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parallelVerse INT GEN EXO LEV NUM DEU JOS JDG RUTH 1SA 2SA 1KI 2KI 1CH 2CH EZRA NEH EST JOB PSA PRO ECC SNG ISA JER LAM EZE DAN HOS JOEL AMOS OBA YNA MIC NAH HAB ZEP HAG ZEC MAL YHN MARK MAT LUKE ACTs ROM 1COR 2COR GAL EPH PHP COL 1TH 2TH 1TIM 2TIM TIT PHM HEB YAC 1PET 2PET 1YHN 2YHN 3YHN YUD REV
Rev Intro C1 C2 C3 C4 C5 C6 C7 C8 C9 C10 C11 C12 C13 C14 C15 C16 C17 C18 C19 C20 C21 C22
Rev 1 V1 V2 V3 V4 V5 V6 V7 V8 V9 V10 V11 V12 V13 V14 V15 V16 V17 V18 V19
Note: This view shows ‘verses’ which are not natural language units and hence sometimes only part of a sentence will be visible. This view is only designed for doing comparisons of different translations. Click on the version abbreviation to see the verse in more of its context.
This is the meaning of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand and of the seven golden lamp holders:[ref] The seven stars represent God’s messengers watching over those seven groups of believers,[ref] and the seven lamp holders represent those groups of believers.OET-LV The seven mystery of_the stars, which you_saw on the right hand of_me, and the seven lampstands the golden:
the seven stars, seven the_messengers of_the assemblies are, and the seven lampstands the_seven assemblies are.
SR-GNT Τὸ μυστήριον τῶν ἑπτὰ ἀστέρων, οὓς εἶδες ἐπὶ τῆς δεξιᾶς μου, καὶ τὰς ἑπτὰ λυχνίας τὰς χρυσᾶς: οἱ ἑπτὰ ἀστέρες, ἄγγελοι τῶν ἑπτὰ ἐκκλησιῶν εἰσίν, καὶ αἱ λυχνίαι ἑπτὰ, ἑπτὰ ἐκκλησίαι εἰσίν. ‡
(To mustaʸrion tōn hepta asterōn, hous eides epi taʸs dexias mou, kai tas hepta luⱪnias tas ⱪrusas: hoi hepta asteres, angeloi tōn hepta ekklaʸsiōn eisin, kai hai luⱪniai hepta, hepta ekklaʸsiai eisin.)
Key: yellow:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, orange:accusative/object, pink:genitive/possessor.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the OET-RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).
ULT The mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand and the seven golden lampstands: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.
UST I will explain the symbolic meaning of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand and of the seven golden lamp holders. The seven stars represent the angels of the seven groups of believers. The seven lamp holders represent the seven groups of believers.
BSB This is the mystery of the seven stars you saw in My right hand and of the seven golden lampstands: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.
BLB the mystery of the seven stars, which you saw on My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.
AICNT “The mystery of the seven stars which you saw {on} my right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands [[which you saw]] are the seven churches.”
OEB the mystic meaning of the seven stars which you saw in my right hand, and the seven golden lamps. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lamps are the seven churches.
WEB The mystery of the seven stars which you saw in my right hand, and the seven golden lamp stands is this: The seven stars are the angels of the seven assemblies. The seven lamp stands are seven assemblies.
NET The mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand and the seven golden lampstands is this: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.
LSV the secret of the seven stars that you have seen on My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: the seven stars are messengers of the seven assemblies, and the seven lampstands that you have seen are seven assemblies.”
FBV The meaning of the seven stars that you saw me holding in my right hand and the seven golden candlesticks is this: the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches and the seven candlesticks are the seven churches.”
TCNT This is the mystery of the seven stars that yoʋ saw in my right hand and the seven golden lampstands: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.
T4T The meaning of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand and the seven golden lampstands that you saw is this: The seven stars in my hand represent the leaders, who are like angels, who watch over the seven congregations, and the seven lampstands represent the seven congregations.”
LEB As for the mystery of the seven stars which you saw in my right hand and the seven gold lampstands—the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.
BBE The secret of the seven stars which you saw in my right hand, and of the seven gold vessels with burning lights. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven lights are the seven churches.
MOF No MOF REV book available
ASV the mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks are seven churches.
DRA The mystery of the seven stars, which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches. And the seven candlesticks are the seven churches.
YLT the secret of the seven stars that thou hast seen upon my right hand, and the seven golden lamp-stands: the seven stars are messengers of the seven assemblies, and the seven lamp-stands that thou hast seen are seven assemblies.
DBY The mystery of the seven stars which thou hast seen on my right hand, and the seven golden lamps. — The seven stars are angels of the seven assemblies; and the seven lamps are seven assemblies.
RV the mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks are seven churches.
WBS the mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks are seven churches.
KJB The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.
( The mystery of the seven stars which thou/you sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou/you sawest are the seven churches.)
BB The misterie of the seuen starres which thou sawest in my ryght hande, and the seuen golde candlestickes. The seuen starres, are the Angels of the seue Churches: And the seuen candlestickes whiche thou sawest, are the seuen Churches.
