Añadir traducción en paralelo Imprimir Opciones de la página

Samuel Meets with Saul

There was a Benjaminite man named Kish son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Becorath, the son of Aphiah of Benjamin. Kish was a prominent person. He had a son named Saul, a handsome young man. There was no one among the Israelites more handsome than he was; he stood head and shoulders above all the people.

The donkeys of Saul’s father Kish wandered off,[a] so Kish said to his son Saul, “Take one of the servants with you and go[b] look for the donkeys.”[c] So Saul[d] crossed through the hill country of Ephraim, passing through the land of Shalisha, but they did not find them. So they crossed through the land of Shaalim, but they were not there. Then he crossed through the land of Benjamin, and still they did not find them.

When they came to the land of Zuph, Saul said to his servant who was with him, “Come on, let’s head back before my father quits worrying about the donkeys and becomes anxious about us!” But the servant said to him, “Look, there is a man of God in this town. He is highly respected. Everything that he says really happens.[e] Now let’s go there. Perhaps he will tell us where we should go from here.”[f] So Saul said to his servant, “All right,[g] we can go. But what can we bring the man, since the food in our bags is used up? We have no gift to take to the man of God. What do we have?” The servant went on to answer Saul, “Look, I happen to have in my hand a quarter shekel[h] of silver. I will give it to the man of God and he will tell us where we should go.”[i] (Now it used to be in Israel that whenever someone went to inquire of God he would say, “Come on, let’s go to the seer.” For today’s prophet used to be called a seer.) 10 So Saul said to his servant, “That’s a good idea![j] Come on. Let’s go.” So they went to the town where the man of God was.

11 As they were going up the ascent to the town, they met some girls coming out to draw water. They said to them, “Is this where the seer is?” 12 They replied, “Yes, straight ahead! But hurry now, for he came to the town today, and the people are making a sacrifice at the high place. 13 When you enter the town, you can find him before he goes up to the high place to eat. The people won’t eat until he arrives, for he must bless the sacrifice. Once that happens, those who have been invited will eat. Now go on up, for[k] this is the time when you can find him.”

14 So they went up to the town. As they were heading for the middle of the town, Samuel was coming in their direction[l] to go up to the high place. 15 Now the day before Saul arrived, the Lord had told[m] Samuel: 16 “At this time tomorrow I will send to you a man from the land of Benjamin. You must consecrate[n] him as a leader over my people Israel. He will save my people from the hand of the Philistines. For I have looked with favor on my people. Their cry has reached me.”

17 When Samuel saw Saul, the Lord said,[o] “Here is the man that I told you about. He will rule over my people.” 18 As Saul approached Samuel in the middle of the gate, he said, “Please tell me where the seer’s house is.”

19 Samuel replied to Saul, “I am the seer! Go up in front of me to the high place! Today you will eat with me and in the morning I will send you away. I will tell you everything that you are thinking.[p] 20 Don’t be concerned[q] about the donkeys that you lost three days ago, for they have been found. Whom does all Israel desire? Is it not you, and all your father’s family?”[r]

21 Saul replied, “Am I not a Benjaminite, from the smallest of Israel’s tribes, and is not my family clan the smallest of all the clans in the tribe of Benjamin? Why do you speak to me in this way?”

22 Then Samuel brought[s] Saul and his servant into the room and gave them a place at the head of those who had been invited. There were about thirty people present. 23 Samuel said to the cook, “Give me the portion of meat that I gave to you—the one I asked you to keep with you.”

24 So the cook picked up the leg and brought it and set it in front of Saul. Samuel[t] said, “What was kept is now set before you! Eat, for it has been kept for you for this meeting time, from the time I said, ‘I have invited the people.’” So Saul ate with Samuel that day.

25 When they came down from the high place to the town, Samuel spoke with Saul on the roof. 26 They got up at dawn and Samuel called to Saul on the roof, “Get up, so I can send you on your way.” So Saul got up and the two of them—he and Samuel—went outside. 27 While they were going down to the edge of town, Samuel said to Saul, “Tell the servant to go on ahead of us.” So he did.[u] Samuel then said,[v] “You remain here awhile, so I can inform you of God’s message.”

