complete verse (Revelation 7:16)

Following are a number of back-translations of Revelation 7:16:

  • Uma: “They are no longer hungry, they are no longer thirsty, they are no longer shined upon by the intense/blazing sun.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “They will no longer be hungry or thirsty. They will not be caused to be hot by the sun or by anything else hot.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “They no longer get hungry, they no longer get thirsty, they also no longer get burned by the sun or anything hot.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “They will absolutely-never again be-left-hungry and thirsty, and neither will they be sunburned or hardshipped by other hot-things.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “They won’t any more be aware of hunger and thirst. It will no longer be necessary for them to expose themselves to the heat of the sun or for them to suffer whatever form of heat.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “No longer will they hunger. No longer will they thirst. No longer will they suffer from the heat of the sun.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Revelation 7:16

The language in verses 16-17 reflects Isa 49.10.

They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more: this may be translated “Never again will they be hungry or thirsty” or “They will never be hungry again or ever be thirsty again.”

The sun shall not strike them: this means that the hot rays of the sun will not harm them (see Psa 121.6). The Greek word translated scorching heat may mean “the (desert) wind,” reflecting the meaning of Isa 49.10 (so New Jerusalem Bible). Or else sun and scorching heat may refer only to the sun’s heat: “the burning heat of the sun will not harm them” (so Translator’s New Testament).

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 7:16

7:16a–b

‘Never again will they hunger, and never will they thirst: The Greek words are literally “They will hunger no more and thirst no more” (as in the New Revised Standard Version). The phrase “no more” is repeated to emphasize that phrase. The repeated words in the Greek makes the two clauses poetic. For example:

Those people will never be hungry again, and they will never be thirsty again (New Century Version)

But in some languages it is more natural not to repeat the words. For example:

They will never hunger or thirst again (New Jerusalem Bible)

7:16c–d

nor will the sun beat down upon them, nor any scorching heat: These two clauses have a similar meaning. Together they emphasize that the believers will not suffer from the hot sun anymore. John probably implies a complete lack of suffering or trouble here, but the English versions all translate the Greek literally. Other ways to translate these words are:

Neither the sun nor any burning heat will ever overcome them (God’s Word)
-or-
neither sun nor any scorching heat will burn them (Good News Translation)
-or-
The sun will not hurt them, and no heat will burn them (New Century Version)

nor any scorching heat: The phrase “will…beat down upon them” is implied from 7:16c. But it is not repeated here in the Greek or in the Berean Standard Bible. In some languages it is more natural to repeat some or all of that phrase. For example:

nor will any scorching heat ⌊beat upon them⌋

scorching heat: This phrase refers to heat that can burn. For example:

burning heat (God’s Word)

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