Revelation 8:1-11:14

New English Translation

Footnotes

1. Revelation 8:1 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “now” to indicate the resumption of the topic of the seals.
2. Revelation 8:1 tn Grk “he”; the referent (the Lamb) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
3. Revelation 8:2 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision.
4. Revelation 8:3 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
5. Revelation 8:3 tn Grk “having.”
6. Revelation 8:3 sn A golden censer was a bowl in which incense was burned. The imagery suggests the OT role of the priest.
7. Revelation 8:3 tn The verb “to station” was used to translate ἑστάθη (hestathē) because it connotes the idea of purposeful arrangement in English, which seems to be the idea in the Greek.
8. Revelation 8:3 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.
9. Revelation 8:4 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
10. Revelation 8:4 tn The expression τῶν θυμιαμάτων (tōn thumiamatōn) is taken as a “genitive of producer,” i.e., the noun in the genitive produces the head noun.
11. Revelation 8:5 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision.
12. Revelation 8:5 tn Or “sounds,” “voices.” It is not entirely clear what this refers to. BDAG 1071 s.v. φωνή 1 states, “In Rv we have ἀστραπαὶ καὶ φωναὶ καὶ βρονταί (cp. Ex 19:16) 4:5; 8:5; 11:19; 16:18 (are certain other sounds in nature thought of here in addition to thunder, as e.g. the roar of the storm?…).”
13. Revelation 8:6 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “now” to indicate the transition to a new topic.
14. Revelation 8:6 tn Grk “having.”
15. Revelation 8:7 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
16. Revelation 8:7 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so that” because what follows has the logical force of a result clause.
17. Revelation 8:8 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision.
18. Revelation 8:8 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
19. Revelation 8:9 tn Or “a third of the living creatures in the sea”; Grk “the third of the creatures which were in the sea, the ones having life.”
20. Revelation 8:9 tn On the term translated “completely destroyed,” L&N 20.40 states, “to cause the complete destruction of someone or something—‘to destroy utterly.’ τὸ τρίτον τῶν πλοίων διεφθάρησαν ‘a third of the ships were completely destroyed’ Re 8:9.”
21. Revelation 8:10 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision.
22. Revelation 8:10 tn Or “from heaven” (the same Greek word means both “heaven” and “sky”).
23. Revelation 8:10 tn Grk “fell.”
24. Revelation 8:11 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “now” in keeping with the parenthetical nature of this remark.
25. Revelation 8:11 tn Grk “is called,” but this is somewhat redundant in contemporary English.
26. Revelation 8:11 sn Wormwood refers to a particularly bitter herb with medicinal value. According to L&N 3.21, “The English term wormwood is derived from the use of the plant as a medicine to kill intestinal worms.” This remark about the star’s name is parenthetical in nature.
27. Revelation 8:11 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the implied result of the star falling on the waters.
28. Revelation 8:11 tn That is, terribly bitter (see the note on “Wormwood” earlier in this verse).
29. Revelation 8:11 tn Grk “and many of the men died from these waters because they were bitter.”
30. Revelation 8:12 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision.
31. Revelation 8:12 tn Grk “the day did not shine [with respect to] the third of it.”
32. Revelation 8:13 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision.
33. Revelation 8:13 tn Grk “one eagle.”
34. Revelation 8:13 tc M^A reads “angel” (ἀγγέλου, angelou) instead of “eagle” (ἀετοῦ, aetou), a reading strongly supported by א A 046 M^K and several versions. On external grounds, ἀετοῦ is clearly the superior reading. ἀγγέλου could have arisen inadvertently due to similarities in spelling or sound between ἀετοῦ and ἀγγέλου. It may also have been intentional in order to bring this statement in line with 14:6 where an angel is mentioned as the one flying in midair. This seems a more likely reason, strengthened by the facts that the book only mentions eagles two other times (4:7; 12:14). Further, the immediate as well as broad context is replete with references to angels.
35. Revelation 8:13 tn Concerning the word μεσουράνημα (mesouranēma), L&N 1.10 states, “a point or region of the sky directly above the earth—‘high in the sky, midpoint in the sky, directly overhead, straight above in the sky.’ εἶδον, καὶ ἤκουσα ἑνὸς ἁετοῦ πετομένου ἐν μεσουρανήματι ‘I looked, and I heard an eagle that was flying overhead in the sky’ Re 8:13.”
