Section 5:6–14

Many people praised the Lamb

In this section, John described the one who was worthy to open the seals. He was like a lamb that had been killed. John also described those who worshiped the lamb. Then he wrote what they said.

Other examples of headings for this section are:

Every being/person praised the Lamb
-or-
Worship of the Lamb that was slain
-or-
The Lamb is praised/worshiped

Paragraph 5:6–10

5:6a

Lamb: This word refers to a young sheep. Here, it is used as 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. Jesus was killed at Passover, and he died as a sacrifice to God. Many English versions capitalize the word Lamb here to indicate it is used as a title.

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

This word is a symbolic title for Jesus.

In some languages it will be helpful to explain the title in a footnote. Example footnotes are:

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-
This title indicates that Jesus 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.

In some languages people are not familiar with sheep and lambs, so you may want to:

• Explain the meaning in your translation. For example:

a young ⌊tame animal called⌋ a sheep
-or-
the Passover sacrifice animal

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

The word “Lamb” refers to the young of an animal called a sheep. The Jews sacrificed a lamb at every Passover feast.

You may then want to include all or part of the example footnotes above which explain the title rather than two separate footnotes on the same word.

who appeared to have been slain: This phrase indicates that the Lamb had in fact been killed, but it was now alive again. It probably implies that the Lamb still had the marks that showed that he had been killed. Perhaps it had wounds or scars. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

looked as if it had once been killed (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
appeared to have been killed (Good News Translation)

have been slain: This clause is passive. Some languages must use an active clause. For example:

⌊they⌋ had killed it/him

5:6b–c

standing in the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders: The Greek words are literally “standing in the middle/midst of the throne and the four living creatures, and in the middle/midst of the elders.” The words probably indicate that the Lamb was standing very near the throne. The four living creatures stood around the throne and the Lamb. The elders then surrounded the Lamb, the throne, and the four living creatures. For example:

near the throne, and the four living creatures were there also, and the elders surrounded them all

These clauses do not mean that the Lamb was “on” the throne or “at” the throne. The Lamb comes to the throne in 5:7.

throne: This word refers to the official chair of a king or leader. The word throne is a symbol for authority to rule. See how you translated this word in 4:4.

the four living creatures: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as living creatures is literally “living (ones).” The word refers to beings that are like angels yet symbolically look like animals (4:7). See how you translated this phrase in 4:6.

the elders: Here the word elders refers to those who have authority. These twenty-four people (or angels) were leaders. They had God as their leader. See how you translated this word in 4:4.

5:6d

seven horns: Here the word horns refers to the horns on an animal’s head. Horns are a symbol of strength.

In some languages a literal translation would not imply the symbolic meaning of the horns. If that is true in your language, you may want to:

• Translate literally and explain its meaning in a footnote. For example:

Horns are a symbol of strength.

• Explain the meaning in your translation. For example:

seven horns ⌊symbolizing his great power⌋

seven: The number seven is symbolic of completeness or perfection. The fact that the Lamb had seven horns indicated that its power was perfect, just like God’s power is perfect.

5:6e

which represent the seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth: This clause tells the reader more about the seven eyes of 5:6d. In some languages a literal translation would wrongly indicate that there are other groups of seven eyes and only this one is the seven Spirits of God. If that is true in your language, translate these words so that they tell more about the seven eyes of 5:6d. One way to do that is to start a new sentence here. For example:

These are the seven spirits of God sent by him into all the earth.
-or-
His seven eyes mean the Seven Spirits of God that he commands to go to the whole world.

the seven Spirits of God sent out: The clause is passive. Some languages must use an active clause. For example:

the seven spirits of God ⌊that he⌋ sent

the seven Spirits of God: Many scholars believe that the phrase the seven Spirits is a symbolic reference to the Holy Spirit. Other scholars believe that the phrase refers to seven angels or to seven other spirits who serve God. See how you translated this phrase in 1:4 or 4:5.

into all the earth: This phrase indicates that God sent the Holy Spirit all over the whole earth. For example:

into every part of the earth

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