REV 1:1 Interlinear View

1. Greek word
2. Greek lemma
3. OET-LV words
4. OET-RV words
5. Strongs
6. Role/Morphology
7. OET Gloss
8. VLT Gloss
9. CAPS codes
10. Confidence
11. OET tags
12. OET word #
1. Ἀποκάλυψις
2. apokalupsis
3. +The revelation
4. revelation
5. 6020
6. N····NFS
7. ˓the˒ revelation
8. ˓the˒ revelation
9. PS
10. Y96
11. 155327
1. Ἰησοῦ
2. iēsous
3. of Yaʸsous/(Yəhōshūˊa)
4. -
5. 24240
6. N····GMS
7. ˱of˲ Yaʸsous/(Yəhōshūˊa)
8. ˱of˲ Jesus
9. UN
10. Person=Jesus; Y96; F155332; F155335; F155339; F155346; F155347; F155351; F155351
11. 155328
1. Χριστοῦ
2. χristos
3. chosen one messiah
4. messiah
5. 55470
6. N····GMS
7. chosen_one/messiah
8. Christ
9. WN
10. Y96; Person=Jesus
11. 155329
1. ἥν
2. hos
3. which
4. that
5. 37390
6. R····AFS
7. which
8. which
9. -
10. Y96
11. 155330
1. ἔδωκεν
2. didōmi
3. gave
4. gave
5. 13250
6. VIAA3··S
7. gave
8. gave
9. -
10. Y96
11. 155331
1. αὐτῷ
2. autos
3. to him
4. -
5. 8460
6. R···3DMS
7. ˱to˲ him
8. ˱to˲ him
9. -
10. Y96; R155328; Person=Jesus
11. 155332
1. ὁ
2. ho
3. the
4. -
5. 35880
6. E····NMS
7. ¬the
8. ¬the
9. -
10. Y96
11. 155333
1. Θεός
2. theos
3. god
4. God
5. 23160
6. N····NMS
7. god
8. God
9. GN
10. Y96; Person=God
11. 155334
1. δεῖξαι
2. deiknuō
3. to show
4. -
5. 11660
6. VNAA····
7. ˓to˒ show
8. ˓to˒ show
9. -
10. Y96; R155328; Person=Jesus
11. 155335
1. τοῖς
2. ho
3. to the
4. -
5. 35880
6. E····DMP
7. ˱to˲ the
8. ˱to˲ the
9. -
10. Y96
11. 155336
1. ἁγίοις
2. hagios
3. -
4. -
5. 400
6. A····DMP
7. holy
8. holy
9. -
10. -
11. 155337
1. δούλοις
2. doulos
3. slaves
4. slaves
5. 14010
6. N····DMP
7. slaves
8. slaves
9. -
10. Y96
11. 155338
1. αὐτοῦ
2. autos
3. of him
4. -
5. 8460
6. R···3GMS
7. ˱of˲ him
8. ˱of˲ him
9. -
10. Y96; R155328; Person=Jesus
11. 155339
1. ἅ
2. hos
3. what things
4. -
5. 37390
6. R····ANP
7. what ‹things›
8. what ‹things›
9. -
10. Y96
11. 155340
1. δεῖ
2. dei
3. it is fitting
4. -
5. 12100
6. VIPA3··S
7. ˱it˲ ˓is˒ fitting
8. ˱it˲ ˓is˒ fitting
9. -
10. Y96
11. 155341
1. γενέσθαι
2. ginomai
3. to become
4. -
5. 10960
6. VNAM····
7. ˓to˒ become
8. ˓to˒ become
9. -
10. Y96
11. 155342
1. ἐν
2. en
3. in
4. -
5. 17220
6. P·······
7. in
8. in
9. -
10. Y96
11. 155343
1. τάχει
2. taχos
3. quickness
4. -
5. 50340
6. N····DNS
7. quickness
8. quickness
9. -
10. Y96
11. 155344
1. καί
2. kai
3. and
4. -
5. 25320
6. C·······
7. and
8. and
9. -
10. Y96
11. 155345
1. ἐσήμανεν
2. sēmainō
3. he signified it
4. -
5. 45910
6. VIAA3··S
7. ˱he˲ signified ‹it›
8. ˱he˲ signified ‹it›
9. -
10. Y96; R155328; Person=Jesus
11. 155346
1. ἀποστείλας
2. apostellō
3. having sent out
4. -
5. 6490
6. VPAA·NMS
7. ˓having˒ sent_out
8. ˓having˒ sent_out
9. -
10. Y96; R155328; Person=Jesus
11. 155347
1. διά
2. dia
3. through
4. -
5. 12230
6. P·······
7. through
8. through
9. -
10. Y96
11. 155348
1. τοῦ
2. ho
3. the
4. -
5. 35880
6. E····GMS
7. the
8. the
9. -
10. Y96
11. 155349
1. ἀγγέλου
2. aŋgelos
3. messenger
4. messenger
5. 320
6. N····GMS
7. messenger
8. angel
9. -
10. Y96
11. 155350
1. αὐτοῦ
2. autos
3. of him
4. -
5. 8460
6. R···3GMS
7. ˱of˲ him
8. ˱of˲ him
9. -
10. Y96; R155328; Person=Jesus; R155328; Person=Jesus
11. 155351
1. τῷ
2. ho
3. to the
4. -
5. 35880
6. E····DMS
7. ˱to˲ the
8. ˱to˲ the
9. -
10. Y96
11. 155352
1. τοῦ
2. ho
3. -
4. -
5. 35880
6. E····GMS
7. ˱of˲ the
8. ˱of˲ the
9. -
10. -
11. 155353
1. δούλῳ
2. doulos
3. slave
4. slave
5. 14010
6. N····DMS
7. slave
8. slave
9. -
10. Y96; F155371
11. 155354
1. δούλου
2. doulos
3. -
4. -
5. 14010
6. N····GMS
7. slave
8. slave
9. -
10. -
11. 155355
1. αὐτοῦ
2. autos
3. of him
4. -
5. 8460
6. R···3GMS
7. ˱of˲ him
8. ˱of˲ him
9. -
10. Y96
11. 155356
1. Ἰωάννῃ
2. iōannēs
3. Yōannaʸs
4. -
5. 24910
6. N····DMS
7. Yōannaʸs
8. John
9. U
10. Person=John2; Y96
11. 155357

SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 1:1–3: John introduced his book

In this section, John indicated that the contents of the revelation were given to Jesus by God. Then Jesus gave it to an angel, and the angel gave it to John. John wrote it in this book for all believers to read.

These verses explain the purpose of the book, give information about the author, and offer a blessing to those who read the book.

Other examples of headings for this section are:

Introduction

Introduction to the book

Opening remarks/words of the book

Some translations do not start a book with a section heading. Consider whether or not you should use one.

1:1a

This is the revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him

¶ This revelation is from Jesus Christ that God showed/told to him
¶ This book has secret/hidden knowledge/things that Jesus, the Messiah, revealed/showed. God had caused it/them to be known to him.

This is the revelation of Jesus Christ: In Greek this phase is more literally “The revelation of Jesus Christ.” This phrase introduces the book. In some languages it is more natural to translate this phrase as a complete clause or sentence, as the BSB and some other English versions have done. For example:

This is the revelation of Jesus Christ. (BSB, GW)

This book/letter/writing is the revelation of Jesus Christ,

This phrase indicates that Jesus Christ revealed the things in this book to John. Other ways to translate this are:

This is a revelation from Jesus Christ, (NLT)

The revelation from Jesus Christ (NIV11)

This book is the record of the events that Jesus Christ revealed. (GNT)

revelation of Jesus Christ: The Greek word that the BSB translates as revelation refers to something unknown that someone shows/reveals to someone else. In some languages it is more natural to translate this phrase using a verb. For example:

things revealed by Jesus Christ

hidden things/knowledge that Jesus Christ told

hidden/secret knowledge that Jesus Christ revealed

Christ: The word Christ is a title for Jesus. It means “the anointed one.” The Hebrew word mashiah (English: “Messiah”) has the same meaning. The Jews used it to refer to the person whom God promised would save/free his people and rule them. Here the word Christ describes Jesus as the Christ.

