The Greek that is translated as “sorcerer” in English is translated in Low German as “poison mixer” (translation by Johannes Jessen, publ. 1933, republ. 2006).
complete verse (Revelation 22:15)
Following are a number of back-translations of Revelation 22:15:
- Uma: “But evil people, sorcerers, those who do [sexual] wrong, those who kill, those who worship idols, lying people, and people who like those who lie–all those people, they are not allowed to enter into that village.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
- Yakan: “But on the outside of that city, there will be the ones doing bad, and the sorcerers, the ones practicing illicit sex and the murderers, the worshipers of idols and the liars and deceivers.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
- Western Bukidnon Manobo: “But the one whose deeds are shameful, the sorcerers, the murderers, the ones whose deeds are filthy, those who worship idols, and all people who teach lies, and people whose deeds are false, they must stay outside.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
- Kankanaey: “But the one who does what is evil who can be compared to a dirty dog, the sorcerer and spirit-medium, the one who sleeps-with someone who is not his spouse, the murderer, the one who worships idols, and all liars and hypocrites, they will not be-able-to-enter there.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
- Tagbanwa: “But those whose nature/ways are evil really won’t be able to enter into this city, those who have secret-supernatural-skills, the ones who behave-immorally with one who is not their spouse, the killers of their fellowman, those who serve familiar-spirits or whatever is their replacement for God, and liars in word and deed.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
- Tenango Otomi: “But concerning the people who did not believe the word, they will stay outside. The witch doctors, the fornicators, the killers, the people who worship idols, the liars, all these will stay outside.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)
Translation commentary on Revelation 22:15
Outside are: this means that they will not be allowed to enter the city: “They will be kept outside the city” or “The following people will not be allowed to enter the city.”
In 21.8 all of these, except the dogs, are included among those destined to the lake of burning sulfur.
The dogs: as commentators point out, this was an expression that was applied by Jews to Gentiles (see Psa 22.16, 20; Matt 15.26, 27). And in Phil 3.2 it is used of those who were trying to impose Jewish laws on Christians. It is difficult to say what, precisely, the word means here; perhaps it means much the same as the “polluted” in 21.8, that is, “filthy heathens.” Some suggest that this is a general term, further defined by the following terms. Alternative translation models for this phrase are “people who have made themselves dirty (or, unclean) through worshiping idols” or “people who have committed the following foul (or, dirty) sins.”
Sorcerers … fornicators … murderers … idolaters: see 21.8.
Every one who loves and practices falsehood: “all who love to lie and do it all the time” (see “all liars” in 21.8).
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 .