Translation commentary on Revelation 7:10

It may be better to end verse 9 with a full stop and begin verse 10 as a new sentence, as Good News Translation and New Revised Standard Version do.

Salvation belongs to our God: here, and in the similar passage in verse 12, there is no verb; the Greek text says “Salvation to our God,” a way of confessing that God is the one who saves. So something like Good News Translation can be said, or else a verb phrase, “We are saved by our God,” or “It is our God who has saved us.” The Greek noun is usually translated Salvation; in some instances it may mean “victory,” and that is how Biblia Dios Habla Hoy and Revised English Bible translate it. One commentator says “It is not their salvation that the martyrs are celebrating, but their triumphant passage through persecution” (Caird). Most, however, translate “salvation,” and this is probably the better choice. If the crowd is understood as addressing one another, then our God is inclusive. However, if this is a statement of praise and worship addressed to God and the Lamb, then our God is exclusive. Local worship practices in the receptor-language culture may help determine which form to use. In certain languages Salvation will need an object to indicate what it is that God saves them from. In this context it most likely refers to the time of great suffering in 6.1–7.3. So one may translate “It is our God who has brought us through the time of great suffering safely.”

Who sits upon the throne: see 4.2-3.

And to the Lamb: the Lamb is associated with God in the salvation, or victory, that has been achieved.

Alternative translation models for this verse are:

• They called out in a loud voice, saying:
“It is our God and the Lamb who have saved us, our God who sits on the throne.”

Or:

• They called out in a loud voice, “It is you our God and the Lamb who have saved us, you our God who sits on the throne.”

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 7:10

7:10a

And they cried out in a loud voice: Here this clause indicates that these people shouted loudly because they felt very strongly about what they were saying. They strongly desired to praise God and Jesus. Another way to translate this clause is:

they shouted (Contemporary English Version)

The Greek grammar probably indicates that they shouted the words of 7:10b–d repeatedly. For example:

they were shouting with a mighty shout (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
they chanted loudly

7:10b

Salvation to our God: This clause indicates that God is the source of salvation. For example:

Salvation comes from our God…! (Good News Translation)
-or-
Our God…has the power to save his people (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
The one who saved us, it is our God
-or-
Concerning our God…, he is the one who saved us.

Salvation: This noun refers to the event of someone rescuing another person. God saves people. Here it may refer to saving people from hell, or the terrible things in this book or something else. If possible, do not say what people are saved from.

In some languages it is more natural to translate Salvation using a verb. For example:

Our God has the power to save
-or-
Our God has made the way to save us!

In some languages it is necessary to say whom God saves. For example:

Our God …has the power to save his people (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
Our God is the one who saves ⌊us (incl.)⌋ !

In some languages it is necessary to say what God saves people from. If that is true in your language, refer in a general manner to death or danger. For example:

Saving ⌊people⌋ ⌊from death⌋

7:10c

who sits on the throne: The clause who sits on the throne indicates that God rules as king.

In some languages translating the purpose of the throne is more natural. For example:

who rules as king ⌊over everything⌋

This clause tells the reader more about God. In some languages a literal translation would wrongly indicate that there are other gods and, only this one sits on the throne. If that is true in your language, translate this clause so that it tells more about God. One way to do that is to start a new sentence here. For example:

He sits on the throne ⌊as king⌋

throne: See how you translated this word at 3:21 or 4:9.

7:10d

and to the Lamb: Here, this phrase indicates that salvation also belongs to the Lamb. That is, Jesus and God together are the source of salvation. In some languages it is more natural to repeat some information in 7:10b. For example:

and ⌊salvation also belongs⌋ to the Lamb!
-or-
and the Lamb has ⌊the power to save⌋ !

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