Gehenna and Sheol in the Aramaic NT

[WhiteWings]

616 v 666



Full article: https://weekly.israelbiblecenter.com/666-or-616/

Nero.  His name and title in Hebrew (Nero Ceasar – נרונקסר) has a numeric value of 666
....
this would explain why some early manuscripts of the Book of Revelation have 616 instead of 666 as the number of the beast. The difference likely arose from spelling Nero's name as it was pronounced in Latin instead of Hebrew.

[marie glen]

Ok, you don't want to share your thoughts because you are worried about moderation, but then how is there to be a conversation? You asking questions and people answering them or not answering them can hardly benefit anyone.

I will offer my two cents:

There are translation errors.

The word of God is Jesus; the Bible is ancient profitable scripture that teaches us of the life of Jesus but Jesus said he would send the Holy Spirit to us. The Holy Spirit will guide us into all truth (John 16).

When doubt of translation discrepancies creeps in, ask for understanding and the spirit will guide us.

Amen :iagree: heartily.. anytime we have a question/questions, seeking Him in the matter / asking Him.. like Jesus said, if we being flawed know how to give good gifts to our children, "won't your Heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to whoever asks". (I get the sense that the answer to all things is more of His Spirit..)

616 v 666



Full article: https://weekly.israelbiblecenter.com/666-or-616/

Nero.  His name and title in Hebrew (Nero Ceasar – נרונקסר) has a numeric value of 666
....
this would explain why some early manuscripts of the Book of Revelation have 616 instead of 666 as the number of the beast. The difference likely arose from spelling Nero's name as it was pronounced in Latin instead of Hebrew.

That's interesting, I didn't know that..

I did come across the idea that the Roman numbers in use at the time 1,5,10,50,100,500 add up to 666
—————————-

Not that I'm a Rome as last days (big) 'beast'/body, to me that was of yesteryear & I try to point out how the big/world? beast/body of Rev 13:1 cross references so perfectly w/ the 4th beast of Daniel's dream of 4 beasts.. and "the last one more terrible" has in it "iron and bronze" which for the life of me I cannot understand how that seems to go so missed in prophecy buff-dom

Of course they've put prophecy in a box all locked up and titled "7 years" (only) or so many think.

So what is the iron & the bronze/copper?

It's co-incidental that the metals are in the dream interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar's dream statue.. Looking back, most agree the bronze/copper was Greece/Greek and the iron was Rome/Roman.

Now I don't know if public education still teaches how western Civilization was built upon the "Roman/Graeco (Greek) foundation, and Christianity of course, western civilization once having been referred to as "Christendom" (until the "false prophet"/teacher/teaching's "strong delusion" which has/is causing a "falling away" from the faith.

Both references- beast big of 13:1-10 & Daniel 7:7,19 have "ten horns" so I take it as pertinent.
And expect a world body turning beast, which has Roman/Graeco foundations —- Roman politics, senates, courts, etc, etc and Greek arts, drama, philosophy/humanism..

"What the iron teeth don't devour, the bronze claws will tear up and scatter"

(This is, I believe where we are at in Bible prophecy, Daniel 7:19c.. the devouring, crushing and breaking down, and in the pause (still, so far) of Rev 7:1 (pause of the 6th seal/13:13 as warfare that is.. If UR could present a coherent, down to earth understanding of bible prophecy & the Book of Revelation.. well, the 'puzzle' (jigsaw) would be more complete.

The presentation of "the Kingdom" is so incomplete.. I don't think we can see the 'big picture' w/o an understanding of bible prophecy.. we then resort to ephemeric (spiritual only) interpretation which to me falls short of the grandeur of the true (imo) big picture.. I cannot reconcile the whole idea of "going to heaven" as opposed to heaven/the kingdom coming to Earth making all things new and wonderful - a sort of mental only existence, but Paul "chosen to be shown God's will/intent" says "with what body shall they rise?" If God wanted spirit only beings, why not just stick w/ the angels..

But I guess I'm straying.. falling down one of my favorite rabbit holes, Bible prophecy.. https://bibleprophecy4today.blogspot.com

[WhiteWings]

That's interesting, I didn't know that..

I did come across the idea that the Roman numbers in use at the time 1,5,10,50,100,500 add up to 666

Not sure that's true but there are likely several correct interpretations. Long ago I posted something about the human body be made up of materials that add up to 666.


Anyway I forgot to add in my previous post, if the Hebrew spelling of Nero adds up to 666, it was written in Hebrew. If Greek then the number would be different.
It would be odd that if the Greek text was the very first it uses counting based on a Hebrew word  :2c:

But I agree with the article that it could just be a template. Nero was the beast. But so were a bunch of others like Stalin and Hitler.
That's actually a in line with satan. Scripture states there are many satans but only one theSatan. So for me personally it wouldn't be unthinkable there will be many beasts but only one theBeast.

[jabcat]

I understand David's concerns about moderation. I'm somewhat surprised he's got this far, I've been censured for less in the past.

:Chinscratch: 

any further take to PM please

[DavidFord]

'Lebanese brass' in Revelation
Rocco A. Errico and George M. Lamsa, _Aramaic Light on James through Revelation_ (2006), 232pp., 102:
Lebanon brass is famed for its fine quality and strength.  When it is burnished, it shines like gold.

Rev 1:15
https://biblehub.com/interlinear/revelation/1-15.htm
chalkolibanō
χαλκολιβάνῳ  ,
fine bronze

Rev 2:18
https://biblehub.com/interlinear/revelation/2-18.htm
chalkolibanō
χαλκολιβάνῳ  .
burnished bronze

Strong's Concordance 5474. chalkolibanon
https://biblehub.com/greek/5474.htm
chalkolibanon: chalcolibanus (fine copper, bronze or brass)
Original Word: χαλκολίβανον, ου, τό
Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter
Transliteration: chalkolibanon
Phonetic Spelling: (khal-kol-ib'-an-on)
Short Definition: orichalcum, or frankincense of a yellow color
Definition: orichalcum, a fine metal, or frankincense of a yellow color.
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from chalkos and libanos
Definition
chalcolibanus (fine copper, bronze or brass)
NASB Translation
burnished bronze (2).

