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OET (OET-LV) And to_the messenger of_the in Filadelfeia assembly write:
These things is_saying the true one, the holy one, which having the key of_Dawid/(Dāvid), the one opening_up and no_one will_be_shutting, and shutting and no_one is_opening_up:
OET (OET-RV) To the assembly’s messenger in Filadelfia write:
¶ The holy one, the true one, the one having King David’s key to the city, the one who opens doors no one can shut, and who shuts doors no one can open, says:
In this section, Jesus spoke to the people who believed in him at Philadelphia. He prophesied that they would have an opportunity to do great things for him. He said that the Jews there would acknowledge that God loves the believers. Jesus then also said that he would protect them from a time of hardship. He encouraged them to remain strong in their faith. Lastly, he gave a promise to any believer who persevered in his faith.
Translate this section heading as you did for the other messages to the churches.
To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write:
¶ “Write to the angel of the church/congregation in Philadelphia:
¶ “To the angel associated with the gathering of believers in Philadelphia, write this:
¶ “Write this message to the angel representing God’s people who are in the city of Philadelphia:
To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: You should translate this clause in the same way as you did in 3:1. You only need to change the name to Philadelphia.
These are the words of the One who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What He opens no one can shut, and what He shuts no one can open: These words are an introduction to the words in 3:8–13. You should translate the phrase These are the words of the One who in a way similar to 3:1.
Jesus spoke these words about himself. He continues to speak in 3:8, using the pronoun “I.” In some languages a literal translation would wrongly indicate that Jesus was talking about someone else here. If that is true in your language, indicate that Jesus spoke about himself. For example:
These are my words, and I am holy and true. I hold the key of David. What I open no one can shut, and what I shut no one can open.
These are the words of the One who is holy and true,
This message is from the holy and true one/being,
Here is the message from me, Jesus, the one who is sacred/perfect/sinless and speaks truth.
the One who is holy and true: The Greek words are literally “the holy one, the true one” (as in the RSV). Both phrases are like titles. Other ways to translate this phrase are:
him who is the holy one and the true one
the holy and true one
holy: Here this word indicates that Jesus is perfect and unique, as God is. He only does what is right. He is different from all other beings because he is perfect and divine. Other ways to translate holy are:
sacred/divine
pure/perfect spiritually/morally
unique/separate
true: Here the word true probably means “genuine” or “without lies.” Other ways to translate this word are:
a man of truth
one who speaks truth
These verses contain a metaphor about a key. These verses also contain a metaphor about opening or shutting something. Both metaphors refer to authority. See the notes below for more information.
who holds the key of David.
the one who has the key of King David, the one
I am the one who holds the key of authority over David’s kingdom.
who holds the key of David: The Greek clause is literally “the one having the key of David.” John described Jesus as possessing this key. This clause figuratively represents the idea that he has the authority that the key represents. For example:
who has the key of David (RSV)
the key of David: This phrase is a metaphor. The word key refers to authority. As King David had authority over the kingdom of God’s people, so Jesus also has authority over the kingdom. Jesus fulfills the prophecies that God gave about David’s descendant and heir. Jesus has the right to rule as that descendant.
In some languages a literal translation would not have the figurative meaning of authority. If that is true in your language, you may want to:
Explain the symbolic meaning in your translation. For example:
the key of authority over David’s kingdom
the key of David, namely, authority over his kingdom
Translate the meaning without the symbol. For example:
full authority over David’s kingdom
the right to rule as king in David’s line/place You may then want a footnote to explain the literal words. An example footnote is:
Literally: “the key of David.” This phrase refers to authority to rule.
Translate literally and explain the Greek words in a footnote. An example footnote is:
The “key of David” refers to authority to rule God’s kingdom. God promised to David that his descendant would rule over that kingdom.
David: David was the second king of Israel. He lived about a thousand years before Revelation was written. He was faithful to God, and God promised him that someone from his family would reign forever (2 Samuel 7:16, Isaiah 9:6–7).
In some languages it will be helpful to say that David was the king of Israel, God’s people. For example:
King David
David the former/ancient king of Israel
King David who ruled God’s people long ago
What He opens no one can shut, and what He shuts no one can open.
who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one opens. (NRSV)
When I open a door, no one can shut it, and when I shut it, no one can open it.