Some ways to translate Christ are:

Use a title or a descriptive phrase in your language that has the same meaning as Christ. For example:
God’s Anointed/Chosen One
Promised Deliverer
the Rescuer-King
Use the major language word, spell it as people in your language would say it, and include a phrase that explains the meaning. For example:
Karisiti, the appointed one
Cristo, the Savior whom God promised to send
Use the major language word, spell it as people in your language would say it, and indicate in some way that it is a title. For example:
the Kirisita
Use the word Messiah, if it is more clearly a title used only for Jesus. Spell it as people in your language would say it and indicate in some way that it is a title. For example:
the MesaaiaThe spelling Mesaaia is based on the usage in the Nalik NT, in progress, Papua New Guinea.

If you have translated other New Testament books, see how you translated this word there. Also, if you have a footnote explaining this word in Matthew 1:1, Mark 1:1, Luke 2:11, or John 1:17, you may want to repeat it here.

which God gave Him: This clause tells the reader more about the revelation. In some languages a literal translation would wrongly indicate that Jesus had other revelations but God only gave this one to him. If that is true in your language, translate this clause so that it tells more about this revelation. One way to do that is to start a new sentence here. For example:

It was given to him by God.

God gave it to him.

gave: The word gave indicates that God showed these revelations to Jesus. In some languages a word other than gave is more natural. For example:

showed (CEV)

told

1:1b

to show His servants what must soon come to pass.

in order to show to his servants/slaves the things that are required to happen soon.
God showed/told him these things so that his servants/workers might know the events that will certainly occur/happen soon.

His servants: The Greek word that the BSB translates as servants refers to believers. It indicates that believers must obey the things God tells them to do.

The Greek word can also be translated as “slaves.” However, it is important not to indicate or imply that it is a position of shame or humiliation. A servant of God has a position of honor. Other ways to translate this word are:

his workers

the people who serve him

his people, they work for him

his people, they do his will

His: The pronoun His probably refers here to God.Compare the similar wording in Revelation 22:6.

must soon come to pass: Here the phrase must soon come to pass indicates that the events in the revelation will certainly happen soon. God has decided that all these events will happen, so they will certainly happen. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

must soon happen (NCV)

will soon necessarily/indeed occur

has been determined by God to happen soon

will definitely/certainly occur soon

1:1c

He made it known by sending His angel to His servant John,

Jesus Christ showed it to his servant/slave John by sending his angel to him.
Jesus sent his angel/messenger to reveal these things to me, John, his servant/worker.

He made…known: The person that the pronoun He refers to is unclear. It is probably Jesus. In some languages it is more natural to say to whom this pronoun refers. For example:

Christ made these things known (GNT)

made…known: This phrase refers to revealing something through signs. Here, the signs are things and events that have symbolic meanings. There are many things that are symbolic in Revelation, for example: the dragon (12:3) and the woman on the scarlet beast (17:3).

Jesus communicated this revelation to believers by sending his angel with the revelation to John. The angel showed the revelation to John. John wrote this revelation and sent it to the believers. Other ways to translate these words are:

revealed through signs

communicated (NASB)

sent this revelation (GW)

show (NCV)

it: The pronoun it refers to the revelation, namely, the things that Jesus revealed (1:1a).

His angel: The pronoun His probably refers here to Jesus.

angel: The Greek word that the BSB translates as angel means “messenger.” It refers here to a spirit being who serves Christ. Some ways to translate this word are:

Use a descriptive word or phrase. For example:
messenger
good/holy spirit-being
Use a local word that fits the biblical meaning.
In some languages the churches may already be using the major language word for “angel.” Be sure that this word fits the biblical meaning. If some people do not know the right meaning from this word, you may want to indicate the meaning in some way. For example:
angel messenger
sacred angel spirit

Be sure that your word for “angel” is different from your words or phrases for “prophet” and “apostle.”

to His servant John: The name John refers to the author himself. John wrote about himself in the third person. This was good Greek style. In some languages it is more natural to use the first person. For example:

to his servant John, me

to me John, his servant

His: This pronoun refers here to Jesus.

servant: This word has the same meaning as it does in 1:1b.

