bottomless pit

The now commonly-used English idiom “bottomless pit” (for something that holds a very large amount of something) was first coined in 1526 in the English New Testament translation of William Tyndale (spelled as bottomlesse pytt) for the Greek abussos. (Source: Crystal 2010, p. 289)

For other idioms in English that were coined by Bible translation, see here.

abyss, bottomless pit

The Greek that is transliterated as “abyss” or translated as “bottomless pit” in English is translated as “unfathomably deep place” or “land below” in Indonesian, “land below” in Batak Toba, or “the deep where the earth opens its mouth” in Sranan Tongo (a term well-known from folk tales).

In the German New Testament translation by Berger / Nord (publ. 1999) it is translated as as Höllenschlund or “entrance to hell (lit.: “throat of hell”).”

See also bottomless pit.

amazed / astonished / marvel

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The Greek that is translated as “astonished” or “amazed” or “marvel” in English is translated in Pwo Karen as “stand up very tall.” (In John 5:20, source: David Clark)

Elsewhere it is translated as “confusing the inside of the head” (Mende), “shiver in the liver” (Uduk, Laka), “to lose one’s heart” (Mískito, Tzotzil), “to shake” (Southern Bobo Madaré), “to be with mouth open” (Panao Huánuco Quechua) (source: Bratcher / Nida), “to stand with your mouth open” (Citak) (source: Stringer 2007, p. 120), “ceasing to think with the heart” (Bulu), “surprise in the heart” (Yamba) (source for this and one above: W. Reyburn in The Bible Translator 1959, p. 1ff. ), or “have one’s mouth full” (Maan (source: Don Slager).

In Mark 5:20 and elsewhere where the astonishment is a response to listening to Jesus, the translation is “listen quietly” in Central Tarahumara, “forget listening” (because they were so absorbed in what they heard that they forgot everything else) in San Miguel El Grande Mixtec, “it was considered very strange by them” in Tzeltal (source: Bratcher / Nida), “in glad amazement” (to distinguish it from other kinds of amazement) (Quetzaltepec Mixe) (source: Robert Bascom), or “breath evaporated (or “escaped”)” (Mairasi) (source: Enngavoter 2004).

In Western Dani astonishment is emphasized with direct speech. In Mark 1:22, for instance, it says: “Wi!” yinuk, pi wareegwaarak — “They were all amazed, saying ‘Oh'” (source: Lourens De Vries in The Bible Translator 1992, p. 333ff. )

In Low German it is translated as grote Oken maken or “make big eyes” (sometime followed by: un kreegn dat Stillswiegen: “and became silent”) (translation by Johannes Jessen, publ. 1933, republ. 2006).

In the Kölsch translation (publ. 2017) it is translated as brummte de Lück de Kopp or “the heads of the people buzzed,” Bauklötz jestaunt, lit. “marvel toy blocks,” and vür Staune de Muhl nit mieh zojekräch or “so full of marvel that they couldn’t close their mouths again.”

In the Pfälzisch translation by Walter Sauer (publ. 2012) it is often translated as baff vor staune or “speechless because of their marvel.” (Source: Jost Zetzsche)

See also amazed and astonished, astonished (Mark 6:51), and I’m astonished.

complete verse (Revelation 17:8)

Following are a number of back-translations of Revelation 17:8:

