REV 6:9 Parallel Verse View

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Text critical issues=small word differences Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

Key: khaki:verbs, orange:accusative/object, pink:genitive/possessor.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

ULT And when he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of the ones having been slaughtered because of the word of God and because of the testimony that they were having.

UST The Lamb then opened the fifth piece of wax that sealed the scroll. When he did, I saw, at the base of an altar in heaven, the souls of people whom others had killed because they spoke God’s message faithfully as reliable witnesses.

BSB And when [the Lamb] opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony they had upheld.

MSB And when [the Lamb] opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony of the Lamb[fn] that they had upheld.

BLB And when He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those having been slain because of the word of God, and because of the testimony which they had upheld.

AICNT And when the [fifth][fn] seal was opened, I saw beneath the altar the souls of {those}[fn] who had been slain because of the word of God and [because of][fn] the testimony they held [[of the Lamb]].[fn]

6:9, fifth: Absent from ℵ(01).

6:9, those: Some manuscripts read “the men.” ℵ(01)

6:9, because of: Absent from some manuscripts. A(02)

6:9, of the Lamb: Later manuscripts add. BYZ

OEB When the Lamb opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been killed for the sake of God’s message and for the testimony which they had borne.

WEBBE When he opened the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been killed for the Word of God, and for the testimony of the Lamb which they had.

WMBB (Same as above)

NET Now when the Lamb opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been violently killed because of the word of God and because of the testimony they had given.

LSV And when He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those slain because of the word of God, and because of the testimony that they held,

FBV When he opened the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar those[fn] who had been killed because of their dedication to the word of God and their faithful witness.

6:9 “Those.” In the original the word means “lives,” often translated as “souls.” However, the Biblical concept of the “soul” references a living person (e.g. Genesis 2:7) and can die ( Ezekiel 18:20) and is not the disembodied spirit of Hellenistic thought. Like many aspects in Revelation the fact that these dead martyrs should speak is symbolic rather than literal.

TCNT When the Lamb opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of [fn]those who had been slain because of the word of God and because of the testimony [fn]of the Lamb which they had upheld.

6:9 those 𝔐^K 61.6% ¦ the people 𝔐^A,C ECM^† PCK 37.3%

6:9 of the Lamb 𝔐^C,K [67.7%] ¦ — 𝔐^A CT TR [27.6%]

T4T When the one who is like a lamb opened the fifth seal, I saw under (OR, at the base of) the altar in heaven the souls of God’s servants who had been killed {whom people had killed} because of their believing God’s message, and because they told others the message about Jesus.

LEB And when he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slaughtered because of the word of God and because of the testimony which they had,

BBE And when the fifth stamp was undone, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been put to death for the word of God, and for the witness which they kept.

Moff And when he opened the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been slain for adhering to God's word and to the testimony which they bore;

Wymth When the Lamb broke the fifth seal, I saw at the foot of the altar the souls of those whose lives had been sacrificed because of the word of God and of the testimony which they had given.

ASV And when he opened the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of them that had been slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:

DRA And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held.

YLT And when he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those slain because of the word of God, and because of the testimony that they held,

Drby And when it opened the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of them that had been slain for the word of [fn]God, and for the testimony which they held;

6.9 Elohim

RV And when he opened the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of them that had been slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:
(And when he opened the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of them that had been slain/killed for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: )

SLT And when he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of the slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they had:

Wbstr And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:

KJB-1769 And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:
(And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain/killed for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: )

KJB-1611 And when hee had opened the fift seale, I saw vnder the altar, the soules of them that were slaine for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from punctuation)

Bshps And when he had opened the fift seale, I sawe vnder the aulter the soules of them that were kylled for the worde of God, and for the testimonie which they had.
(And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were killed for the word of God, and for the testimony which they had.)

