Following are a number of back-translations of Revelation 21:7:
Uma: “Whoever defeats the King of Evil-ones, they will receive all these things [mentioned] earlier. I will be[come] their Lord, and they be[come] my children.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
Yakan: “Whoever is/was not carried-along by temptation/the tempters I will give them as an inheritance good (things) like that. And I am their God and I make them my children.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
Western Bukidnon Manobo: “If there is anyone who is able to defeat Satan, I will make Him my child, and I will be His God.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
Kankanaey: “The person who defeats evil, he will inherit all these-things. He will acknowledge me as his God and I will also acknowledge him as my child.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
Tagbanwa: “It’s certain that I will reward the one who has been able to have victory over whatever leads to sinning and destruction of believing/obeying, for I now am his God and he now is my child.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
Tenango Otomi: “thus I will do for whoever comes out to conquer the evil there is. He will become my child. I will be the God of that person.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)
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Like a number of other East Asian languages, Japanese uses a complex system of honorifics, i.e. a system where a number of different levels of politeness are expressed in language via words, word forms or grammatical constructs. These can range from addressing someone or referring to someone with contempt (very informal) to expressing the highest level of reference (as used in addressing or referring to God) or any number of levels in-between.
One way Japanese shows different degree of politeness is through the choice of a first person singular and plural pronoun (“I” and “we” and its various forms) as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017. The most commonly used watashi/watakushi (私) is typically used when the speaker is humble and asking for help. In these verses, where God / Jesus is referring to himself, watashi is also used but instead of the kanji writing system (私) the syllabary hiragana (わたし) is used to distinguish God from others.
He who conquers: this is the expression found at the end of the seven letters in chapters 2–3 (2.7, 11, 17, 26; 3.5, 12, 21).
Shall have this heritage: the Greek verb can mean to inherit something from one’s parents or their estate. But here, as often in the New Testament, it means to receive as a gift. Here, as elsewhere, the words heritage or “inheritance” are not very satisfactory, since they imply the death of the donor. See the same terms used in connection with the Kingdom of God (Matt 25.34), eternal life (Mark 10.17), the promise (Heb 6.12), the blessing (Heb 12.17). The word this translates the plural “these things” in Greek and refers back to the blessings and privileges described in verses 1-6. So the translation can be “will receive these things from me” or “I will give him these things.”
I will be his God and he shall be my son: see 2 Sam 7.14. To make this inclusive of men and women, the plural forms may have to be used, “I will give all these things to those who win the victory, and I will be their God and they will be my children (or, people).”
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 .
The one who overcomes will inherit all things, and I will be his God, and he will be My son: Here the words The one, his, he, and son refer to every man and woman who overcomes. For example:
The person who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be my child -or-
Those who win the victory will receive this from me: I will be their God, and they will be my children. (Good News Translation)
overcomes: This word means “triumphs” or “obtains/wins victory.” Here the word refers to having success over sin, evil, and pressure to turn away from Jesus. Other ways to translate this word are:
conquers (Revised Standard Version) -or-
are victorious (New Living Translation (2004))
Some languages need to say what a believer overcomes. If that is true in your language, you should refer generally to “evil” or “sin.” For example:
defeat ⌊evil⌋ -or-
has victory ⌊over sin⌋ -or-
conquers ⌊anything that causes a believer to stumble⌋
See how you translated this word in 2:7 or 3:5.
inherit: Here the Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as inherit refers to a person being given something because it has been promised to him. Here it refers to beginning to live in the new Jerusalem and receiving all the other blessings that God promised to those who believe in Jesus. Other ways to translate this are:
take as your heritage -or-
receive -or-
will be given (Contemporary English Version)
all things:
The Greek word is literally “these (things).” It refers to the promises in 21:1–6. Since it refers back, in some languages it is more natural to use “that” or “those” here. For example:
those promises -or-
all that -or-
these blessings (Contemporary English Version)
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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