Notas al pie

  1. 1 Samuel 9:3 tn Heb “became lost.”
  2. 1 Samuel 9:3 tn Heb “and arise, go.”
  3. 1 Samuel 9:3 tc The Syriac Peshitta includes the following words: “So Saul arose and went out. He took with him one of the boys and went out to look for his father’s donkeys.”
  4. 1 Samuel 9:4 tn Heb “he”; the referent (Saul) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
  5. 1 Samuel 9:6 tn The infinitive absolute precedes the verb for emphasis.
  6. 1 Samuel 9:6 tn Heb “our way on which we have gone.”
  7. 1 Samuel 9:7 tn Heb “look.”
  8. 1 Samuel 9:8 sn A quarter shekel of silver would weigh about a tenth of an ounce (about 3 grams).
  9. 1 Samuel 9:8 tn Heb “our way.”
  10. 1 Samuel 9:10 tn Heb “your word is good.”
  11. 1 Samuel 9:13 tc The MT has “him” (אֹתוֹ, ʾoto) here, in addition to the “him” at the end of the verse. The ancient versions attest to only one occurrence of the pronoun, although it is possible that this is due to translation technique rather than to their having a Hebrew text with the pronoun used only once. The present translation assumes textual duplication in the MT and does not attempt to represent the pronoun twice. However, for a defense of the MT here, with the suggested translation “for him just now—you will find him,” see S. R. Driver, Notes on the Hebrew Text and the Topography of the Books of Samuel, 72-73.
  12. 1 Samuel 9:14 tn Heb “to meet them.” This may indicate purpose on Samuel’s part. The next sentence indicates that the meeting was by design, not just an accident.
  13. 1 Samuel 9:15 tn Heb “uncovered the ear of.”
  14. 1 Samuel 9:16 tn Heb “anoint.”
  15. 1 Samuel 9:17 tn Heb “responded.”
  16. 1 Samuel 9:19 tn Heb “all that is in your heart.”
  17. 1 Samuel 9:20 tn Heb “do not fix your heart.”
  18. 1 Samuel 9:20 tn Heb “and all the house of your father.”
  19. 1 Samuel 9:22 tn Heb “took and brought.”
  20. 1 Samuel 9:24 tn Heb “he” (also in v. 25); the referent (Samuel) has been specified in both places in the translation for clarity.
  21. 1 Samuel 9:27 tc This statement is absent in the LXX (with the exception of Origen), an Old Latin ms, and the Syriac Peshitta.
  22. 1 Samuel 9:27 tn The words “Samuel then said” are supplied in the translation for clarification and for stylistic reasons.

Job’s Reply to Bildad[a]

26 Then Job replied:

“How you have helped[b] the powerless![c]
How you have saved the person who has no strength![d]
How you have advised the one without wisdom,
and abundantly[e] revealed your insight!
To whom[f] did you utter these words?
And whose spirit has come forth from your mouth?[g]

A Better Description of God’s Greatness[h]

“The dead[i] tremble[j]
those beneath the waters
and all that live in them.[k]
The underworld[l] is naked before God;[m]
the place of destruction lies uncovered.[n]
He spreads out the northern skies[o] over empty space;[p]
he suspends the earth on nothing.[q]
He locks the waters in his clouds,
and the clouds do not burst with the weight of them.
He conceals[r] the face of the full moon,[s]
shrouding it with his clouds.
10 He marks out the horizon[t] on the surface of the waters
as a boundary between light and darkness.
11 The pillars[u] of the heavens tremble
and are amazed at his rebuke.[v]
12 By his power he stills[w] the sea;
by his wisdom he cut Rahab the great sea monster[x] to pieces.[y]
13 By his breath[z] the skies became fair;
his hand pierced the fleeing serpent.[aa]
14 Indeed, these are but the outer fringes of his ways![ab]
How faint is the whisper[ac] we hear of him!
But who can understand the thunder of his power?”

