The Greek that is translated as “saint” in English is rendered into Highland Puebla Nahuatl as “one with a clean hearts,” into Northwestern Dinka as “one with a white hearts,” and into Western Kanjobal as “person of prayer.” (Source: Nida 1952, p. 146)
Chichewa “(person with a) white heart” since “white” is the word that is used in Chichewa for the translation of “holy.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
Following are a number of back-translations of Revelation 18:24:
Uma: “That Babel is guilty of killing of all the prophets and followers of the Lord God. That Babel is guilty of killing of all the people who were killed in the world.'” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
Yakan: “‘Judgment is sent to the city of Babilon because there were killed the prophets who made known the message of God and God’s people. And all the people who were killed in the whole world were killed because of that city.'” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
Western Bukidnon Manobo: “The great city of Babylon has been punished because there flowed the blood of the prophets and people of God. And all who were murdered throughout the whole earth were murdered by means of this city.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
Kankanaey: “Another reason why Babilonia will be punished, it is there where-flowed-out the blood of all the prophets and other people of God. Yes, all believers who have been killed on the earth, their blood can-be-found in that city,’ said the angel.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
Tagbanwa: “The people from Babilonia will be punished because discovered/observed there was the blood which they had caused-to-be-shed, the blood of the prophets and of others of God’s people they had killed, as many as had been killed here under the heavens.'” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
Tenango Otomi: “The city of Babylon was punished because it killed the spokesmen of God and killed other people who were in the hand of God. And it was its fault that people who were in the hand of God were killed all over the world.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)
Eugene Nida wrote the following about the translation of the Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek terms that are typically translated with “prophet” in English:
“The tendency in many translations is to use ‘to foretell the future’ for ‘prophesy,’ and ‘one who foretells the future’ for ‘prophet.’ This is not always a recommended usage, particularly if such expressions denote certain special native practices of spirit contact and control. It is true, of course, that prophets of the Bible did foretell the future, but this was not always their principal function. One essential significance of the Greek word prophētēs is ‘one who speaks forth,’ principally, of course, as a forth-teller of the Divine will. A translation such as ‘spokesman for God’ may often be employed profitably.” (1947, p. 234f.)
Following is a list of (back-) translations from other languages (click or tap for details):
Ayutla Mixtec: “one who talks as God’s representative”
Isthmus Mixe: “speaker for God” (source for this and two above: Viola Waterhouse in Notes on Translation August 1966, p. 86ff.)
Mezquital Otomi / Paasaal: “God’s messenger” (source: Waterhouse / Parrott in Notes on Translation October 1967, p. 1ff. and Fabian N. Dapila in The Bible Translator 2024, p. 415ff.)
Noongar: Warda Marridjiny or “News Traveling” (source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang)
Kutu: mtula ndagu or “one who gives the prediction of the past and the future” (Source: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext)
Ebira: ọnịsẹ, a neologism that combines the prefix ọn for “a person” with ịsẹ for “prediction” (source: Scholz /Scholz 2015, p. 49)
French 1985 translation by Chouraqui: inspiré or “inspired one” (“someone in whom God has breathed [Latin: in + spiro]) (source: Watson 2023, p. 45)
In Ixcatlán Mazatec a term is used that specifically includes women. (Source: Robert Bascom)
“In some instances these spiritual terms result from adaptations reflecting the native life and culture. Among the Northern Grebo people of Liberia, a missionary wanted some adequate term for ‘prophet,’ and she was fully aware that the native word for ‘soothsayer’ or ‘diviner’ was no equivalent for the Biblical prophet who spoke forth for God. Of course, much of what the prophets said referred to the future, and though this was an essential part of much of their ministry, it was by no means all. The right word for the Gbeapo people would have to include something which would not only mean the foretelling of important events but the proclamation of truth as God’s representative among the people. At last the right word came; it was ‘God’s town-crier.’ Every morning and evening the official representative of the chief goes through the village crying out the news, delivering the orders of the chief, and announcing important coming events. ‘God’s town-crier’ would be the official representative of God, announcing to the people God’s doings, His commands, and His pronouncements for their salvation and well-being. For the Northern Grebo people the prophet is no weird person from forgotten times; he is as real as the human, moving message of the plowman Amos, who became God’s town-crier to a calloused people.” (source: Nida 1952, p. 20)
In British Sign Language it is is translated with a sign that depicts a message coming from God to a person (the upright finger) and then being passed on to others. (Source: Anna Smith)
“Prophet” in British Sign Language (source: Christian BSL, used with permission)
Revised Standard Version prints this verse as part of the angel’s statement (also New International Version, Translator’s New Testament, New American Bible, Revised, An American Translation, Moffatt, Barclay). This may well be correct despite the change from the second person of address in verses 22-23 to the third person here in verse 24; verse 21 also has the third person. Good News Translation (and Bible en français courant, Biblia Dios Habla Hoy, Phillips, Revised English Bible) attributes this verse to the writer. No one can be dogmatic. However, it is probably best to interpret this as a statement by the writer.
