SIL Translator’s Notes on Revelation 2020 – Page 46

SIL Translator’s Notes on Revelation 21:9

Section 21:9–22:5

An angel showed the new Jerusalem to John

In this section, an angel showed the new Jerusalem to John. The angel again used a metaphor of a bride to describe new Jerusalem. The city was large and beautiful. God lived there with his people. His glory lighted the city. John described the city, the river that flowed through the city, and the tree that gave life. There were no bad things in the city at all.

Other examples for this section heading are:

The vision of the new Jerusalem
-or-
John saw/described the new Jerusalem ⌊as a bride for the Lamb⌋

Paragraph 21:9–14

21:9a–b

Then one of the seven angels with the seven bowls full of the seven final plagues: This is the same phrase as in 17:1, except that the phrase full of the seven final plagues is added here. It refers to the seven angels of chapter 16.

In some languages a literal translation would wrongly indicate that the bowls were still full of the plagues. If that is true in your language, indicate that the bowls no longer have the plagues in them. For example:

One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls ⌊which earlier were⌋ full of the seven last plagues came and said to me
-or-

⌊Earlier/Previously I had seen⌋ seven angels holding seven bowls filled with the final seven plagues/disasters. ⌊Now⌋ one of them came to me and said

21:9c

the bride, the wife of the Lamb: The phrase the bride and the phrase the wife of the Lamb are similar in meaning. Both refer to the new Jerusalem. Repeating a similar meaning in Greek emphasizes that meaning.

In some languages repeating a similar meaning has a different use. If that is true in your language, you may want to emphasize the meaning in a different way. For example:

the bride who is the wife of the Lamb
-or-
the bride that the Lamb has married (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
indeed the new wife of the Lamb

the bride, the wife: The word bride can refer to a woman about to be married or a woman recently married. The word wife usually refers to a woman who has recently married. But here it is implied that the wedding of the Lamb has not yet occurred. In some languages a literal translation would wrongly indicate that the bride was already married. If that is true in your language, indicate that the marriage is soon.

the Lamb: This is a title for Jesus. Jewish people killed a lamb at the Passover as a sacrifice to God. The lamb has symbolic meaning as a special sacrifice and is a symbol for the Christ. See how you translated this title in 5:6 or 19:7.

In some languages readers would not clearly understand a literal translation as a title for Jesus. If that is true in your language, you may want to explain in a footnote that the word Lamb is a title for Jesus as the Christ. For example:

This word is a symbolic title for Jesus. ⌊It indicates that he was like the lambs that the Jewish people sacrificed to God at every Passover Feast. Like those lambs, he died at Passover as a sacrifice to God.⌋
-or-
See the footnote on “the Lamb” at 5:6.

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All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
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SIL Translator’s Notes on Revelation 21:10

21:10a

carried me away in the Spirit: In English Bibles, the titles and names of God normally begin with an uppercase (capital) letter. But ancient Greek writers used only one style of letters. So the Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Spirit can refer to either the human spirit or God’s Spirit. There are two ways to interpret it:

(1) It indicates that the Holy Spirit took John places during the events of 21:10–22:5. For example:

And in the Spirit he carried me away (Revised Standard Version)

(2) It indicates that John’s spirit (as opposed to his physical body) experienced the events of 21:10–22:5. For example:

He took me in spirit (New Jerusalem Bible)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), as in 1:10, 4:2, and 17:3.

The clause implies that John’s experience in 1:10 continues but at a new location. Other ways to translate this clause following interpretation (1) are:

And the angel carried me away by the Spirit (New Century Version)
-or-
with the help of the Spirit, he took me (Contemporary English Version)

See how you translated this clause in 17:3.

a mountain great and high: The Berean Standard Bible has the describing words great and high after the mountain they describe. This copies the Greek word order. It is also an English poetic style. You may want to follow the usual word order of your language. For example:

a great, high mountain (Revised Standard Version)

21:10b–c

the holy city of Jerusalem:
The new Jerusalem is the holy city because it belongs to God and God will live there. Here the word holy indicates that the city is dedicated for God’s use. His people will live there. Nothing evil will live there. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

the City set apart ⌊for God⌋ , Jerusalem
-or-
God’s ⌊special⌋ City, Jerusalem

See how you translated a similar phrase (“the holy city, the new Jerusalem”) in 21:2.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Revelation 21:11

21:11a

shining with the glory of God: The Greek words are literally “having the glory of God” (as in the Revised Standard Version). The glory of God caused the city to shine brilliantly (21:11b–c). For example:

The glory of God made the city bright (Contemporary English Version)

glory: This word refers to brightness. It symbolizes greatness, power, splendor, and majesty. Other ways to translate this word are:

splendor
-or-
radiance

See how you translated this word in 15:8.

