clothes

The Hebrew and Greek that is translated with “clothes” or similar in English is translated in Enlhet as “crawling-in-stuff” (source: Jacob Loewen in The Bible Translator 1971, p. 169ff. ) and in Noongar as bwoka or “Kangaroo skin” (source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang).

complete verse (Revelation 3:4)

Following are a number of back-translations of Revelation 3:4:

  • Uma: “But there are also some of you there in Sardis who take care of your clothes so that they are not dirty. You are the ones who will walk with me, will be clothed with gleaming white clothes, because you are fit to walk with me.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “But there are still some of you there in Sardis, who have not made their clothes dirty, that means you have not gone along doing bad. You will walk with me dressed in white because you are fitting/right/worthy to be with me/to follow me.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “Only a few of you there in Sardis have not stained your clothing, which is to say, you have not joined in the bad behavior. You will accompany Me clothed in white because you are worthy to accompany Me.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “”But there are still a few of you there at Sardis whose clothes are not stained. In a future day, they will companion-with me dressed in white, because they are worthy to do that.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “But there are indeed a few there in Sardis who are careful, who haven’t fallen(fig.) into doing disgusting things. They are really acceptable to be my companions in my kingdom dressed in white.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “Yet I know that there in the city of Sardis there are some believers who have not soiled the clothes God gave them. These are the ones who will talk with me and they will wear white clothing. This will be the payment for not spoiling what they were given.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Revelation 3:4

Yet you have still a few names in Sardis: it should be noticed that the words are addressed to “the angel” of the church in Sardis, who is told “You still have a few people in Sardis who….” If a translation follows this form, care should be taken to avoid giving the impression that the angel owns or controls these people—and this may be difficult to avoid. The text means that they belong to “your” church, the church of which you are “the angel.” So it may be better to imitate Good News Translation, “But a few of you there in Sardis…”; note New Jerusalem Bible “There are a few in Sardis, it is true, who….” In 2.1 we suggested that “angel” may be better expressed as “representative.” So in this verse one may say “In the church in Sardis, which you represent, there are a few people….” Here names means “people” (see 2.3), referring specifically to Christians.

Who have not soiled their garments: to keep one’s clothes clean is a figure for pure behavior, Christian conduct. If there is danger that the figure of speech be taken literally, the translation may abandon it and say “who have not been defiled (or, corrupted) by sin,” “who have kept themselves spiritually pure,” “who have lived pure lives as Christians.” Or it may be possible to retain the figure but state it positively, as Good News Translation has done, “who have kept their clothes clean.” In English “to soil one’s clothes” refers to a specific and unfortunate action.

And they shall walk with me in white: the color white may be symbolic of victory, or immortality, or purity. Purity is indicated by what precedes, and victory by what follows. But the translator must avoid the temptation to explicitly build into the figure the meaning it is supposed to have, unless a literal rendering conveys the wrong meaning. In that case it will be helpful to have a footnote explaining what white refers to. The verb walk with means to accompany, either as a disciple (see John 6.66) or as a friend and companion, in the Messianic kingdom. Translators should try to maintain the symbol of “walking” if at all possible.

For they are worthy: they deserve it, they have a right to do so, for they have lived as Christ, or God, would have them live.

An alternative translation model for this verse is:

• But there are a few people whom you represent in Sardis who have lived pure lives as Christians. They will walk with me wearing pure white garments, because they have the right to do this.

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 .