Notas al pie

  1. Job 26:1 sn These two chapters will be taken together under this title, although most commentators would assign Job 26:5-14 to Bildad and Job 27:7-23 to Zophar. Those sections will be noted as they emerge. For the sake of outlining, the following sections will be marked off: Job’s scorn for Bildad (26:2-4); a better picture of God’s greatness (26:5-14); Job’s protestation of innocence (27:2-6); and a picture of the condition of the wicked (27:7-23).
  2. Job 26:2 tn The interrogative clause is used here as an exclamation, and sarcastic at that. Job is saying “you have in no way helped the powerless.” The verb uses the singular form, for Job is replying to Bildad.
  3. Job 26:2 tn The “powerless” is expressed here by the negative before the word for “strength; power”—“him who has no power” (see GKC 482 §152.u, v).
  4. Job 26:2 tn Heb “the arm [with] no strength.” Here too the negative expression is serving as a relative clause to modify “arm,” the symbol of strength and power, which by metonymy stands for the whole person. “Man of arm” denoted the strong in 22:8.
  5. Job 26:3 tc The phrase לָרֹב (larov) means “to abundance” or “in a large quantity.” It is also used ironically like all these expressions. This makes very good sense, but some wish to see a closer parallel and so offer emendations. Reiske and Kissane suggested “to the tender” for this word. But the timid are not the same as the ignorant and unwise. So Graetz supplied “to the boorish” by reading לְבָעַר (lebaʿar). G. R. Driver did the same with less of a change: לַבּוֹר (labbor; HTR 29 [1936]: 172).
  6. Job 26:4 tn The verse begins with the preposition and the interrogative: אֶת־מִי (ʾet mi, “with who[se help]?”). Others take it as the accusative particle introducing the indirect object: “for whom did you utter…” (see GKC 371 §117.gg). Both are possible.
  7. Job 26:4 tn Heb “has gone out from you.”
  8. Job 26:5 sn This is the section, Job 26:5-14, that many conclude makes better sense coming from the friend. But if it is attributed to Job, then he is showing he can surpass them in his treatise of the greatness of God.
  9. Job 26:5 tn The text has הָרְפָאִים (harefaʾim, “the shades”), referring to the “dead,” or the elite among the dead (see Isa 14:9; 26:14; Ps 88:10 [11]). For further discussion, start with A. R. Johnson, The Vitality of the Individual, 88ff.
  10. Job 26:5 tn The verb is a Polal from חִיל (khil) which means “to tremble.” It shows that even these spirits cannot escape the terror.
  11. Job 26:5 tc Most commentators wish to lengthen the verse and make it more parallel, but nothing is gained by doing this.
  12. Job 26:6 tn Heb “Sheol.”
  13. Job 26:6 tn Heb “before him.”
  14. Job 26:6 tn The line has “and there is no covering for destruction.” “Destruction” here is another name for Sheol: אֲבַדּוֹן (ʾavaddon, “Abaddon”).
  15. Job 26:7 sn The Hebrew word is צָפוֹן (tsafon). Some see here a reference to Mount Zaphon of the Ugaritic texts, the mountain that Baal made his home. The Hebrew writers often equate and contrast Mount Zion with this proud mountain of the north. Of course, the word just means north, and so in addition to any connotations for pagan mythology, it may just represent the northern skies—the stars. Since the parallel line speaks of the earth, that is probably all that was intended in this particular context.
  16. Job 26:7 sn There is an allusion to the creation account, for this word is תֹּהוּ (tohu), translated “without form” in Gen 1:2.
  17. Job 26:7 sn Buttenwieser suggests that Job had outgrown the idea of the earth on pillars, and was beginning to see it was suspended in space. But in v. 11 he will still refer to the pillars.
  18. Job 26:9 tn The verb means “to hold; to seize,” here in the sense of shutting up, enshrouding, or concealing.
  19. Job 26:9 tc The MT has כִסֵּה (khisseh), which is a problematic vocalization. Most certainly כֵּסֶה (keseh), alternative for כֶּסֶא (keseʾ, “full moon”) is intended here. The MT is close to the form of “throne,” which would be כִּסֵּא (kisseʾ, cf. NLT “he shrouds his throne with his clouds”). But here God is covering the face of the moon by hiding it behind clouds.
  20. Job 26:10 tn The expression חֹק־חָג (khoq khag) means “he has drawn a limit as a circle.” According to some the form should have been חָק־חוּג (khaq khug, “He has traced a circle”). But others argues that the text is acceptable as is, and can be interpreted as “a limit he has circled.” The Hebrew verbal roots are חָקַק (khaqaq, “to engrave; to sketch out; to trace”) and חוּג (khug, “describe a circle”) respectively.
  21. Job 26:11 sn H. H. Rowley (Job [NCBC], 173) says these are the great mountains, perceived to hold up the sky.
  22. Job 26:11 sn The idea here is that when the earth quakes, or when there is thunder in the heavens, these all represent God’s rebuke, for they create terror.
  23. Job 26:12 tn The verb רָגַע (ragaʿ) has developed a Semitic polarity, i.e., having totally opposite meanings. It can mean “to disturb; to stir up” or “to calm; to still.” Gordis thinks both meanings have been invoked here. But it seems more likely that “calm” fits the context better.
  24. Job 26:12 tn Heb “Rahab” (רָהַב), the mythical sea monster that represents the forces of chaos in ancient Near Eastern literature. In the translation the words “the great sea monster” have been supplied appositionally in order to clarify “Rahab.”
  25. Job 26:12 sn Here again there are possible mythological allusions or polemics. The god Yam, “Sea,” was important in Ugaritic as a god of chaos. And Rahab is another name for the monster of the deep (see Job 9:13).
  26. Job 26:13 tn Or “wind”; or perhaps “Spirit.” The same Hebrew word, רוּחַ (ruakh), may be translated as “wind,” “breath,” or “spirit/Spirit” depending on the context.
  27. Job 26:13 sn Here too is a reference to pagan views indirectly. The fleeing serpent was a designation for Leviathan, whom the book will simply describe as an animal, but the pagans thought to be a monster of the deep. See the same Hebrew phrase in Isaiah 27:1. God’s power over nature is associated with defeat of pagan gods (see further W. F. Albright, Yahweh and the Gods of Canaan).
  28. Job 26:14 tn Heb “the ends of his ways,” meaning “the fringes.”
  29. Job 26:14 tn Heb “how little is the word.” Here “little” means a “fraction” or an “echo.”