(The misterie of the seven stars which thou/you sawest in my right hande, and the seven gold candlesticks. The seven stars, are the Angels of the seven Churches: And the seven candlesticks which thou/you sawest, are the seven Churches.)
GNV The misterie of the seuen starres which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seuen golden candlestickes, is this, The seuen starres are the Angels of the seuen Churches: and the seuen candlestickes which thou sawest, are the seuen Churches.
(The misterie of the seven stars which thou/you sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks, is this, The seven stars are the Angels of the seven Churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou/you sawest, are the seven Churches.)
CB & the mistery of the seuen starres which thou sawest in my right honde, and the seuen golden candelstickes. The seuen starres are the angels of the seue congregacions: And the seuen candelstyckes which thou sawest, are the seuen congregacions.
(& the mistery of the seven stars which thou/you sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candelstickes. The seven stars are the angels of the seven congregations: And the seven candlesticks which thou/you sawest, are the seven congregations.)
TNT and the mystery of the vii. starres which thou sawest in my ryght honde and the vii. golden candelstyckes. The vii. stares are the messengers of the vii. congregacions: And the vii. candlestyckes which thou sawest are the vii. congregacions.
(and the mystery of the 7 stars which thou/you sawest in my right hand and the 7 golden candlesticks. The 7 stares are the messengers of the 7 congregations: And the 7 candlesticks which thou/you sawest are the 7 congregations.)
WYC The sacrament of the seuene sterris, which thou seiyest in my riyt hond, and the seuene goldun candelstikis; the seuene sterris ben aungels of the seuene chirchis, and the seuene candelstikis ben seuene chirchis.
(The sacrament of the seven sterris, which thou/you seiyest in my right hand, and the seven golden candelstikis; the seven sterris been angels of the seven churches, and the seven candelstikis been seven churches.)
LUT das Geheimnis der sieben Sterne, die du gesehen hast in meiner rechten Hand, und die sieben güldenen Leuchter. Die sieben Sterne sind Engel der sieben Gemeinden, und die sieben Leuchter, die du gesehen hast, sind sieben Gemeinden.
(das Geheimnis the seven Sterne, the you gesehen hast in my rechten Hand, and the seven güldenen Leuchter. The seven Sterne are angel the seven communities, and the seven Leuchter, the you gesehen hast, are seven communities.)
CLV Sacramentum septem stellarum, quas vidisti in dextera mea, et septem candelabra aurea: septem stellæ, angeli sunt septem ecclesiarum: et candelabra septem, septem ecclesiæ sunt.
(Sacramentum seven stellarum, quas vidisti in dextera mea, and seven candelabra aurea: seven stellæ, angeli are seven ecclesiarum: and candelabra septem, seven ecclesiæ sunt.)
UGNT τὸ μυστήριον τῶν ἑπτὰ ἀστέρων, οὓς εἶδες ἐπὶ τῆς δεξιᾶς μου, καὶ τὰς ἑπτὰ λυχνίας τὰς χρυσᾶς: οἱ ἑπτὰ ἀστέρες, ἄγγελοι τῶν ἑπτὰ ἐκκλησιῶν εἰσίν, καὶ αἱ λυχνίαι αἱ ἑπτὰ, ἑπτὰ ἐκκλησίαι εἰσίν.
(to mustaʸrion tōn hepta asterōn, hous eides epi taʸs dexias mou, kai tas hepta luⱪnias tas ⱪrusas: hoi hepta asteres, angeloi tōn hepta ekklaʸsiōn eisin, kai hai luⱪniai hai hepta, hepta ekklaʸsiai eisin.)
SBL-GNT τὸ μυστήριον τῶν ἑπτὰ ἀστέρων ⸀οὓς εἶδες ἐπὶ τῆς δεξιᾶς μου, καὶ τὰς ἑπτὰ λυχνίας τὰς χρυσᾶς· οἱ ἑπτὰ ἀστέρες ἄγγελοι τῶν ἑπτὰ ἐκκλησιῶν εἰσίν, καὶ αἱ λυχνίαι αἱ ἑπτὰ ἑπτὰ ἐκκλησίαι εἰσίν.
(to mustaʸrion tōn hepta asterōn ⸀hous eides epi taʸs dexias mou, kai tas hepta luⱪnias tas ⱪrusas; hoi hepta asteres angeloi tōn hepta ekklaʸsiōn eisin, kai hai luⱪniai hai hepta hepta ekklaʸsiai eisin.)
TC-GNT τὸ μυστήριον τῶν ἑπτὰ ἀστέρων ὧν εἶδες ἐπὶ τῆς δεξιᾶς μου, καὶ τὰς ἑπτὰ λυχνίας τὰς χρυσᾶς. Οἱ ἑπτὰ ἀστέρες ἄγγελοι τῶν ἑπτὰ ἐκκλησιῶν εἰσι· καὶ αἱ λυχνίαι αἱ ἑπτὰ ἑπτὰ ἐκκλησίαι εἰσί.
