Revelation 2:16
in Revelation 2Therefore repent! Otherwise I will come to you shortly and wage war against them with the sword of My mouth.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Repent therefore; or else I come to thee quickly, and I will make war against them with the sword of my mouth.
KJV
Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.
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This verse in Revelation 2
Commentary
11 notes on this verseLet us show from the Apocalypse that repentance unaccompanied by baptism ought to be allowed valid in the case of heretics. It is imputed to the angel of Ephesus that he has forsaken his first love. In the angel of the church of Pergamum the eating of idol sacrifices is censured, and the doctrine of the Nicolaitans. Likewise the angel of Thyatira is rebuked on account of Jezebel the prophetess, and the idol meats, and fornication. And yet the Lord encourages all these to repent and adds a threat, moreover, of future punishment if they do not turn.
This site's exposition
the sword of My mouth
on Revelation 2:16-17
The threat to wage war against them with the sword of My mouth turns the image of 1:16 on the party who hold that teaching. The overcomer receives the hidden manna, recalling the manna kept before the LORD in Exodus 16:33, and a white stone inscribed with a new name.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers3 voices
A commentator
Victorinus of PettauCommentary on the Apocalypse of the Blessed John · Written before 304.
proposed
The third order of the saints shows that they are men who are strong in faith, and who are not afraid of persecution; but because even among them there are some who are inclined to unlawful associations, He says:- "Thou hast there some who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught in the case of Balak that he should put a stumbling-block before the children of Israel, to eat and to commit fornication. So also hast thou them who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes; but I will fight with them with the sword of my mouth." That is, I will say what I shall command, and I will tell you what you shall do. For Balaam, with his doctrine, taught Balak to cast a stumbling-block before the eyes of the children of Israel, to eat what was sacrificed to idols, and to commit fornication,-a thing which is known to have happened of old. For he gave this advice to the king of the Moabites, and they caused stumbling to the people. Thus, says He, ye have among you those who hold such doctrine; and under the pretext of mercy, you would corrupt others.
"You also have some who hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans. Repent then. If not, I will come to you soon and war against you with the sword of my mouth." He speaks of a sword. … The sword is the commandments of both Testaments …
Then he says, Repent therefore; if not, I will come to you soon and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth. O depth of the riches and wisdom, and goodness of God. (Rom. 11:33) For he did not say, "I am coming …
The Medieval Church1 voice
So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaites. Enough has already been said concerning the deeds of the Nicolaites. When he says not "thou hast there" but so hast thou also, he shows that the speech is turning from one species …
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
Observe here, (1.) Repentance is the duty of saints as well as sinners; it is a gospel duty. (2.) It is the duty of churches and communities as well as particular persons; those who sin together should repent together. (3.) It is the duty of Christian societies to repent of other men's sins, as far as they have been accessory to them, though but so much as by connivance.
4 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
Repent,....
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
The three oldest manuscripts read, "Repent, therefore." Not only the Nicolaitanes, but the whole Church of Pergamos is called on to repent of not having hated the Nicolaitane teaching and practice.
Will fight against them with the sword of my mouth - See on Rev 2:12 (note). He now speaks for their edification and salvation; but if they do not repent, he will shortly declare those judgments which shall unavoidably fall upon them.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
Repent - See Rev 2:5. Or else I will come unto thee quickly - On the word “quickly,” see the notes on Rev 1:1. The meaning here is, that he would come against them in judgment, or to punish them. And will fight against them - Against the Nicolaitanes. He would come against the church for tolerating them, but his opposition would be principally directed against the Nicolaitanes themselves. The church would excite his displeasure by retaining them in its bosom, but it was in its power to save them from destruction. If the church would repent, or if it would separate itself from the evil, then the Saviour would not come against them. If this were not done, they would feel the vengeance of his sword, and be subjected to punishment. The church always suffers when it has offenders in its bosom; it has the power of saving them if it will repent of its own unfaithfulness, and will strive for their conversion. With the sword of my mouth - notes on Rev 1:16; Rev 2:12. That is, he would give the order, and they would be cut as if by a sword. Precisely in what way it would be done he does not say; but it might be by persecution, or by heavy judgments. To see the force of this, we are to remember the power which Christ has to punish the wicked by a word of his mouth. By a word in the last day he will turn all the wicked into hell.
