Revelation 21:8
in Revelation 21But to the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and sexually immoral and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their place will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur. This is the second death.”
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
But for the fearful, and unbelieving, and abominable, and murderers, and fornicators, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, their part shall be in the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone; which is the second death.
KJV
But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
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This verse in Revelation 21
Commentary
17 notes on this verseBut the fearful,.... Not the timorous sheep and lambs of Christ, the dear children of God, who are sometimes of a fearful heart, on account of sin, temptation, and unbelief; but such who are of cowardly spirits, and are not valiant for the truth, but who, through fear of men, either make no profession of Christ and his Gospel, or having made it, drop it, lest they should be exposed to tribulation and persecution; these are they that are afraid of the beast, and live in servile bondage to him.
This site's exposition
will inherit all things
on Revelation 21:7-8
The promises to the seven churches gather here: The one who overcomes will inherit all things. I will be his God, and he will be My son applies 2 Samuel 7:14. The list of eight against it opens with the cowardly, whose end is the second death of 2:11.
This site's exposition
the cowardly
The list opens with the cowardly, set against the one who overcomes in verse 7. Their place will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, the lake of 20:14, and this is the second death.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers4 voices
"But the fearful," says John-and then come the others-" will have their part in the lake of fire and brimstone." Thus fear, which, as stated in his epistle, love drives out, has punishment.
In short, this Apocalypse, in its later passages, has assigned "the infamous and fornicators," as well as "the cowardly, and unbelieving, and murderers, and sorcerers, and idolaters," who have been guilty of any such crime while professing the faith, to "the lake of fire," without any conditional condemnation.
Last of all, in the Revelation, He does not propose flight to the "fearful," but a miserable portion among the rest of the outcast, in the lake of brimstone and fire, which is the second death.
But as for the cowardly and unbelieving and these and those, there will be a portion in the lake of fire. He calls cowardly those who are weak in every good work through voluntary misery. And he says false to all liars. He did not …
The Medieval Church1 voice
A commentator
BonaventureCollations on the Hexaemeron, Collation 17 · Written in the 13th century.
proposed
Likewise, Scripture enlightens from below by showing forth the torments of hell. In the Psalm: He rains upon the wicked fiery coals and brimstone; a burning blast is their allotted cup. In the Apocalypse: Their portion shall be in the pool that burns with fire …
9 more voices on this verse
The Medieval Church4 voices
The God who thirsts after our salvation urges us in every way, both through kindness and through anger, toward the inheritance of his blessings. He brings now before our eyes the brightness of the heavenly Jerusalem and the dark, painful wrathfulness of the fiery Gehenna, …
THERE FOLLOWS: But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, etc. ANSWER: He always mixes pleasant words with severe ones to instill carefulness into us. As the Psalmist says, The Lord keepeth all them that love him; but all the wicked he will destroy. [Ps. …
But for the cowardly, and unbelieving, and abominable, etc. He always mixes harsh warnings with soothing words to instill caution. Thus, Psalm 145, while abundantly declaring the grace of the Lord's mercy, suddenly introduces His strict judgment, saying: The Lord preserves all who love Him, …
And for all liars, their part will be in the lake burning with fire. He shows that there are many kinds of lies, but the most dangerous and detestable are those that sin against religion, as mentioned above. They say, he says, that they are …
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
But the fearful and unbelieving - Who, through want of courage and faith, do not overcome. And abominable - That is, sodomites. And whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters - These three sins generally went together; their part is in the lake.
23 And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. 24 And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it.
quarantine:scripture (2026-07-29) — verbatim-scripture
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
But the fearful - Δειλοις· Those who, for fear of losing life or their property, either refused to receive the Christian religion, though convinced of its truth and importance; or, having received it, in times of persecution fell away, not being willing to risk their lives. And unbelieving - Those who resist against full evidence. And sinners, και ἁμαρτωλοις, is added here by about thirty excellent MSS., and is found in the Syrian, Arabic, some of the Slavonic, and in Andreas and Arethas. On this evidence Griesbach has admitted it into the text.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
the fearful--Greek, "the cowardly," who do not quit themselves like men so as to "overcome" in the good fight; who have the spirit of slavish "fear," not love, towards God; and who through fear of man are not bold for God, or "draw back." Compare Re 21:27;
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — starts-lowercase
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
But the fearful - Having stated, in general terms, who they were who would be admitted into that blessed world, he now states explicitly who would not. The “fearful” denote those who had not firmness boldly to maintain their professed principles, or who were afraid to avow themselves as the friends of God in a wicked world. They stand in contrast with those who “overcome,” Rev 21:7. And unbelieving - Those who have not true faith; avowed infidels; infidels at heart; and all who have not the sincere faith of the gospel. See the notes on Mar 16:16. And the abominable - The verb from which this word is derived means to excite disgust; to feel disgust at; to abominate or abhor; and hence the participle - “the abominable” - refers to all who are detestable, to wit, on account of their sins; all whose conduct is offensive to God. Thus it would include those who live in open sin; who practice detestable vices; whose conduct is suited to excite disgust and abhorrence. These must all, of course, be excluded from a pure and holy world; and this description, alas! would embrace a lamentably large portion of the world as it has hitherto been. See the notes on Rom 1:26 ff. And murderers - See the Rom 1:29 note; Gal 5:21 note. And whoremongers - See the notes on Gal 5:19. And sorcerers - See the word used here - φαρμακεῦσι pharmakeusi - explained in the notes on Gal 5:19, under the word “witchcraft.” And idolaters - 1Co 6:9; Gal 5:19. And all liars - All who are false in their statements, their promises, their contracts. The word would embrace all who are false toward God Act 5:1-3, and false toward human beings. See Rom 1:31. Shall have their part in the lake which burneth, ... - notes on Rev 20:14. That is, they will be excluded from heaven, and punished for ever. See the 1Co 6:9-10 notes; Gal 5:19-21 notes.
