InterlinearVerse GEN EXO LEV NUM DEUT JOB YEHO (JOS) HERO (JDG) RUTH 1 SAM 2 SAM PSA AMOS HOS 1 KI 2 KI 1 CHR 2 CHR PROV ECC SNG YOEL (JOEL) MIC ISA ZEP HAB YIR (JER) LAM YNA (JNA) NAH OBAD DAN EZEK EZRA EST NEH HAG ZEC MAL 2 PS WIS TOB MAN BAR G DAN G ESD L ESD ESG JDT 3 MAC SIR 1 MAC 2 MAC 4 MAC YHN (JHN) MARK MAT LUKE ACTs YAC (JAM) GAL 1 TH 2 TH 1 COR 2 COR ROM COL LAOD PHM EPH PHP 1 TIM TIT 1 PET 2 PET 2 TIM HEB YUD (JUD) 1 YHN (1 JHN) 2 YHN (2 JHN) 3 YHN (3 JHN) REV
InterlinearVerse Rev C1 C2 C3 C5 C6 C7 C8 C9 C10 C11 C12 C13 C14 C15 C16 C17 C18 C19 C20 C21 C22
Rev 4 V1 V2 V3 V4 V6 V7 V8 V9 V10 V11
People tagged in the matching LV passage: God
Used in these topics: Yahweh’s holiness and majesty
OET-LV And out_of the throne are_going_out lightnings, and voices, and thunders.
And seven lamps of_fire being_burned before the throne, which is the seven spirits of_ the _god,
OET (OET-RV) From the centre throne came lightning flashes and thunderous sounds and voices. In front of it, seven torches were burning, which are God’s seven spirits.
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)
From the throne came flashes of lightning, and rumblings, and peals of thunder.
Out of the throne came lightning, rumbling/rolling thunder, and crashes of thunder.
Lightning flashed, storm noises resounded, and thunder boomed loudly from the throne.
From the throne: The word From indicates that the source of the lightning and thunder is the throne.
flashes of lightning: This phrase refers to the bright streaks of light in the sky. This lightning often occurs during a thunderstorm. Another way to translate this phrase is:
lightnings (KJV)
and rumblings: The Greek word that the BSB translates as rumblings has several possible meanings. There are three ways to interpret it:
It refers to the “rolling” sound of thunder and probably also the wind. (The next phrase, “peals of thunder,” refers to loud crashes of thunder.) For example:
noises (NCV) (BSB, NIV, GNT, NRSV, NASB, NABRE, NET, GW, ESV, NCV)
It refers to heavenly voices. For example:
voices (RSV) (RSV, KJV)
It refers to the sound of the thunder mentioned next in the list. Thus there are only two, rather than three, things coming from the throne. For example:
Flashes of lightning were coming from the throne, and the sound of peals of thunder (NJB) (NJB, REB, NLT, CEV)
It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1).Aune (page 268) translates the Greek word as “rumbling.” Beale (page 326) translates the phrase as “lightnings and sounds and thunders,” which does not clearly support interpretation (1) but rules out interpretations (2) and (3).
peals of thunder: This phrase refers to the loud booming noises of thunder. They accompany lightning during a storm. It can also be translated as:
crashes of thunder (NET)
roars/booms of thunder
Before the throne burned seven torches of fire.
Seven fiery torches were burning in front of the throne,
And seven flaming torches burned before the throne.
burned seven torches of fire: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as torches of fire is more literally “lamps of fire.” This phrase probably refers to sticks having burning material at one end. In English, these are often called “torches.” See the drawing below. Other ways to translate this clause are:
seven lighted torches were burning (GNT)
Seven flaming torches were burning (GW)
These are the seven Spirits of God.
which are the seven spirits of God.
Those torches represent/symbolize the sevenfold Spirit of God.
These are the seven Spirits of God: John introduced the symbolic meaning of the seven torches with the word are. In many languages, a literal translation is natural. For example:
which are the seven spirits of God (RSV)
In some languages it is more natural to clearly indicate that the seven torches are symbolic. For example:
These torches represent the seven spirits of God
the seven Spirits of God: Many scholars believe that the phrase the seven Spirits is a symbolic reference to the Holy Spirit. Other scholars believe that the phrase refers to seven angels or to seven other spirits who serve God. See how you translated this phrase in 1:4 or 3:1.
If you used a footnote to explain the seven Spirits at 1:4e, you may want to:
Refer your readers to the footnote on the seven Spirits at 1:4. For example:
See footnote on “the seven spirits” at 1:4.
Repeat all or most of the footnote at 1:4e here.
φωναὶ, καὶ βρονταί
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Καί ἐκ τοῦ θρόνου ἐκπορεύονται ἀστραπαί καί φωναί καί βρονταί Καί ἑπτά λαμπάδες πυρός καιόμεναι ἐνώπιον τοῦ θρόνου ἅ ἐστίν τά ἑπτά πνεύματα τοῦ Θεοῦ)
The word translated sounds could mean: (1) noises, in which case sounds and thunders might be a phrase that expresses a single idea by using two words connected with and. The word thunders would tell what kind of noises these are. Alternate translation: [rumblings of thunder]; (2) voices. Alternate translation: [voices and thunders]
Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / possession
λαμπάδες πυρὸς
lamps (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Καί ἐκ τοῦ θρόνου ἐκπορεύονται ἀστραπαί καί φωναί καί βρονταί Καί ἑπτά λαμπάδες πυρός καιόμεναι ἐνώπιον τοῦ θρόνου ἅ ἐστίν τά ἑπτά πνεύματα τοῦ Θεοῦ)
This possessive form does not mean that the lamps were made of fire but that they burned with fire. Alternate translation: [flaming lamps]
Note 2 topic: writing-symlanguage
τὰ ἑπτὰ πνεύματα
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Καί ἐκ τοῦ θρόνου ἐκπορεύονται ἀστραπαί καί φωναί καί βρονταί Καί ἑπτά λαμπάδες πυρός καιόμεναι ἐνώπιον τοῦ θρόνου ἅ ἐστίν τά ἑπτά πνεύματα τοῦ Θεοῦ)
See how you translated this expression in 1:4.
OET-LV And out_of the throne are_going_out lightnings, and voices, and thunders.
And seven lamps of_fire being_burned before the throne, which is the seven spirits of_ the _god,
OET (OET-RV) From the centre throne came lightning flashes and thunderous sounds and voices. In front of it, seven torches were burning, which are God’s seven spirits.
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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