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OET (OET-LV) and the one sitting was similar in_appearance to_a_stone, jasper and sardius, and a_rainbow around the throne was similar in_appearance to_an_emerald.
OET (OET-RV) The one sitting there sparkled like jewels, and an emerald-looking rainbow encircled the throne.
In this section, John told more about the vision that he saw, using language similar to 1:10. In his vision he saw in the sky an opening into heaven. He could see God on his throne and different beings worshiping God.
Other examples of headings for this section are:
The vision of the throne in heaven
A vision of God’s throne in heaven (GW)
The One seated there looked like jasper and carnelian,
The one sitting on it looked as shiny/brilliant as the gemstones jasper and carnelian.
He shone like the stones/jewels jasper and carnelian,
The One seated there looked like jasper and carnelian: These verses do not say how God looked like jasper and carnelian. It probably indicates that God shone colorfully and brightly, shining like those stones do. Other ways to translate this clause are:
The one sitting on the throne was as brilliant as gemstones—like jasper and carnelian. (NLT)
The one who was sitting there sparkled like precious stones of jasper and carnelian. (CEV)
jasper: This name in Greek is spelled iaspis. This word refers to a spotted or veined stone of a variety of colors. It is often a reddish color, but can also be deep green, brown, or deep yellow. It shines brightly in the sun when polished. Light reflects off its surface. Light does not shine through this stone as it does through glass. One example of jasper is:
People of some languages are not familiar with jasper. If that is true in your language, you may want to:
Use the name for a kind of stone similar to how jasper is described above. The important thing is that it should be considered bright and beautiful.
Use a descriptive phrase. For example:
a shiny, spotted/veined stone named jasper
Use the major language word. If people are not familiar with this word, explain it in a footnote. An example footnote is:
Jasper is a spotted or veined stone that is deep red, green, or yellow. It shines brightly.
carnelian: This word refers to a blood-red stone that shines brightly in the sun when polished. Light reflects off the surface of this stone also.
In some languages people are not familiar with carnelian. If that is true in your language, you may want to:
Use a descriptive phrase. For example:
a shiny, reddish stone named carnelian
Use the major language word. If people are not familiar with this word, explain it in a footnote. An example footnote is:
Carnelian is a blood-red stone that shines brightly.
and a rainbow that gleamed like an emerald encircled the throne.
And around the throne was a rainbow that shone like an emerald gemstone.
and a rainbow looking like it was made of emerald encircled the throne. (NET)
and a rainbow that gleamed like an emerald encircled the throne: These verses do not say how the rainbow resembled an emerald. It probably refers to a ring of green light that circled around the throne. Other ways to translate this clause are:
round the throne was a rainbow that looked like an emerald (RSV)
all around the throne there was a rainbow the color of an emerald (GNT)
emerald: This word refers to a bright green precious stone that shines brightly in the sun. Light shines through this stone as it does through glass.
In some languages people are not familiar with an emerald. If that is true in your language, you may want to:
Use a descriptive phrase. For example:
a clear green stone/gem named emerald
Use the major language word. If people are not familiar with this word, explain it in a footnote. An example footnote is:
An emerald is a bright green precious stone that light can shine through.
Note 1 topic: translate-unknown
ὅμοιος ὁράσει λίθῳ, ἰάσπιδι καὶ σαρδίῳ & ὅμοιος ὁράσει σμαραγδίνῳ
similar ˱in˲_appearance ˱to˲_˓a˒_stone jasper similar ˱in˲_appearance (Some words not found in SR-GNT: καί ὁ καθήμενος ὅμοιος ὁράσει λίθῳ ἰάσπιδι καί σαρδίῳ καί ἶρις κυκλόθεν τοῦ θρόνου ὅμοιος ὁράσει σμαραγδίνῳ)
The point of these comparisons is that the one sitting on the throne and the rainbow were dazzling in their appearance, like the gemstones John describes. If it would be helpful in your language, you could make this point explicitly. Alternate translation: [was dazzling in appearance, like a jasper stone and a carnelian … dazzling in appearance like an emerald]
Note 2 topic: translate-unknown
λίθῳ, ἰάσπιδι καὶ σαρδίῳ & σμαραγδίνῳ
˱to˲_˓a˒_stone jasper (Some words not found in SR-GNT: καί ὁ καθήμενος ὅμοιος ὁράσει λίθῳ ἰάσπιδι καί σαρδίῳ καί ἶρις κυκλόθεν τοῦ θρόνου ὅμοιος ὁράσει σμαραγδίνῳ)
The terms jasper, carnelian, and emerald describe gemstones. Jasper is often red, carnelian is often orange, and emerald is usually brilliant green. If your readers would not be familiar with these precious stones, in your translation you could use the name of comparable gems that they would recognize, or you could use general expressions. Alternate translation: [to a red or orange gemstone … to a brilliant green gemstone]
OET (OET-LV) and the one sitting was similar in_appearance to_a_stone, jasper and sardius, and a_rainbow around the throne was similar in_appearance to_an_emerald.
OET (OET-RV) The one sitting there sparkled like jewels, and an emerald-looking rainbow encircled the throne.
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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