Strong's Concordance 5475. chalkos
https://biblehub.com/greek/5475.htm
chalkos: copper or bronze
Original Word: χαλκός, οῦ, ὁ
Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine
Transliteration: chalkos
Phonetic Spelling: (khal-kos')
Short Definition: copper, brass, money
Definition: copper, brass, money; a brazen musical instrument.
NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Strong's Concordance 3030. libanos
https://biblehub.com/greek/3030.htm
libanos: the frankincense tree, frankincense
Original Word: λίβανος, ου, ὁ
Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine
Transliteration: libanos
Phonetic Spelling: (lib'-an-os)
Short Definition: incense
Definition: (Semitic word), frankincense, incense.
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
of Semitic origin, cf. lebonah
Definition
the frankincense tree, frankincense
NASB Translation
frankincense (2).

Strong's Concordance 3828. lebonah
https://biblehub.com/hebrew/3828.htm
lebonah: frankincense
Original Word: לְבוֹנָה
Part of Speech: Noun Feminine
Transliteration: lebonah
Phonetic Spelling: (leb-o-naw')
Short Definition: frankincense
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from laben
Definition
frankincense
NASB Translation
frankincense (13), incense (8).

Strong's Concordance 3835. laban
https://biblehub.com/hebrew/3835.htm
laban: brick
Original Word: לָבַן
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: laban
Phonetic Spelling: (law-ban')
Short Definition: brick
Brown-Driver-Briggs
[לָבֵן] verb be white ....Phoenician לבן white; Arabic  milk;  also be white....
1 make white = purify (ethical) Daniel 11:35 (no object expressed, "" צָרַף, בָּרֵר).
2 shew whiteness, grow white, of fig-tree, stripped by locusts, Joel 1:7; figurative of moral purity, ׳כַּשֶּׁלֶג יַלְב Isaiah 1:18; ׳מִשֶּׁלֶג אַלְב Psalm 51:9. ....

Chambers, Ephraim, 1680 (ca.)-1740., et al. / A supplement to Mr. Chambers's cyclopædia: or, universal dictionary of arts and sciences. In two volumes (1753)
http://digicoll.library.wisc.edu/cgi-bin/HistSciTech/HistSciTech-idx?type=turn&entity=HistSciTech.CycloSupple01.p0504&id=HistSciTech.CycloSupple01&isize=M&q1=chalcolibanon

Rev 1:15 http://dukhrana.com
(Lamsa) And his feet were like the fine brass of Lebanon [Aramaic:  lebnaya],
as though they burned in a furnace;
and his voice was as the sound of many waters.
Rev 2:18
(Lamsa) And unto the angel of the church in Thya-ti'ra write:
These things says the Son of God,
who has eyes like unto a flame of fire,
and whose feet are like fine brass from Lebanon [Aramaic:  lebnaya];

Maybe 'Lebanese brass' equals 'whitened brass/bronze/copper' or 'purified brass/bronze/copper' or 'yellowish brass/bronze/copper.'

[CST]

That's interesting, I didn't know that..

I did come across the idea that the Roman numbers in use at the time 1,5,10,50,100,500 add up to 666
—————————-

The number of the beast is generally taken to be calculated by Gematria but as usual that may involve a misunderstanding. What I read was that 666 referred to Nero and 616 referred to Caligula but like WW says there are many different feelings.

Like you allude to the need for distant fulfilment and the fact it so easily refers to Nero or Caligula is why I tend to doubt it actually belongs there and hasn't been added by someone who decided Nero was the beast, calculated what his number would be and added it to the text. Maybe as a footnote that swiftly got carried into the actual document.

[DavidFord]

Like you allude to the need for distant fulfilment and the fact it so easily refers to Nero or Caligula is why I tend to doubt it actually belongs there and hasn't been added by someone who decided Nero was the beast, calculated what his number would be and added it to the text. Maybe as a footnote that swiftly got carried into the actual document.

Perhaps such occurred with the 'Jesus declared all foods clean' editorial in some Greek mss.'s Mk 7:19.

Mark 7:19 (NASB)
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=mark%207%3A19&version=KJV;NASB;HCSB
because it does not go into his heart, but into his stomach,
and is eliminated?" (_Thus He_ declared all foods clean.)

https://bible.org/seriespage/mark-7
7:19
NASB, NRSV "(_Thus He_ declared all foods clean)"
NKJV "_thus_ purifying all foods"
TEV "(. . .Jesus declared that all foods are fit to be eaten)"
NJB" (Thus he pronounced all food clean)"
The parentheses reflect the translators' view that it is an editorial comment (probably from Peter's experience in Acts 10). It is such an important NT truth (cf. Rom. 14:13-23; 1 Cor. 8:1-13; 10:23-33).

Mark 7:19 (from Aramaic), http://dukhrana.com
(Etheridge) because it entereth not into his heart, but into his belly,
and is cast out in the purgation which all food purgeth ?
(Murdock) For it doth not enter into his heart, but into his belly,
and is thrown into the digestive process, which carries off all that is eaten.

(KJV)
Because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly,
and goeth out into the draught, purging all meats?

[DavidFord]

if the Hebrew spelling of Nero adds up to 666, it was written in Hebrew. If Greek then the number would be different.It would be odd that if the Greek text was the very first it uses counting based on a Hebrew word

Rocco A. Errico and George M. Lamsa, _Aramaic Light on James through Revelation_ (2006), 232pp., 177-178:
In Aramaic and Hebrew every name can be expressed in numbers because every letter has a numerical value.  For example, the letter _alep_, in addition to being a consonant, is also the number one....
N   50
R   200
O   6
N   50
K   100
S   60
R   200
     666
This is the number of the beast-- Nero Caesar in Aramaic.

Greek mss. of Revelation contain horrifically-bad Greek grammar.  Do you think Revelation was originally composed in:  Greek?  Aramaic?  Hebrew?