  • Uma: “He/it lived long ago, he no longer is at this time, but he will appear again from the sinkhole whose depth is not measured. And after that he will be punished forever. The people who live in the world whose names are not written in the Book of Life before the world was created, they will be surprised to see that animal. Because he lived long ago, but at this time he no longer is, but he will appear again later.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “That creature that you saw lived in former times but now it is dead. But not long and it will appear again from the bottomless hole. When he appears he will be headed for his final-end because he will be really destroyed. Then, the people in the world will be amazed/astounded, all those whose names are not written in the book for writing the names of the people who live forever, written at the time when the world was not yet created. They will all be amazed/astounded when they see that creature because he lived formerly, then died, and then appears again.'” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “That beast which you see was once here on the earth but now is gone. Soon he will come out of the pit whose depth has no end, and when he comes out he will be thrown into hell to be punished. And all the people who long ago before the world was created, their names were not written in the book where all who are given eternal life are listed, they will be greatly amazed when they see the beast. The reason they will be amazed is because that beast was once alive and now is dead, but he will be raised again.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “The animal which you (sing.) saw, it existed previously, but it doesn’t exist now. In a future day, it will come-out from the prison below, but after that it will be taken to its punishment that is forever. The collective-people on the earth whose names are not in the book in which are written the names of those who have life that has no end which was written before the creation of the world, they will be amazed when they see that fearsome animal. They will be amazed because it existed previously, it doesn’t exist now, and it will exist again.'” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “That animal which you saw, it was alive in the past but now is dead. However it will again come out of that very, very deep ravine, to/and be taken there to great hardship/punishment which has no ending. Well, the people under the heavens will be amazed whose names are not written in that in which are written the names of as many as would be given life which has no ending, from back at the creating of the world. They will be amazed when they see this monster because in the past he was still alive and then he died, but he reappeared.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “Concerning this terrible animal you saw, it is known that he lived before and now it is not known that he now lives. But again he will come up out of the hole which has no end to its depth. At the end he will go to be punished. Concerning the book in which is written the names of the people who must encounter new life, written since the world was created, those people whose names are not written the, upon seeing that again lived the terrible animal, were astonished.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Revelation 17:8

The beast that you saw: the past tense of the verb, saw, may imply that the vision had disappeared. But it may simply be the writer’s way of referring to the vision. Good News Translation has not represented that you saw, but it is better to retain it, using the tense of the verb that indicates a completed action in the past. The beast is the one described in 13.1, which now reappears in the book. One may also say “the beast that you have just seen.”

Was, and is not: this can be said “was alive once, but is now dead,” “was alive, but lives no longer.”

Is to ascend from the bottomless pit: see 11.7. For the auxiliary verb translated is to, see comments on “are about to” in 2.10. For bottomless pit see 9.1. This is a kind of resurrection, but the language used should not state here that the beast will be raised to life. In 13.14 this beast is described as having received a mortal wound, but it had come back to life. Here, as elsewhere in the book, the abyss is the realm of evil, destruction, and death.

Go to perdition: this is better translated “go to destruction.” The translation should not imply that willingly and deliberately the beast goes off to be destroyed. The meaning is that it is destined to be destroyed (by Christ; see 19.20). In languages that do not use the passive, this may be rendered as “go off to receive destruction” or “… for Christ (or, God) to destroy.” For the translation of destroy see 11.18.

The dwellers on earth: see 3.10.

Whose names have not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world: see 3.5; 13.8. In certain languages this will be expressed as “whose names God did not write in the book of the living before he created the world.”

Will marvel to behold the beast: this is better translated “will be astonished when they see the beast” (see also comments on 13.3).

Because it was and is not and is to come: Revised Standard Version has because as the translation of the Greek conjunction, but it may be understood as a relative, “that” (as Good News Translation translates): “the beast that was…” (also Revised English Bible). Others take it to mean “when they saw that the beast was alive….” It is recommended that Revised Standard Version not be followed here.

An alternative translation model for this verse is:

• That beast you just now saw was once alive, but lives no longer; it is about to come up out of the deep pit and will go off to receive destruction (or, for Christ [or, God] to destroy it). The people living on earth whose names God did not write in the book of the living before he created the world will all be amazed (or, have shivering hearts [or, livers]) as they look at the beast. It was once alive; now it no longer lives; but it will come back again.

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 .