36. Revelation 8:13 tn Grk “about to sound their trumpets,” but this is redundant in English.
37. Revelation 9:1 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision.
38. Revelation 9:1 tn Or “from heaven” (the same Greek word means both “heaven” and “sky”).
39. Revelation 9:1 tn On this term BDAG 2 s.v. ἄβυσσος 2 states, “netherworld, abyss, esp. the abode of the dead Ro 10:7 (Ps 106:26) and of demons Lk 8:31; dungeon where the devil is kept Rv 20:3; abode of the θηρίον, the Antichrist 11:7; 17:8; of ᾿Αβαδδών (q.v.), the angel of the underworld 9:11…φρέαρ τῆς ἀ. 9:1f; capable of being sealed 9:1; 20:1, 3.”
40. Revelation 9:2 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
41. Revelation 9:2 tn Grk “the shaft,” but since this would be somewhat redundant in English, the pronoun “it” is used here.
42. Revelation 9:2 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
43. Revelation 9:3 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision.
44. Revelation 9:3 tn See BDAG 352 s.v. ἐξουσία 2, “potential or resource to command, control, or govern, capability, might, power.”
45. Revelation 9:4 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
46. Revelation 9:4 tn The dative indirect object (αὐταῖς, autais) was converted into the subject (“they”) as this more closely approximates English usage. The following ἵ῞να (hina) 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 (hoti).
47. Revelation 9:4 tn Grk “men”; but ἄνθρωπος (anthrōpos) is used in a generic sense here of both men and women.
48. Revelation 9:4 tn The article τῶν (tōn) has been translated as a possessive pronoun here (ExSyn 215).
49. Revelation 9:5 tn Grk “It was not permitted to them”; the referent (the locusts) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
50. Revelation 9:5 tn The word “permission” is not in the Greek text, but is implied.
51. Revelation 9:5 tn The two ἵνα (hina) clauses of 9:5 are understood to be functioning as epexegetical or complementary clauses related to ἐδόθη (edothē).
52. Revelation 9:5 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.”
53. Revelation 9:5 tn The pronoun “them” is not in the Greek text but is picked up from the previous clause.
54. Revelation 9:5 tn Grk “like the torture,” but this is redundant in contemporary English.
55. Revelation 9:5 tn Grk “a man”; but ἄνθρωπος (anthrōpos) is used here in an individualized sense without being limited to the male gender.
56. Revelation 9:6 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
57. Revelation 9:6 tn Grk “men”; but ἄνθρωπος (anthrōpos) is used in a generic sense here of both men and women.
58. Revelation 9:6 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “but” to indicate the contrast present in this context.
59. Revelation 9:6 tn The phrase “not be able to” was used in the translation to emphasize the strong negation (οὐ μή, ou mē) in the Greek text.
60. Revelation 9:7 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “now” to indicate the introduction of the description of the locusts, which is somewhat parenthetical in the narrative.
61. Revelation 9:7 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
62. Revelation 9:7 tn The translation attempts to bring out the double uncertainty in this clause in the Greek text, involving both the form (ὡς στέφανοι, hōs stephanoi, “like crowns”) and the material (ὅμοιοι χρυσῷ, homoioi chrusō, “similar to gold”).
63. Revelation 9:7 tn Or “human faces.” The Greek term ἄνθρωπος (anthrōpos) is often used in a generic sense, referring to both men and women. However, because “women’s hair” in the next clause suggests a possible gender distinction here, “men’s” was retained.
64. Revelation 9:8 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
65. Revelation 9:9 tn Or perhaps, “scales like iron breastplates” (RSV, NRSV) although the Greek term θώραξ (thōrax) would have to shift its meaning within the clause, and elsewhere in biblical usage (e.g., Eph 6:14; 1 Thess 5:8) it normally means “breastplate.” See also L&N 8.38.
66. Revelation 9:10 tn In the Greek text there is a shift to the present tense here; the previous verbs translated “had” are imperfects.
67. Revelation 9:10 tn See BDAG 352 s.v. ἐξουσία 2, “potential or resource to command, control, or govern, capability, might, power.”
68. Revelation 9:11 sn Both the Hebrew Abaddon and the Greek Apollyon mean “Destroyer.”
69. Revelation 9:12 tn Grk “behold.” Here ἰδού (idou) has been translated as “but” to indicate the contrast present in the context.
70. Revelation 9:13 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision.
71. Revelation 9:13 tc ‡ Several key mss (P⁴⁷ א¹ A 0207 1611 2053 2344 lat sy^h co) lack the word τεσσάρων (tessarōn, “four”) before κεράτων (keratōn, “horns”). The word seems to have been added by scribes because a “horned” altar (described in the OT [Exod 30:2, 10]) could have only four “horns” or projections at the corners. NA²⁸ includes the word in brackets, indicating doubts as to its authenticity.