Christopher Lancaster aka "Raphael Lataster," _Was the New Testament Really Written in Greek? A Concise Compendium of the Many Internal and External Evidences of Aramaic Peshi tta Primacy_ (2011), 328pp., 138-139. Cited at URL below, and tweaked to more closely conform to how it appears in Lancaster.
https://jmshistorycorner.wordpress.com/2018/08/28/the-original-language-of-the-new-testament/
In addition to the evidence for Semitic grammar embedded in the Greek New Testament, the fact that serious grammatical errors are found in the Greek New Testament books should also be revealed.  Speaking of the Greek of Revelation, Charles Cutler Torrey states that it "...swarms with major offenses against Greek grammar." He calls it "linguistic anarchy", and says, "The grammatical monstrosities of the book, in their number and variety and especially in their startling character, stand alone in the history of literature."  Torrey gives ten examples listed below:
1. Rev. 1:4 "Grace to you, and peace, from he who is and who was and who is to come." (all nom. case)
2. Rev. 1:15 "His legs were like burnished brass (neutral gender dative case), as in a furnace purified"(Fem. gender sing. no., gen. case)
3. Rev. 11:3 "My witness (nom.) shall prophesy for many days clothed (accus.) in sackcloth."
4. Rev. 14:14 "I saw on the cloud, one seated like unto a Son of Man (accus.) having
(nom.) upon his head a golden crown."
5. Rev. 14:19 "He harvested the vintage of the earth, and cast it into the winepress
(fem), the great (masc.) of the wrath of God."
6. Rev. 17:4 "A golden cup filled with abominations (gen.) and with unclean things" (accus.)
7. Rev. 19:20 "The lake of blazing (fem.) fire (neutral)."
8. Rev. 20:2 "And he seized the dragon (accus.), the old serpent (nom.), who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him."
9. Rev. 21:9 "Seven angels holding seven bowls (accus.), filled (gen.) with the seven last plagues."
10. Rev. 22:5 "They have no need of lamplight (gen.) nor of sunlight (accus.).

[CST]

Like you allude to the need for distant fulfilment and the fact it so easily refers to Nero or Caligula is why I tend to doubt it actually belongs there and hasn't been added by someone who decided Nero was the beast, calculated what his number would be and added it to the text. Maybe as a footnote that swiftly got carried into the actual document.

Perhaps such occurred with the 'Jesus declared all foods clean' editorial in some Greek mss.'s Mk 7:19.

Mark 7:19 (NASB)
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=mark%207%3A19&version=KJV;NASB;HCSB
because it does not go into his heart, but into his stomach,
and is eliminated?" (_Thus He_ declared all foods clean.)

https://bible.org/seriespage/mark-7
7:19
NASB, NRSV "(_Thus He_ declared all foods clean)"
NKJV "_thus_ purifying all foods"
TEV "(. . .Jesus declared that all foods are fit to be eaten)"
NJB" (Thus he pronounced all food clean)"
The parentheses reflect the translators' view that it is an editorial comment (probably from Peter's experience in Acts 10). It is such an important NT truth (cf. Rom. 14:13-23; 1 Cor. 8:1-13; 10:23-33).

Mark 7:19 (from Aramaic), http://dukhrana.com
(Etheridge) because it entereth not into his heart, but into his belly,
and is cast out in the purgation which all food purgeth ?
(Murdock) For it doth not enter into his heart, but into his belly,
and is thrown into the digestive process, which carries off all that is eaten.

(KJV)
Because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly,
and goeth out into the draught, purging all meats?

You seem to be writing as if you have some point to prove or axe to grind on this matter which is why I feel it no longer worthwhile to indulge you.

Interrupting my comment to someone else in order to make your point just seems to make my case.

[WhiteWings]

The number of the beast is generally taken to be calculated by Gematria but as usual that may involve a misunderstanding. What I read was that 666 referred to Nero and 616 referred to Caligula but like WW says there are many different feelings.

The 666 tag has indeed be stuck on many people.

For me things get interesting if other 666-people also are 616-people in another (relevant) language. That would form some pattern.

But obviously we aren't allowed to just take the number out of context.
For example that person (or organization) has to be closely linked to buying and selling. So, if Nero allowed Jews to buy and sell as much as they liked, because Nero really liked how trade benefited the Roman empire, then Nero for me wasn't the beast....

[marie glen]

Don't forget there's 2 beasts.. a big one of Rev 13:1-10 (w/ iron & bronze; Dan 7:7,19) and a 'little' one, or office, 11-18. It's the last one that is said to be a man, for we have his number.. To me 13:13 pinpoints the office, I guess I don't even worry about the number.. but (it/13:13 was) SO huge we don't see it - plus the vision is reckoned to be locked into 7 years only.. ...Like we don't see the false prophet/teacher/teaching of today (not yesteryear) whose "strong delusion" has caused a great "falling away" from the faith of western civilization, once called Christendom..

Revelation has in it both futurist aNd historist.. :Peace2:

Generally 666 I take to be a numbering system.. whatever that may turn out to be.. and yes involves buying and selling..

It's my belief the smaller 'beast' will step into the prime seat of the big one (governing body, modern day) in response to 'crises' - It's head finally wholeheartedly signing on - it having expired before because the head/visionary of it didn't sign on after all.. (imo)

[DavidFord]

Rev 8:13:  which is correct:  an eagle? an eagle messenger?  a human messenger? an angelic messenger?

Rev 8:13 (HCSB)
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=rev8%3A13&version=NKJV;HCSB
I looked again and heard an eagle [Other mss read _angel_] flying high overhead, crying out in a loud voice,
"Woe! Woe! Woe to those who live on the earth, because of the remaining trumpet blasts that the three angels are about to sound!"

Greek:  ἀγγέλου/ aggelou i.e. messenger (sometimes human messenger, usually angelic messenger) vs. ἀετοῦ/ aetou i.e. eagle
https://biblehub.com/greek/aetou_105.htm
https://biblehub.com/greek/angelou_32.htm
https://biblehub.com/texts/revelation/8-13.htm

https://biblehub.com/greek/32.htm
32 ággelos – properly, a messenger or delegate – either human (Mt 11:10; Lk 7:24, 9:52; Gal 4:14; Js 2:25) or heavenly (a celestial angel); someone sent (by God) to proclaim His message.
32 (ággelos) is used 176 times in the NT (usually of heavenly angels), but only the context determines whether a human or celestial messenger is intended

Rev 8:13 (from Aramaic), http://www.dukhrana.com
(Murdock) And I saw and heard an eagle, which flew in the midst, and it had a tail of blood, while it said, with a loud voice:
Woe, woe, to them who dwell on the earth, because of the remaining sounds of the trumpets of the three angels, who are to sound.
(Lamsa) And I beheld, and heard an eagle having a tail red as it were blood, flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice,
Woe, woe, woe to those who dwell on the earth, by reason of the other sounds of the trumpets of the three angels which are yet to sound!

