Revelation 3
Lexham English Bible
The Letter to the Church in Sardis
3 “And to the angel of the church in Sardis write:
“This is what the one who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars says: ‘I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, and you are dead. 2 Be on the alert and strengthen the remaining things that are about to die, for I have not found your works completed before my God. 3 Therefore remember how you have received and heard, and observe it, and repent. If therefore you are not on the alert, I will come like a thief, and you will never know at what hour I will come against you. 4 But you have a few people[a] in Sardis who have not defiled their clothing, and they will walk with me in white, because they are worthy. 5 The one who conquers in this way will be dressed in white clothing, and I will never erase his name from the book of life, and I will declare his name before my Father and before his angels. 6 The one who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’
The Letter to the Church in Philadelphia
7 “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write:
“This is what the holy one, the true one, the one who has the key of David, the one who opens and no one can shut, and who shuts and no one can open, says: 8 ‘I know your works (behold, I have put before you an opened door that no one is able to shut[b]) that you have a little strength, and have kept my word, and did not deny my name. 9 Behold, I am causing those of the synagogue of Satan, the ones who call themselves Jews and are not, but are lying—behold, I will make them come[c] and kneel down before your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you. 10 Because you have kept the word of my patient endurance, I also will keep you from the hour of testing that is about to come upon the whole inhabited world, to put to the test those who live on the earth. 11 I am coming quickly! Hold fast to what you have, so that no one may take away your crown. 12 The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God, and he will never go outside again, and I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem that comes down from heaven from my God, and my new name. 13 The one who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’
The Letter to the Church in Laodicea
14 “And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write:
“This is what the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the originator[d] of God’s creation, says: 15 ‘I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were cold or hot! 16 Thus, because you are lukewarm and neither hot nor cold, I am about to vomit you out of my mouth! 17 Because you are saying, “I am rich, and have become rich, and I have need of nothing,” and you do not know that you are wretched and pitiable and poor and blind and naked, 18 I advise you to buy from me gold refined by fire, in order that you may become rich, and white clothing, in order that you may be clothed and the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed, and eye salve to smear on your eyes, in order that you may see. 19 As many as I love, I reprove and discipline. Be zealous, therefore, and repent! 20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock! If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, indeed I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with me. 21 The one who conquers, I will grant to him to sit down with me on my throne, as I also have conquered and have sat down with my Father on his throne. 22 The one who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’”
Footnotes
- Revelation 3:4 Literally “names”
- Revelation 3:8 Literally “to shut it,” but the direct object is not translated here in keeping with English style
- Revelation 3:9 Literally “that they will come”
- Revelation 3:14 Or “the ruler”; or “the beginning”; or “the source”
Revelation 3
Legacy Standard Bible
To the Church in Sardis
3 “And to the angel of the church in (A)Sardis write:
This is what He who has (B)the seven Spirits of God and (C)the seven stars, says: ‘(D)I know your deeds, that you have a name that you are alive, [a]but you are (E)dead. 2 Wake up, and strengthen the things that remain, which were about to die, for I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of My God. 3 So (F)remember [b]what you have received and heard; and keep it, and (G)repent. Therefore if you do not wake up, (H)I will come (I)like a thief, and you will not know at (J)what hour I will come to you. 4 But you have a few [c](K)names in (L)Sardis who have not (M)defiled their garments, and they will walk with Me (N)in white, for they are worthy. 5 (O)He who overcomes will thus be clothed in (P)white garments, and I will never (Q)erase his name from the book of life, and (R)I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels. 6 (S)He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’
To the Church in Philadelphia
7 “And to the angel of the church in (T)Philadelphia write:
(U)This is what He who is holy, (V)who is true, who has (W)the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, and who shuts and no one opens, says:
8 ‘(X)I know your [d]deeds. Behold, I have given before you (Y)an open door which no one can shut, because you have a little power, and have kept My word, and (Z)have not denied My name. 9 Behold, I am giving up those of (AA)the synagogue of Satan, those who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie. Behold, I will make them (AB)come and bow down before your feet, and make them know that (AC)I have loved you. 10 Because you have (AD)kept the word of (AE)My perseverance, (AF)I also will keep you from the hour of [e](AG)testing, which is about to come upon the whole [f](AH)world, to [g]test (AI)those who dwell on the earth. 11 (AJ)I am coming quickly; (AK)hold fast what you have, so that no one will take your (AL)crown. 12 (AM)He who overcomes, I will make him a (AN)pillar in the sanctuary of My God, and he will never go out from it anymore. And I will write on him the (AO)name of My God, and (AP)the name of the city of My God, (AQ)the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God, and My (AR)new name. 13 (AS)He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’
To the Church in Laodicea
14 “And to the angel of the church in (AT)Laodicea write:
(AU)This is what the Amen, (AV)the faithful and true Witness, (AW)the [h]Beginning of the creation of God, says:
15 ‘(AX)I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. (AY)I wish that you were cold or hot. 16 So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will [i]spit you out of My mouth. 17 Because you say, “(AZ)I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing,” and you do not know that you are wretched and pitiable and poor and blind and naked. 18 I advise you to (BA)buy from Me (BB)gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, and (BC)white garments so that you may clothe yourself, and that (BD)the shame of your nakedness will not be manifested; and eye salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see. 19 (BE)Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline. Therefore be zealous and (BF)repent. 20 Behold, I stand (BG)at the door and (BH)knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, (BI)I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me. 21 (BJ)He who overcomes, I will grant to him (BK)to sit down with Me on My throne, as (BL)I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. 22 (BM)He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’”
Footnotes
- Revelation 3:1 Lit and
- Revelation 3:3 Lit how
- Revelation 3:4 People
- Revelation 3:8 Or deeds (behold...shut), that you have
- Revelation 3:10 Or temptation
- Revelation 3:10 Lit inhabited earth
- Revelation 3:10 Or tempt
- Revelation 3:14 Origin or Source
- Revelation 3:16 Lit vomit
Revelation 3
New King James Version
The Dead Church
3 “And to the [a]angel of the church in Sardis write,
‘These things says He who (A)has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars: “I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead. 2 Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before [b]God. 3 (B)Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and (C)repent. (D)Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you (E)as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you. 4 [c]You have (F)a few names [d]even in Sardis who have not (G)defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me (H)in white, for they are worthy. 5 He who overcomes (I)shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not (J)blot out his name from the (K)Book of Life; but (L)I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.
6 (M)“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ’
The Faithful Church
7 “And to the [e]angel of the church in Philadelphia write,
‘These things says (N)He who is holy, (O)He who is true, (P)“He who has the key of David, (Q)He who opens and no one shuts, and (R)shuts and no one opens”: 8 (S)“I know your works. See, I have set before you (T)an open door, [f]and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name. 9 Indeed I will make (U)those of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews and are not, but lie—indeed (V)I will make them come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you. 10 Because you have kept [g]My command to persevere, (W)I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon (X)the whole world, to test those who dwell (Y)on the earth. 11 [h]Behold, (Z)I am coming quickly! (AA)Hold fast what you have, that no one may take (AB)your crown. 12 He who overcomes, I will make him (AC)a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall (AD)go out no more. (AE)I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the (AF)New Jerusalem, which (AG)comes down out of heaven from My God. (AH)And I will write on him My new name.
13 (AI)“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ’
The Lukewarm Church
14 “And to the [i]angel of the church [j]of the Laodiceans write,
(AJ)‘These things says the Amen, (AK)the Faithful and True Witness, (AL)the Beginning of the creation of God: 15 (AM)“I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. 16 So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither [k]cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. 17 Because you say, (AN)‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked— 18 I counsel you (AO)to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and (AP)white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. 19 (AQ)As many as I love, I rebuke and (AR)chasten.[l] Therefore be [m]zealous and repent. 20 Behold, (AS)I stand at the door and knock. (AT)If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, (AU)I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. 21 To him who overcomes (AV)I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.
22 (AW)“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ’ ”
Footnotes
- Revelation 3:1 Or messenger
- Revelation 3:2 NU, M My God
- Revelation 3:4 NU, M Nevertheless you
- Revelation 3:4 NU, M omit even
- Revelation 3:7 Or messenger
- Revelation 3:8 NU, M which no one can shut
- Revelation 3:10 Lit. the word of My patience
- Revelation 3:11 NU, M omit Behold
- Revelation 3:14 Or messenger
- Revelation 3:14 NU, M in Laodicea
- Revelation 3:16 NU, M hot nor cold
- Revelation 3:19 discipline
- Revelation 3:19 eager
Revelation 3
King James Version
3 And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.
2 Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God.
3 Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.
4 Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy.
5 He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.
6 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
7 And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;
8 I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.
9 Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.
10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.
11 Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.
12 Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.
13 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
14 And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;
15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.
16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.
19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.
22 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
Hisgalus 3
Orthodox Jewish Bible
3 And to the malach (angel) of the Kehillah in Sardis, write: These things says the One having the sheva ruchot of Hashem and the shevat hakokhavim (seven stars): I have da’as of your ma’asim, that nominally you are Chai (Alive) but you are [spiritually] niftar (deceased).
2 Be shomer and regarding the things remaining and the things on the point of mavet, be chazakim (strong ones). For, I have not found your ma’asim mitzvot having been shleimim (complete) before Elohai.
3 Therefore, let there be zikaron (remembrance) of what has been handed over to you and what you heard, and be shomer and make teshuva. Therefore, if you are not shomer, I will come as a ganav, and never would you have da’as at what sha’ah (hour, time) I will come upon you.
4 But you have a few shemot (names) in Sardis which did not soil their kaftans. It is they that will have their halakhah with me in lavan (white), wearing a kittel, because they are walking worthily.
5 The one who wins the nitzachon (victory), in similar manner, will be clothed in lavan (white), and never will I erase him, the [baal] shem [tov], from the Sefer Chayyim. And I will make hoda’ah (acknowledgement) of the shem of him before Elohim Avi and before the malachim (angels) of Him.
6 The one having an ear let him hear what the Ruach Hakodesh says to the Kehillot.
7 And to the malach of the Kehillah in Philadelphia, write: These things says HaKadosh, HaNe’eman, the One having the mafte’ach (key) of Dovid, the One opening and no one will shut, the one shutting and no one opens: [YESHAYAH 22:22]
8 I have da’as of your ma’asim. Hinei, I have placed in front of you a delet (door), having been opened, which no one is able to shut: because you have a little ko’ach (power) and have been shomer over my dvar (word),
9 And did not make hakhchashah (denial) of ha-Shem of me. Hinei, I may make some of the Shul [deluded by] Hasatan, the ones declaring themselves to be Bnei Brit, and are not [of the Brit Chadasha] but speak sheker; hinei, I will make them come and prostrate themselves before your feet and then they will have da’as that I have ahavah for you. [YESHAYAH 49:23; 43:4]
10 Because you were shomer over my dvar of savlanut (patient endurance), I will also be shomer over you, guarding you from the sha’at hanisayon (hour of trial) about to come upon the Olam Hazeh, to try all the ones of the inhabited world, all the ones dwelling upon the earth.
11 I am coming quickly; hold fast to what you have, that no one takes your atarah (diadem, crown).
12 The one who wins the nitzachon (victory) I will make an ammud (pillar) in the Beis Hamikdash of Elohai and never may he go out of it [TEHILLIM 23:6] and I will write upon him ha-Shem of Elohai and ha-Shem of the Ir Hakodesh of Elohai‖the Yerushalayim HaChadasha descending down out of Shomayim from Elohai‖and ha-Shem HeChadash of me (my New Name). [YECHEZKEL 48:35]
13 The one having an ear, let him hear what the Ruach Hakodesh says to the Kehillot.
14 And to the malach of the Kehillah in Laodicea, write: These things says the Omein, the Ed HaNe’eman (the Faithful Witness) who is also HaEmes, the Reshit of the Bri’at Hashem [i.e., Hashem’s eternal Chochmah, MISHLE 8:22; TEHILLIM 33:6; MISHLE 30:4],
15 I have da’as of your ma’asim, that you are neither kar (cold) nor kham (hot). Would that you were kar or kham!
16 But because you are posher (lukewarm) and neither kham nor kar, I am about to spew you out of my mouth.
17 Because you say, I am ashir (rich) and have become wealthy and in nothing am I nitzrach (needy), and you do not have da’as that you are the one wretched and pitiful and poor and blind and naked, [HOSHEA 12:8]
18 I counsel you to buy from me zahav (gold) having been purified by eish (fire)‖that you may be oisher (rich)‖and a kittel, that you may be clothed in lavan (white), and that the bushah (shame) of your nakedness not be made nikar (evident), and eye salve to rub on the eynayim (eyes) of you that you may see.
19 Those for whom I have ahavah I reprove and discipline. Be kham (hot), therefore, in kanous (zeal) for Hashem and make teshuva. [DEVARIM 8:5; MISHLE 3:12]
20 Hinei, I have stood at the delet (door) DOFEK (“knocking,” SHIR HASHIRIM 5:2); if anyone hears my kol and opens the delet, indeed I will come in to him and we, the two of us, will dine together at the BEIT HAYAYIN [“Banquet Hall,” SHIR HASHIRIM 2:4].
21 The one who wins the nitzachon (victory), I will give to him to sit with me on the Kes (Throne) of me, as I also won the nitzachon and sat with Elohim Avi on the Kes (throne) of him.
22 The one having an ear let him hear what the Ruach Hakodesh says to the Kehillot.
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