Translation commentary on Revelation 7:2

Another angel: this angel is not identified by name or function.

Ascend from the rising of the sun: this angel appears on the horizon, coming from the east. In some languages it will be necessary to state where the angel is ascending to. The following verses indicate that it is heaven. So one may say “coming up to heaven from the east.”

With the seal of the living God: this is not the same as the seals used to close up the scroll in chapters 5 and 6. The seal referred to here is an instrument that marks or stamps a figure, symbol, number, or name upon an object or person. Kings and other important people had such seals, sometimes attached to a ring, called “a signet ring” (see Gen 41.42; Est 3.10; Dan 6.17). The normal purpose of the seal was to identify a document as authentic; the kind of seal spoken of in 5.1 and 20.3 was used to prevent the thing sealed from being opened (see Matt 27.66, the sealing of Jesus’ tomb). In this case the seal is a mark that shows that those who have it on their foreheads are God’s people (see the use of the verb “to seal” in 2 Cor 1.22; Eph 1.13; 4.30). Where an instrument like a stamp or a brand is not known, a descriptive phrase may be used, “an instrument to mark people,” “an instrument to write a sign on people.”

The phrase the seal of … God means the seal that God uses, or the seal that puts God’s mark on people. It is not said whether the identifying mark is a number, a symbol, or a name; 14.1 speaks of 144,000 who have the names of God and of the Lamb on their foreheads (see also 22.4), and it may be assumed that this is true here (see verse 3).

For the living God see the similar divine name “the living one” in 1.18.

Power to harm earth and sea: the passive who had been given means that God had given them this power. The four angels who restrain the winds have the power to turn them loose and cause damage to the earth and the sea. For harm see also 6.6. By “harming the sea” the writer may have had in mind the damage done to islands in the sea; a translation, however, must say simply “the sea” here and in the next verse. The Hebrews thought of seas as having either fresh or salt water, and for the most part were only acquainted with the Mediterranean Sea, the Sea of Galilee, and the Dead Sea. However, sea here in Revelation is referring to all large bodies of water, whether oceans (seas) and lakes, but not rivers. In cultures where such masses of water, whether salty or fresh, are unknown, perhaps one must translate sea here and elsewhere as “large expanses of water.” Earth here refers to “dry land” in contrast with the waters.

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 7:2

7:2a

from the east: The Greek phrase is literally “from the rising of the sun” (as in the Revised Standard Version). This phrase is probably a poetic way to refer to the east. A more literal translation is:

where the sun rises (New Jerusalem Bible)

7:2b

seal: Here the word seal refers to a device that puts a mark on something. The mark usually is a unique shape. Each mark identifies the owner. At that time, each king would have a ring with a unique seal that was used to make such marks. Below is an example of a ring with a seal.

The word seal has a different meaning here than at 5:1.

In some languages people are not familiar with this kind of seal. If that is true in your language, you may want to:

• Use a descriptive phrase. For example:

device/tool for marking ownership
-or-
symbol putting/marking thing
-or-
signet ring

• Use the major language word. If people are not familiar with this word, explain it in a footnote. An example footnote is:

The word “seal” refers to a device that puts a mark on something or someone. The mark shows to whom the thing or person belongs.

the living God: The word living here refers to God as being alive. God is a living being as opposed to idols which are not alive. Some other examples for translating are:

the alive God
-or-
the God who lives ⌊forever⌋

7:2c

he called out in a loud voice: Here, the phrase called out in a loud voice probably implies that the angel had a powerful voice. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

he cried out with a powerful voice
-or-
he shouted in a great voice

7:2d

the four angels who had been given power to harm the land and the sea: This phrase refers to the four angels in 7:1. God gave them the power and authority to harm the entire earth. The Greek is literally “the four angels to whom was given to them to harm the land and sea.” The Berean Standard Bible adds the word power to make the phrase natural in English. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

the four angels whose duty was to devastate land and sea (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
the four angels who had been given permission to damage the earth and the sea (NET Bible)
-or-
the four angels who had been allowed to harm the earth and sea (God’s Word)

who had been given power: This clause is passive. Some languages must use an active clause. God gave them the power. For example, the New Century Version says:

to whom God had given power

General Comment on 7:2a–d

7:2d includes new information about the four angels. In some languages it is more natural to put that information before the information about the new angel. For example:

2d The four angels had been given power to harm the land and the sea. 2a Then I saw another angel coming up from the east, 2b having the seal of the living God. 2c He said in a loud voice to the four angels,

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