Tuesday, April 2, 2019

Comparing different versions of Revelation 13:10

Comparing different versions of Revelation 13:10 and marking the differences of meaning in Jeremiah and Ezekiel 



Revelation 13:10 in modern translation is often translated to say things like "those doomed or destined to go to prison or be captured, will, as if it  hinges on predestination but is the verse  saying this at all ?  
What is it really saying to those in prison?
Is it saying , "you were destined to go"?  Were people "chosen" to be oppressed and dragged off? Maybe, but  take a look. Also look at the verses in Jeremiah which point to the prophetic in Ezekiel of being captured and doomed to die.
 In Jeremiah 43:11 it says he shall smite the land of Egypt, and deliver such as are for death to death; and such as are for captivity to captivity; and such as are for the sword to the sword.  It has more to do with punishment for those who took others captive, not a predestination of those "chosen" to be in prison or captured. 

If you look at the Greek, http://www.greeknewtestament.com/B66C013.htm#V10    you will  see this verse is talking about those who put people in prison , who lead those into captivity, oppress others.  The consequences for those who do this is  prison itself, or captivity or oppression such as the slave traders, sex traffickers, corrupt prosecutors and corrupt court proceedings causing innocent people to go to prison or persecution of believers in cities,countries or states. 

Yet, other translations seem to suggest otherwise. They suggest, those who are predestined or chosen to go to prison, shall go to prison but those  doomed to "be captured"  does not refer to those who were led into captivity. It refers to those who put them there. This is also not an "opportunity" for the saints to endure (though being captured may well  become an opportunity to endure but this is not what the verse is suggesting) Being captured is the CONSEQUENCE for those who captured others and LED them into captivity.

So a totally different meaning 
The Bible in Basic English makes it clear :
13:10 If any man sends others into prison, into prison he will go: if any man puts to death with the sword, with the sword will he be put to death. Here is the quiet strength and the faith of the saints.

The Weymouth New Testament also is clear:   If any one is eager to lead others into captivity, he must himself go into captivity. If any one is bent on killing with the sword, he must himself be killed by the sword. Here is an opportunity for endurance, and for the exercise of faith, on the part of God's people.  
 

 King James version If any man have an ear, let him hear. He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints. 


The Passion Translation (TPT)  If anyone has been given ears to hear, he’d better listen! 10 For the one who leads others into captivity, into captivity he goes. The one who kills others by the sword, by the sword he will be put to death.[a] This is a call for the endurance and faithfulness of the holy believers. 


Revelation 13:9-10 21st Century King James Version (KJ21)    If any man have an ear, let him hear: He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity. He that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.


Now for translations that certainly take the real meaning away: 

Revelation 13:9-10 Living Bible (TLB)

Anyone who can hear, listen carefully: 10 The people of God who are destined for prison will be arrested and taken away; those destined for death will be killed.[a] But do not be dismayed, for here is your opportunity for endurance and confidence
our opportunity for endurance and confidence:  This is saying bei will  being in prison provides an opportunity to endure, yes, that may be true but is this what the text is saying  ? Or is it saying the oppressed, the captured will be vindicated ? 

Revelation 13:10 Common English (CEV) If you have ears, then listen!  If you are doomed to be captured,you will be captured. If you are doomed to be killed  by a sword, you will be killed by a sword. 

In CEV, they miss an entire sentence and therefore an entire point 

"the patience and the faith of the saints." 


Revelation 13:10 New English (NET) If anyone has an ear, he had better listen ! If anyone is meant for captivity, into captivity he will go. If anyone is to be killed by the sword, then by the sword he must be killed. This requires steadfast endurance and faith from the saints.


Revelation 13:10 The Message (MSG)

9-10 Are you listening to this? They’ve made their bed; now they must lie in it. Anyone marked for prison goes straight to prison; anyone pulling a sword goes down by the sword. Meanwhile, God’s holy people passionately and faithfully stand their ground



Jeremiah 15:2

And it shall come to pass, if they say unto thee, Whither shall we go forth? then thou shalt tell them, Thus saith the Lord; Such as are for death, to death; and such as are for the sword, to the sword; and such as are for the famine, to the famine; and such as are for the captivity, to the captivity.

Jeremiah 43:11

11 And when he cometh, he shall smite the land of Egypt, and deliver such as are for death to death; and such as are for captivity to captivity; and such as are for the sword to the sword.

Ezekiel 5:1-2 

And thou, son of man, take thee a sharp knife, take thee a barber's razor, and cause it to pass upon thine head and upon thy beard: then take thee balances to weigh, and divide the hair.
Thou shalt burn with fire a third part in the midst of the city, when the days of the siege are fulfilled: and thou shalt take a third part, and smite about it with a knife: and a third part thou shalt scatter in the wind; and I will draw out a sword after them.

Revelation 13:10 

10 He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.