13:1 Then 8 I saw a beast coming up out of the sea. It 9 had ten horns and seven heads, and on its horns were ten diadem crowns, 10 and on its heads a blasphemous name. 11
1 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the implied result of the angel’s invitation to witness the fate of the prostitute.
2 tn Or “in the spirit.” “Spirit” could refer either to the Holy Spirit or the human spirit, but in either case John was in “a state of spiritual exaltation best described as a trance” (R. H. Mounce, Revelation [NICNT], 75).
3 tn Or “desert.”
4 tn The word “there” is not in the Greek text, but is supplied for stylistic reasons.
5 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “but” to indicate the contrast present in this context.
6 tn Grk “I will tell you,” but since what follows is the angel’s interpretation of the vision, “interpret for you” is the preferred translation here.
7 tn Grk “And.” Because this remark is somewhat resumptive in nature, “as for” is used in the translation.
8 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence within the narrative.
9 tn Grk “having” (a continuation of the previous sentence). All of the pronouns referring to this beast (along with the second beast appearing in 13:11) could be translated as “it” because the word for beast (θηρίον, qhrion) is neuter gender in Greek and all the pronouns related to it are parsed as neuter in the Gramcord/Accordance database. Nevertheless, most interpreters would agree that the beast ultimately represents a human ruler, so beginning at the end of v. 4 the masculine pronouns (“he,” “him,” etc.) are used to refer to the first beast as well as the second beast appearing in 13:11.
10 tn For the translation of διάδημα (diadhma) as “diadem crown” see L&N 6.196.
11 tc ‡ Several