72. Revelation 9:14 tn Grk “having.”
73. Revelation 9:14 tn On λῦσον (luson) BDAG 606-7 s.v. λύω 2 states, “set free, loose, untie—a. lit. a pers., animal, or thing that is bound or tied…Angels that are bound Rv 9:14f.”
74. Revelation 9:15 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision.
75. Revelation 9:15 tn The Greek article τήν (tēn) has been translated with demonstrative force here.
76. Revelation 9:15 tn The Greek term καί (kai) has not been translated here and before the following term “month” since English normally uses a coordinating conjunction only between the last two elements in a series of three or more.
77. Revelation 9:15 tn Grk “so that they might kill,” but the English infinitive is an equivalent construction to indicate purpose here.
78. Revelation 9:16 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
79. Revelation 9:16 tn Grk “twenty thousand of ten thousands.”
80. Revelation 9:17 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “now” to indicate the introduction of the description of the horses and riders, which is somewhat parenthetical in the narrative.
81. Revelation 9:17 tn Grk “and those seated on them.”
82. Revelation 9:17 tn Grk “the vision”; the Greek article has been translated as a possessive pronoun (ExSyn 215).
83. Revelation 9:17 tn L&N 79.33 states, “‘fiery red’…. One may also render ‘fiery red’ as ‘red like fire’ or ‘the color of fire.’”
84. Revelation 9:17 tn On this term BDAG 1022 s.v. ὑακίνθινος states, “hyacinth-colored, i.e., dark blue (dark red?) w. πύρινος Rv 9:17.”
85. Revelation 9:17 tn On this term BDAG 446 s.v. θειώδης states, “sulphurous Rv 9:17.”
86. Revelation 9:17 sn The colors of the riders’ breastplates parallel the three plagues of fire, smoke, and sulfur in v. 18.
87. Revelation 9:17 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
88. Revelation 9:17 tn Traditionally, “brimstone.”
89. Revelation 9:18 tn The phrase ἐκ τοῦ πυρὸς καὶ τοῦ καπνοῦ καὶ τοῦ θείου τοῦ ἐκπορευομένου ἐκ τῶν στομάτων αὐτῶν (“by the fire, the smoke, and the sulfur that came out of their mouths”) is taken as epexegetical (explanatory) to the phrase τῶν τριῶν πληγῶν τούτων (“these three plagues”).
90. Revelation 9:19 tn See BDAG 352 s.v. ἐξουσία 2, “potential or resource to command, control, or govern, capability, might, power.”
91. Revelation 9:19 tn Grk “is.”
92. Revelation 9:20 tn The word “made” is not in the Greek text but is implied.
93. Revelation 9:20 tn The Greek conjunction καί (kai) has not been translated here or before the following materials in this list, since English normally uses a coordinating conjunction only between the last two elements in a series of three or more.
94. Revelation 9:21 tn Grk “and.” Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, a new sentence was started here in the translation, with “furthermore” used to indicate a continuation of the preceding.
95. Revelation 9:21 tn On the term φαρμακεία (pharmakeia, “magic spells”) see L&N 53.100: “the use of magic, often involving drugs and the casting of spells upon people—‘to practice magic, to cast spells upon, to engage in sorcery, magic, sorcery.’ φαρμακεία: ἐν τῇ φαρμακείᾳ σου ἐπλανήθησαν πάντα τὰ ἔθνη ‘with your magic spells you deceived all the peoples (of the world)’ Re 18:23.”
96. Revelation 10:1 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision.
97. Revelation 10:1 tn Or “clothed.”
98. Revelation 10:1 tn Or “like fiery pillars,” translating πυρός (puros) as an attributive genitive.
99. Revelation 10:2 tn Grk “and 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.”
100. Revelation 10:3 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision.
101. Revelation 10:4 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “but” to indicate the contrast present in this context.
102. Revelation 10:4 tn The words “just then” are not in the Greek text, but are implied.
103. Revelation 10:5 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision.
104. Revelation 10:6 tn On this phrase see BDAG 1092 s.v. χρόνος.
105. Revelation 10:7 tn Grk “But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel.”
106. Revelation 10:7 tn The aorist ἐτελέσθη (etelesthē) has been translated as a proleptic (futuristic) aorist (ExSyn 564 cites this verse as an example).
107. Revelation 10:7 tn The time of the action described by the aorist εὐηγγέλισεν (euēngelisen) seems to be past with respect to the aorist passive ἐτελέσθη (etelesthē). This does not require that the prophets in view here be OT prophets. They may actually refer to the martyrs in the church (so G. B. Caird, Revelation [HNTC], 129).
