OET interlinear REV 14:2

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / simile

ὡς φωνὴν ὑδάτων πολλῶν, καὶ ὡς φωνὴν βροντῆς μεγάλης

as as like (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Καί ἤκουσα φωνήν ἐκ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ ὡς φωνήν ὑδάτων πολλῶν καί ὡς φωνήν βροντῆς μεγάλης καί ἡ φωνή ἥν ἤκουσα ὡς κιθαρῳδῶν κιθαριζόντων ἐν ταῖς κιθάραις αὐτῶν)

The point of these comparisons is that the sound John heard was loud and powerful. If it would be helpful in your language, you could make this point explicitly. Alternate translation: [that was loud and powerful, like the sound of many waters and like the sound of booming thunder]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

ὑδάτων πολλῶν

˱of˲_waters many

By sound of many waters, John could mean a loud waterfall or raging floodwaters. See how you translated the similar expression in [1:15](../01/15.md). Alternate translation: [of a waterfall] or [of raging floodwaters]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / simile

ὡς κιθαρῳδῶν κιθαριζόντων ἐν ταῖς κιθάραις αὐτῶν

as as like ˱of˲_harpists playing_the_harp with the harps ˱of˲_them

The point of this comparison is that the sound that John heard was also beautiful and melodious. (John explains in the next verse that it was the sound of a great number of people singing.) If it would be helpful in your language, you could make this point explicitly. Alternate translation: [beautiful and melodious, like harpists harping on their harps]

Note 4 topic: writing-poetry

ὡς κιθαρῳδῶν κιθαριζόντων ἐν ταῖς κιθάραις αὐτῶν

as as like ˱of˲_harpists playing_the_harp with the harps ˱of˲_them

John’s repetitive use of three words with the root “harp” seems to imitate the sound of music. You may wish to use three similar words in your translation if that is possible in your language.