SIL Translator’s Notes on Revelation 3:9

3:9a

Look: 3:9a begins with the Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible has translated literally as Look. This word calls attention to, or emphasizes, the words that follow it. This word is not a command to look at something. Other ways to translate this word are:

Behold (English Standard Version)
-or-
Listen! (Good News Translation)
-or-
Indeed/Hey

those who belong to the synagogue of Satan: Here the word synagogue refers to the group of misled Jews in Philadelphia. The word does not refer to the building where they met. So the Good News Translation translates this as:

that group that belongs to Satan

See how you translated the phrase synagogue of Satan in 2:9.

3:9b

who claim to be Jews but are liars instead: These clauses explain the phrase “synagogue of Satan.” These Jews claimed to be the true people of God. But they rejected Jesus as the Christ, so they were lying about being God’s people. Other ways to translate these clauses are:

those who falsely claim to be Jews, but are liars (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
those liars who say they are Jews but are not (New Living Translation (2004))

In some languages a literal translation would wrongly indicate that John was thinking of other synagogues of Satan, and only this group claimed to be Jews but are liars instead. If that is true in your language, translate these clauses so that they tell more about the synagogue of Satan here. One way to do that is to start a new sentence here. For example:

They claim to be God’s people, but they are liars. (Contemporary English Version)

If you do this, you will need to put this information either at the beginning or the end of the verse. For example:

9a A synagogue of Satan exists there. 9b They claim to be Jews though they are not, but are liars. 9c I will make them come and fall down at your feet 9d and acknowledge that I have loved you.
-or-

9a I will make those who are of the synagogue of Satan 9c come and fall down at your feet 9d and acknowledge that I have loved you. 9b They claim to be Jews though they are not, but are liars.

who claim to be Jews but: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as but is literally “and” (or sometimes “but”). Here there is contrast between who claim to be Jews and the clause “are liars instead.” But in English two uses of “but” this near to each other is not natural. Other ways to translate these words are:

who claim to be Jews and are not, but (New American Bible, Revised Edition)
-or-
who claim to be Jews but they are not, for

3:9c

I will make them come: 3:9c begins with the Greek word that means “look.” This word calls attention to, or emphasizes, the words that follow. Other ways to translate this are:

look, I will make them come
-or-
indeed/hey, I will make them come

In some languages it is more natural not to repeat the word that you used at the beginning of 3:9a. If that is true in your language, it will be better to not translate it here, as the Berean Standard Bible has done.

The Greek word may also be used to indicate that the explanation (3:9b) is finished. Jesus then continued talking about what he will do to them. See note at 3:9b about reordering the clauses in this verse.

I will make them come: This indicates that Jesus would cause these false Jews to honor those who believed in Jesus. In some languages it is more natural to indicate where they would come. For example:

I will make them come before you (New Century Version)

bow down at your feet: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as bow down refers here to kneeling and putting the face to the ground with arms outstretched toward someone. This position showed complete humility before that person and honored him. This is the usual way to show someone honor at that time and in that region. Translate these words in a way that indicates that someone is honoring someone else. For example:

prostrate themselves at your feet
-or-
kneel with their face to the ground before you
-or-
bow down at your feet (Good News Translation)

Some languages have a different action that shows complete humility and honor to someone. If that is true in your language, you may want to use that action here.

3:9d

know: The group called “the synagogue of Satan” would realize that God loves the believers. Other ways to translate this word are:

realize (God’s Word)
-or-
learn (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
acknowledge (New International Version)

I love you: The Greek grammar here refers generally to Jesus loving believers. It indicates that Jesus loved them in the past and continues to love them in the present. In your translation, indicate that Jesus loved the believers at all times. For example:

I love you (Berean Standard Bible, Good News Translation)

love: The word love refers to a strong feeling of affection and concern for a person.

© 2020 by SIL International®
Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0.
All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.

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