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OET (OET-LV) The one having an_ear, him_let_hear what the spirit is_saying to_the assemblies.
To_the one overcoming, I_will_be_giving to_him to_eat of the tree of_ the _life, which is in the paradise of_ the _god.
OET (OET-RV) Everyone who wants to understand needs to listen to what God’s spirit is saying to the assemblies.
¶ I will grant the right to eat from the tree that gives life in God’s paradise to everyone who overcomes.”
In this section, Jesus spoke to the people at Ephesus who believed in him. He said that they were doing some good things, but they were also doing a bad thing. He then encouraged them and warned them to repent. Lastly, he gave a promise to any believer who persevered in his faith.
Other examples of headings for this section are:
The Message to Ephesus (GNT)
Jesus gave a message to the church at Ephesus
Advice to the group of believers at Ephesus
He who has an ear, let him hear: This was probably a common saying or proverb in NT times. Similar sayings occur in Matthew 11:15, Mark 4:9, and Luke 8:8. Here Jesus used this saying to urge or warn the believers to think carefully about what he had just said.
In some languages there is a similar saying/proverb urging people to listen carefully to what someone says. If that is true in your language, you may want to:
Use it here. For example:
Everyone must give their ears to me
Explain this saying in a footnote using your saying. An example footnote is:
This means “give your ears to me.”
He who has an ear,
If/since you(plur) have ears,
Everyone who has ears that can hear
Whoever is able to hear
He who has an ear: The phrase He who has an ear figuratively means “Anyone who can hear.” The word ear is a figure of speech representing the ability to hear. It also can refer to the ability to receive information any other way. Jesus was speaking to everyone who hears or receives what he just said in 2:1–6. Other ways to translate this phrase are:
If you have ears (GNT)
Every person who has ears (NCV)
Anyone with ears to hear (NLT)
Since you have received what I just said
Can you hear?
let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
then hear the things that the Spirit is saying to the churches.
should give careful attention to what the Holy Spirit says to the gatherings of believers.
should understand and heed/obey what God’s Spirit says to the communities of God’s people.
let him hear: This command is addressed to everyone who hears or receives what he just said in 2:1–6. It indicates that everyone should pay attention to his message. Other ways to translate it are:
then listen
do not ignore what you hear
then you should pay attention to
what the Spirit says to the churches: This refers to everything Jesus said in 2:1–3:22. It probably also refers to all of Revelation.
the Spirit: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as the Spirit refers to the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is God together with God the Father and God the Son. The Holy Spirit is Spirit in the sense that he is a living being who does not have a physical body. He is Holy in the sense that he is God. He is perfect in every way and is completely pure and sinless.
In some languages a literal translation would not clearly refer to the Holy Spirit. If this is true in your language, you may want to include the implied information in your translation. For example:
Spirit/Breath of/from God
Holy/Pure/Sacred Spirit
Do not imply that the Spirit is like the ghost of a dead person or that God has died.
churches: This word is plural. It indicates that believers everywhere are to understand and use the teachings in chapters 2–3. See how you translated this word in 1:4.
2:7a–b is addressed to everyone who can hear. So in some languages it is more natural to use a pronoun other than the third person singular (“he”). These words may be the second person plural or singular (“you”), or the third person plural (“everyone”). For example:
All you(plur) who have ears, listen to what the Spirit says to the churches!
Everyone who has ears should listen to the things the Holy Spirit says to the churches!
If you(sing) have ears, listen to what the Spirit says to these churches!
Since everyone has ears, they must use them to listen and obey what the Spirit says to these churches!
Do you(sing) have ears? Then listen to the words that the Holy Spirit says to the churches!
