translation_id: net-engnet

book_id: REV

label: NET translator note

text: Grk “and behold.” The Greek word ἰδού ( idou ) at the beginning of this statement has not been translated because it has no exact English equivalent here, but adds interest and emphasis (BDAG 468 s.v. 1 ).


text: Or “in the sky” (the same Greek word means both “heaven” and “sky”).


text: Grk “with me.” The translation “with me” implies that John was engaged in a dialogue with the one speaking to him (e.g., Jesus or an angel) when in reality it was a one-sided conversation, with John doing all the listening. For this reason, μετ᾿ ἐμοῦ ( met ’ emou , “with me”) was translated as “to me.”


text: The conjunction καί ( kai ), much like the vav- consecutive in Hebrew, appears to be introducing a final/purpose clause here rather than a coordinate clause.


text: Or “in the spirit.” “Spirit” could refer either to the Holy Spirit or the human spirit, but in either case John was in “a state of spiritual exaltation best described as a trance” (R. H. Mounce, Revelation [NICNT], 75).


text: BDAG 537 s.v. κεῖμαι 2 gives the translation “stand” for the term in this verse.


text: Grk “jasper stone.” sn Jasper was a semiprecious gemstone, probably green in color (L&N 2.30).


text: Or “a rainbow emerald-like in appearance.”


text: Here καί ( kai ) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.


text: Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, a new sentence was started here in the translation by supplying the words “They were” to indicate the connection to the preceding material.


text: Or “sounds,” “voices.” It is not entirely clear what this refers to. BDAG 1071 s.v. φωνή 1 states, “In Rv we have ἀστραπαὶ καὶ φωναὶ καὶ βρονταί (cp. Ex 19:16 ) 4:5; 8:5; 11:19; 16:18 (are certain other sounds in nature thought of here in addition to thunder, as e.g. the roar of the storm?…).”


text: This could refer to rock crystal, but it is possible this refers to ice (an older meaning). See BDAG 571 s.v. κρύσταλλος .


text: Perhaps, “in the middle of the throne area” (see L&N 83.10).


text: On the meaning of ζῴον ( zwon ) BDAG 431 s.v. 2 states, “Of the four peculiar beings at God’s throne, whose description Rv 4:6-9 reminds one of the ζῷα in Ezk 1:5 ff, the cherubim. S. also Rv 5:6, 8, 11, 14; 6:1, 3, 5-7; 7:11; 14:3; 15:7; 19:4 .”


text: Both here and before the phrase “the third,” καί ( kai ) has not been translated since English normally uses a coordinating conjunction only between the last two elements in a series of three or more.


text: Grk “six wings apiece,” but this is redundant with “each one” in English.


text: Some translations render ἔσωθεν ( eswqen ) as “under [its] wings,” but the description could also mean “filled all around on the outside and on the inside with eyes.” Since the referent is not available to the interpreter, the exact force is difficult to determine.


text: Or “They never stop saying day and night.”


text: On this word BDAG 755 s.v. παντοκράτωρ states, “the Almighty, All-Powerful, Omnipotent ( One ) only of God…( ὁ ) κύριος ὁ θεὸς ὁ π . … Rv 1:8; 4:8; 11:17; 15:3; 16:7; 21:22 .” sn A quotation from (or an allusion to) Isa 6:3 .


text: Here καί ( kai ) has not been translated since English normally uses a coordinating conjunction only between the last two elements in a series of three or more.


text: Grk “the twenty-four elders fall down.” BDAG 815 s.v. πίπτω 1.b. α . ב . has “ fall down, throw oneself to the ground as a sign of devotion or humility, before high-ranking persons or divine beings.”


text: The pronoun “his” is understood from the demonstrative force of the article τοῦ ( tou ) before θρόνου ( qronou ).


text: sa) also attempt to alleviate the problem by replacing ἦσαν with “they are” ( εἰσιν , eisin ).