complete verse (Revelation 21:15)

Following are a number of back-translations of Revelation 21:15:

  • Uma: “The angel who spoke to me held a measuring stick of gold, he measured the village, its fort and its doors.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “The angel who spoke to me carried a golden measure for his measuring that city and its doors and walls.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “That angel who spoke to me carried a golden meter stick to measure the city, the wall and the gates.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “The angel who was speaking to me, he was holding a gold measure in order to measure that town, along with its stonewall and entrances.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “As for that angel who was speaking to me, he was holding a gold measuring-instrument, for he was going to measure that city, its gates and its walls.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “The angel who had spoken to me had a stick of gold for measuring the city. And also the doors it was to measure along with all the walls around the city.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Revelation 21:15

He who talked to me: “the angel who was talking with me” or, simply, “The angel.”

A measuring rod of gold: this is like the measuring rod John was given in 11.1, except that this one is made of gold.

To measure the city and its gates and walls: this seems to be a comprehensive way of saying “to measure the whole city, including its gates and walls.” What seems to be implied is that the measuring is to be done on the outside of the wall that surrounds the city.

An alternative translation model for this verse is:

• The angel who had been speaking to me held a gold stick for measuring the size of things. He was going to measure the city….

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 .