Translating as "messenger" an eagle that loudly says a message is permissible.
Translating as "eagle" a flying messenger isn't permissible-- a 'flying messenger' could also be an angel, or a flying raven.
IOW, this scenario would make sense:  Aramaic eagle into Greek messenger. 
And this wouldn't make sense:  Greek messenger into Aramaic eagle.

======================================.
"Aramaic" at Peshi tto's Rev 9:11; "Aramean" in Peshi tta vs. "Greek" in Greek mss.

In the NIV's NT, wherever there appears "Aramaic," the corresponding Peshi tta has "Aibraith" [Aramaic, or Hebrew].  The Peshi tta/o in addition has aibraith for Lk 23:38, and Rev 9:11, 16:16:
Peshi tta verses that contains lexeme 1:2235 aibraith
Luke 23:38
John 5:2, 19:13, 19:17, 19:20, 20:16
Acts 21:40, 22:2, 26:14
Rev 9:11, 16:16

"Aramaic" in the NT NIV
https://www.biblegateway.com/quicksearch/?quicksearch=aramaic&qs_version=NIV
John 5:2 Now there is in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate a pool, which in Aramaic is called Bethesda and which is surrounded by five covered colonnades.
John 19:13 When Pilate heard this, he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judge's seat at a place known as the Stone Pavement (which in Aramaic is Gabbatha).
John 19:17 Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of the Skull (which in Aramaic is called Golgotha).
John 19:20 Many of the Jews read this sign, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and the sign was written in Aramaic, Latin and Greek.
John 20:16 Jesus said to her, "Mary." She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, "Rabboni!" (which means "Teacher").
Acts 21:40 After receiving the commander's permission, Paul stood on the steps and motioned to the crowd. When they were all silent, he said to them in Aramaic:
Acts 22:2 When they heard him speak to them in Aramaic, they became very quiet. Then Paul said:
Acts 26:14 We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice saying to me in Aramaic, 'Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.'

Rev 9:11 (modified Aramaic Peshi tta NT Translation)
http://aramaicdb.lightofword.org/index.php/en/english-word-search
And there was a king over them, the angel of the abyss, whose name in Aibraith [Aramaic, or Hebrew] [is] Abaddon, and in Armayith [Aramaic], his name is "Breaker."

Aramean/ Syrian appears in the OT.  Ref:
search for Aramean on HCSB, 65 search results
https://www.biblegateway.com/quicksearch/?quicksearch=aramean&qs_version=HCSB&limit=500
search for Syrian on NKJV, 73 search results
https://www.biblegateway.com/quicksearch/?quicksearch=syrian&qs_version=NKJV&limit=500

The Aramaic NT Peshi tta has 20 instances of armya/ Aramean i.e. Syrian.  Greek mss. have only one instance of Aramean/Syrian; 19 times "Greek" appears where the Peshi tta has "Aramean."  People called Greek in Greek mss. that the Peshi tta doesn't call Greek are Timothy (Acts 16:1, 16:3), Titus (Galatians 2:3), and the Syro-Phoenician woman (Mark 7:26, which the Peshi tta calls 'heathen' instead of 'Greek').

Peshi tta verses that contain lexeme 1:293 (armya)
Luke 4:27 (in Greek mss., this is the sole instance where Aramean/Syrian appears)
Acts 16:1, 16:3, 19:10, 19:17, 20:21, 21:28
Romans 1:16, 2:9, 2:10, 3:9, 10:12
1Cor 1:22, 1:23, 1:24, 10:32, 12:13
Gal 2:3, 3:28
Col 3:11.
Also, Gal 2:14 has Armayith.

Luke 4:27 (from Aramaic), http://www.dukhrana.com
(Etheridge) and many lepers were in the house of Israel, in the days of Elisha the prophet, and not one of them was cleansed only Namon the Aramian.
(Murdock) And there were many leprous in the house of Israel, in the days of Elisha the prophet; but none of them was cleansed, except Naaman the Syrian.
(Lamsa) And there were many lepers in Israel in the days of the prophet Elisha, and yet not one of them was cleansed, except Naaman the Syrian.

[marie glen]

If I read eagle (here).. I would know it was an angel.. (Except for Rev 12:14; and the birds of midheaven - fly higher than the little birds - in Revelation at Armageddon. Could be more too, I suppose..)

[CST]

Don't forget there's 2 beasts.. a big one of Rev 13:1-10 (w/ iron & bronze; Dan 7:7,19) and a 'little' one, or office, 11-18. It's the last one that is said to be a man, for we have his number.. To me 13:13 pinpoints the office, I guess I don't even worry about the number.. but (it/13:13 was) SO huge we don't see it - plus the vision is reckoned to be locked into 7 years only.. ...Like we don't see the false prophet/teacher/teaching of today (not yesteryear) whose "strong delusion" has caused a great "falling away" from the faith of western civilization, once called Christendom..

Revelation has in it both futurist aNd historist.. :Peace2:

Generally 666 I take to be a numbering system.. whatever that may turn out to be.. and yes involves buying and selling..

It's my belief the smaller 'beast' will step into the prime seat of the big one (governing body, modern day) in response to 'crises' - It's head finally wholeheartedly signing on - it having expired before because the head/visionary of it didn't sign on after all.. (imo)

"This calls for a mind with wisdom: the seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman is seated; they are also seven kings, five of whom have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come, and when he comes he must remain only a little while. As for the beast that was and is not, it is an eighth but it belongs to the seven, and it goes to perdition. And the ten horns that you saw are ten kings who have not yet received royal power, but they are to receive authority as kings for one hour, together with the beast." (Revelation 17:9-12)

All but one translation I can find calls them 'kings' the translation that doesn't seems not to translate the relevant word at all. It may be that the word is mistranslated but given how it is commonly used in the Bible it seems unlikely. Still I don't presume to have so much wisdom and am not convinced too many translators do either. But they all sound like people here rather than institutions. Still, parable on parable is possible.

