OET interlinear REV 21:19

21:19a

The foundations of the city walls were adorned with: This clause is passive. God caused the foundations to be decorated. Some languages must use an active or intransitive clause. For example:

God had adorned the foundations of the city walls with

God had caused the foundations of the city walls to be beautiful with

The foundations of the city walls were

were adorned: Here, the Greek word probably indicates that God adorned these foundation stones by making each foundation out of one gemstone (jasper, sapphire, and so on).Beale (page 1082–1083), Osbourne (page 756), and Aune (page 1164–1165). For example:

were fashioned out of (JBP)

Each of the twelve foundations was a precious stone. (CEV)

every kind of precious stone: Each of the twelve foundation stones was a precious stone. The phrase every kind indicates that only precious stones were used. For example:

the most precious stones

very precious gemstones

21:19b

The first foundation was jasper: The BSB adds the word was to make the English natural. The first foundation stone was made of jasper. Other ways to translate this clause are:

the first of the foundation-stones being jasper (REB)

The first foundation stone was made of jasper

The first foundation was jasper stone

See how you translated the word jasper in 21:18.

the second sapphire: The noun “foundation” and the verb “was” are implied but not repeated here. In some languages it is more natural to repeat some or all of the implied words. For example:

the second foundation was a sapphire

The second foundation was made of sapphire

sapphire: This name in Greek is spelled sapfiros. This word refers to a kind of blue stone that light shines through. One example of sapphire is:

In some languages people are not familiar with sapphire. If that is true in your language, you may want to:

• Use a descriptive phrase. For example:

  a shiny, glassy/transparent blue stone named sapphire

• Use the major language word for sapphire. If people are not familiar with this word, explain it in a footnote. An example footnote is:

  Sapphire is a kind of blue stone. Light shines through it.

21:19c

chalcedony: This name in Greek is spelled chalkēdon, where the “ch” is pronounced like a “k” without stopping the air in the mouth. This word probably refers to a kind of light tan stone with brown areas that shines brightly in the sun.Some scholars think this stone is a greenish stone found near the ancient town of Chalcedon. For example, the NJB says “turquoise.” But many scholars think it is the brownish stone now called “agate.” One example of chalcedony is:

Another English word for chalcedony is:

agate (GNT)

Light reflects off the surface of this stone. Light does not shine through this stone like it does through glass.

In some languages people are not familiar with chalcedony. If that is true in your language, you may want to:

• Use a descriptive phrase. For example:

  a shiny, tan and brown stone named chalcedony

• Use the major language word for chalcedony. If people are not familiar with this word, explain it in a footnote. An example footnote is:

  Chalcedony is a kind of tan and brown stone. It shines brightly.

emerald: This word refers to a kind of bright green stone through which light shines. One example of emerald is:

In some languages people are not familiar with emerald. If that is true in your language, you may want to:

• Use a descriptive phrase. For example:

  a shiny, glassy/transparent green stone named emerald

• Use the major language word for emerald. If people are not familiar with this word, explain it in a footnote. An example footnote is:

  Emerald is a kind of bright green stone. Light shines through it.

See how you translated this word in 4:3.