Καὶ εἶδον ἐπὶ τὴν δεξιὰν τοῦ καθημένου ἐπὶ τοῦ θρόνου βιβλίον γεγραμμένον ἔσωθεν καὶ ὄπισθεν κατεσφραγισμένον σφραγῖσιν ἑπτά.
Revelation 5
The Scroll and the Lamb
1Then I saw in the right hand of the one seated on the throne a scroll written on the inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals,
The now commonly-used German ídiom ein Buch mit sieben Siegeln for something that is very difficult to understand (literally meaning a book with seven seals) was first coined in 1522 in the German New Testament translation by Martin Luther. (Source: Günther 2017, p. 55)
For other idioms or terms in German that were coined by Bible translation, see here.
The Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek that is translated in English as “scroll” is translated in Khoekhoe with xamiǂkhanisa or “rolled-up book.” (Source: project-specific notes in Paratext)
See also roll up the scroll.
Following are a number of back-translations of Revelation 5:1:
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 to do this is through the usage (or a lack) of an honorific prefix as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017. When the referent is God, the “divine” honorific prefix mi- (御 or み) can be used, as in mi-za (御座), mi-kura (みくら) (Psalm 7:7), or mi-kurai (御位) (Psalm 113:5) in the referenced verses, all relating to the “throne (or: high seat) (of God)”. (Source: S. E. Doi, see also S. E. Doi in Journal of Translation, 18/2022, p. 37ff. )
See also throne (of God).
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 show different degree of politeness is through the usage of an honorific construction where the morphemes rare (られ) or are (され) are affixed on the verb as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017. This is particularly done with verbs that have God as the agent to show a deep sense of reverence. Here, tsuiteo-rare-ru (着いておられる) or “arriving” is used.
(Source: S. E. Doi, see also S. E. Doi in Journal of Translation, 18/2022, p. 37ff. )
And I saw: this introductory statement is repeated frequently (5.2, 6, 11; 6.1, 12). It generally marks the beginning of a new scene in the unfolding drama. This phrase can also be rendered as “The next thing I saw in my dream was….” Such a rendering helps to connect these following events to those in the previous chapter; one should remember that the original Greek document wasn’t broken up into chapters.
In the right hand of him who was seated on the throne: in his description of God (4.2-3) John has not spoken of physical attributes, but the nature of this scene requires God’s right hand, in which he holds the scroll. John still avoids identifying God by name. Him is often rendered as “the one” or “the person.” For the translation of throne see 1.4b and elsewhere.
A scroll written within and on the back: a scroll was a document made of sheets of parchment or papyrus that were pasted together in one long strip and then rolled up like a tube, and usually tied, or else sealed, as this scroll was. Ordinarily there was writing on only one side of the sheets; but this scroll had writing on both sides. It is useless to ask how John knew that it had writing on both sides, since it was rolled up and tightly sealed (by contrast, see Ezek 2.9-10). Instead of Revised Standard Version within and on the back, New Revised Standard Version has the more natural “on the inside and on the back”; Revised English Bible is better: “with writing on both sides.”
It may be impossible in a given language to use the equivalent of scroll; something like “a written document” may be adequate, but the main problem is to have a document that can have writing on both sides of the sheets and be sealed. Perhaps one can say “a rolled-up paper document,” with a footnote describing this scroll in more detail.
Sealed with seven seals: this means that the scroll was completely sealed, so that no one could unroll it. The seals were usually small bits of wax that were applied to the outside edge of the rolled-up scroll in order to keep it closed. They also identified the owner, or writer, of the scroll, and could not be broken except by someone who had the authority to do so. Where seals are unknown, this clause may be expressed as “the rolled-up document was firmly closed with seven bits of wax.” Again, a footnote or a description in a glossary item will be helpful.
In this setting the scroll has a description of the things that will soon take place (see 4.1), the events that mark the future of the world and of humankind, according to God’s purpose and will.
Alternative translation models for this verse are:
• The next thing I saw in my dream was a scroll held in the right hand of the one (or, person) sitting on the throne. The scroll was covered with writing on both sides, and it was firmly closed with seven bits of wax.
Or:
• In the dream I saw that the one who was sitting on the throne was holding a rolled-up scroll in his right hand. There was writing on both sides of it, and God had closed it firmly with seven seals.
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 .
Section 5:1–5
The Lamb was worthy to open the sealed scroll
In this section, John continued to describe his vision. In it he saw God holding a scroll. An angel asked who was worthy to open the scroll. The only one who was worthy was King David’s promised heir, whom John called “the Lamb” here.
Other examples of headings for this section are:
John saw a scroll sealed seven times
-or-
The scroll that was sealed seven times
-or-
The scroll ⌊that was sealed seven times⌋ and the Lamb ⌊who was worthy to open it⌋
Paragraph 5:1–5
5:1a
Then I saw: This phrase introduces the next scene in John’s vision.
a scroll: The word scroll refers to a long piece of writing material. After writing on it, it is rolled into a cylinder shape.
in the right hand of the One seated on the throne: God held the scroll in his right hand. In some languages it is more natural to add a verb here. For example:
⌊held/lying/resting⌋ in the right hand of him who sat on the throne
-or-
that the One who sat on the throne ⌊held⌋ in His right hand
the One seated on the throne: This phrase refers to God. If you used the word “God” in 4:2b, you may not need to do so again here. But in some languages it is more natural to refer to God again. For example:
God who sat on the throne
throne: See how you translated this word in 1:4 or 4:2.
5:1b
It had writing: This phrase indicates that someone had written words on the scroll. Other ways to translate this phrase are:
that was written (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
that had writing (Contemporary English Version)
on both sides: The Greek words are literally “inside and on the back.” People normally wrote on the side that is inside when the scroll is rolled up. But this scroll had writing on both sides of the paper. Other ways to translate this phrase are:
on back and front (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
on the inside and the outside (New Living Translation (2004))
5:1c
was sealed with seven seals: Someone wrote on the scroll, then rolled it up and sealed it. To seal a scroll, a person dripped hot wax over the loose end of the writing material on the outside of the scroll. When the wax cools and hardens, it is sealed. This indicates that only those with the proper authority were allowed to open the scroll. This scroll was sealed seven times, each seal in a different place along the scroll.
In some languages people are not familiar with this process of sealing scrolls. If that is true in your language, you may want to:
• Use a word or phrase that refers to a process that has a similar meaning. It should indicate that the scroll is not to be opened except by the proper person. For example:
closed with seven drops of wax
-or-
it had seven fastenings
-or-
There were seven marks stuck to it ⌊so that it might not be opened except by the right person⌋
• Describe the process. Use a short description to indicate that others are prevented from opening the scroll. For example:
the edge of the paper had wax dripped on it in seven places ⌊to show that it should be opened only by those with the authority to do so⌋
-or-
its edge was glued seven times ⌊so that it could not be opened⌋
Whatever way you translate this phrase, you should indicate that there were seven of these seals.
General Comment on 5:1a–c
In this verse, John told where the scroll was (5:1a), and then he described it (5:1b–c). In some languages it is more natural to describe it first. For example:
Then I saw 1b a scroll with writing on both sides 1c and sealed with seven seals. 1a The one who sat on the throne ⌊held⌋ it in his right hand.
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