1 Nowtn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “now” to indicate the resumption of the topic of the seals. when the Lambtn Grk “he”; the referent (the Lamb) has been specified in the translation for clarity. opened the seventh seal there was silence in heaven for about half an hour.

2 Thentn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision. I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them.

3 Anothertn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style. angel holdingtn Grk “having.” a golden censersn A golden censer was a bowl in which incense was burned. The imagery suggests the OT role of the priest. came and was stationedtn The verb “to station” was used to translate ἑστάθη (Jestaqh) because it connotes the idea of purposeful arrangement in English, which seems to be the idea in the Greek. at the altar. Atn 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. large amount of incense was given to him to offer up, with the prayers of all the saints, on the golden altar that is before the throne.

4 Thetn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style. smoke coming from the incense,tn The expression τῶν θυμιαμάτων (twn qumiamatwn) is taken as a “genitive of producer,” i.e., the noun in the genitive produces the head noun. along with the prayers of the saints, ascended before God from the angel’s hand.

5 Thentn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision. the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and threw it on the earth, and there were crashes of thunder, roaring,tn Or “sounds,” “voices.” It is not entirely clear what this refers to. BDAG 1071 s.v. φωνή 1 states, “In Rv we have ἀστραπαὶ καὶ φωναὶ καὶ βρονταί (cp. Ex 19:16) 4:5; 8:5; 11:19; 16:18 (are certain other sounds in nature thought of here in addition to thunder, as e.g. the roar of the storm?…).” flashes of lightning, and an earthquake.

6 Nowtn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “now” to indicate the transition to a new topic. the seven angels holdingtn Grk “having.” the seven trumpets prepared to blow them.

7 Thetn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style. first angel blew his trumpet, and there was hail and fire mixed with blood, and it was thrown at the earth so thattn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so that” because what follows has the logical force of a result clause. a third of the earth was burned up, a third of the trees were burned up, and all the green grass was burned up.

8 Thentn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision. the second angel blew his trumpet, and something like a great mountain of burning fire was thrown into the sea. Atn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style. third of the sea became blood,

9 and a third of the creaturestn Or “a third of the living creatures in the sea”; Grk “the third of the creatures which were in the sea, the ones having life.” living in the sea died, and a third of the ships were completely destroyed.tn On the term translated “completely destroyed,” L&N 20.40 states, “to cause the complete destruction of someone or something – ‘to destroy utterly.’ τὸ τρίτον τῶν πλοίων διεφθάρησαν ‘a third of the ships were completely destroyed’ Re 8:9.”

10 Thentn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision. the third angel blew his trumpet, and a huge star burning like a torch fell from the sky;tn Or “from heaven” (the same Greek word means both “heaven” and “sky”). it landedtn Grk “fell.” on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water.

11 (Nowtn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “now” in keeping with the parenthetical nature of this remark. the name of the star istn Grk “is called,” but this is somewhat redundant in contemporary English. Wormwood.)sn Wormwood refers to a particularly bitter herb with medicinal value. According to L&N 3.21, “The English term wormwood is derived from the use of the plant as a medicine to kill intestinal worms.” This remark about the star’s name is parenthetical in nature. Sotn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the implied result of the star falling on the waters. a third of the waters became wormwood,tn That is, terribly bitter (see the note on “Wormwood” earlier in this verse). and many people died from these waters because they were poisoned.tn Grk “and many of the men died from these waters because they were bitter.”

12 Thentn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision. the fourth angel blew his trumpet, and a third of the sun was struck, and a third of the moon, and a third of the stars, so that a third of them were darkened. And there was no light for a third of the daytn Grk “the day did not shine [with respect to] the third of it.” and for a third of the night likewise.

13 Thentn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision. I looked, and I heard antn Grk “one eagle.” eagletc ÏA reads “angel” (ἀγγέλου, angelou) instead of “eagle” (ἀετοῦ, aetou), a reading strongly supported by {א A 046 ÏK and several versions}. On external grounds, ἀετοῦ is clearly the superior reading. ἀγγέλου could have arisen inadvertently due to similarities in spelling or sound between ἀετοῦ and ἀγγέλου. It may also have been intentional in order to bring this statement in line with 14:6 where an angel is mentioned as the one flying in midair. This seems a more likely reason, strengthened by the facts that the book only mentions eagles two other times (4:7; 12:14). Further, the immediate as well as broad context is replete with references to angels. flying directly overhead,tn Concerning the word μεσουράνημα (mesouranhma), L&N 1.10 states, “a point or region of the sky directly above the earth – ‘high in the sky, midpoint in the sky, directly overhead, straight above in the sky.’ εἶδον, καὶ ἤκουσα ἑνὸς ἁετοῦ πετομένου ἐν μεσουρανήματι ‘I looked, and I heard an eagle that was flying overhead in the sky’ Re 8:13.” proclaiming with a loud voice, “Woe! Woe! Woe to those who live on the earth because of the remaining sounds of the trumpets of the three angels who are about to blow them!”tn Grk “about to sound their trumpets,” but this is redundant in English.