Gnva And when hee had opened the fifth seale, I sawe vnder the altar the soules of them, that were killed for the worde of God, and for the testimonie which they mainteined.
(And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them, that were killed for the word of God, and for the testimony which they mainteined. )

Cvdl And when he opened the fyfte seale, I sawe vnder the aultre, the soules of them yt were kylled for the worde of God, and for ye testimony which they had,
(And when he opened the fyfte seal, I saw under the aultre, the souls of them it were killed for the word of God, and for ye/you_all testimony which they had,)

TNT And when he opened the fyfte seale I sawe vnder the aultre the soules of them that were kylled for the worde of God and for the testymony which they had
(And when he opened the fyfte seal I saw under the aultre the souls of them that were killed for the word of God and for the testymony which they had )

Wycl And whanne he hadde opened the fyuethe seel, Y say vndur the auter the soulis of men slayn for the word of God, and for the witnessing that thei hadden.
(And when he had opened the fifth seel, I say under the altar the souls of men slain/killed for the word of God, and for the witnessing that they hadden.)

Luth Und da es das fünfte Siegel auftat, sah ich unter dem Altar die Seelen derer, die erwürget waren um des Wortes Gottes willen und um des Zeugnisses willen, das sie hatten.
(And there it the fifth seal opened, saw I under to_him altar the souls those/of_those, the strangled/choked were around/by/for the wordss God’s will and around/by/for the certificate will, the they/she/them had.)

ClVg Et cum aperuisset sigillum quintum, vidi subtus altare animas interfectorum propter verbum Dei, et propter testimonium, quod habebant:[fn]
(And when/with aperuisset sigillum becausetum, I_saw underneath the_altar souls of_the_killed because the_word/saying of_God, and because testimony, that they_had: )

6.9 Et cum. Ostensis tribulationibus quæ in præsenti imminent fidelibus, ne deficiant, aliquatenus certificans de propinqua corona patientes consolatur. Vidi subtus altare. Id est capiti suo humiliantes se, vel, sub, in absconso, quia nemo in hac vita percipit quomodo ibi sint. Altare. Christus super quem se omnes sancti offerunt, et quem habent munimentum. Vel ipsæ animæ altare sunt de quibus fumus procedit Deo delectabilis, et quia fuerunt sanguine liniti, modo sunt exsistentes subtus, id est in minori dignitate quam sint futuræ, quia nondum nisi unam stolam acceperunt. Interfectorum propter verbum. Vel aperto martyrio, vel aliquibus anxietatibus

6.9 And cum. Ostensis tribulations which in/into/on present imminent to_the_faithful, not deficiant, sometenus certificans from/about propinqua corona patientes consoles. I_saw underneath the_altar. That it_is to_the_head his_own humiliantes himself, or, sub, in/into/on absconso, because nobody/no_one in/into/on this_way life percipit how there let_them_be. Altare. Christ/Messiah over which himself everyone holy they_offer, and which they_have munimentum. Or herself soul the_altar are from/about to_whom smoke/steam proceeds to_God delectabilis, and because they_were blood liniti, just/only are exsistentes underneath, that it_is in/into/on minor dignity how let_them_be future, because not_yet except one robe/gownm they_received. Interfectorum because the_word/saying. Or open martyrdom, or somebus anxietatibus

UGNT καὶ ὅτε ἤνοιξεν τὴν πέμπτην σφραγῖδα, εἶδον ὑποκάτω τοῦ θυσιαστηρίου, τὰς ψυχὰς τῶν ἐσφαγμένων διὰ τὸν λόγον τοῦ Θεοῦ, καὶ διὰ τὴν μαρτυρίαν ἣν εἶχον.
(kai hote aʸnoixen taʸn pemptaʸn sfragida, eidon hupokatō tou thusiastaʸriou, tas psuⱪas tōn esfagmenōn dia ton logon tou Theou, kai dia taʸn marturian haʸn eiⱪon.)