21:11b

radiance: This word refers to the brightness of the shining city.

a most precious jewel: This phrase refers to a rare and beautiful stone. Such a stone is precious, that is, very valuable and rare. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

a most rare jewel (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
a precious stone (Good News Translation)
-or-
a valuable gem (God’s Word)

jasper: This word refers to a spotted or veined stone of a variety of colors. It is often a reddish color, but it can also be deep green, brown, or deep yellow. It shines brightly in the sun. Light reflects off its surface. Light does not shine through this stone like it does through glass.

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

• Use the name for a kind of stone similar to how jasper is described above. The important thing is that it should be considered bright and beautiful.

Use a descriptive phrase. For example:

a spotted/veined stone ⌊named jasper⌋

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

Jasper is a spotted or veined stone that is deep red, green, or yellow. It shines brightly.

See how you translated this word in 4:3. Or see the note and picture of jasper at 4:3.

21:11c

as clear as crystal: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as as clear as crystal is a rare word that probably means “shine/be like crystal.” Glass is see-through but jasper is not, so the city probably shined like crystal shines. John described the city with the words “glory” (21:11a) and “radiance” (21:11b). So the Greek word probably indicates that the city was brilliant and sparkling. It may imply free of impurities. For example:

with the clear light of crystal (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)
-or-
dazzling/sparkling like crystal

Many English versions translate similarly to the Berean Standard Bible. But clear does not seem to be the meaning here. You may want to indicate that the city was like crystal without saying how it was like crystal. For example:

like crystal

crystal: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as crystal refers to various substances that are bright, shiny, and have flat surfaces. (See drawing at 4:6.) The Greek word probably refers only to crystals that let light shine through them. Quartz, diamond, and sapphire are examples of crystals. Here the focus is on the fact that a crystal is shiny. It is not clear if it implies letting light shine through it.

In some languages people are not familiar with a crystal. If that is true in your language, you may want to:

• Use the characteristics of a crystal that are important here. For example:

with bright/sparkling surfaces
-or-
bright/sparkling

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

A crystal is a hard substance that is see-through, shiny, and has flat surfaces.

See how you translated this word in 4:6.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Revelation 21:12

21:12a–b

The city had a great and high wall: This wall surrounded the city. In John’s time, a city wall helped protect the city from foreign armies. Here it is probably symbolic to indicate God’s protection for all who live in the city.

with twelve gates inscribed with the names of the twelve tribes of Israel: The Greek words are literally “and names having been written on/in, which are the names of the twelve tribes/clans of the sons of Israel.” One name was written on each gate. So in some languages it is more natural to indicate that each gate had one name. For example:

On each gate was written the name of one of the twelve tribes of Israel

with twelve gates: The names may have been written:

(a) on the gates themselves,

(b) on the stones of the arch that forms the gateway,

Translate this phrase so that it allows one or more of the above meanings. For example:

upon the gates
-or-
over the gates (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
over the twelve gateways (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)

twelve gates: The Greek word here probably refers to gateways (as in the Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English). The gates themselves are described in 21:21a.

inscribed with the names of the twelve tribes of Israel: The Greek words are literally “and names having been written, which are the names of the twelve tribes/clans of Israel.” This clause is passive. Some languages must use an active or intransitive clause. For example:

⌊God⌋ had inscribed/written the names of the twelve tribes/clans of Israel on the gates
-or-

⌊God⌋ had inscribed/written the name of one of the twelve tribes of Israel on each gate
-or-
and names were on the gates/gateways, the names of the twelve tribes/clans of Israel
-or-
The names of the twelve tribes/clans of Israel were on the gates/gateways

Your translation should indicate or imply that the names were written. Indicate or imply that people could see the names.

the twelve tribes of Israel: The founder of the Jewish people was Jacob. God gave him the name Israel. Israel had twelve sons. Each of these sons became the head of a family group. Each group used the name of the son who founded that group. Use the usual word for that kind of group. For example:

twelve clans of Israel

21:12c

twelve angels at the gates: One angel stood at each gate.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Revelation 21:13

21:13a–b

There were three gates on the east, three on the north, three on the south, and three on the west: The Greek words are literally “from the east three gates, from the north three gates, from the south three gates, and from the west three gates.” The city wall surrounded the city in the shape of a square. Each part of the wall had three gates in it. For example:

on the east three gates, on the north three gates, on the south three gates, and on the west three gates (Revised Standard Version)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Revelation 21:14

21:14a

The wall of the city had twelve foundations: It is not clear where each of these twelve foundations were in relationship to each other. Some possibilities are:

(1) The twelve stones were side by side under the whole city and its wall.

(2) The stones lay end to end around the city under the wall so that there were three stones to each side.

(3) The foundations were in twelve layers, one on top of another.

Translate in a way that allows these interpretations. For example:

The wall of the city had twelve foundations ⌊under it⌋
-or-
The city walls stood on twelve foundation stones (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
The city’s wall was built on twelve foundation stones (Good News Translation)

The wall of the city: This wall is the wall that surrounded the city (21:12a).

foundations: A foundation is the first layer of a building or construction. It is usually partly buried so that it will not move. But in this case, John saw all twelve foundations. Some languages do not have a word for foundation. If that is true in your language, you may want to:

• Use the word in your language for the first layer of construction when building a strong wall or house. The word must be appropriate for building a wall on top of it.

Describe in your translation how a foundation is used. For example:

twelve large stones under it which were secure in the ground
-or-
twelve large stones partly buried in the ground to make the wall strong

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

A foundation is the first layer of a building or construction. It is usually partly buried so that it will not move and cause the building to collapse.

21:14b

bearing the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb:
The Greek is literally “and on them, names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.” The phrase “on them” is emphasized in the Greek. Some English versions also emphasize this phrase. For example:

and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb (New International Version)

However, the Berean Standard Bible translates these words with the English word bearing. Do what is most natural in your language.

apostles: In general, the Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as apostles refers to those sent with a message. They are representatives or messengers of a higher authority. Here it refers to twelve men whom Jesus chose to take his message to the world.

Some ways to translate this word are:

• Translate the meaning. For example:

representatives
-or-

⌊special⌋ messengers
-or-
sent-people

• Use the major language word or phrase.

See how you translated this word in 2:2 or 18:20.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Revelation 21:15

Paragraph 21:15–21

21:15a

golden measuring rod:
The word golden indicates that the measuring rod was made of gold. For example:

gold measuring stick (Good News Translation)

golden: The word golden refers to a rare metal of a somewhat yellow color. It was the most expensive metal at that time. It is naturally shiny and beautiful. See how you translated this word in 1:12 or 18:12.

measuring rod: This refers to a straight stick that is used for measuring distances. See how you translated this phrase in 11:1.

21:15b

to measure the city: When someone would measure something, he would find out how big it is. Here a person would use a straight stick of a particular length. He would count the number of times he laid the stick on the ground as he moves from one end to the other end.

In some languages the word “count” is used here for the meaning of measure. For example:

to count the distance/size of the city

See how you translated the word measure in 11:1.

its…walls: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as walls is singular, “wall.” It refers to the wall that surrounds the city. In some languages it is more natural to use the singular here. For example:

its wall (New American Standard Bible)
-or-
the wall ⌊that surrounds⌋ it

SIL Translator’s Notes on Revelation 21:16

21:16a–b

The city lies foursquare: The Greek clause is literally “the city lies square.” The land that the city rested on was square in shape. For example:

The city was square. (God’s Word)

with its width the same as its length: This phrase could mean that the city was shaped as a cube or as a pyramid. The words only describe the base or foundation as a square. So, do not describe the shape of the city.

21:16c–d

12,000 stadia: A Roman distance unit of measure was the stadium (plural is stadia). It is about 185 meters (607 feet). So 12,000 stadia is about 2,220 kilometers (1,380 miles). You may want to:

• Use the Roman measure, as the Berean Standard Bible does. You may then want to explain the distance in a footnote. For example:

This is about 2,200 kilometers.
-or-
About 1,400 miles.

• Use the common measure in your area. For example:

2,200 kilometers
-or-
1,400 miles
-or-
2,900,000 paces
-or-
the distance of walking 560 hours

You may then want to explain the literal words in a footnote. For example:

Literally: “12,000 stadia.” The Roman measure of a stadium (plural is “stadia”) is about 185 meters.

See how you translated stadia in 14:20.

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Source: SIL Translator’s Notes on Revelation 2020