The Hebrew and Greek that is translated as “scorpion” in English is translated in North Tanna as “centipedes” (Luke 10:19) or “millipede” (Luke 11:12) (source: Ross McKerras).
The literal translation in Noongar is nirnt-daalang or “tail-tongue” (source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang) and in Uma it is translated as “stinging-caterpillar” (Source: Uma Back Translation).
There is complete agreement that these words refer to the scorpion. Many scholars accept that ‘aqrav was also a nickname for a type of whip used for punishing criminals.
The scorpion is an eight-legged creature. In the land of Israel it grows to about 13 centimeters (5 inches) long, but in some tropical countries scorpions can be up to 18 centimeters (7 inches) long. The front pair of legs has claws similar to those on a crab, and the tail, which it can arch over its head, carries a fierce sting. It feeds on other insects and on small reptiles, such as baby lizards. It grasps its prey in its claws and stings it with its tail, either killing it or paralyzing it.
In the Hebrew Bible the scorpion epitomizes harsh, inhospitable living conditions.
Scorpions are found almost worldwide, except in the Arctic tundra and on some islands. In most places, therefore, a local word will be available.
Following are a number of back-translations of Revelation 9:10:
Uma: “Their tails and their stings were like the tails and stings of tumpu lipa. With their tails they could torture men for five months.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
Yakan: “Their tails are like the tail of a scorpion with a needle at its end and that is what they use to hurt the people with during five months.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
Western Bukidnon Manobo: “Their tails are like the tails of scorpions because they sting, and by means of their tails, they can torment people for five months.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
Kankanaey: “They had stings in their tails like the sting of a centipede which were the location of their ability to hardship people for five months.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
Tagbanwa: “They had tails like the tails of scorpions which have stings. There in their tails is from where would come what would cause suffering to the people for five months.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
Tenango Otomi: “They have tails like the tails of scorpions with stingers. Great pain is given to the people when they are stung. But only five months do they have permission to sting the people.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)
Tails like scorpions, and stings: what is meant is that their tails were like scorpions’ tails, with stings at the end.
Their power of hurting men: the word translated power can also mean “authority” or “capability.” The final sentence may be translated as follows: “It is with the stings on their tails that they are able to hurt people for five months.” See also 9.5 on hurting or torturing people.
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 .
They: The pronoun They refers to the locusts. For example:
The locusts (New Century Version)
scorpions: Use the same word or phrase that you used in 9:5.
9:10b
which had the power to injure people for five months: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as injure is literally “harm” (as in 9:4a). Here the Greek word is more general than “torture/torment” (9:5b) but similar in meaning. The rest of this clause has a similar meaning to 9:5a–c. Other ways to translate this clause are:
they had the power in their tails to cause people pain for five months -or-
their power to hurt people for five months is in their tails (English Standard Version) -or-
they could make people suffer for five months with the poison in their tails
Living Water is produced for the Bible translation movement in association with Lutheran Bible Translators. Lyrics derived from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®).
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