This is so confusing. Quite probably one of the most confusing passages in the Bible.

[DavidFord]

"This calls for a mind with wisdom: the seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman is seated; they are also seven kings, five of whom have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come, and when he comes he must remain only a little while.

https://www.plumdeluxe.com/city-of-seven-hills
I'm not sure we can say Rome is the original city of seven hills (other cities with this claim are older) but it's certainly the most well known.  The seven hills are....

https://www.britannica.com/place/Seven-Hills-of-Rome
Seven Hills of Rome, group of hills on or about which the ancient city of Rome was built. The original city of Romulus was built upon Palatine Hill (Latin: Mons Palatinus). The other hills are the Capitoline, Quirinal, Viminal, Esquiline, Caelian, and Aventine (known respectively in Latin as the Mons Capitolinus, Mons Quirinalis, Mons Viminalis, Mons Esquilinus, Mons Caelius, and Mons Aventinus).

[DavidFord]

"I AM" at Rev 22:16, elsewhere in Peshi tta

There is at least one instance in the Aramaic Revelation of the use of "I AM":

Rev 22:16 (from Aramaic), http://www.dukhrana.com looking at Crawford
(Murdock) I Jesus have sent my angel, to testify to you these things before the churches.
I am [Aramaic:  ana ana] the root and offspring of David: like the splendid star of the morning.
(Lamsa) I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you these things in the churches.
I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.

The Aramaic NT contains many instances of "I AM" statements.  In the Aramaic it is two instances of "ana"-- "I"-- back to back. The letters are "ana ana," pronounced "ena na," and can be translated as "It is I" or "I AM."  One translator, Glenn David Bauscher, says that 97% of the time in the Old Testament, "ENA-NA" is said by YHWH.  It is a similar situation in the New Testament, where the overwhelming percent of the time, "ena-na" appears to be Yeshua hinting at his being the eternally existent YHWH.  Rarely, it is someone else making an appeal to being God, or someone apparently suggesting that the Meshikha/ Messiah is YHWH, or someone merely saying "It is I"/ "It's me."  To illustrate the very last category, see Lk 1:19 (when the angelic messenger Gabriel speaks), and Jn 9:9 (when a blind man who Yeshua healed speaks).  In the book of John, most of the "I am"s are Yeshua possibly or probably saying "I AM."  I invite you to pull out your New Testament and look at each of these instances, and if you have questions, examine the Khabouris transcription at dukhrana.com:

ENA-NA's and ena-na's in Mt - Acts 16, in the Peshi tta

Mt 14:27, 22:32, 24:5
Mk 6:50, 12:26, 13:6, 14:62
Lk 1:19, 8:9, 21:8, 22:70, 24:36
Jn 1:20, 4:26;
6:20, 35, 41, 48, 51;
8:12, 24, 28, 58;
9:9;
10:7, 9, 11, 14;
11:25; 13:19; 14:6;
15:1, 5;
18:5, 6, 8, 37
Acts 7:32, 8:9, 9:5

[DavidFord]

Rev 11:1:  do you believe John was asked to use a measuring rod to measure people?

Rev 11:1
https://biblehub.com/interlinear/revelation/11-1.htm
And was given to me kalamos/κάλαμος [a measuring rod] like a staff saying,
Rise and metrēson/μέτρησον [measure] the temple of God and the altar and those worshiping in it.

The notion of measuring people with a measuring rod makes little sense to me.  Let's look at the Aramaic.

Rev 11 (Lamsa), http://dukhrana.com
1 AND there was given to me a reed like unto a rod:  and the angel stood, saying,
Arise and anoint the temple of God, and the altar, and those who worship therein.
2 - But leave out the outer court of the temple, and do not anoint it;
for it has been given to the Gentiles;
and they shall tread the holy city under foot for forty and two months.

Anointing the temple, the altar, and the worshipers makes sense to me.  The word in question is m-sh-u-kh, which can mean measure, but can also mean anoint.  Yeshua is the Meshikha, i.e. the Anointed One.

Of the renditions of Rev 11:1 at
https://biblehub.com/revelation/11-1.htm
searching for:  anoint
yields zip.  The Greek texts at
https://biblehub.com/texts/revelation/11-1.htm
all have μέτρησον/ measure, except for one which has a similar word.

Rocco A. Errico and George M. Lamsa, _Aramaic Light on James through Revelation_ (2006), 232pp., 160:
The Aramaic word _Meshakh_ means both to "anoint" and "measure."  The two words are written and pronounced exactly alike, so the reader and the translator must be guided by the context of the verse.

Greg Glaser's _Crawford Codex Transcript_ (May 2015) from http://dukhrana.com also notes that an alternative translation is "anoint."  He moreover states that the Rev 11:1 Aramaic words for "a rod" and "of a rod/staff" have many possible translations, including pen, reed, candlestick pipe, balance beam, straw, rope, & possessions, and "tribe," "scourging," respectively.  He thinks the most likely translation is "measuring rod."

[DavidFord]

blood or grape juice in Rev 14:20?

If vineyard clusters of grapes are trodden in a winepress, one gets:  the blood of grapes i.e. grape juice?  blood?

Revelation 14 (Aramaic Bible in Plain English)   
https://biblehub.com/aramaic-plain-english/revelation/14.htm
18 Another Angel went out from the altar, who had authority over fire, and he shouted with a great voice to him who had the sharp sickle with him:  "Send your sharp sickle and gather of the clusters of the vineyards of The Earth, because its grapes are large." 19 And the Angel thrust his sickle unto The Earth and gathered the vines of The Earth and cast them into the great winepress [alternate translation:  school house] of the passion [Aramaic:  d'kh-m-th-eh:  of his anger/wrath/fury/passion/burning] of God.  20 And the winepress was trodden outside the city and blood [Aramaic:  dma:  blood, or juice] came out of the winepress unto the bridle of the horses for twelve hundred stadia.

Greg Glaser, _Crawford Codex Transcript_ (May 2015), for Rev 14 http://dukhrana.com
from the CAL
http://cal.huc.edu/getlex.php?coord=620402335&word=4
1 blood Com. --(a)... menstruation Syr. --(b) mortal bloodshed... Syr. (b.1)...‏ even unto death Syr. (b.2) blood guilt Com.; 2 juice Syr.

In the OT, the 'blood of grapes' refers to the juice of grapes, or fermented grape juice:
Genesis 49:11 (NIV)
https://biblehub.com/genesis/49-11.htm
He will tether his donkey to a vine,
his colt to the choicest branch;
he will wash his garments in wine,
his robes in the blood of grapes.
Deut 32:14 (NIV)
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=deut+32%3A14-15&version=NIV
with curds and milk from herd and flock
and with fattened lambs and goats,
with choice rams of Bashan
and the finest kernels of wheat.
You drank the foaming blood of the grape

[DavidFord]

Kenneth G.C. Newport, "Semitic Influence in Revelation:  Some Further Evidence" _Andrews University Seminary Studies_ (Autumn 1987), 25:3, 249-256.  PDF at
https://www.andrews.edu/library/car/cardigital/Periodicals/AUSS/1987-3/1987-3-02.pdf
In a previous article I suggested that the use of _ek_ in the book of Revelation was under significant Semitic influence.  This significance extended beyond the simple fact that recourse to Hebrew and Aramaic grammar seemed able to explain the otherwise surprisingly high incidence of this preposition in the book, for in certain cases allowance for Hebrew/Aramaic idiom also had important consequences for the translation of the verse involved.
The present study extends my earlier discussion. Here, however, I survey several different prepositional phrases, rather than focusing upon one particular preposition. Thus, while in the first article I endeavored to show that the extent of Semitic influence upon prepositions in Revelation is more than surface deep, the present study suggests that it is ubiquitous.  ....
8. Conclusion
The prepositional phrases surveyed above clearly indicate Semitic influence in the book of Revelation. The list could easily have been expanded: For example, .... all seem dependent upon Semitic syntax.  Thus, the evidence for Semitic influence upon prepositions and prepositional phrases in the book of Revelation is substantial and clear. The exegetes have a duty, therefore, to take seriously the possibility of Semitic influence as they seek to explain the Greek text of this intriguing NT book.

[DavidFord]

Semitic 'mouth' idioms at Rev 13:6 and Rev 12:16

A.  Semitic idiom:  'open his/my mouth': speak
he opened his mouth and said': he said/spoke

From the NT:

Matthew 5:2-- in the narration (KJV)
And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,

Matthew 13:35
That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying,
I will open my mouth in parables;
I will utter things which have been kept secret
from the foundation of the world.

Luke 1:64-- in the narration
And his mouth was opened immediately,
and his tongue loosed,
and he spake,
and praised God.

Acts 8:32
The place of the scripture which he read was this,
He was led as a sheep to the slaughter;
and like a lamb dumb before his shearer,
so opened he not his mouth:
Acts 8:35-- in the narration
Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.
Acts 10:34-- in the narration
Then Peter opened his mouth, and said,
Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:
Acts 18:14-- in the narration
And when Paul was now about to open his mouth, Gallio said. . . .

Ephesians 6:19-- in a Pauline letter
And for me, that utterance may be given unto me,
that I may open my mouth boldly,
to make known the mystery of the gospel,

Revelation 13:6-- in the narration
And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God,
to blaspheme his name,
and his tabernacle,
and them that dwell in heaven.

From the OT:

Numbers 22:28
And the Lord opened the mouth of the ass,
and she said unto Balaam,
What have I done unto thee,
that thou hast smitten me these three times?

Judges 11:35
. . . . I have opened my mouth unto the Lord,
and I cannot go back.
Judges 11:36
And she said unto him,
My father, if thou hast opened thy mouth unto the Lord,
do to me according to that which hath proceeded out of thy mouth. . . .

Job 3:1
After this opened Job his mouth,
and cursed his day.
Job 33:2
Behold, now I have opened my mouth,
my tongue hath spoken in my mouth.
Job 35:16
Therefore doth Job open his mouth in vain;
he multiplieth words without knowledge.

Psalm 35:21
Yea, they opened their mouth wide against me, and said,
Aha, aha, our eye hath seen it.
Psalm 38:13
But I, as a deaf man,
heard not;
and I was as a dumb man
that openeth not his mouth.
Psalm 39:9
I was dumb,
I opened not my mouth;
because thou didst it.
Psalm 78:2
I will open my mouth in a parable:
I will utter dark sayings of old:
Psalm 109:2
For the mouth of the wicked and the mouth of the deceitful are opened against me:
they have spoken against me with a lying tongue.

Proverbs 31:9
Open thy mouth, judge righteously,
and plead the cause of the poor and needy.
Proverbs 31:26
She openeth her mouth with wisdom;
and in her tongue is the law of kindness.

Isaiah 53:7
He was oppressed,
and he was afflicted,
yet he opened not his mouth:
he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter,
and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb,
so he openeth not his mouth.

Lamentations 2:16
All thine enemies have opened their mouth against thee:
they hiss and gnash the teeth:
they say. . . .

Ezekiel 3:27
But when I speak with thee,
I will open thy mouth,
and thou shalt say unto them,
Thus saith the Lord God. . . .
Ezekiel 21:22
At his right hand was the divination for Jerusalem,
to appoint captains,
to open the mouth in the slaughter,
to lift up the voice with shouting. . . .
Ezekiel 24:27
In that day shall thy mouth be opened to him which is escaped,
and thou shalt speak,
and be no more dumb. . . .
Ezekiel 33:22
. . . . and my mouth was opened,
and I was no more dumb.

Daniel 10:16
. . . . then I opened my mouth, and spake,
and said unto him that stood before me,
O my lord. . . .

B.  Semitic idiom: the earth opened her mouth

Revelation 12:16 (KJV)
And the earth helped the woman,
and the earth opened her mouth,
and swallowed up the flood
which the dragon cast out of his mouth.

From the OT:

Genesis 4:11
And now art thou cursed from the earth,
which hath opened her mouth
to receive thy brother's blood from thy hand;

Numbers 16:30
But if the Lord make a new thing,
and the earth open her mouth,
and swallow them up,
with all that appertain unto them,
and they go down quick into the pit;
then ye shall understand that
these men have provoked the Lord.
Numbers 16:32
And the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up, and their houses, and all the men that appertained unto Korah, and all their goods.
Numbers 26:10
And the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up together with Korah. . . .

