translation_id: net-engnet

book_id: REV

label: NET translator note

text: Here καί ( kai ) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence within the narrative.


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: Here one Greek term, κρίμα ( krima ), has been translated by the two English terms “condemnation” and “punishment.” See BDAG 567 s.v. 4 .b, “mostly in an unfavorable sense, of the condemnatory verdict and sometimes the subsequent punishment itself 2 Pt 2:3 ; Jd 4… τὸ κ . τῆς πόρνης the condemnation and punishment of the prostitute Rv 17:1 .”


text: This is the same word translated “sexual immorality” earlier in the verse, but here the qualifier “sexual” has not been repeated for stylistic reasons.


text: Here καί ( kai ) has been translated as “so” to indicate the implied result of the angel’s invitation to witness the fate of the prostitute.


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: Or “desert.”


text: The word “there” is not in the Greek text, but is supplied for stylistic reasons.


text: Here καί ( kai ) has been translated as “now” to indicate the detailed description of the woman, which is somewhat parenthetical in nature.


text: The word “clothing” is supplied to clarify that the words “purple” and “scarlet” refer to cloth or garments rather than colors.


text: Grk “gilded with gold” (an instance of semantic reinforcement, see L&N 49.29).


text: Grk “pearls, having in her hand.” Due to the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, a new sentence was started here in the translation.


text: ** [co]) read “her sexual immorality and the earth’s” ( πορνείας αὐτῆς καὶ τῆς γῆς , porneia" aujth" kai th" gh" ). The translation is a rendering of πορνείας αὐτῆς , found in {A 1006 2344 al }. It seems that the first reading “sexuality immorality on/of the earth” was a scribal mistake in which letters may have been confused ( auths would have been read as thsghs ), or was perhaps influenced by the presence of “of the world” ( τῆς γῆς ) at the end of v. 5 . The original wording seems to be “her sexual immorality”; codex א has conflated the two readings.


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


text: Some translations consider the word μυστήριον ( musthrion , “mystery”) a part of the name written (“Mystery Babylon the Great,” so KJV, NIV), but the gender of both ὄνομα ( onoma , “name”) and μυστήριον are neuter, while the gender of “Babylon” is feminine. This strongly suggests that μυστήριον should be understood as an appositive to ὄνομα (“a name, i.e., a mystery”).


text: Or “of the witnesses to Jesus.” Here the genitive ᾿Ιησοῦ ( Ihsou ) is taken as an objective genitive; Jesus is the object of their testimony.


text: Grk “I marveled a great marvel” (an idiom for great astonishment).


text: Here καί ( kai ) has been translated as “but” to indicate the contrast present in this context.


text: Grk “I will tell you,” but since what follows is the angel’s interpretation of the vision, “interpret for you” is the preferred translation here.


text: On this term BDAG 2 s.v. ἄβυσσος 2 states, “ netherworld , abyss, esp. the abode of the dead Ro 10:7 ( Ps 106:26 ) and of demons Lk 8:31 ; dungeon where the devil is kept Rv 20:3 ; abode of the θηρίον , the Antichrist 11:7; 17:8 ; of ᾿Αβαδδών (q.v.), the angel of the underworld 9:11 … φρέαρ τῆς ἀ . 9:1 f; capable of being sealed 9:1; 20:1, 3 .”


text: Some translations take the ὅτι ( Joti ) here as causal: “because he was, and is not, but is to come” (so NIV, NRSV), but it is much more likely that the subject of the ὅτι clause has been assimilated into the main clause: “when they see the beast, that he was…” = “when they see that the beast was” (so BDAG 732 s.v. ὅτι 1.f, where Rev 17:8 is listed).


text: Grk “Here is the mind that has wisdom.”


text: It is important to note that the height of “mountains” versus “hills” or other topographical terms is somewhat relative. In terms of Palestinian topography, Mount Tabor (traditionally regarded as the mount of transfiguration) is some 1,800 ft (550 m) above sea level, while the Mount of Olives is only some 100 ft (30 m) higher than Jerusalem.


text: That is, one currently reigns.


text: For the translation “ruling authority” for ἐξουσία ( exousia ) see L&N 37.35.


text: The word “kings” is not in the Greek text, but has been supplied to clarify the referent.


text: See BDAG 636 s.v. μετά A.2.a. α .


text: Here καί ( kai ) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence within the narrative.


text: Grk “he”; the referent (the angel) has been specified in the translation for clarity.


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


text: A new sentence was started here in the translation. Here καί ( kai ) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.


text: The final clause could also be turned into an adverbial clause of means: “They will consume her flesh by burning her with fire.”


text: Grk “hearts.”


text: Or “his intent.”


text: The infinitive ποιῆσαι ( poihsai ) was translated here as giving the logical means by which God’s purpose was carried out.


text: On this term BDAG 203 s.v. γνώμη 4 states, “ declaration, decision, resolution …of God Rv 17:17 .”


text: For this translation see BDAG 168 s.v. βασιλεία 1.a, “ kingship, royal power, royal rule. ”


text: Or “completed.”


text: Grk “And.” Because this remark is somewhat resumptive in nature, “as for” is used in the translation.