SBL-GNT Καὶ ὅτε ἤνοιξεν τὴν πέμπτην σφραγῖδα, εἶδον ὑποκάτω τοῦ θυσιαστηρίου τὰς ψυχὰς τῶν ἐσφαγμένων διὰ τὸν λόγον τοῦ θεοῦ καὶ διὰ τὴν ⸀μαρτυρίαν ἣν εἶχον.
(Kai hote aʸnoixen taʸn pemptaʸn sfragida, eidon hupokatō tou thusiastaʸriou tas psuⱪas tōn esfagmenōn dia ton logon tou theou kai dia taʸn ⸀marturian haʸn eiⱪon.)

RP-GNT Καὶ ὅτε ἤνοιξεν τὴν πέμπτην σφραγῖδα, εἶδον ὑποκάτω τοῦ θυσιαστηρίου τὰς ψυχὰς τῶν ἐσφαγμένων διὰ τὸν λόγον τοῦ θεοῦ, καὶ διὰ τὴν μαρτυρίαν τοῦ ἀρνίου ἣν εἶχον,
(Kai hote aʸnoixen taʸn pemptaʸn sfragida, eidon hupokatō tou thusiastaʸriou tas psuⱪas tōn esfagmenōn dia ton logon tou theou, kai dia taʸn marturian tou arniou haʸn eiⱪon,)

TC-GNT Καὶ ὅτε ἤνοιξε τὴν πέμπτην σφραγῖδα, εἶδον ὑποκάτω τοῦ θυσιαστηρίου τὰς [fn]ψυχὰς τῶν ἐσφαγμένων διὰ τὸν λόγον τοῦ Θεοῦ καὶ διὰ τὴν μαρτυρίαν [fn]τοῦ ἀρνίου ἣν εἶχον.
(Kai hote aʸnoixe taʸn pemptaʸn sfragida, eidon hupokatō tou thusiastaʸriou tas psuⱪas tōn esfagmenōn dia ton logon tou Theou kai dia taʸn marturian tou arniou haʸn eiⱪon. )

6:9 ψυχας 𝔐^K 61.6% ¦ ψυχας των ανθρωπων 𝔐^A,C ECM^† PCK 37.3%

6:9 του αρνιου 𝔐^C,K [67.7%] ¦ — 𝔐^A CT TR [27.6%]

Key for above GNTs: yellow:punctuation differs, red:words differ (from our SR-GNT base).

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 6:1–17: The Lamb opened the first six seals

In this section, Jesus, the Lamb, opened six of the seven seals on the scroll. The opening of each of the first four seals revealed a rider and a horse who would cause a different kind of trouble for people on the earth. The opening of the fifth seal revealed all the people who had been killed because of their faith. The opening of the sixth seal caused the whole universe to be shaken and moved.

Other examples of headings for this section are:

The Lamb opened six of the seven seals

The Seals (NIV)

The first six seals are opened

6:9a

And when the Lamb opened the fifth seal,

¶ When he broke open the fifth seal,
¶ He removed/undid the fifth wax stamp.

fifth: This refers to the next item after the fourth one. If counted, this item would be counted as number five.

6:9b

I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain

I saw beneath the altar the spirits of those who had been killed/martyred
So/Then I saw under the altar the spirits of believers whom unbelievers had killed previously.

I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain: This clause indicates that these believers were like sacrifices. These believers had followed God even when doing so meant that others would kill them. In that way, they offered their lives to God as a sacrifice.

under the altar: This phrase probably refers to at the base or bottom of the altar. See drawing below.

altar: On earth, an altar is a platform on which people offer sacrifices or gifts to God. The animal sacrifices are cooked or burned there. Below is one artist’s idea of the appearance of the altar where the Jews offered animal sacrifices and gifts in front of the temple in Jerusalem.

However the altar of this verse is in heaven in John’s vision. People do not offer animal or food sacrifices on it. But in some languages the usual translation of altar refers to sacrificing. For example:

burning-placeTagbanwa Back Translation on TW.

bench of sacrificingBased on the Levatbura Lamasong (Notsi Madak) Back Translation, draft, Papua New Guinea.

offering burning tableUma Back Translation on TW.

