your language, you should include the implied information in your translation. For example:

She is permitted to wear the finest white linen ⌊and she put it on⌋

fine linen: Here the word fine indicates that the linen was very good quality. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

High quality linen ⌊clothing⌋
-or-
Very good linen ⌊clothing⌋
-or-
Expensive linen ⌊clothing⌋

See how you translated this phrase in 18:12.

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

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

• Explain this word 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. Here are example footnotes:

Linen is an expensive cloth made from a plant called flax. The cloth is smooth and strong yet soft.
-or-
See footnote on linen at 15:6.

See how you translated this word in 15:6 or 18:12.

bright: This word indicates that the linen was shiny. Other ways to translate this word are:

shining (Good News Translation)
-or-
dazzling (New Jerusalem Bible)

19:8b

For: This Greek conjunction indicates that 19:8b explains 19:8a.

the fine linen she wears is the righteous acts of the saints: This clause explains the symbolic meaning of “fine linen” in 19:8a. These words are probably John’s, because it is unlikely that the shouting crowd (19:6a–8a) would explain the symbolic meaning of the linen. So some English versions put parentheses around the clause. Other ways to indicate that these are John’s words are:

—for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints. (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
…to wear.” For the fine linen represents the good deeds of God’s holy people. (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
dazzling, pure linen.” This fine linen represents the righteous deeds that God’s holy people do.
-or-
(The interpretation of that white cloth is the righteous deeds of the people who belong to God.)

is: This phrase indicates that the linen represents the deeds of the saints. For example:

signifies (Revised English Bible)

righteous acts: The word righteous indicates that the deeds are upright or good in God’s eyes. God wants believers to do these kinds of deeds. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

upright deeds
-or-
the deeds/things of which God approves

saints: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as saints means “holy ones.” It refers to all believers. For example:

God’s people (Good News Translation)

See how you translated this word in 18:20.

© 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.

1:15a

His feet were like polished bronze refined in a furnace: There are two ways to interpret the Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as refined :

(1) The bronze, a kind of metal, was no longer hot, so the Greek word means “refined.” It indicates that the bronze was heated until melted. The impurities then floated to the top and were removed. The bronze was allowed to cool, and it returned to solid form again. The bronze was then pure and shiny. It was without impurities. For example:

His feet were like polished bronze refined in a furnace (Berean Standard Bible, New Living Translation (2004))

(2) The bronze was still hot, so the word means “glowing.” Metals glow red when they are very hot. For example:

His feet were glowing like bronze being heated in a furnace (Contemporary English Version)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), because if the metal glowed red-hot, John could not have seen what kind of metal it was. Other ways to translate this word following interpretation (1) are:

His feet were like bronze purified in a furnace
-or-
His feet were like bronze made pure in a furnace

His feet were like polished bronze: This clause indicates that His feet were similar in color to polished bronze. The clause may also imply strength or moral purity. The clause does not indicate that his feet were hard or unbending like metal.

bronze: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as bronze refers to a metal that is a mixture of copper and another metal, either tin (which makes bronze) or zinc (which makes brass). Bronze, as pictured below, is a brown metal color.

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

• Explain the word in your translation. For example:

⌊shiny brown/tan metal called⌋ bronze

• Use a descriptive phrase. For example:

shiny brown/tan metal

• 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:

Bronze is a metal that is a mixture of copper and tin. It is a brown metal color.

furnace: This word refers to a kind of oven that can be heated so hot that it melts metal. Other ways to translate this word are:

oven
-or-

⌊metal-⌋ refinery

1:15b

His voice was like the roar of many waters: This clause probably indicates that his voice was loud and powerful. Other ways to translate this clause are:

his voice was like the roar of many waters (NET Bible)
-or-
his voice thundered like mighty ocean waves (New Living Translation (2004))

the roar of many waters: Here this phrase refers to a lot of water and to the sound that water makes when it is moving fast. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

raging waters (God’s Word)
-or-
the roar of ⌊many⌋ waterfalls
-or-
flooding water (New Century 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.