Updating Revelation from UBS6
Jefferson Vann shares some updates to his translation of Revelation from the Greek based on the latest edition of the United Bible Societies eclectic Greek text.
Jefferson Vann
Updating Revelation from UBS6
I thought I had completed my new translation of Revelation, so I had already begun the process of compiling it and inserting it into my next book: Revelation: A Resource. Then something happened. I met a friend at a convention, and he told me all about his latest treasure. It is a reader’s edition of the latest United Bible Societies Greek New Testament (known as UBS6). I have been using an older version for translating the New Testament for my books. By the end of the convention, my friend had given me the UBS6.
I took that as a sign. Obviously, the Lord wanted me to consider this new scholarship for inclusion in my new English translation. So, here I go. Here are the changes I felt necessary to make to my translation of Revelation, based on the UBS6 recommendations.
Revelation 1:5
Old version:
and from Jesus Christ, the faithful testifyer, the firstborn from among the dead and the ruler of the kings of the land. To him who cares about us and has set us free from our sins by his blood,
New version:
and from Jesus Christ, the faithful testifyer, the firstborn from among the dead and the ruler of the kings of the land. To him who cares about us and has washed us from our sins by his blood,
Either of these homophones could reflect the original, as there is textual evidence for both λύσαντι and λούσαντι.
Revelation 1:13
Old version:
Revelation 1:13 and among the lampstands was someone like the Human Son, dressed in a robe and with a golden sash wrapped around his chest.
New version:
Revelation 1:13 and among the lampstands was someone like a human son, dressed in a robe and with a golden sash wrapped around his chest.
The question is whether the original word for “son” was in the accusative case (υἱὸν) or dative (υἱῷ). The latter is more like John’s style elsewhere in Revelation. The former was likely inserted by copyists who wanted to reflect Daniel’s Aramaic title Bar Enash (Daniel 7:13).
Revelation 2:13
Old version:
Revelation 2:13 I know where you live -- where Satan's throne is. Yet you are holding onto my name and did not deny your faith in me, even in the days of Antipas, my faithful testifyer who was put to death among you, where Satan lives.
New version:
No change, but I included a footnote which reads “Antipas” could have been originally “ἀντείπας,“ meaning “having opposed” or “having resisted.”
Revelation 6:17
Old version:
Revelation 6:17 because the great day of their wrath has come! And who is able to stand?"
New version:
Revelation 6:17 because the great day of his wrath has come! And who is able to stand?"
It is now believed that the manuscripts containing the singular pronoun αὐτοῦ reflect the original reading, and those containing the plural αὐτῶν are the result of copyists assuming its correctness, matching the two figures mentioned in 6:16.
Revelation 12:2
Old version:
Revelation 12:2 She was pregnant and cried out in labor and agony as she was about to give birth.
New version:
Revelation 12:2 Being pregnant, she cried out in labor and agony as she was about to give birth.
Removal of what is deemed to be a superfluous καί allows the participle to be read as descriptive of the woman who cries out.
Revelation 12:18
Old version:
Revelation 12:18 The dragon stood on the sand of the sea.
New version:
Revelation 12:18 I stood on the sand of the sea.
The word dragon is not found in the text. It is implied if the correct verb is ἐστάθη (he stood) and not ἐστάθην (I stood). Scholars retained ἐστάθη in a split decision.
I disagree. My reason for choosing ἐστάθην as the original reading has to do with the context. The previous verse had already said that the dragon “went off to make war.” In that context, it is much more natural to suppose John is describing himself at the seashore, not the dragon.
Revelation 13:10
Old version:
Revelation 13:10 If anyone is to be taken captive, into captivity he goes. Suppose anyone is to be killed with a sword, with a sword he will be killed. This calls for endurance and faithfulness from the devotees.
New version:
Revelation 13:10 If anyone takes captive, he himself goes into captivity; if anyone kills with the sword, he must be killed with the sword. This calls for endurance and faithfulness from the devotees.
This variant emphasizes the assurance of divine retribution against those who persecute the devotees, while not guaranteeing that it will happen in their lifetime. Thus, the need for endurance and faithfulness while being persecuted.
Revelation 18:3
Old version:
Revelation 18:3: For all the nations have drunk the wine of her sexual immorality, which brings wrath. The kings of the land have committed sexual immorality with her, and the merchants of the land have grown wealthy from her sensuality and excess.
New version:
Revelation 18:3: For all the nations have fallen because of the wine of her sexual immorality, which brings wrath. The kings of the land have committed sexual immorality with her, and the merchants of the land have grown wealthy from her sensuality and excess.
It would have been easier to misread πεπτώκασιν for πέπωκαν than the opposite.
Revelation 20:5
Old version:
Revelation 20:5 The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were completed. This is the first resurrection.
New version:
Revelation 20:5 This is the first resurrection.
The new reading omits an entire sentence: οἱ λοιποὶ τῶν νεκρῶν οὐκ ἔζησαν ἄχρι τελεσθῇ τὰ χίλια ἔτη. The editors felt that the sentence is likely a later addition. Without it, the martyrs come to life and reign with Christ. This is the first resurrection. The omission removes one of the most frequently cited proof texts for a resurrection of unbelievers occurring only after the thousand years. But it does not settle the argument.
Revelation 21:3
Old version:
Revelation 21:3 Then I heard a loud voice from the throne: Notice, God's dwelling is with humanity, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and will be their God.
New version:
Revelation 21:3 Then I heard a loud voice from the throne: Notice, God's dwelling is with humanity, and he will live with them. They will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them and will be their God.
This was another split decision, but the editors saw some significance in using the λαοί variant instead of the former λαός option. The plural usually indicates ethnic diversity.
Revelation 21:6
Old version:
Revelation 21:6 Then he said to me, "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the origin and the destination. I will freely give to the thirsty from the spring of the water of life.
New version:
Revelation 21:6 Then he said to me, "I have happened! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the origin and the destination. I will freely give to the thirsty from the spring of the water of life.
The UBS6 editors concluded that γέγονα ἐγώ has stronger claims to originality than the familiar γέγοναν. The difficulty is in what it implies. I offer my translation without further elaboration.
Revelation 22:21
Old version:
Revelation 22:21 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with everyone.
New version:
Revelation 22:21 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all the devotees. Amen.
The variant added was τῶν ἁγίων. ἀμήν.
In context, Revelation is explicitly addressed to churches, so both readings naturally refer to Christ's people. The newer reading makes that audience explicit.
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The process of translation necessarily includes, and must be preceded by, the task of establishing the text. In Bible translation, "establishing the text" is the process of determining, as accurately as possible, the original wording of the biblical text before translating it into another language.
Because the original manuscripts written by the biblical authors no longer exist, translators work from thousands of ancient manuscripts, copies, and fragments. These manuscripts sometimes contain differences in wording, spelling, word order, or entire phrases. Establishing the text involves evaluating these variants and deciding which reading most likely reflects the original text.
This work is ongoing; thus, there is a need to revisit the question regularly, and that is what the UBS6 editors have done. Now, I have incorporated their efforts into my work of translating Revelation.