The words behind it
18 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| μετανόησον | metanoeson | do repent | G3340 → | 34 times |
| οὖν· | oun | therefore! | G3767 → | 497 times |
| εἰ | ei | lest | G1487 → | 508 times |
| δὲ | de | then | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| μή, | me | except | G3361 → | 1066 times |
| ἔρχομαί | erchomai | I am coming | G2064 → | 628 times |
| σοι | soi | to you | G4771 → | 2973 times |
| ταχὺ | tachu | quickly | G5035 → | 9 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| πολεμήσω | polemeso | I will make war | G4170 → | 7 times |
| μετ᾽ | met᾽ | against | G3326 → | 461 times |
| αὐτῶν | auton | them | G846 → | 5565 times |
| ἐν | en | with | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| τῇ | tea | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ῥομφαίᾳ | rhomphaia | sword | G4501 → | 7 times |
| τοῦ | tou | of the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| στόματός | stomatos | mouth | G4750 → | 78 times |
| μου. | mou | of Mine. | G3165 → | 1936 times |
μετανόησονdo repent
metanoesonG3340 →34 times
οὖν·therefore!
ounG3767 →497 times
εἰlest
eiG1487 →508 times
δὲthen
deG1161 →2765 times
μή,except
meG3361 →1066 times
ἔρχομαίI am coming
erchomaiG2064 →628 times
σοιto you
soiG4771 →2973 times
ταχὺquickly
tachuG5035 →9 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
πολεμήσωI will make war
polemesoG4170 →7 times
μετ᾽against
met᾽G3326 →461 times
αὐτῶνthem
autonG846 →5565 times
ἐνwith
enG1722 →2738 times
τῇthe
teaG3588 →19766 times
ῥομφαίᾳsword
rhomphaiaG4501 →7 times
τοῦof the
touG3588 →19766 times
στόματόςmouth
stomatosG4750 →78 times
μου.of Mine.
mouG3165 →1936 times
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
Ephesians 6:17And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
it leads to
- Revelation 19:15
And from His mouth proceeds a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and He will rule them with an iron scepter. He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath…
Reached by 4 separate paths from here.
- Hebrews 4:12
For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it pierces even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It judges the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Isaiah 49:2
He made My mouth like a sharp sword; He hid Me in the shadow of His hand. He made Me like a polished arrow; He hid Me in His quiver.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Isaiah 59:17
He put on righteousness like a breastplate, and the helmet of salvation on His head; He put on garments of vengeance and wrapped Himself in a cloak of zeal.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:8
But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and the helmet of our hope of salvation.
- Revelation 19:15
Through
Revelation 2:5Therefore, keep in mind how far you have fallen. Repent and perform the deeds you did at first. But if you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from…
it leads to
- Revelation 3:2–3
Wake up and strengthen what remains, which was about to die; for I have found your deeds incomplete in the sight of My God.
- Revelation 3:19
Those I love, I rebuke and discipline. Therefore be earnest and repent.
- Revelation 3:2–3
Through
Revelation 1:16He held in His right hand seven stars, and a sharp double-edged sword came from His mouth. His face was like the sun shining at its brightest.
it leads to
- Revelation 2:12
To the angel of the church in Pergamum write: These are the words of the One who holds the sharp, double-edged sword.
- Revelation 2:12
Where this verse is studied
On this page
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About Revelation
This page draws on 11 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes on the New Testament; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Alcuin of York, COMMENTARY ON REVELATION; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; Jerome, DIALOGUE AGAINST THE LUCIFERIANS 24; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Oecumenius, Commentary on Revelation; Primasius of Hadrumetum, COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 2:16 and Victorinus of Pettau, Commentary on the Apocalypse of the Blessed John.