108. Revelation 10:7 tn See the note on the word “servants” in 1:1.
109. Revelation 10:8 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision.
110. Revelation 10:8 tn The participle λαλοῦσαν (lalousan) has been translated as “began to speak.” The use of πάλιν (palin) indicates an ingressive idea.
111. Revelation 10:8 tn Grk “with me.” The translation “with me” implies that John was engaged in a dialogue with the one speaking to him (e.g., Jesus or an angel) when in reality it was a one-sided conversation, with John doing all the listening. For this reason, μετ᾿ ἐμοῦ (met’ emou, “with me”) was translated as “to me.”
112. Revelation 10:8 tn Grk “again, saying.” The participle λέγουσαν (legousan) is redundant in contemporary English and has not been translated.
113. Revelation 10:8 tn The perfect passive participle ἠνεῳγμένον (ēneōgmenon) is in second attributive position and has been translated as an attributive adjective.
114. Revelation 10:9 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the implied result of the instructions given by the voice.
115. Revelation 10:9 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
116. Revelation 10:9 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.
117. Revelation 10:9 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
118. Revelation 10:10 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the implied result of the instructions given by the angel.
119. Revelation 10:10 tn Grk “it was.” The idea of taste is implied.
120. Revelation 10:10 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “but” to indicate the contrast present in this context.
121. Revelation 10:11 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision.
122. Revelation 10:11 tn The referent of “they” is not clear in the Greek text.
123. Revelation 10:11 tn Grk “and nations,” but καί (kai) has not been translated here or before the next item since English normally uses a coordinating conjunction only between the last two elements in a series of three or more.
124. Revelation 11:1 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence within the narrative.
125. Revelation 11:1 tn Grk “a reed” (but these were used for measuring). Cf. Ezek 40:3ff.
126. Revelation 11:1 tn Grk “saying.”
127. Revelation 11:2 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “but” to indicate the contrast present in this context.
128. Revelation 11:2 tn On the term αὐλήν (aulēn) BDAG 150 s.v. αὐλή 1 states, “(outer) court of the temple…Rv 11:2.”
129. Revelation 11:2 tn The precise meaning of the phrase ἔκβαλε ἔξωθεν (ekbale exōthen) is difficult to determine.
130. Revelation 11:2 tn Or “to the nations” (the same Greek word may be translated “Gentiles” or “nations”).
131. Revelation 11:2 sn The holy city appears to be a reference to Jerusalem. See also Luke 21:24.
132. Revelation 11:3 tn The word “authority” is not in the Greek text, but is implied. “Power” would be another alternative that could be supplied here.
133. Revelation 11:4 sn This description is parenthetical in nature.
134. Revelation 11:5 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
135. Revelation 11:5 tn This is a collective singular in Greek.
136. Revelation 11:5 tn See L&N 20.45 for the translation of κατεσθίω (katesthiō) as “to destroy utterly, to consume completely.”
137. Revelation 11:5 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
138. Revelation 11:6 tn Or “authority.”
139. Revelation 11:6 tn Grk “the days.”
140. Revelation 11:6 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.
141. Revelation 11:6 tn Or “authority.”
142. Revelation 11:7 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
143. Revelation 11:7 tn Or “be victorious over”; traditionally, “overcome.”
144. Revelation 11:8 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
145. Revelation 11:8 tn The Greek word πλατεῖα (plateia) refers to a major (broad) street (L&N 1.103).
146. Revelation 11:8 tn Grk “spiritually.”
147. Revelation 11:9 tn The word “every” is not in the Greek text, but is implied by the following list.
148. Revelation 11:9 tn The Greek term καί (kai) has not been translated before this and the following items in the list, since English normally uses a coordinating conjunction only between the last two elements in a series of three or more.
149. Revelation 11:9 tn Or “to be buried.”
150. Revelation 11:11 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “but” to indicate the contrast present in this context.
151. Revelation 11:11 tn Grk “fell upon.”
152. Revelation 11:12 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision.
153. Revelation 11:12 tn Though the nearest antecedent to the subject of ἤκουσαν (ēkousan) is the people (“those who were watching them”), it could also be (based on what immediately follows) that the two prophets are the ones who heard the voice.
154. Revelation 11:12 tn Grk “they”; the referent (the two prophets) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
155. Revelation 11:12 tn The conjunction καί (kai) seems to be introducing a temporal clause contemporaneous in time with the preceding clause.
156. Revelation 11:13 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
157. Revelation 11:13 tn Grk “seven thousand names of men.”
158. Revelation 11:14 tn Grk “has passed.”