# the fifth seal

"the next seal" or "seal number five" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-ordinal]])

# under the altar

This may have been "at the base of the altar."

# those who had been killed

This can be translated with an active verb. AT "those whom others had killed" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive]])

# because of the word of God and the testimony which they held

Here "Word of God" is a metonym for the message from God and "held" is a metaphor. Possible meanings are 1) holding the testimony refers to believing God's word and testimony. AT: "because of the teachings of scripture and what they taught about Jesus Christ" or "because they believed the word of God, which is his testimony" or 2) holding the testimony refers to testifying about the word of God. AT: "because they testified about the word of God" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]] and [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy]])

# avenge our blood

The word blood here represents their deaths. AT: "punish those who killed us" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy]])

# until the full number ... were to be killed

This implies that God had decided that a certain number of people should be killed by their enemies.

# their fellow servants and their brothers and sisters

This is one group of people described in two ways: as servants and as brothers and sisters. AT: "their brothers and sisters who serve God with them" or "their fellow believers who serve God with them"

# brothers and sisters

Christians are often spoken of as being one another's brothers and sisters. AT: "fellow Christians" or "fellow believers" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]])

# translationWords

* [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/altar]]
* [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/soul]]
* [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/wordofgod]]
* [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/testimony]]
* [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/other/ruler]]
* [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/holy]]
* [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/true]]
* [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/judge]]
* [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/other/avenge]]
* [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/other/robe]]
* [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/other/servant]]
* [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/brother]]