To the Church in Sardis

“To[a] the angel of the church in Sardis write the following:[b]

“This is the solemn pronouncement of[c] the one who holds[d] the seven spirits of God and the seven stars: ‘I know your deeds, that you have a reputation[e] that you are alive, but[f] in reality[g] you are dead. Wake up then, and strengthen what remains that was about[h] to die, because I have not found your deeds complete[i] in the sight[j] of my God. Therefore, remember what you received and heard,[k] and obey it,[l] and repent. If you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will never[m] know at what hour I will come against[n] you. But you have a few individuals[o] in Sardis who have not stained[p] their clothes, and they will walk with me dressed[q] in white, because they are worthy. The one who conquers[r] will be dressed like them[s] in white clothing,[t] and I will never[u] erase[v] his name from the book of life, but[w] will declare[x] his name before my Father and before his angels. The one who has an ear had better hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’

To the Church in Philadelphia

“To[y] the angel of the church in Philadelphia write the following:[z]

“This is the solemn pronouncement of[aa] the Holy One, the True One, who holds the key of David, who opens doors[ab] no one can shut, and shuts doors[ac] no one can open: ‘I know your deeds. (Look! I have put[ad] in front of you an open door that no one can shut.)[ae] I know[af] that you have little strength,[ag] but[ah] you have obeyed[ai] my word and have not denied my name. Listen![aj] I am going to make those people from the synagogue[ak] of Satan—who say they are Jews yet[al] are not, but are lying—Look, I will make[am] them come and bow down[an] at your feet and acknowledge[ao] that I have loved you. 10 Because you have kept[ap] my admonition[aq] to endure steadfastly,[ar] I will also keep you from the hour of testing that is about to come on the whole world to test those who live on the earth. 11 I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have so that no one can take away[as] your crown.[at] 12 The one who conquers[au] I will make[av] a pillar in the temple of my God, and he will never depart from it. I[aw] will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God (the new Jerusalem that comes down out of heaven from my God),[ax] and my new name as well. 13 The one who has an ear had better hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’

To the Church in Laodicea

14 “To[ay] the angel of the church in Laodicea write the following:[az]