John: The traditional view is that John the Apostle wrote this Revelation.Swete and others. But a second century Christian, Dionysius, thought is was someone named “John the Elder” and not John the Apostle.Aune and others. Many scholars refuse to choose which is most likely. It is best not to name this John as “the Apostle” or “the Elder.”

General Comment on 1:1a–c

In some languages it is more natural to follow the chronological order of communicating the message. For example:

^1a This book is the revelation of Jesus Christ. God gave it to him. ^1cHe made it known by sending his angel to his servant John,^1bHe/God gave it to him to show his/God’s servants what must soon take place. ^2aJohn testifies…

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

ἀποκάλυψις Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, ἣν ἔδωκεν αὐτῷ ὁ Θεὸς

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ἀποκάλυψις Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ ἥν ἔδωκεν αὐτῷ ὁ Θεός δεῖξαι τοῖς δούλοις αὐτοῦ ἅ δεῖ γενέσθαι ἐν τάχει καί ἐσήμανεν ἀποστείλας διά τοῦ ἀγγέλου αὐτοῦ τῷ δούλῳ αὐτοῦ Ἰωάννῃ)

If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of revelation, you could express the same idea in another way. Alternate translation: [The things that God revealed to Jesus Christ] or [The things that Jesus Christ revealed, which God gave him]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / possession

ἀποκάλυψις Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ

This phrase could mean: (1) that this book is a revelation that came to Jesus from God. Alternate translation: [The revelation to Jesus Christ] (2) that this book is a revelation that came from Jesus to John, the author of the book. Alternate translation: [The revelation from Jesus Christ]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

τοῖς δούλοις αὐτοῦ

˱to˲_the slaves ˱of˲_him

Here, his servants refers to people who believe in Jesus Christ and accordingly serve him as their Lord. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could indicate that explicitly. Alternate translation: [those who believe in him]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

ἐσήμανεν

˱he˲_signified_‹it›

The word translated signified could mean implicitly (1) that Jesus used signs or symbols to communicate this revelation. Alternate translation: [he showed this by signs] (2) that Jesus made known what must happen soon. Alternate translation: [he made this known]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / 123person

τῷ δούλῳ αὐτοῦ, Ἰωάννῃ

˱to˲_the slave ˱of˲_him John

John is speaking about himself in the third person. If it would be helpful in your language, you could translate this in the first person. Alternate translation: [to me, John, his servant]

Note 6 topic: translate-names

Ἰωάννῃ

John

The word John is the name of a man. See the General Introduction to Revelation for a discussion of who this man may have been.

OET-LV English word order (‘Reverse’ interlinear)

