Revelation 11:1-5

The Fate of the Two Witnesses

11:1 Then ¹  a measuring rod ²  like a staff was given to me, and I was told, ³  “Get up and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and the ones who worship there. 11:2 But ⁴  do not measure the outer courtyard ⁵  of the temple; leave it out, ⁶  because it has been given to the Gentiles, ⁷  and they will trample on the holy city ⁸  for forty-two months. 11:3 And I will grant my two witnesses authority ⁹  to prophesy for 1,260 days, dressed in sackcloth. 11:4 (These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth.) ¹⁰  11:5 If ¹¹  anyone wants to harm them, fire comes out of their mouths ¹²  and completely consumes ¹³  their enemies. If ¹⁴  anyone wants to harm them, they must be killed this way.

[11:1]  ¹ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence within the narrative.

[11:1]  ² tn Grk “a reed” (but these were used for measuring). Cf. Ezek 40:3ff.

[11:1]  ³ tn Grk “saying.”

[11:2]  ⁴ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “but” to indicate the contrast present in this context.

[11:2]  ⁵ tn On the term αὐλήν (aulhn) BDAG 150 s.v. αὐλή 1 states, “(outer) court of the temple…Rv 11:2.”

[11:2]  ⁶ tn The precise meaning of the phrase ἔκβαλε ἔξωθεν (ekbale exwqen) is difficult to determine.

[11:2]  ⁷ tn Or “to the nations” (the same Greek word may be translated “Gentiles” or “nations”).

[11:2]  ⁸ sn The holy city appears to be a reference to Jerusalem. See also Luke 21:24.

[11:3]  ⁹ tn The word “authority” is not in the Greek text, but is implied. “Power” would be another alternative that could be supplied here.

[11:4]  ¹⁰ sn This description is parenthetical in nature.

[11:5]  ¹¹ tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.

[11:5]  ¹² tn This is a collective singular in Greek.

[11:5]  ¹³ tn See L&N 20.45 for the translation of κατεσθίω (katesqiw) as “to destroy utterly, to consume completely.”

[11:5]  ¹⁴ tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.