3:1 “To 19 the angel of the church in Sardis write the following: 20
“This is the solemn pronouncement of 21 the one who holds 22 the seven spirits of God and the seven stars: ‘I know your deeds, that you have a reputation 23 that you are alive, but 24 in reality 25 you are dead.
5:6 Then 26 I saw standing in the middle of the throne 27 and of the four living creatures, and in the middle of the elders, a Lamb that appeared to have been killed. 28 He had 29 seven horns and seven eyes, which 30 are the seven 31 spirits of God 32 sent out into all the earth.
5:13 Then 33 I heard every creature – in heaven, on earth, under the earth, in the sea, and all that is in them – singing: 34
“To the one seated on the throne and to the Lamb
be praise, honor, glory, and ruling power 35 forever and ever!”
7:9 After these things I looked, and here was 50 an enormous crowd that no one could count, made up of persons from every nation, tribe, 51 people, and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb dressed in long white robes, and with palm branches in their hands.
“The salvation and the power
and the kingdom of our God,
and the ruling authority 61 of his Christ, 62 have now come,
because the accuser of our brothers and sisters, 63
the one who accuses them day and night 64 before our God,
has been thrown down.
14:13 Then 69 I heard a voice from heaven say, “Write this:
‘Blessed are the dead,
those who die in the Lord from this moment on!’”
“Yes,” says the Spirit, “so they can rest from their hard work, 70 because their deeds will follow them.” 71
15:2 Then 72 I saw something like a sea of glass 73 mixed with fire, and those who had conquered 74 the beast and his image and the number of his name. They were standing 75 by 76 the sea of glass, holding harps given to them by God. 77
1 tn Although the first possessive pronoun σου (sou) is connected to τὰ ἔργα (ta erga) and the second σου is connected to ὑπομονήν (Jupomonhn), semantically κόπον (kopon) is also to be understood as belonging to the Ephesian church. The translation reflects this.
2 tn The translation “tolerate” seems to capture the sense of βαστάσαι (bastasai) here. BDAG 171 s.v. βαστάζω 2.b.β says, “bear, endure…κακούς Rv 2:2.…bear patiently, put up with: weaknesses of the weak Ro 15:1; cf. IPol 1:2; evil Rv 2:3.”
3 tn Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, the participle was broken off from the previous sentence and translated as an indicative verb beginning a new sentence here in the translation.
4 tn Grk “is about to throw some of you,” but the force is causative in context.
5 tn Or “tempted.”
6 tn Or “experience persecution,” “will be in distress” (see L&N 22.2).
7 tn Grk “crown of life,” with the genitive “of life” (τῆς ζωῆς, th" zwh") functioning in apposition to “crown” (στέφανον, stefanon): “the crown that consists of life.”
8 tc The shorter reading adopted here has superior ms support (א A C P 2053 al latt co), while the inclusion of “your works and” (τὰ ἔργα σου καί, ta erga sou kai) before “where you reside” is supported by the Byzantine witnesses and is evidently a secondary attempt to harmonize the passage with 2:2, 19; 3:1, 8, 15.
9 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “Yet” to indicate the contrast between their location and their faithful behavior.
10 tn The present indicative verb κρατεῖς (kratei") has been translated as a progressive present.
11 tn Grk “the faith”; here the Greek article is used as a possessive pronoun (ExSyn 215).
12 tn Grk “the faith of me” (τὴν πίστιν μου, thn pistin mou) with the genitive “of me” (μου) functioning objectively.
13 tn Or “martyr.” The Greek word μάρτυς can mean either “witness” or “martyr.”
14 tn Grk “killed among you.” The term “city” does not occur in the Greek text of course, but the expression παρ᾿ ὑμῖν, ὅπου ὁ σατανᾶς κατοικεῖ (par’ Jumin, {opou Jo satana" katoikei) seems to indicate that this is what is meant. See G. B. Caird, Revelation (HNTC), 36-38.
15 sn See Num 22-24; 31:16.
16 tn That is, a cause for sinning. An alternate translation is “who instructed Balak to cause the people of Israel to sin by eating food sacrificed to idols…”
17 tn Grk “sons,” but the expression υἱοὶ ᾿Ισραήλ (Juioi Israhl) is an idiom for the people of Israel as an ethnic entity (see L&N 11.58).
18 tn Due to the actual events in the OT (Num 22-24; 31:16), πορνεῦσαι (porneusai) is taken to mean “sexual immorality.” BDAG 854 s.v. πορνεύω 1 states, “engage in illicit sex, to fornicate, to whore…W. φαγεῖν εἰδωλόθυτα ‘eat meat offered to idols’ Rv 2:14, 20.”
19 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated due to differences between Greek and English style.
20 tn The phrase “the following” after “write” is supplied to clarify that what follows is the content of what is to be written.
21 tn Grk “These things says [the One]…” See the note on the phrase “this is the solemn pronouncement of” in 2:1.
sn The expression This is the solemn pronouncement of reflects an OT idiom. See the note on this phrase in 2:1.
22 tn Grk “who has” (cf. 1:16).
23 tn Grk “a name.”
24 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “but” to indicate the contrast present in this context.
25 tn The prepositional phrase “in reality” is supplied in the translation to make explicit the idea that their being alive was only an illusion.
26 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence within the narrative.
27 tn Perhaps, “in the middle of the throne area” (see L&N 83.10).
28 tn Or “slaughtered”; traditionally, “slain.” The phrase behind this translation is ὡς ἐσφαγμένον (Jw" ejsfagmenon). The particle ὡς is used in Greek generally for comparison, and in Revelation it is used often to describe the appearance of what the author saw. This phrase does not imply that the Lamb “appeared to have been killed” but in reality was not, because the wider context of the NT shows that in fact the Lamb, i.e., Jesus, was killed. See 13:3 for the only other occurrence of this phrase in the NT.