“This is the solemn pronouncement of[ba] the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the originator[bb] of God’s creation: 15 ‘I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot.[bc] I wish you were either cold or hot! 16 So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I am going[bd] to vomit[be] you out of my mouth! 17 Because you say, “I am rich and have acquired great wealth,[bf] and need nothing,” but[bg] do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful,[bh] poor, blind, and naked, 18 take my advice[bi] and buy gold from me refined by fire so you can become rich! Buy from me[bj] white clothing so you can be clothed and your shameful nakedness[bk] will not be exposed, and buy eye salve[bl] to put on your eyes so you can see! 19 All those[bm] I love, I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent! 20 Listen![bn] I am standing at the door and knocking! If anyone hears my voice and opens the door I will come into his home[bo] and share a meal with him, and he with me. 21 I will grant the one[bp] who conquers[bq] permission[br] to sit with me on my throne, just as I too conquered[bs] and sat down with my Father on his throne. 22 The one who has an ear had better hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’”

Notas al pie

  1. Revelation 3:1 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated due to differences between Greek and English style.
  2. Revelation 3:1 tn The phrase “the following” after “write” is supplied to clarify that what follows is the content of what is to be written.
  3. Revelation 3:1 tn Grk “These things says [the One]…” See the note on the phrase “this is the solemn pronouncement of” in 2:1.sn The expression This is the solemn pronouncement of reflects an OT idiom. See the note on this phrase in 2:1.
  4. Revelation 3:1 tn Grk “who has” (cf. 1:16).
  5. Revelation 3:1 tn Grk “a name.”
  6. Revelation 3:1 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “but” to indicate the contrast present in this context.
  7. Revelation 3:1 tn The prepositional phrase “in reality” is supplied in the translation to make explicit the idea that their being alive was only an illusion.
  8. Revelation 3:2 tn The verb ἔμελλον (emellon) is in the imperfect tense.
  9. Revelation 3:2 tn The perfect passive participle has been translated as an intensive (resultative) perfect here.
  10. Revelation 3:2 tn Or “in the judgment.” BDAG 342 s.v. ἐνώπιον 3 states, “in the opinion/judgment of…As a rule…of θεός or κύριος; so after…πεπληρωμένος Rv 3:2.”
  11. Revelation 3:3 tn The expression πῶς εἴληφας καὶ ἤκουσας (pōs eilēphas kai ēkousas) probably refers to the initial instruction in the Christian life they had received and been taught; this included doctrine and ethical teaching.
  12. Revelation 3:3 tn Grk “keep it,” in the sense of obeying what they had initially been taught.
  13. Revelation 3:3 tn The negation here is with οὐ μή (ou mē, the strongest possible form of negation in Koine Greek).
  14. Revelation 3:3 tn Or “come on.”
  15. Revelation 3:4 tn Grk “a few names”; here ὄνομα (onoma) is used by figurative extension to mean “person” or “people”; according to L&N 9.19 there is “the possible implication of existence or relevance as individuals.”
  16. Revelation 3:4 tn Or “soiled” (so NAB, NRSV, NIV); NCV “have kept their clothes unstained”; CEV “have not dirtied your clothes with sin.”
  17. Revelation 3:4 tn The word “dressed” is not in the Greek text, but is implied.
  18. Revelation 3:5 tn Or “who overcomes.”
  19. Revelation 3:5 tn Grk “thus.”
  20. Revelation 3:5 tn Or “white robes.”
  21. Revelation 3:5 tn The negation here is with οὐ μή (ou mē), the strongest possible form of negation in Koine Greek.
  22. Revelation 3:5 tn Or “will never wipe out.”
  23. Revelation 3:5 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “but” to indicate the contrast present in this context.
  24. Revelation 3:5 tn Grk “will confess.”
  25. Revelation 3:7 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated due to differences between Greek and English style.
  26. Revelation 3:7 tn The phrase “the following” after “write” is supplied to clarify that what follows is the content of what is to be written.
  27. Revelation 3:7 tn Grk “These things says [the One]…” See the note on the phrase “this is the solemn pronouncement of” in 2:1.sn The expression This is the solemn pronouncement of reflects an OT idiom. See the note on this phrase in 2:1.
  28. Revelation 3:7 tn The word “door” is not in the Greek text but has been supplied in the translation. Direct objects were often omitted in Greek when clear from the context. Since the following verse does contain the word “door” (θύραν, thuran), that word has been supplied as the direct object here.
