complete verse (Revelation 11:14)

Following are a number of back-translations of Revelation 11:14:

  • Uma: “So, that was the second plague/tormenting. When that is passed, another kind of plague will follow close behind [lit., almost arriving following].” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “Two frightening disasters are now finished but the third one will soon come.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And then were finished two of the fearful happenings, but soon will follow the third.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “This was the ending of the second fearful hardship. There is still one that is soon to arrive.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “That second far-from-ordinary hardship had now passed. But the third was soon to follow.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “Now the calamity has passed, but there still is coming the third calamity to happen.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Revelation 11:14

For this verse see 8.13; 9.12. It seems that The second woe refers to the disasters that followed the blowing of the sixth trumpet (9.13-21); the events described in 10.1–11.13 come as an interval between the blowing of the sixth trumpet and the blowing of the seventh trumpet. Some believe that the second woe refers to the disaster described in 11.13. It is not easy to identify the third woe, which “is soon to come.” No disaster falls upon humanity after the blowing of the seventh trumpet. Many believe that the disasters and sufferings that come at the outpouring of the seven bowls of God’s anger (chapter 16) are the third woe; but the writer himself does not say so.

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 11:14

Paragraph 11:14

11:14a

The second woe has passed: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as woe here means “trouble” or “distress.” See how you translated the word woe in 9:12.

11:14b

Behold: 11:14b begins with the Greek word that means “look.” The word emphasizes or calls attention to the words that follow. The word is not a command to look at something. The Berean Standard Bible translates this word as Behold. The New International Version does not explicitly translate this word. The Good News Translation uses an exclamation point to show the emphasis. Other ways to translate this word are:

indeed/hey,
-or-
and look/listen,

third: This word refers to the next item after the second one. If counted, this item would be counted as number three. See how you translated this word in 4:7 or 8:10.

In some languages it is more natural to use “last” here.

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