29 tn Grk “killed, having.” Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, a new sentence was started here in the translation by supplying the pronoun “he.”
30 sn The relative pronoun which is masculine, referring back to the eyes rather than to the horns.
31 tc There is good ms evidence for the inclusion of “seven” (ἑπτά, Jepta; Ì24 א 2053 2351 ÏK). There is equally good ms support for the omission of the term (A 1006 1611 ÏA pc). It may have been accidentally added due to its repeated presence in the immediately preceding phrases, or it may have been intentionally added to maintain the symmetry of the phrases or more likely to harmonize the phrase with 1:4; 3:1; 4:5. Or it may have been accidentally deleted by way of homoioteleuton (τὰ ἑπτά, ta Jepta). A decision is difficult in this instance. NA27 also does not find the problem easy to solve, placing the word in brackets to indicate doubts as to its authenticity.
32 sn See the note on the phrase the seven spirits of God in Rev 4:5.
33 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision.
34 tn Grk “saying.”
35 tn Or “dominion.”
36 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision.
37 tn BDAG 1086 s.v. χοῖνιξ states, “a dry measure, oft. used for grain, approximately equivalent to one quart or one liter, quart. A χ.of grain was a daily ration for one pers.…Rv 6:6ab.”
38 tn Grk “a quart of wheat for a denarius.” A denarius was one day’s pay for an average worker. The words “will cost” are used to indicate the genitive of price or value; otherwise the English reader could understand the phrase to mean “a quart of wheat to be given as a day’s pay.”
39 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “but” to indicate the contrast present in this context.
40 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the implied result of the summons by the fourth creature.
41 tc The reading “and I looked” (καὶ εἶδον, kai eidon) or some slight variation (e.g., ἶδον, idon) has excellent ms support ({א A C P 1611}) and its omission seems to have come through the
42 tn The phrase “and here came” expresses the sense of καὶ ἰδού (kai idou).
43 tn A sickly pallor, when referring to persons, or the green color of plants. BDAG 1085 s.v. χλωρός 2 states, “pale, greenish gray…as the color of a pers. in sickness contrasted with appearance in health…so the horse ridden by Death…ἵππος χλωρός Rv 6:8.” Because the color of the horse is symbolic, “pale green” is used in the translation. Cf. NIV, NCV “pale”; NASB “ashen.”
44 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
45 tn Grk “the one sitting on it.”
46 tn Grk “And Hades was following with him.” The Greek expression μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ (met’ autou, “with him”) is Semitic and indicates close proximity. The translation “followed right behind” reflects this.
47 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style. Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, a new sentence was started here in the translation.
48 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
49 tn Grk “with death.” θάνατος (qanatos) can in particular contexts refer to a manner of death, specifically a contagious disease (see BDAG 443 s.v. 3; L&N 23.158).
50 tn The phrase “and here was” expresses the sense of καὶ ἰδού (kai idou).
51 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated before each of the following categories, since English normally uses a coordinating conjunction only between the last two elements in a series of three or more.
52 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the implied result of the previous question.
53 tn Though the expression “the answer” is not in the Greek text, it is clearly implied. Direct objects in Greek were frequently omitted when clear from the context.
54 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision.
55 tn Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, a new sentence was started here in the translation. Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
56 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the implied result of the instructions given by the voice.
57 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
58 tn The words “the scroll” are not in the Greek text, but are implied. Direct objects were frequently omitted in Greek when clear from the context.
59 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
60 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision.
61 tn Or “the right of his Messiah to rule.” See L&N 37.35.
62 tn Or “Messiah”; both “Christ” (Greek) and “Messiah” (Hebrew and Aramaic) mean “one who has been anointed.”
63 tn Grk “brothers,” but the Greek word may be used for “brothers and sisters” or “fellow Christians” (cf. BDAG 18 s.v. ἀδελφός 1, where considerable nonbiblical evidence for the plural ἀδελφοί [adelfoi] meaning “brothers and sisters” is cited). The translation “fellow believer” would normally apply (L&N 11.23), but since the speaker(s) are not specified in this context, it is not clear if such a translation would be appropriate here. The more generic “brothers and sisters” was chosen to emphasize the fact of a relationship without specifying its type.
64 tn Or “who accuses them continually.”
65 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “now” to indicate the parenthetical nature of the following description of the beast.
66 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
67 tn Grk “gave it”; the referent (the beast) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
68 tn For the translation “authority to rule” for ἐξουσία (exousia) see L&N 37.35.
69 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence within the narrative.
70 tn Or “from their trouble” (L&N 22.7).
71 tn Grk “their deeds will follow with them.”
72 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence within the narrative.
73 sn See Rev 4:6 where the sea of glass was mentioned previously.
74 tn Or “had been victorious over”; traditionally, “had overcome.”
75 tn Grk “of his name, standing.” A new sentence was started here in the translation by supplying the words “They were.”
76 tn Or “on.” The preposition ἐπί (epi) with the accusative case could mean “on, at, by, near”; given the nature of this scene appearing in a vision, it is difficult to know precisely which the author of Revelation intended. See BDAG 363 s.v. ἐπί 1.c.γ, “At, by, near someone or someth.”
77 tn Grk “harps of God.” The phrase τοῦ θεοῦ (tou qeou) has been translated as a genitive of agency.
78 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision.
79 tn Grk “another book was opened, which is of life.”
80 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the implied result of the books being opened.
81 tn Grk “from the things written in the books according to their works.”