In her was found the blood of prophets and of saints: this is a vivid way of saying “she is guilty of killing the prophets and God’s people” (see 16.6; 17.6).
All who have been slain on earth: the speaker includes others, as well as Christians, who have been slaughtered in Rome and elsewhere. This is like Jesus’ words about Jerusalem in Matt 23.35-36. For slain see 5.6; 6.9.
An alternative translation model for this verse is:
• God punished Babylon because she (or, it [the city]) was guilty of killing the people who proclaimed God’s message, and all the other people who belong to God. Yes, Babylon is guilty of killing people all over the world.
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 .
And: This Greek conjunction probably indicates that 18:24a–b continues telling more reasons why Babylon was destroyed. For example:
For (JPB)
there was found in her the blood of prophets and saints, and of all who had been slain on the earth: There are two ways to interpret who spoke these words:
(1) The angel who began speaking in 18:21 continues speaking here. The ending quote mark occurs at the end of 18:24.
(2) The angel stopped speaking at 18:23 and John wrote his own thoughts here. The ending quote mark occurs at the end of 18:23.
It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1).
18:24a
there was found in her the blood: In the Greek, the phrase in her is emphasized by being first in the clause. If possible, emphasize this phrase.
In some English versions, the verb phrase there was found occurs before the subject (blood). This is an English poetic style that also emphasizes the verb phrase. In the Greek, the verb is not emphasized. Other ways to translate this clause are:
The blood of prophets, God’s people, and everyone who had been murdered on earth was found in it (God’s Word) -or-
In your streets flowed the blood… (New Living Translation (2004))
This clause indicates that the city was responsible for killing prophets, saints, and all others who were killed. For example:
You are guilty of the death… (New Century Version)
This clause is passive. Some ways to translate it are:
• Use a passive clause. For example:
In her was seen the blood
• Use an active clause. For example:
⌊God⌋ has found her responsible for the blood…
• Use a verb that implies that God considered her to be responsible. For example:
She is guilty/responsible for the blood… -or-
She is guilty of killing…
in her: The Greek uses the pronoun her to refer to Babylon. In 18:23a–d the angel used the second person pronoun “you.” In some languages it is more natural to continue using the second person. For example:
In you
Or you may have continued to use the pronoun “she” in 18:23a–d, based on how you translated 18:21c–d. If that is true, continue using “she/her” here. Also see note on 18:21c–24b.
of prophets and saints: The prophets are saints who have the gift of prophecy. For example:
prophets and ⌊other⌋ saints
prophets: A prophet is a person to whom God gives a message. The message may include a vision, as in Ezekiel 1 and Daniel 8. The message, called a prophecy, may reveal something about past events, current events, or future events. The prophet speaks God’s message to the people or writes it down for their use. See how you translated this word in 18:20.
saints: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as saints means “holy ones.” It refers to all believers. See how you translated this word in 18:20.
18:24b
all who had been slain on the earth: This clause is passive. Some languages must use an active clause. For example:
Living Water is produced for the Bible translation movement in association with Lutheran Bible Translators. Lyrics derived from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®).
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