with a loud voice

The Hebrew, Latin and Greek that is translated as “with a loud voice” in English is translated in Low German idiomatically as luuthals or “loud-throated” (translation by Johannes Jessen, publ. 1933, republ. 2006).

It is also used in Acts 19:28 for krazó (κράζω).

scroll

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) and in Newari as “paper that has been rolled up” (source: Newari Back Translation).

See also roll up the scroll.

angel

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The Greek, Hebrew, Ge’ez, and Aramaic that is translated as “angel” in English versions is translated in many ways:

  • Pintupi-Luritja: ngaṉka ngurrara: “one who belongs in the sky” (source: Ken Hansen quoted in Steven 1984a, p. 116.)
  • Tetela, Kpelle, Balinese, and Mandarin Chinese: “heavenly messenger”
  • Shilluk / Igede: “spirit messenger”
  • Mashco Piro: “messenger of God”
  • Batak Toba: “envoy, messenger”
  • Navajo (Dinė): “holy servant” (source for this and above: Bratcher / Nida 1961; Igede: Andy Warren-Rothlin)
  • Central Mazahua: “God’s worker” (source: Ronald D. Olson in Notes on Translation January, 1968, p. 15ff.)
  • Saramaccan: basia u Masa Gaangadu köndë or “messenger from God’s country” (source: Jabini 2015, p. 86)
  • Mairasi: atatnyev nyaa or “sent-one” (source: Enggavoter 2004)
  • Shipibo-Conibo: “word bringer” (source: James Lauriault in The Bible Translator 1951, p. 32ff. )
  • Apali: “God’s one with talk from the head” (“basically God’s messenger since head refers to any leader’s talk”) (source: Martha Wade)
  • Michoacán Nahuatl: “clean helper of God” (source: B. Moore / G. Turner in Notes on Translation 1967, p. 1ff.)
  • Noongar: Hdjin-djin-kwabba or “spirit good” (source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang)
  • Wè Northern (Wɛɛ): Kea ‘a “sooa or “the Lord’s soldier” (also: “God’s soldier” or “his soldier”) (source: Drew Maust)
  • Iwaidja: “a man sent with a message” (Sam Freney explains the genesis of this term [in this article ): “For example, in Darwin last year, as we were working on a new translation of Luke 2:6–12 in Iwaidja, a Northern Territory language, the translators had written ‘angel’ as ‘a man with eagle wings’. Even before getting to the question of whether this was an accurate term (or one that imported some other information in), the word for ‘eagle’ started getting discussed. One of the translators had her teenage granddaughter with her, and this word didn’t mean anything to her at all. She’d never heard of it, as it was an archaic term that younger people didn’t use anymore. They ended up changing the translation of ‘angel’ to something like ‘a man sent with a message’, which is both more accurate and clear.”)

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) is used as in mi-tsukai (御使い) or “messenger (of God).” (Source: S. E. Doi, see also S. E. Doi in Journal of Translation, 18/2022, p. 37ff. )

See also angel (Acts 12:15) and this devotion on YouVersion .

complete verse (Revelation 5:2)

Following are a number of back-translations of Revelation 5:2:

  • Uma: “I saw, there was a strong angel, he called loudly, he said: ‘Who is fitting/worthy to open this letter? Who is fitting/worthy to open the seals so that this letter can be read?'” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “And I saw a very strong angel who spoke loudly, he said, ‘Is there anyone here worthy to remove the seals of this roll of paper and open it?'” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “Then I saw a very strong angel of God, and he shouted saying, ‘Who is worthy to open this scroll? Who is worthy to remove these marks so that it might be read?'” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “I also saw an angel whose power was large raise (lit. cause-to-be-strong) his voice saying, ‘Who is worthy to detach these things-that-are-affixed to unroll the paper?'” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “And I also saw a far-from-ordinary angel who called out loudly, saying, ‘Who is really acceptable/possible to remove these fastenings and open this rolled up writing?'” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “I saw an angel who was very powerful loudly make a question, saying: ‘Who will come forth who is supremely good so that he is able to open the seals which are on the paper in order that it be unrolled?’ he said.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Revelation 5:2

A strong angel: this is the angel’s first appearance (see 1.1, where it was mentioned but did not appear). Angels are God’s heavenly servants and messengers. In English the word strong is too narrowly limited to physical strength, and something like “mighty” (New Revised Standard Version, Revised English Bible, Good News Translation), or “powerful” (Biblia Dios Habla Hoy), or “having great authority” is better.

Proclaiming with a loud voice: the angel’s message will be heard throughout the universe. What the angel proclaims is a question, and in some languages something like “asking” will be more appropriate. The Greek verb (appearing only here in Revelation) was used of a herald’s task of making public announcements about important matters affecting all the people of the community.

Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?: the adjective worthy occurs in 3.4; 4.11; in this context it means to have the right, or the authority, according to God’s judgment, to open the scroll and reveal its contents. “Who is qualified…?” “Who has the right…?” The natural order, “break the seals and open the scroll,” is reversed in the Greek text. A translation need not follow the Greek, especially if it will appear ridiculous to the reader (see the logical order in Good News Translation, Revised English Bible). Here open means “unroll.”

An alternative translation model for this verse is:

• And I saw one of God’s messengers (or, angels), a powerful one, who asked in a loud voice, “Who has the right to break open the seven pieces of wax on the scroll (or, document) and unroll it?”

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 5:2

5:2a

mighty angel: The word mighty probably indicates physical strength. This angel is able to speak with a voice that can be heard everywhere.

angel: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as angel here refers to a spirit being who serves God. See how you translated this word in 1:1.

proclaiming: This word refers to speaking publicly. It is usually done loudly so that everyone can hear. For example:

announced (Good News Translation)

5:2b

Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?: This is a real question. The speaker asked if anyone was great enough to open the scroll. This person must be suitable or fitting to the task or have the proper authority to open it. For example:

Who deserves to open the scroll and break the seals on it? (God’s Word)

to break the seals and open the scroll: The Greek order of these two clauses is “open the scroll and break its seals” (as in the Revised Standard Version). But the seals must be broken before the scroll can be opened, so the Berean Standard Bible has the clause break the seals first.

It is implied that the worthy person takes the scroll from God before breaking the seals. In some languages it is more natural to include that implied information. For example:

to ⌊take⌋ the scroll, break the seals, and open ⌊it⌋

break the seals: This phrase refers to breaking the wax of each seal. Breaking the seals is easy to do, but only someone with the proper authority is allowed to break the seals.

Refer here to breaking or opening the kind of seal you translated in 5:1c.

open the scroll: This phrase refers to unrolling the scroll so it can be read.

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