complete verse (Revelation 13:3)

Following are a number of back-translations of Revelation 13:3:

  • Uma: “One of those seven heads looked like it was wounded severely [with a wound] that should have caused-its-death, but it became well. People all over the world, no kidding their surprise to see the healing of that evil animal, that is why they just thronged to follow him.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “One of the heads of this creature had been wounded and this would have caused him to die, but that wound of his had healed. Therefore the people on earth were very amazed and they followed that creature.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “One of the heads of the beast was wounded, and it seemed as if that head had died but its severe wound had healed and that head was alive again. All mankind were disciples of that beast because he really amazed them.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “On one of his heads, there was a scar of a severe (lit. wide) wound which should have caused-his-death, but it healed OK (particle indicating reassurance of recovery), so the people on the earth were amazed and they followed him.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “As I looked, I saw the visible-evidence of a healed-scar on one of the heads, like a wound which would cause death but it had indeed healed. All people here under the heavens were amazed. They all submitted to that monster.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “Concerning this terrible animal, it was seen that one of its heads had been wounded and was on the verge of dying. But the wound healed. Upon seeing the wound heal, all the people all over the world feared and they went with it.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Revelation 13:3

One of its heads: it must be clear that this refers to the beast; the dragon also had seven heads.

Seemed to have a mortal wound: the meaning is, rather, “had a wound that seemed to be fatal (or, mortal).” The English adjective mortal translates the perfect passive participle of the verb “to kill” (see its use in TEV 5.6: “The Lamb appeared to have been killed”). Here it means that it appeared that one of the heads had been killed, but the text goes on to say that “his deadly wound had healed,” implying that there was a scar that showed how severe the wound had been. Whether or not the wound had been fatal depends on how verse 14 is understood.

The whole earth followed the beast with wonder: the Greek text says “The whole earth marveled after the beast.” The verb means “to wonder,” “to marvel,” “to be amazed.” For the whole earth it is better to say “everyone on earth” or “all the people of the world.”

Alternative translation models for the first part of this verse are:

• On one of the heads of the beast was a scar that seemed to have been the result of a fatal (or, mortal) wound. But the wound had healed.

Or:

• … the scar from a wound that should have killed it (or, caused it to die). But….

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 .