SIL Translator’s Notes on Revelation 17:8

17:8a–b

it was, and now is no more, but is about to come up: These words refer to once being alive, then being dead, and then in the future being alive again. These words probably refer to imitating Jesus’ death and resurrection. The beast will do that to deceive people. Other ways to translate these words are:

is one that used to be and no longer is. It will come back (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
was once alive, but lives no longer; it is about to come up (Good News Translation)
-or-
was once alive but isn’t now. And yet he will soon come up (New Living Translation (2004))

is about to come up: This phrase implies that the beast will be alive at this time. If you translated “once was, now is not” as “once was alive, but now is not,” or similar wording, your translation should imply here that the beast is alive at the time he is about to come up. If it does not imply that, you may want to include that implied information in your translation. For example:

was once alive, but lives no longer; it is about to come up ⌊alive⌋
-or-
was once alive but isn’t now. And yet he will ⌊live and⌋ soon come up

17:8b

but: There is implied contrast between “is not” and “will come.” In some languages it is more natural to use “and” here.

the Abyss: The word Abyss refers to a very deep pit or chasm. It indicates that the pit or chasm was too deep to measure. Here it probably refers to something underground rather than a chasm. See how you translated this word in 9:1 or 11:7.

17:8c

and go to its destruction: This clause indicates that God plans to destroy the beast. The word go refers figuratively to the beast’s life as a journey. At the end of his life journey, God will destroy him. But the focus here is on God’s plan to destroy him. Other ways to translate this clause are:

and is destined for destruction
-or-
only to meet with destruction (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)
-or-
and will only live until God destroys him

The noun destruction refers to an event. In some languages it is necessary or more natural to use a verb for this event. For example:

but only to be destroyed (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
but ⌊God⌋ will destroy him

go: The future tense phrase “about to” is implied from 17:8b but not repeated here. Your translation should use a future form here. For example:

about to go

17:8d

those who dwell on the earth: This phrase refers to all people in a general way. But believers are not included (17:8e).

whose names were not written: This clause is passive. Some languages must use an active clause. The Book of Life belongs to Jesus, called the Lamb (21:27). For example:

all whose names that ⌊the Lamb⌋ has not written
-or-
all whose names that ⌊no one⌋ had written
-or-
whose names were not written

were not written: The Greek grammar indicates that the event of writing the names happened earlier. The names not written in the book then are still not written now.

17:8e–f

the Book of Life: This phrase refers to a Book that has names written in it. God will give eternal Life to the people whose names are in this book. Some languages need to explain the word of. For example:

the book ⌊in which is the names⌋ of ⌊those who have⌋ ⌊eternal⌋ life
-or-
the book ⌊with/having the names⌋ of ⌊those to whom God will give⌋ ⌊eternal⌋ life

See how you translated this phrase in 3:5 or 13:8.

from the foundation of the world: There are two ways to interpret the Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as from. It should be translated in the same way as in 13:8. See how you translated this phrase there.

17:8g

that was, and is not: These words have the same meaning as in 17:8a. Translate them in the same way here.

and yet will be: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as be is literally “be present.” For example:

It was once alive; now it no longer lives, but it will reappear (Good News Translation)
-or-
this beast that used to be and no longer is, but will be once more (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
the beast, which once was alive, and is alive no longer, and has still to appear (Revised English Bible)

and: There is implied contrast between the three clauses. For example:

but (NET Bible)

General Comment on 17:8d–g

There are four things said here that relate to one another:

(1) Some people’s names were not written in the Book of Life.

(2) That Book of Life was written before the beginning of the universe.

(3) Those people will be amazed at the beast.

(4) The beast once was, now is not, and yet will be present.

In some languages it is more natural to put some of that information into one or more sentences. For example:

8d The inhabitants of the earth 8f will be astonished when they see the beast, 8g because he once was, now is not, and yet will be present. 8d Their names were not written 8e in the Book of Life before the creation of the world.
-or-

8d The inhabitants of the earth 8f will be astonished when they see the beast, 8g because he once was, now is not, and yet will be present. 8d ⌊The Lamb⌋ did not write their names 8e in the Book of Life at the beginning of the world.

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