Revelation 21:9-11
New English Translation
The New Jerusalem Descends
9 Then[a] one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven final plagues came and spoke to me,[b] saying, “Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb!” 10 So[c] he took me away in the Spirit[d] to a huge, majestic mountain[e] and showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God. 11 The city possesses[f] the glory of God; its brilliance is like a precious jewel, like a stone of crystal-clear jasper.[g]
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- Revelation 21:9 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence within the narrative.
- Revelation 21:9 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.” See also v. 15.
- Revelation 21:10 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the implied result of the angel’s invitation.
- Revelation 21:10 tn 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).
- Revelation 21:10 tn Grk “to a mountain great and high.”
- Revelation 21:11 tn Grk “from God, having the glory of God.” Here a new sentence was started in the translation by supplying the words “the city” to refer back to the previous clause and translating the participle (“having”) as a finite verb.
- Revelation 21:11 tn On the term ἰάσπιδι (iaspidi) BDAG 465 s.v. ἴασπις states, “jasper, a precious stone found in various colors, mostly reddish, somet. green…brown, blue, yellow, and white. In antiquity the name was not limited to the variety of quartz now called jasper, but could designate any opaque precious stone. Rv 21:18f. W. λίθος 4:3 (TestSol C 11:8). λίθος ἴασπις κρυσταλλίζων a stone of crystal-clear jasper 21:11 (cp. Is 54:12); perh. the opal is meant here; acc. to some, the diamond.”
Revelation 21:22-23
New English Translation
22 Now[a] I saw no temple in the city, because the Lord God—the All-Powerful[b]—and the Lamb are its temple. 23 The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, because the glory of God lights it up, and its lamp is the Lamb.
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- Revelation 21:22 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “now” to indicate the transition to a new topic. Every verse from here to the end of this chapter begins with καί in Greek, but due to differences between Greek and contemporary English style, these have not been translated.
- Revelation 21:22 tn 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.”
Revelation 21:27
New English Translation
27 but[a] nothing ritually unclean[b] will ever enter into it, nor anyone who does what is detestable[c] or practices falsehood,[d] but only those whose names[e] are written in the Lamb’s book of life.
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- Revelation 21:27 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “but” to indicate the contrast present in this context.
- Revelation 21:27 tn Here BDAG 552 s.v. κοινός 2 states, “pert. to being of little value because of being common, common, ordinary, profane…b. specifically, of that which is ceremonially impure: Rv 21:27.”
- Revelation 21:27 tn Or “what is abhorrent”; Grk “who practices abominations.”
- Revelation 21:27 tn Grk “practicing abomination or falsehood.” Because of the way βδέλυγμα (bdelugma) has been translated (“does what is detestable”) it was necessary to repeat the idea from the participle ποιῶν (poiōn, “practices”) before the term “falsehood.” On this term, BDAG 1097 s.v. ψεῦδος states, “ποιεῖν ψεῦδος practice (the things that go with) falsehood Rv 21:27; 22:15.” Cf. Rev 3:9.
- Revelation 21:27 tn Grk “those who are written”; the word “names” is implied.
Revelation 22:1-3
New English Translation
22 Then[a] the angel[b] showed me the river of the water of life—water as clear as crystal—pouring out[c] from the throne of God and of the Lamb, 2 flowing down the middle of the city’s[d] main street.[e] On each side[f] of the river is the tree of life producing twelve kinds[g] of fruit, yielding its fruit every month of the year.[h] Its leaves are for the healing of the nations. 3 And there will no longer be any curse,[i] and the throne of God and the Lamb will be in the city.[j] His[k] servants[l] will worship[m] him,
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- Revelation 22:1 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence within the narrative.
- Revelation 22:1 tn Grk “he”; the referent (the angel mentioned in 21:9, 15) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
- Revelation 22:1 tn Grk “proceeding.” Water is more naturally thought to pour out or flow out in English idiom.
- Revelation 22:2 tn Grk “its”; the referent (the city, the new Jerusalem) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
- Revelation 22:2 tn The Greek word πλατεῖα (plateia) refers to a major (broad) street (L&N 1.103).
- Revelation 22:2 tn Grk “From here and from there.”
- Revelation 22:2 tn Or “twelve crops” (one for each month of the year).
- Revelation 22:2 tn The words “of the year” are implied.
- Revelation 22:3 tn Or “be anything accursed” (L&N 33.474).
- Revelation 22:3 tn Grk “in it”; the referent (the city, the new Jerusalem) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
- Revelation 22:3 tn Grk “city, and his.” Although this is a continuation of the previous sentence in Greek, a new sentence was started here in the translation because of the introduction of the Lamb’s followers.
- Revelation 22:3 tn See the note on the word “servants” in 1:1.
- Revelation 22:3 tn Or “will serve.”
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