Revelation 1:3
in Revelation 1Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear and obey what is written in it, because the time is near.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of the prophecy, and keep the things that are written therein: for the time is at hand.
KJV
Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.
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This verse in Revelation 1
Commentary
5 notes on this verseA commentator
Victorinus of PettauCommentary on the Apocalypse of the Blessed John · Written before 304.
"The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave to Him, and showed unto His servants things which must shortly come to pass, and signified it. Blessed are they who read and hear the words of this prophecy, and keep the things which are written." The beginning of the book promises blessing to him that reads and hears and keeps, that he who takes pains about the reading may thence learn to do works, and may keep the precepts.
This site's exposition
The Revelation of Jesus Christ
on Revelation 1:1-3
The book names itself in its first words: the Revelation, apokalupsis, the unveiling, of Jesus Christ, his own disclosure given him of the Father, sent and signified, esemanen, sign-i-fied, by his angel to John, the verb warning the reader that this book speaks in signs whose meanings are fixed. Things which must shortly come to pass and the time is at hand are read two ways with holders, soon in sequence once begun, or imminent from the church's standpoint in every age, and both keep the church watching. The blessing on him that readeth, and they that hear, and keep is the first of the book's seven beatitudes, and it is the only book of Scripture that opens by blessing its own audience.
The record, by era
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
Blessed is he that readeth - That is, it is to be regarded as a privilege attended with many blessings, to be permitted to mark the disclosures to be made in this book; the important revelations respecting future times. Prof. Stuart supposes that this refers to a public reading, and that the phrase “those who hear the words of this prophecy,” refers to those who listened to the public reader, and that both the reader and hearer should regard themselves as highly favored.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
Note: the term "prophecy" has relation to the human medium or prophet inspired, here John: "Revelation" to the Divine Being who reveals His will, here Jesus Christ. God gave the revelation to Jesus: He by His angel revealed it to John, who was to make it known to the Church.
Modern Voices1 voice
Revelation is the only book of the Bible that promises a special blessing to the reader!
The words behind it
20 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| μακάριος | makarios | blessed [is] | G3107 → | 50 times |
| ὁ | ho | the [one] | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἀναγινώσκων | anaginoskon | reading | G314 → | |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| οἱ | hoi | those | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἀκούοντες | akouontes | hearing | G191 → | 425 times |
| τοὺς | tous | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| λόγους | logous | words | G3056 → | 329 times |
| τῆς | tes | of the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| προφητείας | propheteias | prophecy | G4394 → | 19 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| τηροῦντες | terountes | keeping | G5083 → | 70 times |
| τὰ | ta | the [things] | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἐν | en | in | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| αὐτῇ | autea | it | G846 → | 5565 times |
| γεγραμμένα· | gegrammena | written; | G1125 → | 189 times |
| ὁ | ho | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| γὰρ | gar | for | G1063 → | 1039 times |
| καιρὸς | kairos | the time [is] | G2540 → | 84 times |
| ἐγγύς.¶ | engus | near. | G1451 → |
μακάριοςblessed [is]
makariosG3107 →50 times
ὁthe [one]
hoG3588 →19766 times
ἀναγινώσκωνreading
anaginoskonG314 →
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
οἱthose
hoiG3588 →19766 times
ἀκούοντεςhearing
akouontesG191 →425 times
τοὺςthe
tousG3588 →19766 times
λόγουςwords
logousG3056 →329 times
τῆςof the
tesG3588 →19766 times
προφητείαςprophecy
propheteiasG4394 →19 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
τηροῦντεςkeeping
terountesG5083 →70 times
τὰthe [things]
taG3588 →19766 times
ἐνin
enG1722 →2738 times
αὐτῇit
auteaG846 →5565 times
γεγραμμένα·written;
gegrammenaG1125 →189 times
ὁ<the>
hoG3588 →19766 times
γὰρfor
garG1063 →1039 times
καιρὸςthe time [is]
kairosG2540 →84 times
ἐγγύς.¶near.
engusG1451 →
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Romans 13:11And do this, understanding the occasion. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, for our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.
it leads to
- 1 Peter 4:7
The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear-minded and sober, so that you can pray.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:5–8
For you are all sons of the light and sons of the day; we do not belong to the night or to the darkness.
- 1 Peter 4:7
Through
Luke 11:28But He replied, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.”
it leads to
- Luke 6:47–48
I will show you what he is like who comes to Me and hears My words and acts on them:
- Luke 8:21
But He replied, “My mother and brothers are those who hear the word of God and carry it out.”
- Psalms 112:1
Hallelujah! Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, who greatly delights in His commandments.
- James 1:21–25
Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and every expression of evil, and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save your souls.
- John 13:17
If you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.
- Luke 6:47–48
Through
1 Peter 4:7The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear-minded and sober, so that you can pray.
it leads to
- James 5:8–9
You, too, be patient and strengthen your hearts, because the Lord’s coming is near.
- James 5:8–9
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies16
On this verse
About Revelation

This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Chuck Missler, The Book of Revelation (article); Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible and Victorinus of Pettau, Commentary on the Apocalypse of the Blessed John.
