The Greek that is translated as “iron scepter” or similar in English is translated in the German New Testament translation by Berger / Nord (publ. 1999) as eiserne Knute or “iron knout.” “Knute” can also mean “control/rule by force.”
clay pots
The Greek in Revelation 2:27 that is translated as “clay pots” or similar in English is translated in the German New Testament translation by Berger / Nord (publ. 1999) as irdenes Geschirr or “pottery dishes.” “Irden” can also mean “from earth.”
scepter
complete verse (Revelation 2:27)
Following are a number of back-translations of Revelation 2:27:
- Uma: “‘Whoever wins and does my will until the end, I will give them authority/power the same as that which I received from my Father. I give them authority/power to rule, ruling men all over the world with strength like the strength of a iron walking stick, and to wipe out their enemies like one who breaks a clay pot.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
- Yakan: “Whoever is not carried-along by temptation/the tempters and perseveres following my commandments until their death, I will give them the same authority as my Father gave me. I will give them authority to rule over all the tribes. Their ruling will be strong as, figuratively, iron that does not break, and their enemies will break like a claypot. (or: will be like broken clay pots.) I will also give them the morning star.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
- Western Bukidnon Manobo: “Your carrying them will be very strong. You will overcome the towns and no one will be able to resist you.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
- Kankanaey: “like the authority my Father gave me. So no one will be able-to-defeat them but rather they will thoroughly defeat those who don’t acknowledge their authority as if they are smashing a clay-jar with iron.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
- Tagbanwa: “‘He will exercize far-from-ordinary control like he has a rod (lit. thing to hit with) of iron. It’s like he will smash them like what is done by a worker of clay.'” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
- Tenango Otomi: “My Father gave me my position, I now will give you your positions. But very strong is the power I will give you. If the people do not do what you tell them to do, you will do the people like as though you shatter a pot with an iron rod.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)
Translation commentary on Revelation 2:26 – 2:28
A comparison between Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation shows how Good News Bible has restructured the material in verses 26-28. It should be noticed that in Revised Standard Version verse 28 consists of and I will give him the morning star. In the Greek text translated by Good News Bible, however, verse 28 begins where Revised Standard Version has even as I myself have received power from my Father. For this reason Good News Bible includes verse 28 in the restructuring. New Revised Standard Version now has verse 28 begin with “even as I also received authority….”
He who conquers: see 2.7. As elsewhere, the exclusively masculine can be eliminated by using the plural “Those who conquer,” or “To everyone who conquers” (New Revised Standard Version), or the impersonal “Whoever conquers.”
Who keeps my works until the end: this means “who will continue until the end to do faithfully what I command,” “who … keeps working for me until the end” (New Jerusalem Bible); note Revised English Bible “who perseveres in doing my will to the end.” The verb “to keep” in 1.3 means to “obey”; here it means “to do.” And here my works does not mean the things that Christ does but the things he orders his followers to do. And until the end means “until the end of the age” or “until the end of the world” (see “until I come” in verse 25).
The whole passage, from I will give to broken in pieces, is a loose citation or paraphrase of Psa 2.8-9, a passage in which God promises to give the king of Israel dominion over the world.
I will give him power over the nations: the word translated power appears in this book twenty times; it may mean “power,” “authority,” or “right,” depending on the context. Here “authority” or “authority to rule” is better in English than “power.” In certain languages translators may need to use a phrase to express this concept; for example, “able to” or “strong enough to.” The word translated nations means in the Old Testament “Gentiles,” “pagans,” or even “non-Jews.” This clause may be rendered in many languages as “I will cause (or, let) him to have the authority to rule over the people of other nations” or “I will cause him to be able to (or, to be strong enough to) rule over….”
He shall rule them with a rod of iron: this means to rule completely, ruthlessly, crushing all opposition; in 12.5 and 19.15 the same language is used of the victorious Christ. The Greek verb is related to the noun “shepherd” and means “to rule as a shepherd” (see 7.17). The passage here follows the Greek Septuagint translation of the Psalm passage, and it appears that the Septuagint translators derived the Hebrew verb from the verb “to shepherd” (raʾah) instead of the verb “to break” (raʾaʾ). In translation the word for “to rule” or “to govern” should be used. The “iron rod” was probably a heavy wooden club capped with iron, not a club made of iron. In translating, some cultural adjustment may have to be made. If there is no local equivalent to a rod of iron, the translation may say “rule them without pity,” “govern them ruthlessly.”
As when earthen pots are broken in pieces: this is the way the rule will be exercised. Revised Standard Version does not make the connection clear; Revised English Bible has “and he will rule them with a rod of iron, smashing them to pieces like earthenware” (similarly Good News Translation, Bible en français courant, Biblia Dios Habla Hoy). Clay pots are fragile objects, at best, and are easily smashed. For the verb translated broken in pieces, see its use in Mark 14.3. Another way of phrasing this is “as when they smash into pieces pots made from clay.”
Even as I myself have received power from my Father: he transmits to his victorious followers the same authority he had received from God. Nothing is said as to when or how he received this God-given authority. Perhaps the words in Psa 2.6-7 are in the background. This passive clause may be expressed in many languages as “even as my Father has given me power” or “even as my Father has caused (or, let) me to have the power to rule.”
And I will give him the morning star: the morning star is probably the planet Venus, a symbol of victory and domination. Victorious Roman generals built temples in honor of Venus, and the sign of Venus was on the standards of Caesar’s legions. In 22.16 Christ himself is the morning star, but it is hardly likely that the meaning here is that Christ will give himself to those who conquer. A translation of “the morning star” may be “the star that appears (or, shines) at sunrise.” And in order to make some sense of this statement, a cultural footnote may be necessary, or else a note in a word list, or the translator may include the meaning here, as follows: “and to show that they are victorious, I will give them the morning star.”