  29. Revelation 3:7 tn See the note on the word “door” earlier in this verse.
  30. Revelation 3:8 tn Grk “I have given.”
  31. Revelation 3:8 tn Grk “to shut it,” but English would leave the direct object understood in this case. sn The entire statement is parenthetical, interrupting the construction found in other letters to the churches in 3:1 and 3:15, “I know your deeds, that…” where an enumeration of the deeds follows.
  32. Revelation 3:8 tn This translation is based on connecting the ὅτι (hoti) clause with the οἶδα (oida) at the beginning of the verse, giving the content of what is known (see also 3:1, 15 for parallels). Because of the intervening clause that is virtually parenthetical (see the note on the word “shut” earlier in this verse), the words “I know that” from the beginning of the verse had to be repeated to make this connection clear for the English reader. However, the ὅτι could be understood as introducing a causal subordinate clause instead and thus translated, “because you have.”
  33. Revelation 3:8 tn Or “little power.”
  34. Revelation 3:8 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “but” to indicate the contrast present in this context.
  35. Revelation 3:8 tn Grk “and having kept.” The participle ἐτήρησας (etērēsas) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style. For the translation of τηρέω (tēreō) as “obey” see L&N 36.19. This is the same word that is used in 3:10 (there translated “kept”) where there is a play on words.
  36. Revelation 3:9 tn Grk “behold” (L&N 91.13).
  37. Revelation 3:9 sn See the note on synagogue in 2:9.
  38. Revelation 3:9 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “yet” to indicate the contrast between what these people claimed and what they were.
  39. Revelation 3:9 tn The verb here is ποιέω (poieō), but in this context it has virtually the same meaning as δίδωμι (didōmi) used at the beginning of the verse. Stylistic variation like this is typical of Johannine literature.
  40. Revelation 3:9 tn The verb here is προσκυνήσουσιν (proskunēsousin), normally used to refer to worship.
  41. Revelation 3:9 tn Or “and know,” “and recognize.”
  42. Revelation 3:10 tn Or “obey.” For the translation of τηρέω (tēreō) as “obey” see L&N 36.19. In the Greek there is a wordplay: “because you have kept my word…I will keep you,” though the meaning of τηρέω is different each time.
  43. Revelation 3:10 tn The Greek term λόγον (logon) is understood here in the sense of admonition or encouragement.
  44. Revelation 3:10 tn Or “to persevere.” Here ὑπομονῆς (hupomonēs) has been translated as a genitive of reference/respect related to τὸν λόγον (ton logon).
  45. Revelation 3:11 tn On the verb λάβῃ (labē) here BDAG 583 s.v. λαμβάνω 2 states, “to take away, remove…with or without the use of force τὰ ἀργύρια take away the silver coins (fr. the temple) Mt 27:6. τὰς ἀσθενείας diseases 8:17. τὸν στέφανον Rv 3:11.”
  46. Revelation 3:11 sn Your crown refers to a wreath consisting either of foliage or of precious metals formed to resemble foliage and worn as a symbol of honor, victory, or as a badge of high office—‘wreath, crown’ (L&N 6.192).
  47. Revelation 3:12 tn Or “who is victorious”; traditionally, “who overcomes.”
  48. Revelation 3:12 tn Grk “I will make him,” but the pronoun (αὐτόν, auton, “him”) is redundant in contemporary English and has not been translated here.
  49. Revelation 3:12 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
  50. Revelation 3:12 sn This description of the city of my God is parenthetical, explaining further the previous phrase and interrupting the list of “new names” given here.
  51. Revelation 3:14 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated due to differences between Greek and English style.
  52. Revelation 3:14 tn The phrase “the following” after “write” is supplied to clarify that what follows is the content of what is to be written.
  53. Revelation 3:14 tn Grk “These things says [the One]…” See the note on the phrase “this is the solemn pronouncement of” in 2:1.sn The expression This is the solemn pronouncement of reflects an OT idiom. See the note on this phrase in 2:1.