The door that I open, no one can shut. Also, the door that I shut, no one can open.
What He opens no one can shut, and what He shuts no one can open: 3:7d continues describing Jesus. He has full authority. Once he decides something, no one can change that decision. The NRSV follows the Greek word order and Greek grammar:
who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one opens
As in the above example, the Greek words are not a new sentence here. But in some languages it is more natural to begin a new sentence here, as the BSB does.
opens…shuts: These verses do not say what Jesus opens and shuts. The word “doors” is probably implied, as in 3:8b.
In some languages it is more natural to include the implied information in your translation. For example:
When he opens a door, no one can close it. And when he closes it, no one can open it. (NCV)
The words of 3:7d refers figuratively to authority. It probably refers specifically to the authority to let people enter through the door. Jesus makes all decisions about who can enter the kingdom of God’s people.
In some languages a literal translation would wrongly refer only to opening and closing physical doors. If that is true in your language, you may want to:
Explain the meaning in your translation. For example:
He is sovereign, and so when he opens the door of/to the kingdom, no one can shut it, and when he shuts the door, no one can open it.
Translate literally and explain its meaning in a footnote. An example footnote is:
This saying indicates that Jesus allows some people to enter his kingdom and prevents others from doing so. He is sovereign, and he alone decides.
Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / nominaladj
ὁ Ἅγιος, ὁ Ἀληθινός
the Holy_‹One› the True_‹One›
Jesus is using the adjectives Holy and True as nouns to describe himself as a certain kind of person. Your language may use adjectives in the same way. If not, you can translate these words with equivalent phrases, as the ULT does by adding the word One in each case.
Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor
ὁ ἔχων τὴν κλεῖν Δαυείδ
the the ¬which having the_‹one› (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Καί τῷ ἀγγέλῳ τῆς ἐν Φιλαδελφείᾳ ἐκκλησίας γράψον Τάδε λέγει ὁ Ἅγιος ὁ Ἀληθινός ὁ ἔχων τήν κλεῖν Δαυίδ ὁ ἀνοίγων καί οὐδείς κλείσει καί κλείων καί οὐδείς ἀνοίγει)
Jesus is not referring to a literal key. Rather, he is quoting from [Isaiah 22:22](../22/22.md), where God says that he will make a man named Eliakim the administrator of the royal palace in Jerusalem and give him the “key of the house of David,” symbolizing authority over the kingdom that the dynasty of David rules. As the Messiah, Jesus now has David’s royal authority. If it would be clearer in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [the one having royal authority as the Messiah]
Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / parallelism
ὁ ἀνοίγων καὶ οὐδεὶς κλείσει, καὶ κλείων καὶ οὐδεὶς ἀνοίγει
the the ¬which the_‹one› opening_up (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Καί τῷ ἀγγέλῳ τῆς ἐν Φιλαδελφείᾳ ἐκκλησίας γράψον Τάδε λέγει ὁ Ἅγιος ὁ Ἀληθινός ὁ ἔχων τήν κλεῖν Δαυίδ ὁ ἀνοίγων καί οὐδείς κλείσει καί κλείων καί οὐδείς ἀνοίγει)
This is a continuation of the quotation and the image of the key from [Isaiah 22:22](../22/22.md). These two phrases say the same thing in opposite ways. God, speaking through Isaiah, was using repetition to emphasize the idea that the phrases express, that he would give this new palace administrator authority that no one could defy. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could combine the phrases or express their meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [who decides definitively whether to open a door or to lock it shut] or [whose authority no one can defy]
OET (OET-LV) And to_the messenger of_the in Filadelfeia assembly write:
These things is_saying the true one, the holy one, which having the key of_Dawid/(Dāvid), the one opening_up and no_one will_be_shutting, and shutting and no_one is_opening_up:
OET (OET-RV) To the assembly’s messenger in Filadelfia write:
¶ The holy one, the true one, the one having King David’s key to the city, the one who opens doors no one can shut, and who shuts doors no one can open, says:
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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