Then one of the elders addressed me, saying: on the translation of elders see 4.4. The verbal phrase addressed me, saying represents the Greek form, which consists of the aorist of the verb “to say” (or “to answer”) and the participle “saying.” The Greek verb for addressed, which usually means “to answer,” is often used in passages where there is no previous question. It then introduces a statement that is a response to, or a result of, something that has just happened. In English “spoke up” is an effective translation, as in New American Bible, Revised “spoke up and said to me”; Revised English Bible translates “turned to me and asked”; New Jerusalem Bible “spoke and asked me.” Bible en français courant, Biblia Dios Habla Hoy, Nova Tradução na Linguagem de Hoje, and New International Version are like Good News Translation, “asked me.”

The question, “Who are these … and where do they come from?” is a question used for revealing John’s ignorance, leading him to ask the elder to give him the information. That is why Good News Translation has “I don’t know” in verse 14. In many languages it will be good to expand this sentence and say “Who are these people?” as in Good News Translation.

Clothed in white robes may be expressed as “wearing white robes.” For robes see 1.13.

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 .