bottomless pit

The now commonly-used English idiom “bottomless pit” (for something that holds a very large amount of something) was first coined in 1526 in the English New Testament translation of William Tyndale (spelled as bottomlesse pytt) for the Greek abussos. (Source: Crystal 2010, p. 289)

For other idioms in English that were coined by Bible translation, see here.

abyss, bottomless pit

The Greek that is transliterated as “abyss” or translated as “bottomless pit” in English is translated as “unfathomably deep place” or “land below” in Indonesian, “land below” in Batak Toba, or “the deep where the earth opens its mouth” in Sranan Tongo (a term well-known from folk tales).

complete verse (Revelation 17:8)

Following are a number of back-translations of Revelation 17:8:

  • Uma: “He/it lived long ago, he no longer is at this time, but he will appear again from the sinkhole whose depth is not measured. And after that he will be punished forever. The people who live in the world whose names are not written in the Book of Life before the world was created, they will be surprised to see that animal. Because he lived long ago, but at this time he no longer is, but he will appear again later.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “That creature that you saw lived in former times but now it is dead. But not long and it will appear again from the bottomless hole. When he appears he will be headed for his final-end because he will be really destroyed. Then, the people in the world will be amazed/astounded, all those whose names are not written in the book for writing the names of the people who live forever, written at the time when the world was not yet created. They will all be amazed/astounded when they see that creature because he lived formerly, then died, and then appears again.'” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “That beast which you see was once here on the earth but now is gone. Soon he will come out of the pit whose depth has no end, and when he comes out he will be thrown into hell to be punished. And all the people who long ago before the world was created, their names were not written in the book where all who are given eternal life are listed, they will be greatly amazed when they see the beast. The reason they will be amazed is because that beast was once alive and now is dead, but he will be raised again.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “The animal which you (sing.) saw, it existed previously, but it doesn’t exist now. In a future day, it will come-out from the prison below, but after that it will be taken to its punishment that is forever. The collective-people on the earth whose names are not in the book in which are written the names of those who have life that has no end which was written before the creation of the world, they will be amazed when they see that fearsome animal. They will be amazed because it existed previously, it doesn’t exist now, and it will exist again.'” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “That animal which you saw, it was alive in the past but now is dead. However it will again come out of that very, very deep ravine, to/and be taken there to great hardship/punishment which has no ending. Well, the people under the heavens will be amazed whose names are not written in that in which are written the names of as many as would be given life which has no ending, from back at the creating of the world. They will be amazed when they see this monster because in the past he was still alive and then he died, but he reappeared.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “Concerning this terrible animal you saw, it is known that he lived before and now it is not known that he now lives. But again he will come up out of the hole which has no end to its depth. At the end he will go to be punished. Concerning the book in which is written the names of the people who must encounter new life, written since the world was created, those people whose names are not written the, upon seeing that again lived the terrible animal, were astonished.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Revelation 17:8

The beast that you saw: the past tense of the verb, saw, may imply that the vision had disappeared. But it may simply be the writer’s way of referring to the vision. Good News Translation has not represented that you saw, but it is better to retain it, using the tense of the verb that indicates a completed action in the past. The beast is the one described in 13.1, which now reappears in the book. One may also say “the beast that you have just seen.”

Was, and is not: this can be said “was alive once, but is now dead,” “was alive, but lives no longer.”

Is to ascend from the bottomless pit: see 11.7. For the auxiliary verb translated is to, see comments on “are about to” in 2.10. For bottomless pit see 9.1. This is a kind of resurrection, but the language used should not state here that the beast will be raised to life. In 13.14 this beast is described as having received a mortal wound, but it had come back to life. Here, as elsewhere in the book, the abyss is the realm of evil, destruction, and death.

Go to perdition: this is better translated “go to destruction.” The translation should not imply that willingly and deliberately the beast goes off to be destroyed. The meaning is that it is destined to be destroyed (by Christ; see 19.20). In languages that do not use the passive, this may be rendered as “go off to receive destruction” or “… for Christ (or, God) to destroy.” For the translation of destroy see 11.18.

The dwellers on earth: see 3.10.

Whose names have not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world: see 3.5; 13.8. In certain languages this will be expressed as “whose names God did not write in the book of the living before he created the world.”

Will marvel to behold the beast: this is better translated “will be astonished when they see the beast” (see also comments on 13.3).

Because it was and is not and is to come: Revised Standard Version has because as the translation of the Greek conjunction, but it may be understood as a relative, “that” (as Good News Translation translates): “the beast that was…” (also Revised English Bible). Others take it to mean “when they saw that the beast was alive….” It is recommended that Revised Standard Version not be followed here.

An alternative translation model for this verse is:

• That beast you just now saw was once alive, but lives no longer; it is about to come up out of the deep pit and will go off to receive destruction (or, for Christ [or, God] to destroy it). The people living on earth whose names God did not write in the book of the living before he created the world will all be amazed (or, have shivering hearts [or, livers]) as they look at the beast. It was once alive; now it no longer lives; but it will come back again.

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 .