Revelation 2:21
in Revelation 2Even though I have given her time to repent of her immorality, she is unwilling.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And I gave her time that she should repent; and she willeth not to repent of her fornication.
KJV
And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not.
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This verse in Revelation 2
Commentary
14 notes on this verseThe bed here is to be understood as that security which sinners often promise to themselves when they have committed disgraceful crimes with impunity. That is, sinners at times do not experience the vengeance of present wrath and so neglect penance until sudden destruction comes …
This site's exposition
that woman Jezebel
on Revelation 2:20-23
The church tolerates that woman Jezebel, named for Ahab's queen who promoted Baal worship, and her teaching repeats Balaam's. Given time to repent, she is unwilling, and her judgment shows all the churches that Christ is the One who searches minds and hearts.
This site's exposition
I have given her time to repent
John Wesley draws from she is unwilling that repentance can be refused. Albert Barnes notes that time to repent is given to great sinners, and that the time comes to an end. Primasius of Hadrumetum warns that delay breeds false security.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers3 voices
The Lord promises that a sickness and a weariness will come to this doctrine, and a weakness of the sickbed, that is, the pleasure of this world. And to those who commit adultery through this teaching, he promises that a very great tribulation will come …
A commentator
Caesarius of ArlesEXPOSITION OF THE APOCALYPSE 2:20, HOMILY 2 · Written before 542.
proposed
He is speaking to the leaders of the churches who fail to impose the severity of ecclesiastical discipline upon the extravagant and the fornicator and those who do whatever other kind of evil. It is possible that this also refers to heretics. "Who calls herself …
She who calls herself a prophetess; she teaches and leads many astray to practice sexual immorality and to eat food sacrificed to idols. This means either sensual fornication or the apostasy from God, according to what has been said: "and they committed fornication in their …
The Medieval Church2 voices
He continues to speak figuratively and compares the union with heretics to that with a harlot, and he threatens to throw her into sickness and death as well as those who have become defiled with her and have committed fornication before God, unless they should …
Although on account of [your] faithfulness and your service for those in need I acknowledge your piety and your endurance, nonetheless I rightly blame you, because you allow the heresy of the Nicolaitans to exist openly. This heresy is figuratively called "Jezebel" because of its …
6 more voices on this verse
The Medieval Church1 voice
And I gave her a time that she might do penance, and she will not repent of her fornication. Hence it is said by blessed Job concerning any reprobate, The Lord hath given him place for penance, and he abuseth it unto pride. [Variant of …
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
And I gave her time to repent - So great is the power of Christ! But she will not repent - So, though repentance is the gift of God, man may refuse it;
And I gave her space to repent of her fornication,.... Of idolatry.
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
And I gave her space to repent of her fornication - Probably after some direct and solemn warning of the evil of her course. The error and sin had been of long standing, but he now resolved to bear with it no longer. It is true of almost every great sinner, that sufficient time is given for repentance, and that vengeance is delayed after crime is committed. But it cannot always be deferred, for the period must arrive when no reason shall exist for longer delay, and when punishment must come upon the offender.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
space--Greek, "time." of her fornication . . . she repented not--The three oldest manuscripts read, "and she willeth not to repent of (literally, 'out of,' that is, so as to come out of) her fornication." Here there is a transition from literal to spiritual fornication, as appears from Re 2:22.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — starts-lowercase
I gave her space to repent - “This alludes to the history of Jezebel. God first sent Elijah to Ahab to pronounce a severe judgment upon him; upon which Ahab showed tokens of repentance, and so God put off his punishment. By these means the like punishment pronounced against Jezebel was also put off. Thus God gave her time to repent, which she did not, but instead of that seduced her sons to the same sins. See 1 Kings 21:1-29. According to the Mosaical law, the punishment of idolatrous seducers was not to be delayed at all, but God sometimes showed mercy; and now much more under the Christian dispensation, though that mercy is often abused, and thus produces the contrary effect, as in the case of this Jezebel. See Ecc 8:11.
The words behind it
14 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| καὶ | kai | And | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| ἔδωκα | edoka | I have given | G1325 → | 412 times |
| αὐτῇ | autea | to her | G846 → | 5565 times |
| χρόνον | chronon | time | G5550 → | 53 times |
| ἵνα | ina | that | G2443 → | 668 times |
| μετανοήσῃ | metanoese | she may repent | G3340 → | 34 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| οὐ | ou | not | G3756 → | 1664 times |
| θέλει | thelei | she is willing | G2309 → | 208 times |
| μετανοῆσαι | metanoesai | to repent | G3340 → | 34 times |
| ἐκ | ek | of | G1537 → | 911 times |
| τῆς | tes | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| πορνείας | porneias | sexual immorality | G4202 → | 25 times |
| αὐτῆς. | autes | of her. | G846 → | 5565 times |
καὶAnd
kaiG2532 →9120 times
ἔδωκαI have given
edokaG1325 →412 times
αὐτῇto her
auteaG846 →5565 times
χρόνονtime
chrononG5550 →53 times
ἵναthat
inaG2443 →668 times
μετανοήσῃshe may repent
metanoeseG3340 →34 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
οὐnot
ouG3756 →1664 times
θέλειshe is willing
theleiG2309 →208 times
μετανοῆσαιto repent
metanoesaiG3340 →34 times
ἐκof
ekG1537 →911 times
τῆςthe
tesG3588 →19766 times
πορνείαςsexual immorality
porneiasG4202 →25 times
αὐτῆς.of her.
autesG846 →5565 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
2 Peter 3:9The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise as some understand slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish but everyone to come to repentance.
it leads to
- 1 Timothy 2:4
who wants everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
- Romans 2:4
Or do you disregard the riches of His kindness, tolerance, and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness leads you to repentance?
- Psalms 86:15
But You, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion and faithfulness.
- Habakkuk 2:3
For the vision awaits an appointed time; it testifies of the end and does not lie. Though it lingers, wait for it, since it will surely come and will not delay.
- Isaiah 30:18
Therefore the LORD longs to be gracious to you; therefore He rises to show you compassion, for the LORD is a just God. Blessed are all who wait for Him.
- 1 Timothy 2:4
Through
Revelation 16:9And the people were scorched by intense heat, and they cursed the name of God, who had authority over these plagues; yet they did not repent and give Him glory.
it leads to
- Revelation 16:21
And great hailstones weighing almost a hundred pounds each rained down on them from above. And men cursed God for the plague of hail, because it was so horrendous.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Revelation 11:13
And in that hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city collapsed. Seven thousand were killed in the quake, and the rest were terrified and gave glory to the God…
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Revelation 16:21
Through
Revelation 16:11and curse the God of heaven for their pains and sores; yet they did not repent of their deeds.
it leads to
- Revelation 16:9
And the people were scorched by intense heat, and they cursed the name of God, who had authority over these plagues; yet they did not repent and give Him glory.
- Revelation 16:9
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies16
On this verse
On this chapter
About Revelation
This page draws on 14 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; Andreas of Caesarea, COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 2:22-23; Andreas of Caesarea, COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 2:19-20; Apringius of Beja, TRACTATE ON THE APOCALYPSE 2:22; Caesarius of Arles, EXPOSITION OF THE APOCALYPSE 2:20, HOMILY 2; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Oecumenius, Commentary on Revelation and Primasius of Hadrumetum, COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 2:22.