A Vision of Christ

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complete verse (Revelation 1:16)

Following are a number of back-translations of Revelation 1:16:

  • Uma: “His right hand held seven stars, and from his mouth appeared a sword that was sharp on both sides. His face shone like the intense/blazing mid-day sun.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “In his right hand he held seven stars and out of his mouth came a weapon the blade of which was sharp on both sides. His face was bright like the shining of the sun at midday.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And in His right hand He held seven stars. Coming out of His mouth was a sword with two edges which were very sharp. And His forehead was like the shining of the sun, it was so bright.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “In his right hand, there were seven stars which he was holding, and there was also a sharp sword with two edges (lit. sharpnesses) which was coming-out of his mouth. His face moreover, it was dazzling like the sun at noon.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “There were seven stars being held in his right hand, and there was coming out of his mouth a double-edged extremely-sharp bladed-weapon. And as for his face, it was really dazzling, for it was like the sun when it has reached its zenith.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “In his right hand he held seven stars. From his mouth came out a sharp sword with two edges. His face shone like the sun shines when nothing is covering it.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Revelation 1:16

The same subject, “one like a son of man,” continues in this verse, and the simple repetition of his throughout verses 13-16 should be adequate. However, in certain languages it will be helpful to reintroduce the subject, “one who looked like a human being,” of verse 13 and say “The one who looked like a human being held….”

In his right hand he held seven stars: the regular word for “star” should be used without any attempt to designate an object in the shape of a star. As verse 20 explains, these stars represent the “angels” of the seven churches.

From his mouth issued a sharp two-edged sword: where sword is not known, something like “knife,” “large knife,” “war knife,” or even “a large knife like a machete,” will be used; but a knife that has been sharpened on both sides may be a strange item to speak of, unless something like “a sharp knife that cuts on both sides” can be said. This sword represents the word, the message, of the glorified Christ (see Eph 6.17; Heb 4.12). Where Revised Standard Version has issued Good News Translation says “came out (of).” The image is that of a sword that extends from Christ’s mouth, pointing straight out. It seems that only the blade of the sword protruded from Christ’s mouth, and in languages where this information needs to be made explicit, one may say “the blade of a sharp two-edged sword (or, knife) protruded from…,” otherwise readers may get the picture that a complete sword—handle and blade—was extending out of Christ’s mouth.

His face was like the sun shining in full strength: this simile should offer no great difficulty: “shone as bright as the noonday sun.” See Translator’s New Testament “shone like the sun at mid-day”; Nova Tradução na Linguagem de Hoje “his face was shining like the noonday sun.” In certain languages one does not speak about “mid-day” or “noon,” but rather, like the Greek, refers to the “sun in full force” or “the sun at its highest point in the sky.”

An alternative translation model for this verse is:

• The one who looked like a human being held seven stars in his right hand, and a sharp large knife (or, sword) that cuts on both sides protruded from his mouth. His face shone as bright as the sun when it reaches its highest point in the sky.

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on The Revelation to John. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1993. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

SIL Translator’s Notes on Revelation 1:16

1:16a

He held in His right hand seven stars: Here the phrase He held in His right hand implies that Jesus had authority or care over something.

He held: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as held also means “had.” Here the word indicates that Jesus in some way possessed or controlled the seven spirits and the seven stars. Translate using a word with that meaning. For example, the King James Version says:

He had

stars: This word is symbolic of the churches (1:20). But you should use the normal word for stars here.

In some languages a literal translation would not communicate the meaning of these images. If that is true in your language, you may want to explain in a footnote. For example:

This implies that Jesus had authority or care over the stars. The stars are symbolic of the churches.

1:16b

a sharp double-edged sword came from His mouth: Here the word came indicates that the handle of the sword was in his mouth and the blade of the sword extended forward from his mouth. The word here does not indicate that the sword was leaving his mouth. The NET Bible translates this as:

a sharp double-edged sword extended out of his mouth

double-edged: This word indicates that both edges of the blade of the sword were sharpened.

sword: A sword is a hand-held weapon that is used to cut or stab. The swords of that time were 60–120 centimeters (2–4 feet) long and made of metal. The picture shows some of the various kinds of swords used at that time.

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

• Translate the meaning in your translation. For example:

long knife
-or-
cutting/sharp weapon
-or-
war machete/bush-knife

• 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:

A sword is a hand-held weapon that is used to cut or stab. The swords of that time were 60–120 centimeters long and made of metal.

1:16c

His face was like the sun shining at its brightest: This clause indicates that his face was shining very brightly, just as the sun shines. Another way to translate is:

His face was ⌊shining brightly⌋ like the sun shines in all its brilliance

at its brightest: The Greek phrase is literally “in its power.” This phrase refers to the sun shining very brightly, and it implies that no clouds block the sun’s light. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

in full strength (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
at its brightest time (New Century Version)

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