1. OET-LV words
2. OET-RV words
3. Strongs
4. Greek word
5. Greek lemma
6. Role/Morphology
7. OET Gloss
8. VLT Gloss
9. CAPS codes
10. Confidence
11. OET tags
12. OET word #
1. +The revelation
2. revelation
3. 6020
4. PS
5. apokalupsis
6. N-····NFS
7. ˓the˒ revelation
8. ˓the˒ revelation
9. PS
10. Y96
11. 155327
1. of Yaʸsous/(Yəhōshūˊa)
2. -
3. 24240
4. UN
5. iēsous
6. N-····GMS
7. ˱of˲ Yaʸsous/(Yəhōshūˊa)
8. ˱of˲ Jesus
9. UN
10. Person=Jesus; Y96; F155332; F155335; F155339; F155346; F155347; F155351; F155351
11. 155328
1. chosen one messiah
2. messiah
3. 55470
4. WN
5. χristos
6. N-····GMS
7. chosen_one/messiah
8. Christ
9. WN
10. Y96; Person=Jesus
11. 155329
1. which
2. that
3. 37390
5. hos
6. R-····AFS
7. which
8. which
9. -
10. Y96
11. 155330
1. gave
2. gave
3. 13250
5. didōmi
6. V-IAA3··S
7. gave
8. gave
9. -
10. Y96
11. 155331
1. to him
2. -
3. 8460
5. autos
6. R-···3DMS
7. ˱to˲ him
8. ˱to˲ him
9. -
10. Y96; R155328; Person=Jesus
11. 155332
1. the
2. -
3. 35880
5. ho
6. E-····NMS
7. ¬the
8. ¬the
9. -
10. Y96
11. 155333
1. god
2. God
3. 23160
4. GN
5. theos
6. N-····NMS
7. god
8. God
9. GN
10. Y96; Person=God
11. 155334
1. to show
2. -
3. 11660
5. deiknuō
6. V-NAA····
7. ˓to˒ show
8. ˓to˒ show
9. -
10. Y96; R155328; Person=Jesus
11. 155335
1. to the
2. -
3. 35880
5. ho
6. E-····DMP
7. ˱to˲ the
8. ˱to˲ the
9. -
10. Y96
11. 155336
1. slaves
2. slaves
3. 14010
5. doulos
6. N-····DMP
7. slaves
8. slaves
9. -
10. Y96
11. 155338
1. of him
2. -
3. 8460
5. autos
6. R-···3GMS
7. ˱of˲ him
8. ˱of˲ him
9. -
10. Y96; R155328; Person=Jesus
11. 155339
1. what things
2. -
3. 37390
5. hos
6. R-····ANP
7. what ‹things›
8. what ‹things›
9. -
10. Y96
11. 155340
1. it is fitting
2. -
3. 12100
5. dei
6. V-IPA3··S
7. ˱it˲ ˓is˒ fitting
8. ˱it˲ ˓is˒ fitting
9. -
10. Y96
11. 155341
1. to become
2. -
3. 10960
5. ginomai
6. V-NAM····
7. ˓to˒ become
8. ˓to˒ become
9. -
10. Y96
11. 155342
1. in
2. -
3. 17220
5. en
6. P-·······
7. in
8. in
9. -
10. Y96
11. 155343
1. quickness
2. -
3. 50340
5. taχos
6. N-····DNS
7. quickness
8. quickness
9. -
10. Y96
11. 155344
1. and
2. -
3. 25320
5. kai
6. C-·······
7. and
8. and
9. -
10. Y96
11. 155345
1. he signified it
2. -
3. 45910
5. sēmainō
6. V-IAA3··S
7. ˱he˲ signified ‹it›
8. ˱he˲ signified ‹it›
9. -
10. Y96; R155328; Person=Jesus
11. 155346
1. having sent out
2. -
3. 6490
5. apostellō
6. V-PAA·NMS
7. ˓having˒ sent_out
8. ˓having˒ sent_out
9. -
10. Y96; R155328; Person=Jesus
11. 155347
1. through
2. -
3. 12230
5. dia
6. P-·······
7. through
8. through
9. -
10. Y96
11. 155348
1. the
2. -
3. 35880
5. ho
6. E-····GMS
7. the
8. the
9. -
10. Y96
11. 155349
1. messenger
2. messenger
3. 320
5. aŋgelos
6. N-····GMS
7. messenger
8. angel
9. -
10. Y96
11. 155350
1. of him
2. -
3. 8460
5. autos
6. R-···3GMS
7. ˱of˲ him
8. ˱of˲ him
9. -
10. Y96; R155328; Person=Jesus; R155328; Person=Jesus
11. 155351
1. to the
2. -
3. 35880
5. ho
6. E-····DMS
7. ˱to˲ the
8. ˱to˲ the
9. -
10. Y96
11. 155352
1. slave
2. slave
3. 14010
5. doulos
6. N-····DMS
7. slave
8. slave
9. -
10. Y96; F155371
11. 155354
1. of him
2. -
3. 8460
5. autos
6. R-···3GMS
7. ˱of˲ him
8. ˱of˲ him
9. -
10. Y96
11. 155356
1. Yōannaʸs
2. -
3. 24910
4. U
5. iōannēs
6. N-····DMS
7. Yōannaʸs
8. John
9. U
10. Person=John2; Y96
11. 155357

Note: The OET-RV is still only a first draft, and so far only a few words have been (mostly automatically) matched to the Hebrew or Greek words that they’re translated from.

Acknowledgements: The SR Greek text, lemmas, morphology, and VLT gloss are all thanks to the CNTR.