Deuteronomy 11:6
And what he did unto Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, the son of Reuben: how the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up, and their households, and their tents, and all the substance that was in their possession, in the midst of all Israel. . . .

[DavidFord]

Semitic Idiom at Rev 2:23, 17:17, 18:7:  "heart" = mind/thinking
I'm not aware of any Greek idioms in the New Testament-- are you?
In the OT (and NT), the word "heart" often is a Semitic idiomatic reference to the mind/thinking.

Genesis 6:5 KJV
And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth,
and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
Genesis 8:21
And the Lord smelled a sweet savour;
and the Lord said in his heart,
I will not again curse the ground any more for man's sake;
for the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth. . . .
Genesis 17:17
Then Abraham fell upon his face, and laughed, and said in his heart,
Shall a child be born unto him that is an hundred years old?
Genesis 18:5
And I will fetch a morsel of bread,
and comfort ye your hearts;. . . .

Revelation 2:23
And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins [kidneys] and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.
Revelation 17:17
For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled.
Revelation 18:7
How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow.

[DavidFord]

Semitic idiom at Rev 12:17: seed of ____ = descended from ____, literally or metaphorically
NT instances quoting Semites are less-impressive than narrative portions, e. g. Paul's use of the Semiticism in his letters to various churches.

1 Chronicles 16:13 (KJV)
O ye seed of Israel his servant,
ye children of Jacob, his chosen ones.
Job 5:25
Thou shalt know also that thy seed shall be great,
and thine offspring as the grass of the earth.
Job 21:8
Their seed is established in their sight with them,
and their offspring before their eyes.
Psalm 102:28
The children of thy servants shall continue,
and their seed shall be established before thee.
Psalm 105:6
O ye seed of Abraham his servant,
ye children of Jacob his chosen.
Isaiah 44:3
. . . . I will pour my spirit upon thy seed,
and my blessing upon thine offspring:

Revelation 12:17
And the dragon was wroth with the woman,
and went to make war with the remnant of her seed,
which keep the commandments of God,
and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
Genesis 3:15
And I will put enmity
between thee and the woman,
and between thy seed and her seed;
it shall bruise thy head,
and thou shalt bruise his heel.
Isaiah 53:10
Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him;
he hath put him to grief:
when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin,
he shall see his seed,
he shall prolong his days,
and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.

Galatians 3:19
Wherefore then serveth the law?
It was added because of transgressions,
till the seed should come to [about?] whom the promise was made;
and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.

Romans 9:29
And as Esaias said before,
Except the Lord of Sabaoth had left us a seed,
we had been as Sodoma,
and been made like unto Gomorrha.

Strong's Concordance 4519. sabaóth
https://biblehub.com/greek/4519.htm
sabaóth: Sabaoth, i.e. armies
Original Word: σαβαώθ
Part of Speech: Hebrew Form (Indclinable)
Transliteration: sabaóth
Phonetic Spelling: (sab-ah-owth')
Short Definition: hosts, armies
Definition: hosts, armies.
HELPS Word-studies
4519 sabaṓth (the Greek transliteration of the Hebrew term, bā̓āh, OT 6635) – host(s), an innumerable throng (limitless company). 4519 /sabaṓth ("the Lord of hosts") only occurs in Ro 9:29 and Js 4:5, and correlates to the familiar phrase, "the Lord of hosts" in the OT and LXX.

[DavidFord]

Rev 2:17: 'hidden manna' or 'stored up manna'?

"Some Greek Words with Hebrew Meanings in the Book of Revelation"
by Kenneth G.C. Newport, _Andrews University Seminary Studies_ (Spring 1988) 26:1, 25-31. PDF:
https://www.andrews.edu/library/car/cardigital/Periodicals/AUSS/1988-1/1988-1-03.pdf
Finally, we might notice Rev 2:17, which speaks of "hidden"
manna. "To hide" is the normal translation of the Greek verb
kruptein, and the translators of the NEB, RSV, NIV, and KJV are
therefore justified in their translation. But, as we have shown, the
Greek of Revelation cannot be classed as "normal." In the context
of the passage and in the light of the possible Semitic influence, the
verb might better be translated "stored up." To support this view
we may note that the Hebrew verb sapan ("to treasure" or "to store
up"), is several times translated using kruptein in the LXX
(Prov 1:11, 2:1, 7:1, 10:14; Job 23:12).

Revelation 2:17 (Murdock, from Aramaic) http://dukhrana.com
He that hath ears, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches. To him that is victorious, will I give to eat of the hidden [d'matsi:  of the hidden/secrets; of the stored up] manna [Aramaic:  mnna]....

http://cal.huc.edu/getlex.php?coord=630660217&word=13
C ṭšy vb. to hide
G 1 to hide (trans.) Syr.
   2 to hide oneself Qum, Syr, JBA, LJLA.
   3 to be hidden Syr.
D 1 to conceal Syr.
   2 to hide oneself LJLA.
C 1 to hide something Qum, Syr, LJLA. --(a) to store up LJLA.
Dt 1 to hide oneself Qum, JLAtg, Syr, Man, LJLA.
    2 to be hidden LJLA. --(a) to be assimilated Syr.
Ct 1 to be stored up LJLA.

[DavidFord]

In the original rendition of Rev 13:14 and Rev 14:15, was it long (as it is in Greek), or was it short (as it is in Aramaic)?

Rev 13:14 http://dukhrana.com
(Etheridge) And he will seduce those who dwell upon earth
to the making an image of the beast of prey who had the wound of the sword and lived.
(Murdock) And he seduced them that dwell on the earth,
to erect an image to the beast of prey who had the wound from a sword and recovered.
(Lamsa) Beguiling those who dwell on the earth
to make an image to the wild beast who was wounded by the sword and yet lived.
(KJV) And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth
by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should
make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.

Rev 14:15
(Etheridge) And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a great voice to him who sat upon the cloud.
(Murdock) And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice, to him that sat on the cloud.
(Lamsa) And another angel came out of the temple, and after he cried with a loud voice to him who sat on the cloud,
(KJV) And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud,
Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe.

