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OET (OET-LV) And I_saw thrones, and they_sat_down on them, and judgement was_given to_them, and the souls of_the ones having_been_beheaded because_of the testimony of_Yaʸsous/(Yəhōshūˊa), and because_of the message of_ the _god, and whoever neither prostrated before_the wild_animal, nor the image of_him, and not took the mark on their forehead, and on the hand of_them, and they_lived and reigned with the for_a_Thousand chosen_one/messiah years.
OET (OET-RV) I saw thrones with people sitting on them and they were given the responsibility of judging both the souls of the ones who’d been beheaded for believing Yeshua’s and God’s message, and those who didn’t worship the animal or his image and didn’t receive the mark on their hand or forehead. And they lived and reigned with the messiah for a thousand years.
In this section, John saw an angel take Satan and put him into the Abyss. The angel then locked the opening to it. Satan had to stay in the Abyss for one thousand years. He was not allowed to deceive the nations during that time.
Then John saw that Christ ruled during those one thousand years. He gathered believers whom the beast had beheaded and caused them to live again. He had them rule with him.
Other examples of headings for this section are:
The Thousand Year Reign (NET)
Christ ruled for 1,000 years
Then I saw the thrones, and those seated on them had been given authority to judge.
¶ Then I saw thrones, and those sitting on them were given authority/right to judge.
¶ Then I saw places/seats of ruling. God gave to the ones sitting there the power to judge.
Then I saw the thrones, and those seated on them had been given authority to judge: These verses do not say whether these judges were angels, people, or other beings. Your translation should allow any kind of being to be the judges. For example:
And I saw thrones, with appointed judges seated upon them (JBP)
Then I saw thrones, and those who sat on them were given the power to judge (GNT)
Next I saw thrones. The ones sitting on them were given authority to judge.
the thrones: The word thrones refers to the official chairs where kings or people with great authority sit. A throne represents that authority. See how you translated this word in 19:4. But here, your translation should refer to the chairs of the judges, not the chairs of kings or other leaders.
those seated on them had been given authority to judge: This clause is passive. Some languages must use an active clause. For example:
to whom God had given authority to judge
whom God appointed/chosen as judges
authority: Here the word authority refers to having the right and power to control or rule over someone or something.
judge: The word judge indicates that those on the thrones will decide whether people are guilty of wrongdoing.
And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded
I saw the spirits of those who had been killed by their heads being cut off
I also saw the souls of those whom enemies/others had beheaded
the souls: The word soul refers to the essential part of a person, the part that does not die when his body dies. Use the usual word for this part of a person.
those who had been beheaded: This clause is passive. Some languages must use an active clause. The beast or one of his followers had beheaded the believers. For example:
those whose heads the beast had cut off
those whom others/enemies beheaded
beheaded: There are two ways to interpret the Greek word that the BSB translates as beheaded:
It refers to cutting off the head of someone. For example, the GW says:
heads had been cut off (BSB, RSV, NIV, NJB, NASB, KJV, ESV, NABRE, NLT, CEV, NET, REB)
It refers to any kind of killing someone. For example, the NCV says:
killed (GNT, NCV)
It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), because the lexicons support it and not interpretation (2).Aune, Swete, and Kistemaker also support interpretation (1). Some scholars support interpretation (2), usually saying that Christians were killed in other ways than beheading. But the Greek lexicons make no mention of the Greek word being used in that way.
for their testimony of Jesus and for the word of God,
because they had testified about Jesus and because of God’s message.
because they had told others about Jesus and they were faithful to God’s word.
their testimony of Jesus: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as their testimony of Jesus is literally “the testimony of Jesus.” There are two ways to interpret this phrase:
It indicates that people gave a testimony about Jesus. For example:
they had told about Jesus (CEV) (BSB, NIV, NABRE, CEV, NLT, GW, NET, REB, RSV, NASB, NJB)
It indicates that Jesus gave a testimony. For example:
they had proclaimed the truth that Jesus revealed (GNT) (GNT, NCV)
It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1).Aune (page 1071) has in his translation: “their witness to Jesus.” Osbourne (page 698) has: “their witness about Jesus.”
for the word of God: Here the phrase the word of God refers to what God said. It is the message from God to people. The believers believed this word of God. They probably also told it to others.
