Revelation 17

Revelation 17:1

41 map For location see JP1-D2; JP2-D2; JP3-D2; JP4-D2.

42 tn Grk “and to Smyrna.” For stylistic reasons the conjunction καί (kai) and the preposition εἰς (eis) have not been translated before the remaining elements of the list. In lists with more than two elements contemporary English generally does not repeat the conjunction except between the next to last and last elements.

Revelation 17:2

43 tn Throughout the translation John’s use of καί (kai) often reflects the varied usage of the Hebrew conjunction ו (vav). A clause which καί introduces has been translated in terms of its semantic relationship to the clause that preceded it. If the καί seemed redundant, however, it was left untranslated; that is the case in this verse.

44 tn 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.”

45 tn Grk “and turning I saw.” The repetition of ἐπιστρέφω (epistrefw) is somewhat redundant in contemporary English and has been translated generally.

Revelation 17:3

46 tn This phrase constitutes an allusion to Daniel 7:13. Concerning υἱὸςτοῦἀνθρώπου (Juio" tou anqrwpou), BDAG 1026 s.v. υἱός 2.d.γ says: “ὁυἱὸςτοῦἀνθρώπου lit. ’the son of the man’…’the human being, the human one, the man’…On Israelite thought contemporary w. Jesus and alleged knowledge of a heavenly being looked upon as a ‘Son of Man’ or ‘Man’, who exercises Messianic functions such as judging the world (metaph., pictorial passages in En 46-48; 4 Esdr 13:3, 51f)…Outside the gospels: Acts 7:56…Rv 1:13; 14:14 (both after Daniel 7:13…).” The term “son” here in this expression is anarthrous and as such lacks specificity. Some commentators and translations take the expression as an allusion to Daniel 7:13 and not to “the son of man” found in gospel traditions (e.g., Mark 8:31; 9:12; cf. D. E.

Aune, Revelation [WBC], 2:800-801; cf. also NIV). Other commentators and versions, however, take the phrase “son of man” as definite, involving allusions to Daniel 7:13 and “the son of man” gospel traditions (see G. K. Beale, Revelation [NIGTC], 771-72; NRSV).

47 tn Or “a wide golden sash,” but this would not be diagonal, as some modern sashes are, but horizontal. The Greek term can refer to a wide band of cloth or leather worn on the outside of one’s clothing (L&N 6.178).

Revelation 17:4

48 tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.

49 tn The clause, “even as white as snow” seems to heighten the preceding clause and is so understood in this ascensive sense (“even”) in the translation.

50 tn The genitive noun πυρός (puros) has been translated as an attributive genitive.

Revelation 17:5

51 tn The precise meaning of the term translated “polished bronze” (χαλκολιβάνῳ, calkolibanw), which appears nowhere else in Greek literature outside of the book of Revelation (see 2:18), is uncertain. Without question it is some sort of metal. BDAG 1076 s.v. χαλκολίβανον suggests “fine brass/bronze.” L&N 2.57 takes the word to refer to particularly valuable or fine bronze, but notes that the emphasis here and in Revelation 2:18 is more on the lustrous quality of the metal.

52 tn Or “that has been heated in a furnace until it glows.”

53 tn Grk “sound,” but the idea is closer to the roar of a waterfall or rapids.

Revelation 17:6

54 tn Grk “and having.” In the Greek text this is a continuation of the previous sentence, but because contemporary English style employs much shorter sentences, a new sentence was started here in the translation by supplying the pronoun “he.”

55 tn This is a continuation of the previous sentence in the Greek text, but a new sentence was started here in the translation.

Revelation 17:7

56 tn Grk “And when.” Because of the difference between Greek style, which often begins sentences or clauses with “and,” and English style, which generally does not, καί (kai) has not been translated here.

57 tn Here the Greek conjunction καί (kai) has been translated as a contrastive (“but”) due to the contrast between the two clauses.

Revelation 17:8

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

59 tn Concerning “Hades” BDAG 19 s.v. ᾅδης 1 and 2 states: “Orig. proper noun, god of the nether world, ‘Hades’, then the nether world, Hades as place of the dead, Acts 2:27, 31 (Psalms 15:10; Ecclesiastes 9:10; PGM 1, 179; 16, 8; Philo, Mos. 1, 195; Jos., Bell. 1, 596, Ant. 6, 332). Of Jonah’s fish ἐκτοῦκατωτάτουᾅδου. In the depths, contrasted w. heaven ἕως (τοῦ) ᾅδου Matthew 11:23; Luke 10:15 (PsSol 15:10; cp.; Isaiah 14:11, 15); ἐντῷᾅδῃ 16:23; ἐν῝Αιδου ApcPt Rainer. Accessible by gates (but the pl. is also used [e.g. Hom., X., Ael. Aristid. 47, 20 K.=23 p. 450 D.] when only one gate is meant), hence πύλαιᾅδου (Il. 5, 646; Isaiah 38:10; Wsd 16:13; 3 Macc 5:51; Pss.

