Revelation 11:1-12
New English Translation
The Fate of the Two Witnesses
11 Then[a] a measuring rod[b] like a staff was given to me, and I was told,[c] “Get up and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and the ones who worship there. 2 But[d] do not measure the outer courtyard[e] of the temple; leave it out,[f] because it has been given to the Gentiles,[g] and they will trample on the holy city[h] for forty-two months. 3 And I will grant my two witnesses authority[i] to prophesy for 1,260 days, dressed in sackcloth.” 4 (These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth.)[j] 5 If[k] anyone wants to harm them, fire comes out of their mouths[l] and completely consumes[m] their enemies. If[n] anyone wants to harm them, they must be killed this way. 6 These two have the power[o] to close up the sky so that it does not rain during the time[p] they are prophesying. They[q] have power[r] to turn the waters to blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague whenever they want. 7 When[s] they have completed their testimony, the beast that comes up from the abyss will make war on them and conquer[t] them and kill them. 8 Their[u] corpses will lie in the street[v] of the great city that is symbolically[w] called Sodom and Egypt, where their Lord was also crucified. 9 For three and a half days those from every[x] people, tribe,[y] nation, and language will look at their corpses, because they will not permit them to be placed in a tomb.[z] 10 And those who live on the earth will rejoice over them and celebrate, even sending gifts to each other, because these two prophets had tormented those who live on the earth. 11 But[aa] after three and a half days a breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and tremendous fear seized[ab] those who were watching them. 12 Then[ac] they[ad] heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them: “Come up here!” So the two prophets[ae] went up to heaven in a cloud while[af] their enemies stared at them.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Revelation 11:1 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence within the narrative.
- Revelation 11:1 tn Grk “a reed” (but these were used for measuring). Cf. Ezek 40:3ff.
- Revelation 11:1 tn Grk “saying.”
- Revelation 11:2 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “but” to indicate the contrast present in this context.
- Revelation 11:2 tn On the term αὐλήν (aulēn) BDAG 150 s.v. αὐλή 1 states, “(outer) court of the temple…Rv 11:2.”
- Revelation 11:2 tn The precise meaning of the phrase ἔκβαλε ἔξωθεν (ekbale exōthen) is difficult to determine.
- Revelation 11:2 tn Or “to the nations” (the same Greek word may be translated “Gentiles” or “nations”).
- Revelation 11:2 sn The holy city appears to be a reference to Jerusalem. See also Luke 21:24.
- Revelation 11:3 tn The word “authority” is not in the Greek text, but is implied. “Power” would be another alternative that could be supplied here.
- Revelation 11:4 sn This description is parenthetical in nature.
- Revelation 11:5 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
- Revelation 11:5 tn This is a collective singular in Greek.
- Revelation 11:5 tn See L&N 20.45 for the translation of κατεσθίω (katesthiō) as “to destroy utterly, to consume completely.”
- Revelation 11:5 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
- Revelation 11:6 tn Or “authority.”
- Revelation 11:6 tn Grk “the days.”
- Revelation 11:6 tn Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, a new sentence was started here in the translation. Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
- Revelation 11:6 tn Or “authority.”
- Revelation 11:7 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
- Revelation 11:7 tn Or “be victorious over”; traditionally, “overcome.”
- Revelation 11:8 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
- Revelation 11:8 tn The Greek word πλατεῖα (plateia) refers to a major (broad) street (L&N 1.103).
- Revelation 11:8 tn Grk “spiritually.”
- Revelation 11:9 tn The word “every” is not in the Greek text, but is implied by the following list.
- Revelation 11:9 tn The Greek term καί (kai) has not been translated before this and the following items in the list, since English normally uses a coordinating conjunction only between the last two elements in a series of three or more.
- Revelation 11:9 tn Or “to be buried.”
- Revelation 11:11 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “but” to indicate the contrast present in this context.
- Revelation 11:11 tn Grk “fell upon.”
- Revelation 11:12 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision.
- Revelation 11:12 tn Though the nearest antecedent to the subject of ἤκουσαν (ēkousan) is the people (“those who were watching them”), it could also be (based on what immediately follows) that the two prophets are the ones who heard the voice.
- Revelation 11:12 tn Grk “they”; the referent (the two prophets) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
- Revelation 11:12 tn The conjunction καί (kai) seems to be introducing a temporal clause contemporaneous in time with the preceding clause.
Revelation 11:1-12
Legacy Standard Bible
The Two Witnesses
11 Then a [a](A)measuring rod like a staff was given to me, (B)saying, “Get up and measure the sanctuary of God and the altar, and those who worship in it. 2 And [b]leave out the (C)court which is outside the sanctuary and do not measure it, for (D)it has been given to the Gentiles, and they will (E)trample (F)the holy city under foot for (G)forty-two months. 3 And I will give authority to my two (H)witnesses, and they will prophesy for (I)1,260 days, clothed in (J)sackcloth.” 4 These are the (K)two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth. 5 And if anyone wishes to harm them, (L)fire comes out of their mouth and devours their enemies; so if anyone wishes to harm them, (M)he must be killed in this way. 6 These have the authority to (N)shut up the sky, so that rain will not fall during (O)the days of their prophesying; they also have authority over the waters to (P)turn them into blood, and (Q)to strike the earth with every plague, as often as they wish.
7 And when they have finished their witness, (R)the beast that comes up out of the (S)abyss will (T)make war with them and overcome them and kill them. 8 And their dead bodies will lie in the street of the (U)great city which spiritually is called (V)Sodom and (W)Egypt, where also their Lord was crucified. 9 And those from (X)the peoples and tribes and tongues and nations will look at their dead [c]bodies for three and a half days, and [d](Y)will not permit their dead bodies to be laid in a tomb. 10 And (Z)those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them and celebrate and (AA)send gifts to one another, because these two prophets tormented (AB)those who dwell on the earth.
11 But after the three and a half days, (AC)the breath of life from God came into them, and they stood on their feet, and great fear fell upon those who were watching them. 12 And they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “(AD)Come up here.” Then they (AE)went up into heaven in the cloud, and their enemies watched them.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Revelation 11:1 Lit reed
- Revelation 11:2 Lit Throw out
- Revelation 11:9 Lit body
- Revelation 11:9 Lit do not permit
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