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OET (OET-LV) And around the throne were twenty thrones four, and on thrones the twenty four elders sitting, having_been_clothed clothes white, and on the heads of_them crowns golden.
OET (OET-RV) Surrounding that throne were twenty-four other thrones, and on them sat twenty-four elders dressed in white and with golden crowns on their heads.
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)
Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones,
Around the throne in a circle were twenty-four other thrones,
Twenty-four thrones encircled God’s throne,
Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones: This clause probably indicates that the twenty-four other thrones were arranged in a circle around God’s throne. For example:
In a circle around the throne were twenty-four other thrones (GNT)
twenty-four other thrones: The BSB adds the word other to show that God’s throne is not included when John counted the twenty-four…thrones. Indicate this in a natural way in your language.
and on these thrones sat twenty-four elders
and on the thrones sat twenty-four elders.
and on each of these thrones, a leader was sitting.
and on these thrones sat twenty-four elders: The Greek clause is literally “and on the thrones twenty-four elders sitting.” This clause probably emphasizes the phrase “on the thrones.” Consider how to emphasize this phrase in your language. Other ways to translate this clause are:
and seated on the thrones were twenty-four elders (RSV)
upon the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting (NASB)
on these thrones sat 24 leaders (GW)
One elder was sitting on each throne. For example:
And on each of these thrones there was an elder (CEV)
In some languages it is more natural to begin a new sentence here. For example:
Twenty-four elders were sitting on these thrones….
elders: Here the Greek word that the BSB translates as elders refers to people or other beings who have authority. For example:
leaders (GW)
These verses do not say whether the elders were people, angels, or some other being. So you should use a general word that can refer to either human beings or spirit beings such as angels.
dressed in white,
They wore white clothes/garments
The leaders wore white clothing,
dressed in white: The Greek clause here is literally “having been clothed in white garments.” The Greek word for “garments” is a general word for clothing. The BSB and many other English versions leave the kind of clothing implied. Other ways to translate this clause are:
clad in white garments (RSV)
wearing white clothes (GW)
See how you translated a similar clause in 3:4 (“in white”).
with golden crowns on their heads.
and wore golden crowns on their heads.
and each leader wore a headpiece/hat of authority made of gold.
golden crowns: The Greek word that the BSB translates as crowns can refer to two kinds of headgear. It can refer to a wreath worn as a sign of victory over competitors, as in 2:10e or 3:11c. But here it probably refers to the kind of crowns that kings wore. One example of a crown is:
Here the crowns of the elders are a symbol of leadership, like the crowns of kings. Other ways to translate this phrase are:
headpieces/hats of rulers made of gold
gold headdresses like kings/leaders wear
golden: Something which is golden is made of a shiny, yellow metal called “gold,” which is very valuable. In some languages people are not familiar with things which are golden. If that is true in your language, you may want to describe it. For example:
expensive gold
valuable metal/stones called gold
See how you translated the word “gold” in 3:18.
Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive
περιβεβλημένους ἐν ἱματίοις λευκοῖς
˓having_been˒_clothed (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Καί κυκλόθεν τοῦ θρόνου θρόνους εἴκοσι τέσσαρες καί ἐπί τούς εἴκοσι τέσσαρας θρόνους πρεσβυτέρους καθημένους περιβεβλημένους ἱματίοις λευκοῖς καί ἐπί τάς κεφαλάς αὐτῶν στεφάνους χρυσοῦς)
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: [wearing white garments]
OET (OET-LV) And around the throne were twenty thrones four, and on thrones the twenty four elders sitting, having_been_clothed clothes white, and on the heads of_them crowns golden.
OET (OET-RV) Surrounding that throne were twenty-four other thrones, and on them sat twenty-four elders dressed in white and with golden crowns on their heads.
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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