Revelation 9:4-5

9:4 They ¹  were told ²  not to damage the grass of the earth, or any green plant or tree, but only those people ³  who did not have the seal of God on their ⁴  forehead. 9:5 The locusts ⁵  were not given permission ⁶  to kill ⁷  them, but only to torture ⁸  them ⁹  for five months, and their torture was like that ¹⁰  of a scorpion when it stings a person. ¹¹ 

Revelation 21:27

21:27 but ¹²  nothing ritually unclean ¹³  will ever enter into it, nor anyone who does what is detestable ¹⁴  or practices falsehood, ¹⁵  but only those whose names ¹⁶  are written in the Lamb’s book of life.

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¹ tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.

² tn The dative indirect object (αὐταῖς, autais) was converted into the subject (“they”) as this more closely approximates English usage. The following ἵ῞να (Jina) is taken as substantival, introducing a direct object clause. In this case, because it is reported speech, the ἵνα is similar to the declarative ὅτι (Joti).

³ tn Grk “men”; but ἄνθρωπος (anqrwpo") is used in a generic sense here of both men and women.

⁴ tn The article τῶν (twn) has been translated as a possessive pronoun here (ExSyn 215).

⁵ tn Grk “It was not permitted to them”; the referent (the locusts) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

⁶ tn The word “permission” is not in the Greek text, but is implied.

⁷ tn The two ἵνα (Jina) clauses of 9:5 are understood to be functioning as epexegetical or complementary clauses related to ἐδόθη (edoqh).

⁸ tn On this term BDAG 168 s.v. βασανισμός states, “1. infliction of severe suffering or pain associated with torture or torment, tormenting, torture Rv 9:5b. – 2. the severe pain experienced through torture, torment vs. 5a; 14:11; 18:10, 15; (w. πένθος) vs. 7.”

⁹ tn The pronoun “them” is not in the Greek text but is picked up from the previous clause.

¹⁰ tn Grk “like the torture,” but this is redundant in contemporary English.

¹¹ tn Grk “a man”; but ἄνθρωπος (anqrwpo") is used here in an individualized sense without being limited to the male gender.

¹² tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “but” to indicate the contrast present in this context.

¹³ 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.”

¹⁴ tn Or “what is abhorrent”; Grk “who practices abominations.”

¹⁵ 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.

¹⁶ tn Grk “those who are written”; the word “names” is implied.