15:17 When the sun had gone down and it was dark, a smoking firepot with a flaming torch 2 passed between the animal parts. 3
104:4 He makes the winds his messengers,
and the flaming fire his attendant. 4
10:1 Then 17 I saw another powerful angel descending from heaven, wrapped 18 in a cloud, with a rainbow above his head; his face was like the sun and his legs were like pillars of fire. 19
18:1 After these things I saw another angel, who possessed great authority, coming down out of heaven, and the earth was lit up by his radiance. 20
1 sn The Hebrew verb translated gleamed occurs only here in the OT.
2 sn A smoking pot with a flaming torch. These same implements were used in Mesopotamian rituals designed to ward off evil (see E. A. Speiser, Genesis [AB], 113-14).
3 tn Heb “these pieces.”
4 tc Heb “and his attendants a flaming fire.” The lack of agreement between the singular “fire” and plural “attendants” has prompted various emendations. Some read “fire and flame.” The present translation assumes an emendation to “his attendant” (יו in the Hebrew text being virtually dittographic).
5 tn Heb “I lifted up my eyes.”
6 tn Heb “one.” The Hebrew numerical adjective is used here like an English indefinite article.
7 sn The identity of the messenger is not specifically disclosed. Presumably he is an unnamed angel. Some interpreters identify him as Gabriel, but there is no adequate reason for doing so.
8 tn The Hebrew word בַּדִּים (baddim) is a plural of extension. See GKC 396-97 §124.a, b, c and Joüon 2:500 §136.c.
9 tn The location of this place and even the exact form of the Hebrew name אוּפָז (’ufaz) are uncertain. Apparently it was a source for pure gold. (See Jer 10:9.) The Hebrew word פָז (paz, “refined gold” or “pure gold”) is more common in the OT than אוּפָז, and some scholars emend the text of Dan 10:5 to read this word. Cf. also “Ophir” (1 Kgs 9:28; Isa 13:12; Job 22:24; 28:16).
10 tn The Hebrew word translated “yellow jasper” is תַּרשִׁישׁ (tarshish); it appears to be a semiprecious stone, but its exact identity is somewhat uncertain. It may be the yellow jasper, although this is conjectural. Cf. NAB, NIV “chrysolite”; NASB, NRSV “beryl.”
11 tn Heb “torches of fire.”
12 tn Heb “The sound of his words” (cf. v. 9).
13 tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.
14 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
15 tn Or “sounds,” “voices.” It is not entirely clear what this refers to. BDAG 1071 s.v. φωνή 1 states, “In Rv we have ἀστραπαὶ καὶ φωναὶ καὶ βρονταί (cp. Ex 19:16) 4:5; 8:5; 11:19; 16:18 (are certain other sounds in nature thought of here in addition to thunder, as e.g. the roar of the storm?…).”
16 sn Some interpret the seven spirits of God as angelic beings, while others see them as a reference to the sevenfold ministry of the Holy Spirit.
17 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision.
18 tn Or “clothed.”
19 tn Or “like fiery pillars,” translating πυρός (puros) as an attributive genitive.
20 tn Grk “glory”; but often in the sense of splendor, brightness, or radiance (see L&N 14.49).