Verses 26-28a are one very complex sentence. Good News Translation has restructured the material in order to make the text more intelligible, and translators are urged to do the same. Bible en français courant has:
• To those who shall have won the victory and who shall have continued to practice to the end what I want, I will give the power that I myself received from my Father: I will give them power over the nations, they will govern them with an iron authority and will shatter them to pieces like clay pots.
Another translation model for verses 26-28 is:
• I will let those people who are victorious (or, who conquer), who continue to obey my commands until the end of time (or, the world), have the same power to rule that my Father has given to me: I will let them have the authority to rule over all the nations (or, tribes). They will rule over them without mercy, and will shatter them into pieces just like people break pots made from clay. I will also give them the morning star to show (or, demonstrate) their victory.
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 2:27
2:27a–b
He will rule them with an iron scepter and shatter them like pottery: This is a quote of Psalm 2:9 (LXX). If you indicate the location of quotes from the Old Testament with cross-references, you may want to do so here.
This kind of rule is like destroying things. Jesus will rule the nations in a way that destroys them because they fight against him (19:15–19). Other ways to translate these words are:
he shall rule them with a rod of iron, as when earthen pots are broken in pieces (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
He will rule them with an iron stick, as if smashing pottery
-or-
He will rule them with club made of iron, like he would destroy pottery
In some languages a literal translation of the word rule would wrongly indicate ruling to their benefit. If that is true in your language, you may want to include some implied information. For example:
He will lead them with an iron scepter ⌊to their own destruction⌋ ; like dashing pottery to pieces
-or-
He will ⌊destructively⌋ rule them with an iron scepter; like he would destroy pottery
2:27a
He: Here the word He refers to believers who overcome and do his will to the end (2:26a). It does not refer to Jesus. Some English versions do not use He in 2:27a–b in order to make that clearer. For example:
They (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
26b I will give them authority over the nations, 27a to rule them with an iron rod 27b and to break them to pieces like clay pots. (Good News Translation)
iron: This word refers to the strongest known metal at that time. It could break most things without damage to itself. Some languages do not have a word for this metal. If that is true in your language, you may want to:
• Use the major language word.
• Describe it. For example:
made of very strong metal
• Use the strongest thing in your language. You may then want to explain the Greek word in a footnote. An example footnote is:
Literally: “iron.” This word refers to the strongest known metal at that time. It could break most things without damage to itself.
scepter: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as scepter refers to a straight heavy stick. Often a shepherd would use a stick of this kind to fight off wild animals. The word scepter refers to an ornamental stick that symbolizes the rule of a king. Other ways to translate this word are:
stick
-or-
rod/staff
2:27b
shatter them like pottery: The Greek words are literally “as when clay pots are shattered” (as in the New Revised Standard Version). When a clay pot breaks, it shatters into many pieces and becomes useless. This clause explains how believers will rule the nations with an iron rod. They will destroy their enemies. Other ways to translate this clause are:
as when pottery is broken into pieces (New Century Version)
-or-
smashing them to pieces like earthenware (Revised English Bible)
In some languages a literal translation will not indicate the correct meaning of “being destroyed.” If that is true in your language, you may want to:
• Explain the meaning in your translation. For example:
⌊he will completely destroy them like⌋ when pottery is broken into pieces
• Translate the meaning without the metaphor. For example:
he will completely destroy them
You may then want to explain the literal words in a footnote. An example footnote is:
Literally: “as when pottery is broken.” Broken pottery is symbolic of what happens when someone completely destroys his enemies.
• Translate literally and explain its meaning in a footnote. An example footnote is:
“When pottery is broken” is symbolic of what happens when someone completely destroys his enemies.
• Use a symbol in your language of something that, when broken, is useless and cannot be repaired. Then you may want to explain the literal words in a footnote. An example footnote is:
Literally: “pottery.” Broken pottery is symbolic of what happens when someone destroys his enemies.
2:27c
Some English versions begin 2:28 here. Follow how the major language version places the verse number.
—just as I have received authority from My Father: The words just as connect this clause to 2:26b. Jesus received authority to rule the nations from his Father. He will give that same authority to his followers. Other ways to translate this clause are:
They will have the same authority I received from my Father (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
This is the same power I received from my Father (New Century Version)
authority: Here the word authority refers to the right and power to control or rule over someone or something. You should translate this using the same word or phrase as in 2:26.
My Father: This phrase refers to God. In some languages people will not clearly understand that the phrase My Father refers to God. If that is true in your language, you may want to add this implied information. For example:
my Father ⌊God⌋
-or-
my ⌊heavenly⌋ Father
General Comment on 2:26a–27c
2:27c is closely connected to 2:26b. In some languages it is more natural to put 2:27c before 2:27a–b. For example:
26a To him who overcomes and does my will to the end, 26b I will give ⌊him/them⌋ authority over the nations,27c just as I have received ⌊that⌋ authority from my Father. ⌊As the Scripture says:⌋ 27a ‘He will rule them with an iron rod, 27b as when clay pots are shattered.’
-or-
26a To those who win the victory, who continue to the end to do what I want, 27c I will give the same authority that I received from my Father: 26b I will give them authority over the nations, 27a to rule them with an iron rod 27b and to break them to pieces like clay pots. (Good News Translation)
The Good News Translation example above requires that you combine verse numbers as 26–27.
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