world (Chinese)

The Hebrew and Greek that is translated as “world” in English is translated in Mandarin Chinese with shìjiè (世界). While shìjiè is now the commonly used term for “world” in Chinese, it was popularized as such by Chinese Bible translations. (Source: Mak 2017, p. 241ff.)

See also world.

complete verse (Revelation 11:4)

Following are a number of back-translations of Revelation 11:4:

  • Uma: “Those two witnesses are compared to two olive trees and two lampstands [lit., lamp feet] that stand in front of God, the Lord of the whole world.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “Those two witnesses, they are called two olive trees and two lamps placed before God, the ruler of the world.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And those two preacher people, they are the two people prophesied long ago who are like trees and two lamps which are placed before the Lord of all the earth.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “These two witnesses, these are the ones who were illustrated long ago by two olive (loan olivo) trees and the two places-for-putting lights which are located before God who is Lord of people on the earth.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “There were two olibo trees mentioned by a prophet in the past. Well, what he was meaning is these two testifiers. And another illustration of them is two lampstands standing in the presence of God, he who controls the whole world.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “These two persons are represented by the two trees of olives. And they are also represented by the two candle holders which are in the sight of God, he who rules the earth.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Revelation 11:4

The two olive trees: the way in which this is stated makes it clear that it refers to Zech 4.1-14, where the two olive trees, on either side of the lampstand, are the two men chosen and anointed by God to serve him, the Lord of the whole earth. Where olive trees are unknown, some decision must be made about how to represent olive trees, olives, and olive oil, all of which appear frequently in the Bible. Because of the importance of the olive tree in the Palestinian cultures, it will be well for translators in cultures where these trees are unknown to say something like “tree named olive” and introduce a picture, and also have a description in a glossary item.

The two lampstands: see 1.12. Translators should use the same word as was employed in 1.12, and not imitate Good News Translation‘s translation “lamp” in this verse.

Which stand: in the Greek the gender of the participle “standing” is masculine, so that it refers not to the olive trees or the lampstands, but to the two witnesses themselves. So the translation should be “who stand” or “and they stand.” In order to convey this idea in many languages, one must say, for example, “The two witnesses stand before the Lord of the earth, and they are the two olive trees and the two lampstands,” or “The two witnesses are the two olive trees and two lampstands. These two men stand before the Lord of the earth.”

Before the Lord of the earth: this means “in the presence of God, the Lord of the whole world.” The verb stand shows that they are God’s servants, ready to do what God commands. The phrase the Lord of the earth may also be expressed as “the one who rules over the whole world.”

An alternative translation model for this verse is:

• The two men who proclaim God’s message stand in the presence of the Lord who rules over the whole world. They are those two olive trees and the two lampstands.

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on The Revelation to John. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1993. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .