2001 Translation

Revelation 8:4 – Ambiguous wording

This verse is worded ambiguously in several ways.

‘Judgment was given to them’

The first part, literally, reads like this:

‘and I-saw thrones and they-sat upon them and judgment was-given to-them‘

Now, many Bibles insert words to clarify it, and make it sound like those sitting on the thrones were given the authority to judge:

‘Then I saw thrones, and they sat down on them, and they were given [the authority to cast] judgment’ (our Bible)

‘I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge.’ (NIV)

While this could be correct, it’s really an interpretation of the context by the translators. That’s why we use the [translator insertion markers] on those words (disappointingly, most Bible translations do not).

However, there are three ways the text could be interpreted and translated:

• That they were given the authority to judge.
• That they were handed a judgment (a judicial decision, a verdict) by someone else, such as God, to then carry out.
• That they were given a judgment about themselves.

Which is it? We don’t know. Literally, they were ‘given judgment’.

‘The souls/lives of those who were beheaded’

The second problem is related to the next few words, which may – or may not – help identify who is sitting on the thrones. Literally, it continues:

‘…and the souls/lives of-the ones-beheaded because-of the testimony Jesus and because-of the word of-the God…’

These words are directly connected to the previous words simply with ‘and’. In the typical style of Revelation, this could be:

• It could be a description of another group,
• It could be adding to the description of who is sitting on the thrones,
• Since it previously said ‘those who had been given‘ it could be saying that those sitting on the thrones are also ‘given’ the ‘souls/lives’ of those beheaded.

The problem is that Revelation seems to throw ‘and’ around a lot, even in places that don’t seem to make sense. Revelation is not just a confusing book of symbolic images, it’s also a book of confusing grammar, wording, and spelling. And this is quite a separate issue from the symbolic imagery.

Who are ‘they’?

These problems then cause the end of the verse to also be ambiguous. Literally, the verse ends with:

‘and they-lived and they-reigned with the Anointed-One [a] thousand years’

Since the previous statements are unclear, it makes this reference to ‘they’ ambiguous too.

If two separate groups were just mentioned (those on the throne, and those beheaded), then this could be referring to those sitting on the thrones, or those who were beheaded, or both together.

If one views both groups as the same (or views the statement as applying to both groups), then there’s no problem… But that hasn’t been established, because it’s not clear!

So who is going to reign for 1,000 years?

• Those on the thrones?
• Or those beheaded?
• Or both?

While the interpretation of some people on this point may be clear, the Greek wording is really not clear at all.

The next verse describes those who reign for the 1,000 years as ‘priests’, which could easily apply to those who were beheaded (since the New Testament describes Christians as priests to God), but that doesn’t help us to say if they are or are not the same people as those sitting on the thrones.

Yes, Christians are described as ruling with Jesus, which may imply a throne, but Revelation already described other people sitting on thrones earlier. If you wish to interpret that to mean they’re all the same people, well good for you – but it’s not appropriate for a translator to do that.

Also, does it make sense for judges to judge themselves? Is that just? Perhaps not, but then again, perhaps Revelation is not supposed to make sense.

It’s all so unclear!

To sum up

• Those sitting on the thrones who had been ‘given judgment’ (meaning either the authority to judge, or had been passed someone else’s judgment, or had a judgment about themselves) may, or may not, also be those who were beheaded.

• One of these groups, or both, may also be those who reign for 1,000 years.

How one wishes to interpret this is up to you, but let’s just be honest: the wording is not clear, and translators who insert words to clarify it, without using [insertion markers], are not being honest.