11:4–10
There are two ways to interpret who spoke these verses:
(1) They are not part of the quotation that began in 11:1. The speaker stopped speaking to John at the end of 11:3. For example:
3 And I will grant my two witnesses power to prophesy for one thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.”
4 These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands which stand before the Lord of the earth…. (Revised Standard Version)
(2) They are part of the quotation. The speaker continues speaking until the end of 11:10. For example:
3 But I shall send my two witnesses to prophesy for twelve hundred and sixty days, wearing sackcloth. 4 These are the two olive trees and the two lamps in attendance on the Lord of the world….10 and the people of the world are glad about it and celebrate the event by giving presents to each other, because these two prophets have been a plague to the people of the world.’ (New Jerusalem Bible)
It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1).
Paragraph 11:4–6
11:4a–b
These witnesses are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth: This clause describes the two witnesses using the symbols of two olive trees and two lampstands. It refers back to the prophecy in Zechariah 4:1–14.
In some languages a literal translation would not have the correct meaning. If that is true in your language, you may want to:
• Translate this as a simile. For example:
These ⌊two witnesses⌋ are like two olive trees and two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth
• Explain that the saying is symbolic. For example:
These ⌊two witnesses⌋ are symbolically the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth
• Translate literally and explain its meaning in a footnote. For example:
This sentence has olive trees and lampstands, like Zechariah 4:1–14 does.
• Explain the reference in your translation. For example:
These ⌊two witnesses⌋ are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth, ⌊as is written in scripture⌋
11:4a
olive trees: Olive trees have small round fruit. People squeeze the fruit and collect the oil. This oil is used in cooking and as fuel for lamps.
the two lampstands: A lampstand is a 1–2 meter (3–6 feet) tall stand. It has a place for a lamp on top. Here it is implied that lamps are on the lampstands. There were many kinds and styles of lampstand. The kind and style of lampstand is not important here.
A lamp in Jesus’ time was a small clay or metal container that people put oil in. The lamp was shaped to hold a wick on one side. The exact kind of lamp is not important here. So you should use a word that refers generally to this kind of lamp or light producing device.
See how you translated the word lampstands in 1:12 or 2:5.
11:4b
that stand before the Lord of the earth: This phrase refers to both the olive trees and the lampstands.
stand: Here the word stand indicates that the trees and lampstands are in the presence of the Lord of the earth.
the Lord of the earth:
This phrase indicates that the Lord God rules over all that happens in the world. For example:
the Lord who rules the earth (Contemporary English Version)
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