Sol. 16:2. - Lucian, Menipp. 6 the magicians can open τοῦ῝Αιδουτὰςπύλας and conduct people in and out safely) Matthew 16:18…locked ἔχωτὰςκλεῖςτοῦθανάτουκαὶτοῦᾅδου Rv 1:18 (the genitives are either obj. [Ps.-Apollod. 3, 12, 6, 10 Aeacus, the son of Zeus holds the κλεῖςτοῦ῝Αιδου; SEG VIII, 574, 3 (III ad) τῷτὰςκλεῖδαςἔχοντιτῶνκαθ᾿῝Αιδου (restored)] or possess.; in the latter case death and Hades are personif.; s. 2)…Hades personif….w. θάνατος (cp. Isaiah 28:15; Job 38:17…) Rv 6:8; 20:13f.”

sn In the OT, Hades was known as Sheol. It is the place where the unrighteous will reside (Matthew 11:23; Luke 16:23; Revelation 20:13-14).

Revelation 17:9

60 tn Grk “Therefore write the things that you saw, and the things that are, and the things that will take place after these things.” Verse 19 could also be translated (taking καί…καί [kai…kai] as “both…and”): “Therefore write what you have seen, both what things currently are and what is going to happen after these things.” The structure of this verse is debated.

Revelation 17:10

61 tn The words “is this” are supplied to make a complete sentence in English.

62 tn Or perhaps “the messengers.”

Revelation 17:12

1 map For location see JP1-D2; JP2-D2; JP3-D2; JP4-D2.

2 tn The phrase “the following” after “write” is supplied to clarify that what follows is the content of what is to be written.

3 tn Grk “These things says [the One]…” The expression τάδελέγει (tade legei) occurs eight times in the NT, seven of which are in Revelation 2-3. “The pronoun is used to add solemnity to the prophetic utterance that follows. …In classical drama, it was used to introduce a new actor to the scene (Smyth, Greek Grammar, 307 [§1241]). But the τάδελέγει formula in the NT derives from the OT, where it was used to introduce a prophetic utterance (BAGD, s.v. ὅδε, 1)” (ExSyn 328). Thus, the translation “this is the solemn pronouncement of” for τάδελέγει is very much in keeping with the OT connotations of this expression.

sn The expression This is the solemn pronouncement of reflects an OT idiom. The LXX has the same Greek phrase (τάδελέγει, tade legei) about 350 times, with nearly 320 of them having “the Lord” (Heb יהוה, Yahweh) as subject. That the author of Revelation would use such an expression seven times with the risen Christ as the speaker may well imply something of Christ’s sovereignty and deity. Cf. also Acts 21:11 in which the Holy Spirit is the speaker of this expression.

4 tn Grk “holds,” but the term (i.e., κρατῶν, kratwn) with an accusative object, along with the context, argues for a sense of firmness. (Cf. ExSyn 132.)

5 sn On seven stars in his right hand see 1:16.

6 tn Grk “lampstands of gold” with the genitive τῶνχρυσῶν (twn cruswn) translated as an attributive genitive.

Revelation 17:13

7 tn Although the first possessive pronoun σου (sou) is connected to τὰἔργα (ta erga) and the second σου is connected to ὑπομονήν (Jupomonhn), semantically κόπον (kopon) is also to be understood as belonging to the Ephesian church. The translation reflects this.

8 tn The translation “tolerate” seems to capture the sense of βαστάσαι (bastasai) here. BDAG 171 s.v. βαστάζω 2.b.β says, “bear, endure…κακούς Rv 2:2….bear patiently, put up with: weaknesses of the weak Romans 15:1; cf. IPol 1:2; evil Rv 2:3.”

9 tn Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, the participle was broken off from the previous sentence and translated as an indicative verb beginning a new sentence here in the translation.

Revelation 17:14

10 tn Because of the length and complexity of this Greek sentence, a new sentence was started here in the translation by supplying the phrase “I am also aware” to link this English sentence back to “I know” at the beginning of v. 2.

11 tn The Greek word translated “persisted steadfastly” (ὑπομονή, Jupomonh) is the same one translated “steadfast endurance” in v. 2.

Revelation 17:15

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Revelation 17:16

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We encourage you to upgrade this free version to the premier full NET Bible® version containing all 60,932 notes. This is the most complete set of translators’ notes in any Bible translation and illuminates many important issues of translation and interpretation. You can upgrade by going to www.bible.org/upgrade where you can purchase the full NET Bible or even download basic versions with all 60,932 translators’ notes for free! Your purchases and donations help ensure the ongoing supply of new resources and tools from Bible.org, which is the world’s largest source of trustworthy – and free – Bible study materials.

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Revelation 17:17

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We encourage you to upgrade this free version to the premier full NET Bible® version containing all 60,932 notes. This is the most complete set of translators’ notes in any Bible translation and illuminates many important issues of translation and interpretation. You can upgrade by going to www.bible.org/upgrade where you can purchase the full NET Bible or even download basic versions with all 60,932 translators’ notes for free! Your purchases and donations help ensure the ongoing supply of new resources and tools from Bible.org, which is the world’s largest source of trustworthy – and free – Bible study materials.

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Revelation 17:18

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