16:12 Then 10 the sixth angel 11 poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates and dried up its water 12 to prepare the way 13 for the kings from the east. 14
21:15 The angel 17 who spoke to me had a golden measuring rod with which to measure the city and its foundation stones and wall.
21:22 Now 20 I saw no temple in the city, because the Lord God – the All-Powerful 21 – and the Lamb are its temple. 21:23 The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, because the glory of God lights it up, and its lamp is the Lamb.
1 tn Or “in heaven” (the same Greek word means both “heaven” and “sky”). The genitive τοῦ οὐρανοῦ (tou ouranou) is taken as a genitive of place.
2 tn Grk “throws [off]”; the indicative verb has been translated as a participle due to English style.
3 tn L&N 3.37 states, “a fig produced late in the summer season (and often falling off before it ripens) – ‘late fig.’ ὡς συκὴ βάλλει τοὺς ὀλύνθους αὐτῆς ὑπὸ ἀνέμου μεγάλου σειομένη ‘as the fig tree sheds its late figs when shaken by a great wind’ Re 6:13. In the only context in which ὄλυνθος occurs in the NT (Re 6:13), one may employ an expression such as ‘unripe fig’ or ‘fig which ripens late.’”
4 tn Grk “great wind.”
5 tn Or “The heavens were.” The Greek word οὐρανός (ouranos) can mean either “heaven” or “sky.”
6 tn BDAG 125 s.v. ἀποχωρίζω states, “ὁ οὐρανὸς ἀπεχωρίσθη the sky was split Rv 6:14.” Although L&N 79.120 gives the meaning “the sky disappeared like a rolled-up scroll” here, a scroll that is rolled up does not “disappear,” and such a translation could be difficult for modern readers to understand.
7 tn On this term BDAG 317 s.v. ἑλίσσω states, “ὡς βιβλίον ἑλισσόμενον like a scroll that is rolled up…Rv 6:14.”
8 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision.
9 tn For the translation of διάδημα (diadhma) as “diadem crown” see L&N 6.196.
sn Diadem crowns were a type of crown used as a symbol of the highest ruling authority in a given area, and thus often associated with kingship.
10 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision.
11 tn Grk “the sixth”; the referent (the sixth angel) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
12 tn Grk “and its water was dried up.” Here the passive construction has been translated as an active one.
13 tn Grk “in order that the way might be prepared.” Here the passive construction has been translated as an active one.
14 tn Grk “from the rising of the sun.” BDAG 74 s.v. ἀνατολή 2.a takes this as a geographical direction: “ἀπὸ ἀ. ἡλίου…from the east Rv 7:2; 16:12; simply ἀπὸ ἀ. …21:13.”
15 tn Grk “from God, having the glory of God.” Here a new sentence was started in the translation by supplying the words “the city” to refer back to the previous clause and translating the participle (“having”) as a finite verb.
16 tn On the term ἰάσπιδι (iaspidi) BDAG 465 s.v. ἴασπις states, “jasper, a precious stone found in various colors, mostly reddish, somet. green…brown, blue, yellow, and white. In antiquity the name was not limited to the variety of quartz now called jasper, but could designate any opaque precious stone. Rv 21:18f. W. λίθος 4:3 (TestSol C 11:8). λίθος ἴασπις κρυσταλλίζων a stone of crystal-clear jasper 21:11 (cp. Is 54:12); perh. the opal is meant here; acc. to some, the diamond.”
17 tn Grk “the one”; the referent (the angel of v. 9) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
18 tn Here the measurement was kept in cubits in the translation because of the possible symbolic significance of the number 144 (12 times 12). This is about 216 ft (65 m).
19 tn Here L&N 81.1 translate the phrase μέτρον ἀνθρώπου, ὅ ἐστιν ἀγγέλου (metron anqrwpou, {o estin angelou) “‘the unit of measurement used by a person, that is, by an angel’ Re 21:17.” It is more likely that μέτρον is an accusative of respect or reference.
20 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “now” to indicate the transition to a new topic. Every verse from here to the end of this chapter begins with καί in Greek, but due to differences between Greek and contemporary English style, these have not been translated.
21 tn On this word BDAG 755 s.v. παντοκράτωρ states, “the Almighty, All-Powerful, Omnipotent (One) only of God…(ὁ) κύριος ὁ θεὸς ὁ π. …Rv 1:8; 4:8; 11:17; 15:3; 16:7; 21:22.”
22 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “now” to indicate the parenthetical nature of the following description of the beast.
23 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
24 tn Grk “gave it”; the referent (the beast) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
25 tn For the translation “authority to rule” for ἐξουσία (exousia) see L&N 37.35.
26 tn Grk “its”; the referent (the city, the new Jerusalem) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
27 tn The Greek word πλατεῖα (plateia) refers to a major (broad) street (L&N 1.103).
28 tn Grk “From here and from there.”
29 tn Or “twelve crops” (one for each month of the year).
30 tn The words “of the year” are implied.