  54. Revelation 3:14 tn Or “the beginning of God’s creation”; or “the ruler of God’s creation.” From a linguistic standpoint all three meanings for ἀρχή (archē) are possible. The term is well attested in both LXX (Gen 40:13, 21; 41:13) and intertestamental Jewish literature (2 Macc 4:10, 50) as meaning “ruler, authority” (BDAG 138 s.v. 6). Some have connected this passage to Paul’s statements in Col 1:15, 18 which describe Christ as ἀρχή and πρωτότοκος (prōtotokos; e.g., see R. H. Mounce, Revelation [NICNT], 124) but the term ἀρχή has been understood as either “beginning” or “ruler” in that passage as well. The most compelling connection is to be found in the prologue to John’s Gospel (1:2-4) where the λόγος (logos) is said to be “in the beginning (ἀρχή) with God,” a temporal reference connected with creation, and then v. 3 states that “all things were made through him.” The connection with the original creation suggests the meaning “originator” for ἀρχή here. BDAG 138 s.v. 3 gives the meaning “the first cause” for the word in Rev 3:14, a term that is too philosophical for the general reader, so the translation “originator” was used instead. BDAG also notes, “but the mng. beginning = ‘first created’ is linguistically probable (s. above 1b and Job 40:19; also CBurney, Christ as the ᾿Αρχή of Creation: JTS 27, 1926, 160-77).” Such a meaning is unlikely here, however, since the connections described above are much more probable.
  55. Revelation 3:15 sn Laodicea was near two other towns, each of which had a unique water source. To the north was Hierapolis which had a natural hot spring, often used for medicinal purposes. To the east was Colossae which had cold, pure waters. In contrast to these towns, Laodicea had no permanent supply of good water. Efforts to pipe water to the city from nearby springs were successful, but it would arrive lukewarm. The metaphor in the text is not meant to relate spiritual fervor to temperature. This would mean that Laodicea would be commended for being spiritually cold, but it is unlikely that Jesus would commend this. Instead, the metaphor condemns Laodicea for not providing spiritual healing (being hot) or spiritual refreshment (being cold) to those around them. It is a condemnation of their lack of works and lack of witness.
  56. Revelation 3:16 tn Or “I intend.”
  57. Revelation 3:16 tn This is the literal meaning of the Greek verb ἐμέω (emeō). It is usually translated with a much weaker term like “spit out” due to the unpleasant connotations of the English verb “vomit,” as noted by L&N 23.44. The situation confronting the Laodicean church is a dire one, however, and such a term is necessary if the modern reader is to understand the gravity of the situation.
  58. Revelation 3:17 tn Grk “and have become rich.” The semantic domains of the two terms for wealth here, πλούσιος (plousios, adjective) and πλουτέω (plouteō, verb) overlap considerably, but are given slightly different English translations for stylistic reasons.
  59. Revelation 3:17 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “but” to indicate the contrast present in this context.
  60. Revelation 3:17 tn All the terms in this series are preceded by καί (kai) in the Greek text, but contemporary English generally uses connectives only between the last two items in such a series.
  61. Revelation 3:18 tn Grk “I counsel you to buy.”
  62. Revelation 3:18 tn Grk “rich, and.” Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, a new sentence was started here in the translation, repeating the words “Buy from me” to make the connection clear for the English reader.
  63. Revelation 3:18 tn Grk “the shame of the nakedness of you,” which has been translated as an attributed genitive like καινότητι ζωῆς (kainotēti zōēs) in Rom 6:4 (ExSyn 89-90).
  64. Revelation 3:18 sn The city of Laodicea had a famous medical school and exported a powder (called a “Phrygian powder”) that was widely used as an eye salve. It was applied to the eyes in the form of a paste the consistency of dough (the Greek term for the salve here, κολλούριον, kollourion [Latin collyrium], is a diminutive form of the word for a long roll of bread).
  65. Revelation 3:19 tn The Greek pronoun ὅσος (hosos) means “as many as” and can be translated “All those” or “Everyone.”
  66. Revelation 3:20 tn Grk “Behold.”
  67. Revelation 3:20 tn Grk “come in to him.”sn The expression in Greek does not mean entrance into the person, as is popularly taken, but entrance into a room or building toward the person. See ExSyn 380-82. Some interpreters understand the door here to be the door to the Laodicean church, and thus a collective or corporate image rather than an individual one.
  68. Revelation 3:21 tn Grk “The one who conquers, to him I will grant.”
  69. Revelation 3:21 tn Or “who is victorious”; traditionally, “who overcomes.”
  70. Revelation 3:21 tn Grk “I will give [grant] to him.”
  71. Revelation 3:21 tn Or “have been victorious”; traditionally, “have overcome.”