OET interlinear REV 7:1

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

ἑστῶτας ἐπὶ τὰς τέσσαρας γωνίας τῆς γῆς, κρατοῦντας τοὺς τέσσαρας ἀνέμους τῆς γῆς

/having/_stood on the four corners ˱of˲_the earth taking_hold_of the four winds ˱of˲_the earth

John is speaking as if the earth had four corners. He is referring from his own standpoint to locations to the north, south, east, and west of him. If it would be clearer for your readers, you could state the meaning plainly, using your own language's words for these primary directions. Alternate translation: [at places on the earth where they could hold back the north, south, east, and west winds]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / parallelism

ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς, μήτε ἐπὶ τῆς θαλάσσης, μήτε ἐπὶ πᾶν δένδρον

on on the earth nor on the sea nor on any tree

After John says that the wind would not blow on the land or on the sea, he may add or on any tree for emphasis, perhaps alluding to his reference in 6:13 to a great wind shaking a tree. In that case the two phrases would mean similar things, as the next two notes explain. John would be using the repetition for emphasis. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could combine the two phrases. Alternate translation: [on any place on the land or in the sea]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / merism

ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς, μήτε ἐπὶ τῆς θαλάσσης

on on the earth nor on the sea

John seems to be using the two main components of the world, the land and the sea, to mean everywhere in the world. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use an equivalent expression or plain language. Alternate translation: [anywhere in the world]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / synecdoche

μήτε ἐπὶ πᾶν δένδρον

nor on nor on any tree

John may be using one place where the wind might blow, against a tree, to mean every place where the wind might blow. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation, preceded by a comma: “no, not anywhere at all”