(to mustaʸrion tōn hepta asterōn hōn eides epi taʸs dexias mou, kai tas hepta luⱪnias tas ⱪrusas. Hoi hepta asteres angeloi tōn hepta ekklaʸsiōn eisi; kai hai luⱪniai hai hepta hepta ekklaʸsiai eisi.)
Key for above GNTs: red:words differ (from our SR-GNT base).
1:20 John is to record what he sees because Revelation is an instructive word for the churches.
• The angels (or messengers; Greek angelos) of the seven churches could be (1) the guardian angels of these churches (cp. Matt 18:10; Acts 12:15); (2) the leading officials of the churches (cp. Matt 11:10, where “messenger” is angelos); or (3) a personification of the ethos of the church. The best understanding is probably a combination of 1 and 3.
Symbolic Numbers
Numbers used in Scripture have often inspired wild speculation. An understanding of the symbolism of numbers in the ancient world can help ground our interpretation. Such symbolism, however, is not rigid or exact, so great care must be exercised when numbers are used in interpretation, so as not to push fanciful predictions about future events.
The number one can refer to God’s oneness (Deut 6:4; Gal 3:20; Jas 2:19). Two is the minimum number required to give a legitimate witness (Deut 17:6; Rev 11:3), and three can imply divine representation (Gen 18:1-2; 2 Cor 13:14; Rev 1:4-5). Four can stand for the known world, represented in Revelation by living creatures, horsemen, winds, and angels (Rev 4:6-8; 6:1-8; 7:1) and in Genesis by four rivers (Gen 2:10-14). When three and four are added to make seven, they represent perfection or divine fulfillment, indicating that God and the world are in harmony. The multiplication of three by four yields twelve, the number associated with God’s people (Gen 35:22-26; Exod 24:4; 28:21; Num 17:2; Josh 4:3-8; 1 Kgs 18:31; Matt 10:1-4; 19:28; Jas 1:1; Rev 12:1; 21:12–22:2. The number five and its multiples, such as ten, represent human completeness (e.g., five fingers per hand); and six carries a negative sense or implication of evil, being neither humanly complete (five) nor divinely complete (seven).
Multiples of ten (e.g., forty) are a symbolic way to indicate many, whereas three sixes (666) imply supreme evil (Rev 13:18). One thousand is regarded as the foundational large number; 12,000 indicates a large number of God’s people (Rev 7:5-8); and 144,000 represents the complete people of God (Rev 7:4; 14:1). The number 10,000 and its multiples are probably best transliterated from Greek as myriads, since they really mean “a huge number” rather than a precise count.
While some of the numbers in the Bible have symbolic meanings, using numbers to speculate on the time of Christ’s return or of the end of the world is highly dubious—only God possesses that knowledge (Mark 13:32). God did not intend for the symbolic numbers in Revelation to help us predict the future; rather, their symbolic meanings help to explain the significance of the visions. Because the numbers are symbolic, sometimes when we translate them into contemporary sizes, distances, and numbers for our ease of reading, it can result in the loss of theological significance. The use of these symbolic numbers can illuminate a vision’s relationship to the world or to the people of God.
Passages for Further Study
Gen 2:2-3; 4:15; 15:13; 41:53-54; Exod 20:6; 25:31-37; 32:15; Lev 16:14; 23:16; 2 Sam 24:13; 1 Kgs 4:26; 17:21; 18:31, 43-44; Job 1:2; Ps 90:4; Jer 15:3; 49:36; Ezek 14:21; Dan 4:16, 23-25; 7:3, 17, 24; Zech 4:2; 6:1; Matt 10:1-5; 12:40; 18:21-22; Mark 6:7; Luke 15:8; Acts 6:3; 10:16; 1 Cor 8:6; Eph 4:4-6; 2 Pet 3:8; Rev 1:16; 2:10; 4:4; 6:1; 7:1, 4-8; 12:1, 3; 13:1; 17:3-14; 20:2-7; 21:12-21
Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / ellipsis
τὸ μυστήριον
the mystery
Jesus is leaving out some of the words that in many languages a sentence would need in order to be complete. You can supply these words from the context if that would be helpful in your language. Alternate translation: “I will explain the mystery”
Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit
ἄγγελοι τῶν ἑπτὰ ἐκκλησιῶν
/the/_angels ˱of˲_the seven assemblies
In chapters 2 and 3, Jesus will dictate a letter to each of the angels of the seven churches as if those angels were the churches themselves. So in this vision in chapter 1, these angels, symbolized by the stars in Jesus’ right hand, seem to personify the churches. That is, the angels represent the churches as if the churches were people. These angels could be: (1) actual angels, that is, spiritual beings. Alternate translation: “angels who represent the seven churches” (2) leaders of the churches, whom Jesus is describing as angels. Alternate translation: “leaders of the seven churches” (3) messengers bringing news of the churches to John and carrying John’s letters back to the churches. Alternate translation: “messengers of the seven churches”