To the one who overcomes,
To anyone who gains victory,
To you(plur) who defeat/conquer everything that causes a believer to stumble,
To the one who overcomes: The phrase To the one who overcomes is emphasized by being first in the clause. If you have a natural way in your language to emphasize this phrase, you may want to do so. For example:
To him who conquers, I will grant (RSV)
To those who win the victory I will give (NCV)
In some languages it is not natural to have the phrase To the one who overcomes first in the clause. For example:
I will give to him who overcomes
To the one: Here the word one refers generally to any believer who overcomes evil. Use a pronoun or grammar that is similar to what you used in the statement “He who has an ear” in 2:7a.
overcomes: This word means “triumphs” or “obtains/wins victory.” Here it refers to having success over sin, evil, and pressure to turn away from Jesus. Even though a believer is killed, he wins the victory over evil if he remains faithful to Jesus. He overcomes the power of sin and evil. Other ways to translate this word are:
conquers (RSV)
is victorious (NLT)
Some languages must say what a believer overcomes. If that is true in your language, you should refer generally to “evil” or “sin.” For example:
defeat evil
has victory over sin
I will grant the right to eat from the tree of life
I will give permission to eat from the tree of life,
I will give the privilege of eating the fruit of the tree that gives life.
I will grant the right to eat: The Greek clause is literally “I will give to eat.” The BSB translates “give” as grant and adds the phrase the right as one way to indicate the correct meaning of the Greek clause in English. Other ways to translate this clause are:
I will give permission to eat (NRSV)
I will let…eat (CEV)
from the tree of life: This phrase indicates that believers will eat the fruit of the tree of life. For example:
the fruit of the tree of life (GNT)
the tree of life: This phrase indicates that the tree is the source of life. Those who eat the fruit will have eternal life. Other ways to translate this phrase are:
the tree that gives life
the life-giving tree (CEV)
If you have translated Genesis 2:9, see how you translated this phrase there.
in the Paradise of God.
which is in the good place of God.
That tree is located in God’s perfect land/garden.
in the Paradise of God: This clause tells the reader more about the tree of life. In some languages a literal translation would wrongly indicate that there are other trees of life and only this one is located in the Paradise of God. If that is true in your language, translate this clause so that it tells more about the tree of life. One way to do that is to start a new sentence here. For example:
It is in the paradise of God.
Paradise of God: The Greek word that the BSB translates as Paradise can refer to an enclosed garden or park. It was also used to refer to a place where there are only good things, as in heaven (as in 2 Corinthians 12:2–3). Here this word refers to the New Jerusalem, where there will be only good and perfect things. This paradise is of God because it belongs to God and he rules over it.
Some languages do not have a word to express this meaning. If that is true in your language, you may want to:
Translate the meaning of Paradise. For example:
God’s good place
God’s land that is perfect
the garden of God (REB)
Use the major language word. If people are not familiar with this word, you may want to explain it in a footnote. An example footnote is:
The word “paradise” refers to a place where there are only good things. Here this word refers to the New Jerusalem (21:10, 22:2).
In some languages it is more natural to tell what Jesus will give before telling to whom he will give it. For example:
7dI will give the privilege of eating from the tree of life, 7ewhich stands in the paradise of God, 7cto everyone who wins the victory. (GW)
(reordered) I will give permission to eat from the tree of life, which is in the good place of God, to anyone who gains victory.
(reordered) I will give permission to eat the fruit of the tree that gives life to any of you(plur) who defeat/conquer everything that causes a believer to stumble. That tree is in God’s perfect land/garden.
Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / 123person
ὁ ἔχων οὖς, ἀκουσάτω
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ὁ ἔχων οὖς ἀκουσάτω τί τό Πνεῦμα λέγει ταῖς ἐκκλησίαις Τῷ νικῶντι δώσω αὐτῷ φαγεῖν ἐκ τοῦ ξύλου τῆς ζωῆς ὅ ἐστίν ἐν τῷ Παραδείσῳ τοῦ Θεοῦ)
See the discussion in the General Notes to this chapter of how to translate this third-person imperative, found here and towards the end of each of the letters, if your language does not use that form. Alternate translation: [May the one having an ear hear] or [The one who has an ear should hear]
Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / genericnoun
ὁ ἔχων οὖς, ἀκουσάτω
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ὁ ἔχων οὖς ἀκουσάτω τί τό Πνεῦμα λέγει ταῖς ἐκκλησίαις Τῷ νικῶντι δώσω αὐτῷ φαγεῖν ἐκ τοῦ ξύλου τῆς ζωῆς ὅ ἐστίν ἐν τῷ Παραδείσῳ τοῦ Θεοῦ)
See the discussion in the General Notes to this chapter of how to translate this expression that might seem to be speaking of a specific person but which really refers to any person who fits its description. Alternate translation: [Anyone who has an ear should hear]
Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / 123person
ὁ ἔχων οὖς, ἀκουσάτω
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ὁ ἔχων οὖς ἀκουσάτω τί τό Πνεῦμα λέγει ταῖς ἐκκλησίαις Τῷ νικῶντι δώσω αὐτῷ φαγεῖν ἐκ τοῦ ξύλου τῆς ζωῆς ὅ ἐστίν ἐν τῷ Παραδείσῳ τοῦ Θεοῦ)
Through this expression, Jesus is addressing his audience in the third person, even though he is speaking directly to them. As the General Notes to this chapter discuss, if it would be helpful in your language, you could translate the expression in the second person, here and in its other occurrences in chapters 2 and 3. Alternate translation: [If you have an ear, then hear]
Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy
ὁ ἔχων οὖς, ἀκουσάτω
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ὁ ἔχων οὖς ἀκουσάτω τί τό Πνεῦμα λέγει ταῖς ἐκκλησίαις Τῷ νικῶντι δώσω αὐτῷ φαγεῖν ἐκ τοῦ ξύλου τῆς ζωῆς ὅ ἐστίν ἐν τῷ Παραδείσῳ τοῦ Θεοῦ)
As the General Notes to this chapter discuss, the phrase “having an ear” represents the willingness to understand and obey, by association with the part of the body by which people would have received the spoken teaching of Jesus. Alternate translation: [Anyone who is willing should understand and obey]
Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor
τῷ νικῶντι
¬the (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ὁ ἔχων οὖς ἀκουσάτω τί τό Πνεῦμα λέγει ταῖς ἐκκλησίαις Τῷ νικῶντι δώσω αὐτῷ φαγεῖν ἐκ τοῦ ξύλου τῆς ζωῆς ὅ ἐστίν ἐν τῷ Παραδείσῳ τοῦ Θεοῦ)
As the General Notes to this chapter discuss, Jesus is speaking as if the person to whom he is making this promise will win a victory. He is actually referring to a person who refuses to worship idols even at the risk of persecution and death. In your translation, you may wish to express this meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [To the one who refuses to worship idols even at the risk of persecution and death]
Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / genericnoun
τῷ νικῶντι
¬the (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ὁ ἔχων οὖς ἀκουσάτω τί τό Πνεῦμα λέγει ταῖς ἐκκλησίαις Τῷ νικῶντι δώσω αὐτῷ φαγεῖν ἐκ τοῦ ξύλου τῆς ζωῆς ὅ ἐστίν ἐν τῷ Παραδείσῳ τοῦ Θεοῦ)
As the General Notes to this chapter discuss, while the expression “to the one conquering” might seem to be speaking of a specific person, it really means any person who fits its description. Alternate translation: [to anyone who conquers] or [to anyone who refuses to worship idols even at the risk of persecution and death]
Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / possession
τοῦ ξύλου τῆς ζωῆς
the tree ¬the ˱of˲_life
Jesus is using this possessive form to identify this tree not as having life but as giving life. In other words, Jesus means not a living tree but a life-giving tree. Alternate translation: [the life-giving tree]
Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit
τοῦ ξύλου τῆς ζωῆς
the tree ¬the ˱of˲_life
This is a reference to the description in [Genesis 2:9](../02/09.md) of the tree of life that was in the Garden of Eden. The fruit of that tree enabled anyone who ate it to live forever. So Jesus is saying by implication that he will give everlasting life to anyone who remains faithful to him. However, since the tree of life appears in the closing vision of the book, in [22:2](../22/02.md), it would be good to retain the image here rather than simply express its meaning in plain language. So you might translate the phrase tree of life directly but then explain its meaning. Alternate translation: [I will grant to him to eat from the tree of life that is in the paradise of God, yes, I will grant him everlasting life]
2:7 The reward for obedience is fruit from the tree of life—that is, eternal life (22:2; Gen 3:22).
OET (OET-LV) The one having an_ear, him_let_hear what the spirit is_saying to_the assemblies.
To_the one overcoming, I_will_be_giving to_him to_eat of the tree of_ the _life, which is in the paradise of_ the _god.
OET (OET-RV) Everyone who wants to understand needs to listen to what God’s spirit is saying to the assemblies.
¶ I will grant the right to eat from the tree that gives life in God’s paradise to everyone who overcomes.”
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.