5:1 Then 6 I saw in the right hand of the one who was seated on the throne a scroll written on the front and back 7 and sealed with seven seals. 8
14:1 Then 12 I looked, and here was 13 the Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with him were one hundred and forty-four thousand, who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads.
1 tn The word “this” is used to translate the Greek article τῆς (ths), bringing out its demonstrative force.
2 tn The word “aloud” has been supplied to indicate that in the original historical setting reading would usually refer to reading out loud in public rather than silently to oneself.
3 tn The words “blessed are” are repeated from the beginning of this verse for stylistic reasons and for clarity.
4 tn Grk “keep.” L&N 36.19 has “to continue to obey orders or commandments – ‘to obey, to keep commandments, obedience.’”
5 sn The time refers to the time when the things prophesied would happen.
6 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence within the narrative.
7 tn Grk “written on the inside and the outside” (an idiom for having writing on both sides).
8 tn L&N 6.55 states, “From the immediate context of Re 5:1 it is not possible to determine whether the scroll in question had seven seals on the outside or whether the scroll was sealed at seven different points. However, since according to chapter six of Revelation the seals were broken one after another, it would appear as though the scroll had been sealed at seven different places as it had been rolled up.”
9 tn Grk “it”; the referent (the beast) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
10 tn The prepositional phrase “since the foundation of the world” is traditionally translated as a modifier of the immediately preceding phrase in the Greek text, “the Lamb who was killed” (so also G. B. Caird, Revelation [HNTC], 168), but it is more likely that the phrase “since the foundation of the world” modifies the verb “written” (as translated above). Confirmation of this can be found in Rev 17:8 where the phrase “written in the book of life since the foundation of the world” occurs with no ambiguity.
11 tn Or “slaughtered”; traditionally, “slain.”
12 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence within the narrative.
13 tn The phrase “and here was” expresses the sense of καὶ ἰδού (kai idou).
14 tn Grk “jasper, having.” Here a new sentence was started in the translation.
15 tn Grk “a (city) wall great and high.”
16 tn On this term BDAG 897 s.v. πυλών 1 states, “gate, esp. of the large, impressive gateways at the entrance of temples and palaces…of the entrances of the heavenly Jerusalem…οἱ πυλῶνες αὐτῆς οὐ μὴ κλεισθῶσιν its entrances shall never be shut Rv 21:25; cp. vss. 12ab, 13abcd, 15, 21ab; 22:14.”
17 tn Grk “of the sons of Israel.” The translation “nation of Israel” is given in L&N 11.58.
18 tn Grk “on them”; the referent (the gates) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
19 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “but” to indicate the contrast present in this context.
20 tn Here BDAG 552 s.v. κοινός 2 states, “pert. to being of little value because of being common, common, ordinary, profane…b. specifically, of that which is ceremonially impure: Rv 21:27.”
21 tn Or “what is abhorrent”; Grk “who practices abominations.”
22 tn Grk “practicing abomination or falsehood.” Because of the way βδέλυγμα (bdelugma) has been translated (“does what is detestable”) it was necessary to repeat the idea from the participle ποιῶν (poiwn, “practices”) before the term “falsehood.” On this term, BDAG 1097 s.v. ψεῦδος states, “ποιεῖν ψεῦδος practice (the things that go with) falsehood Rv 21:27; 22:15.” Cf. Rev 3:9.
23 tn Grk “those who are written”; the word “names” is implied.