The people of many languages will understand that this usual translation of altar, being in heaven, will be different than altars on earth and will not be an altar on which to offer animals. But in some languages the usual translation of altar will imply animal sacrifice in heaven. If that is true in your language, use a more general word or phrase. For example:

gift-giving place

bench of gifts to God

offering table

souls: This word refers to the essential part of a person. It is the part of him that does not die when his body dies. For example:

spirits

The same word is used in Matthew 10:28 and Acts 2:27.

those who had been slain: The Greek grammar indicates that these people were killed earlier, before John saw them. The clause is passive. Some languages must use an active clause. For example:

those whom others have slain

slain: Here, the word slain refers to someone killing these believers. Other ways to translate this word are:

killed (GNT)

executed

6:9c

for the word of God and for the testimony they had upheld.

because of God’s message and the testimony which they possessed.
They killed them because they were faithful to God’s word and to the message about Jesus that they had received.

for the word of God and for the testimony they had upheld: This part of the verse explains why these believers had been killed. Unbelievers hated and killed them because they had spoken God’s word and kept the testimony.

for the word of God: Here the phrase the word of God refers to what God said. It is the message from God to people. The believers believed this word of God. They probably also told it to others.

In some languages it is necessary to explain what was done with the word of God. For example:

because they believed God’s message

because they followed God’s word

for the testimony they had upheld: The Greek word that the BSB translates as upheld means “kept,” “preserved,” or “possessed.” There are two ways to interpret it:

It means kept, preserved, or possessed here. Believers followed the testimony even though others persecuted them and killed them. They did not try to change it so that people would be happy with them. For example:
because they were faithful to…the message they had received (NCV) (BSB, NIV, NASB, NCV, KJV)
It means give or tell here. Believers told others about Jesus and his gospel even though people persecuted and killed them. For example:
for the testimony they had given (NRSV) (GNT, NJB, NRSV, NABRE, GW, CEV, NET)The English word (“borne/bore”) that the RSV, ESV, NABRE, and REB use is ambiguous. It could mean “carry as a burden while persecuted” or “carry in front for others to see.”

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), because the Greek lexicons support it and not interpretation (2).Beale (page 390) uses the phrase “committed themselves to.” Aune (page 403–406) uses “bore” and later “maintained.” Lenski (page 231) uses “had.”

testimony: The word testimony means “the words spoken about what one saw or heard.” Here it probably refers to what Jesus did while on earth and who he claimed to be: the Messiah and King of all kings. Other ways to translate this word are:

truth revealed by Jesus

message about Jesus

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

τοῦ θυσιαστηρίου

the altar

John mentions an altar here without having described it previously while relating what he saw in this vision. He seems to mean a golden altar that was in front of God’s throne, as he later describes in [8:3](../08/03.md) and [9:13](../09/13.md). You could indicate that in your translation if it would be helpful to your readers. Alternate translation: [a golden altar that was in front of God’s throne]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

τῶν ἐσφαγμένων

¬which ˓having_been˒_slain

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: [the ones whom people had slaughtered]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / parallelism

διὰ τὸν λόγον τοῦ Θεοῦ , καὶ διὰ τὴν μαρτυρίαν ἣν εἶχον

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Καί ὅτε ἤνοιξεν τήν πέμπτην σφραγῖδα εἶδον ὑποκάτω τοῦ θυσιαστηρίου τάς ψυχάς τῶν ἐσφαγμένων διά τόν λόγον τοῦ Θεοῦ καί διά τήν μαρτυρίαν ἥν εἶχον)

These two phrases mean similar things. John is using repetition to emphasize the idea that the phrases express. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could combine them. Alternate translation: [because they testified to the word of God]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

διὰ τὸν λόγον τοῦ Θεοῦ

John is using the term word to mean the message that God communicated to believers by using words and that God wants believers to share by using words. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [because they shared the message from God]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

διὰ τὴν μαρτυρίαν ἣν εἶχον

If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of testimony, you could express the same idea in another way. Alternate translation: [because they testified about Jesus]

Parallel REV 6:9

Section 6:1–17: The Lamb opened the first six seals

6:9a

6:9b

6:9c