The Greek word ἐξηράνθη in the longer Greek Rev 14:15 is odd, in that out of its 10 occurrences in the Greek NT, it's always translated into something like 'dried up, withered,' and yet when it comes to Rev 14:15, it's rendered as 'ripe':
https://biblehub.com/greek/exe_ranthe__3583.htm

The Greek word plege in the Greek Rev 13:14 is used in a sense that's odd for that word:
"Some Greek Words with Hebrew Meanings in the Book of Revelation"
by Kenneth G.C. Newport, _Andrews University Seminary Studies_ (Spring 1988) 26:1, 25-31.  PDF:
https://www.andrews.edu/library/car/cardigital/Periodicals/AUSS/1988-1/1988-1-03.pdf
So, too, we might note the use of plege at Rev 13:14. The sense
here clearly requires the word to be translated as "wound," which
comes close to the classical meaning of "blow" or "strike."  A
more precise parallel, however, is found in Hebrew, where the
word makka regularly means "wound," a meaning which has
been carried over into the LXX with the word plege (LXX,
3 (Eng. 1) Kgs 22:35; 4 (Eng. 2) Kgs 8:29 and 9:15).

http://cal.huc.edu/oneentry.php?lemma=mxwh+N%20&cits=all
mḥwh, mḥwtˀ   (maḥwā, mḥōtā)   n.f.  force....
1  blow  Sam, Syr. OS LkCur10:34 : .... P Lv13:2 : .... P Dt17:8 : ....  P Mk3:11 :... . (a) plague  Syr. P Ex9:14 : ....
2  wound  Syr. P Lv13:55 : .... (a) burden  Syr. P Na1:1 : ....

[DavidFord]

Was Revelation originally composed in:  Greek?  Aramaic?  Hebrew?

_Secrets of Revelation_, by Jacques B. Doukhan (2002) PDF:
http://www.pacificpress.com/pp/misdta/Chapters/0828016453.pdf
The Apocalypse is, therefore, more Hebrew than any other book
of the New Testament. It contains more than 2,000 allusions to the
Hebrew Scriptures, including 400 explicit references and 90 literal
citations of the Pentateuch and the Prophets. With regard to textual
citations, the Apocalypse is more faithful to the original Hebrew
than to its Greek translation, the Septuagint. Ernest Renan observed
that "the language of the Apocalypse is traced from the Hebrew,
thought in Hebrew, and can hardly be understood by those who do
not know Hebrew."

"Revelation: A Hebrew Book" by Blaine Robison (2015)
http://www.blainerobison.com/endtimes/rev-hebrew.htm
     There are a variety of ways in which Hebrew may be seen as the foundation to the Greek text of Revelation and these are noted throughout this commentary.[8] First, there are many Hebrew words that are transliterated into Greek. Transliteration is the attempt to reproduce the sound of a word with the substitution of letters of the target language for the letters of the source language without interpreting the meaning. Examples of transliteration from Hebrew to Greek in Revelation include the words "amen," "Armageddon," "Hebrew," "Jerusalem," "Jew," "Satan," "woe" and the names of the twelve tribes of Israel.

     The second evidence of the Hebrew language is the presence of idiomatic words and phrases, which scholars call Hebraisms. An idiom is simply an expression peculiar to a particular language. For example, the phrase "the small and the great," which occurs four times in Revelation (11:18; 13:16; 19:5, 18), actually refers to the young and the old rather than social or economic status. The titles of our Lord reflect the variety of expressions that packaged Jewish theology about God (1:4, 8; 4:8f; 15:3; 16:5; 21:6). Many of the idioms that Yeshua used and are recorded in the Gospels can only be properly understood when interpreted in their Hebrew context.[9] Because of the presence of Hebrew idiomatic expressions, some commentators have erroneously concluded a dependence on rabbinic Judaism as if Yeshua and the apostles simply plagiarized rabbinic teachings without giving them credit. It is more likely that the similarities represent drawing on a common pool of ideas.[10] Idiomatic language in Revelation is discussed in the commentary and the footnotes.

     The third evidence of a Hebrew text is that sometimes taking the Greek literally results in a clumsy English translation or a sentence may even fail to make sense. However, the verse makes perfect sense when translated back into Hebrew. For example, in 10:1 an angel is described with feet like pillars. However, feet cannot be "like pillars," only legs can. The problem is resolved by recognizing that while Greek has separate words for "feet" and "legs" Hebrew has only one word that can mean both. Apparently, a Greek translator unacquainted with Hebrew nuances translated the Hebrew word as "feet" when the intention was "legs."

     The fourth evidence of a Hebrew text is the use of conjunctions. Joining individual words in a list within a sentence or one clause to another with the conjunction "and" is a frequent characteristic feature of the Hebrew Scriptures, whereas in Greek literature an independent clause will be subordinated to the main clause of the sentence and the use of conjunctions minimized.[11] The conjunction "and" in Hebrew functions generally as a prefix to Hebrew words without using a separate word. To make a Hebrew word part of a connecting sequence, the letter vav (v) is added to the noun as its first letter.[12] There are several conjunctions in the Greek language, but kai, meaning "and," also" or "even" is by far the most common in the  New Testament[13] and used in the LXX to translate the vav character. English normally uses a coordinating conjunction only between the last two elements in a series of three or more, so while the KJV faithfully renders kai modern Bible versions leave 80% of the instances of kai untranslated to avoid awkwardness. Yet, in the Greek  New Testament there is an excessive use of kai,[14] an excellent proof of an original Hebrew text.
....
[8] In the ongoing debate over the best English translation the argument usually resorts to a discussion of the best Greek text and whether the TR, M-Text or the earliest MSS should be given greater weight, since the original autographs no longer exist. Scholars have not adequately considered the thesis that the apostles wrote most, if not all, the  New Testament originally in Hebrew and then others translated the circulated works into Greek. The same linguistic evidences for Hebrew can be cited in the rest of the  New Testament.
....
[14] Kai is uncommonly frequent in the apostolic narratives (in well over 3,200 verses) and in over 1,800 verses in the rest of the New Testament. In Revelation kai occurs in 369 out of 384 verses (sixth highest count of New Testament books), occurring in many verses three or more times. Olive Tree Bible Search Engine (http://www.olivetree.com).