In some languages it is necessary to explain what was done with the word of God. For example:
because they believed God’s message
because they followed God’s word
See how you translated this phrase in 6:9.
and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image,
They had not worshiped/revered the beast or its image/statue
They had not worshiped/honored the first monster or the statue of/representing him.
and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as and those who is literally “and who.” There are two ways to interpret the Greek phrase:
It continues talking about those who had been beheaded. For example:
and who had not worshiped the beast or its image (RSV) (RSV, NIV, GNT, NABRE, NLT, GW, CEV, NET, REB, NCV, KJV)
It introduces a new group of people. For example:
and those who refused to worship the beast or his statue (NJB) (BSB, NJB, NASB, ESV)
It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1).Aune (page 1088) says, “It is more natural to construe the text as referring to a single group.” Mounce (on TW, 20:4) says, “Those who find two groups…have difficulty explaining the fact that in 13:15 John wrote that the first beast was enabled to ‘cause all who refused to worship the image to be killed.’”
worshiped: This word refers to honoring someone or something as sacred/divine. Other ways to translate this word are:
venerated
revered
See how you translated this word in 13:4 or 19:20.
its image: This word refers to a statue. See how you translated this word in 13:14 or 19:20.
and had not received its mark on their foreheads or hands.
and did not have his mark/sign/symbol on their foreheads or their hands.
They did not allow anyone to put the mark on their foreheads or on their hands.
and had not received its mark on their foreheads or hands: This is the second deed that these believers did not do. In some languages it is more natural to introduce this clause with the word “or.” For example:
or received its mark on forehead or hand (REB)
mark: This word refers to any kind of sign or symbol that is easily seen. These verses do not say how the mark was placed on the hand or forehead. See how you translated mark in 13:16 or 19:20.
And they came to life
They returned to life
God caused them to live again.
And they came to life: It is implied that God caused them to live again. In some languages a literal translation would wrongly imply that they returned to life by their own power. If that is true in your language, you may want to:
Translate the literal meaning and explain in a footnote that God caused them to live again. An example footnote is:
God caused them to live again.
Explain in your translation that God caused them to live again. For example:
God caused them to return to life
and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.
and ruled with Christ for one thousand years.
They ruled as kings/leaders with Christ for a thousand years.
reigned: This word refers to ruling over people as their leader. For example:
ruled as kings (GNT)
Christ: The word Christ is a title for Jesus. It means “the anointed one.” See how you translated this word in 1:1 or 12:10.
Note 1 topic: writing-pronouns
ἐκάθισαν ἐπ’ αὐτούς, καὶ κρίμα ἐδόθη αὐτοῖς,
˱they˲_sat_down on them (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Καί εἶδον θρόνους καί ἐκάθισαν ἐπʼ αὐτούς καί κρίμα ἐδόθη αὐτοῖς καί τάς ψυχάς τῶν πεπελεκισμένων διά τήν μαρτυρίαν Ἰησοῦ καί διά τόν λόγον τοῦ Θεοῦ καί οἵτινες οὒ προσεκύνησαν τό θηρίον οὐδέ τήν εἰκόνα αὐτοῦ καί οὐκ ἔλαβον τό χάραγμα ἐπί τό μέτωπον καί ἐπί τήν χεῖρα αὐτῶν καί ἔζησαν καί ἐβασίλευσαν μετά τοῦ Χριστοῦ Χιλία ἔτη)
The pronouns they and them refer to people whom John describes in the rest of the verse. It may be helpful to clarify this for your readers. Alternate translation: [and these are the ones who sat on them and to whom judgment was given:]
Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive
κρίμα ἐδόθη αὐτοῖς
judgment ˓was˒_given ˱to˲_them
If your language does not use this passive form, you could express the idea in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. If you need to say who did the action, the context suggests that it was God. Alternate translation: [God gave judgment to them]
Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns
κρίμα ἐδόθη αὐτοῖς
judgment ˓was˒_given ˱to˲_them
If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of judgment, you could express the same idea in another way. Alternate translation: [God gave them authority to judge]
Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive
τῶν πεπελεκισμένων
˱of˲_the_‹ones› ˓having_been˒_beheaded
If your language does not use this passive form, you could express the idea in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: [of the ones whom the Roman government had beheaded]
Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / parallelism
διὰ τὴν μαρτυρίαν Ἰησοῦ, καὶ διὰ τὸν λόγον τοῦ Θεοῦ
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Καί εἶδον θρόνους καί ἐκάθισαν ἐπʼ αὐτούς καί κρίμα ἐδόθη αὐτοῖς καί τάς ψυχάς τῶν πεπελεκισμένων διά τήν μαρτυρίαν Ἰησοῦ καί διά τόν λόγον τοῦ Θεοῦ καί οἵτινες οὒ προσεκύνησαν τό θηρίον οὐδέ τήν εἰκόνα αὐτοῦ καί οὐκ ἔλαβον τό χάραγμα ἐπί τό μέτωπον καί ἐπί τήν χεῖρα αὐτῶν καί ἔζησαν καί ἐβασίλευσαν μετά τοῦ Χριστοῦ Χιλία ἔτη)
These two phrases mean similar things. John is using repetition to emphasize the idea that the phrases express. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could combine them. Alternate translation: [for proclaiming the message from God about Jesus]
Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / possession
τὴν μαρτυρίαν Ἰησοῦ
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Καί εἶδον θρόνους καί ἐκάθισαν ἐπʼ αὐτούς καί κρίμα ἐδόθη αὐτοῖς καί τάς ψυχάς τῶν πεπελεκισμένων διά τήν μαρτυρίαν Ἰησοῦ καί διά τόν λόγον τοῦ Θεοῦ καί οἵτινες οὒ προσεκύνησαν τό θηρίον οὐδέ τήν εἰκόνα αὐτοῦ καί οὐκ ἔλαβον τό χάραγμα ἐπί τό μέτωπον καί ἐπί τήν χεῖρα αὐτῶν καί ἔζησαν καί ἐβασίλευσαν μετά τοῦ Χριστοῦ Χιλία ἔτη)
In this possessive form, Jesus is the object rather than the subject of testimony. That is, this does not mean testimony that Jesus gives; it means testimony that people give about their faith in Jesus. Alternate translation: [testifying to Jesus]
Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy
τὸν λόγον τοῦ Θεοῦ
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Καί εἶδον θρόνους καί ἐκάθισαν ἐπʼ αὐτούς καί κρίμα ἐδόθη αὐτοῖς καί τάς ψυχάς τῶν πεπελεκισμένων διά τήν μαρτυρίαν Ἰησοῦ καί διά τόν λόγον τοῦ Θεοῦ καί οἵτινες οὒ προσεκύνησαν τό θηρίον οὐδέ τήν εἰκόνα αὐτοῦ καί οὐκ ἔλαβον τό χάραγμα ἐπί τό μέτωπον καί ἐπί τήν χεῖρα αὐτῶν καί ἔζησαν καί ἐβασίλευσαν μετά τοῦ Χριστοῦ Χιλία ἔτη)
John is using the term word to mean the message that these believers had shared by using words. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [sharing the message from God]
Note 8 topic: grammar-collectivenouns
ἐπὶ τὸ μέτωπον, καὶ ἐπὶ τὴν χεῖρα αὐτῶν
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Καί εἶδον θρόνους καί ἐκάθισαν ἐπʼ αὐτούς καί κρίμα ἐδόθη αὐτοῖς καί τάς ψυχάς τῶν πεπελεκισμένων διά τήν μαρτυρίαν Ἰησοῦ καί διά τόν λόγον τοῦ Θεοῦ καί οἵτινες οὒ προσεκύνησαν τό θηρίον οὐδέ τήν εἰκόνα αὐτοῦ καί οὐκ ἔλαβον τό χάραγμα ἐπί τό μέτωπον καί ἐπί τήν χεῖρα αὐτῶν καί ἔζησαν καί ἐβασίλευσαν μετά τοῦ Χριστοῦ Χιλία ἔτη)
In this verse, the words forehead and hand are singular in form, but they refer to all of them as a group. If it would be helpful in your language, you could say this plainly. Alternate translation: [on their foreheads or on their hands]
20:4 thrones . . . people sitting on them: This portrayal of a heavenly tribunal includes the elders (4:4) on thrones (see Dan 7:9-10), the victorious martyrs (see Dan 7:22), and all God’s people.
• beheaded for . . . Jesus: Beheading was a common form of execution for Roman citizens.
• The faithful who resisted receiving the mark of the beast (Rev 13:16-17) will judge the condemned (see 1 Cor 6:2-3) on thrones similar to those of the worshiping elders (see Rev 4:10-11; 5:8-10; 11:16).
OET (OET-LV) And I_saw thrones, and they_sat_down on them, and judgement was_given to_them, and the souls of_the ones having_been_beheaded because_of the testimony of_Yaʸsous/(Yəhōshūˊa), and because_of the message of_ the _god, and whoever neither prostrated before_the wild_animal, nor the image of_him, and not took the mark on their forehead, and on the hand of_them, and they_lived and reigned with the for_a_Thousand chosen_one/messiah years.
OET (OET-RV) I saw thrones with people sitting on them and they were given the responsibility of judging both the souls of the ones who’d been beheaded for believing Yeshua’s and God’s message, and those who didn’t worship the animal or his image and didn’t receive the mark on their hand or forehead. And they lived and reigned with the messiah for a thousand years.
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.
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