The words behind it
36 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| τοῖς | tois | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| δὲ | de | But | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| δειλοῖς | deilois | to [the] cowardly | G1169 → | |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| ἀπίστοις | apistois | to [the] unbelieving | G571 → | |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| ἐβδελυγμένοις | ebdelugmenois | having made themselves abominable | G948 → | |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| φονεῦσιν | phoneusin | to murderers | G5406 → | |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| πόρνοις | pornois | to the sexually immoral | G4205 → | |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| φαρμάκοις | pharmakois | to sorcerers | G5333 → | 3 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| εἰδωλολάτραις | eidololatrais | to idolaters | G1496 → | |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| πᾶσιν | pasin | to all | G3956 → | 1235 times |
| τοῖς | tois | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ψευδέσιν, | pseudesin | liars, | G5571 → | |
| τὸ | to | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| μέρος | meros | portion | G3313 → | 42 times |
| αὐτῶν | auton | of them | G846 → | 5565 times |
| ἐν | en | [is] in | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| τῇ | tea | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| λίμνῃ | limne | lake | G3041 → | 11 times |
| τῇ | tea | which | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| καιομένῃ | kaiomene | is burning | G2545 → | 11 times |
| πυρὶ | puri | with fire | G4442 → | 70 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| θείῳ, | theio | with brimstone, | G2303 → | 7 times |
| ὅ | ho | which | G3739 → | 1405 times |
| ἐστιν | estin | is | G1510 → | 2333 times |
| ὁ | ho | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| θάνατος | thanatos | death | G2288 → | 120 times |
| ὁ | ho | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| δεύτερος.¶ | deuteros | second. | G1208 → | 43 times |
τοῖς<the>
toisG3588 →19766 times
δὲBut
deG1161 →2765 times
δειλοῖςto [the] cowardly
deiloisG1169 →
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
ἀπίστοιςto [the] unbelieving
apistoisG571 →
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
ἐβδελυγμένοιςhaving made themselves abominable
ebdelugmenoisG948 →
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
φονεῦσινto murderers
phoneusinG5406 →
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
πόρνοιςto the sexually immoral
pornoisG4205 →
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
φαρμάκοιςto sorcerers
pharmakoisG5333 →3 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
εἰδωλολάτραιςto idolaters
eidololatraisG1496 →
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
πᾶσινto all
pasinG3956 →1235 times
τοῖς<the>
toisG3588 →19766 times
ψευδέσιν,liars,
pseudesinG5571 →
τὸthe
toG3588 →19766 times
μέροςportion
merosG3313 →42 times
αὐτῶνof them
autonG846 →5565 times
ἐν[is] in
enG1722 →2738 times
τῇthe
teaG3588 →19766 times
λίμνῃlake
limneG3041 →11 times
τῇwhich
teaG3588 →19766 times
καιομένῃis burning
kaiomeneG2545 →11 times
πυρὶwith fire
puriG4442 →70 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
θείῳ,with brimstone,
theioG2303 →7 times
ὅwhich
hoG3739 →1405 times
ἐστινis
estinG1510 →2333 times
ὁthe
hoG3588 →19766 times
θάνατοςdeath
thanatosG2288 →120 times
ὁ<the>
hoG3588 →19766 times
δεύτερος.¶second.
deuterosG1208 →43 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
Revelation 22:15But outside are the dogs, the sorcerers, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.
it leads to
- Galatians 5:19–21
The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, and debauchery;
- Philippians 3:2
Watch out for those dogs, those workers of evil, those mutilators of the flesh!
- 1 Corinthians 6:9–10
Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who submit to or perform homosexual…
- Revelation 21:27
But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who practices an abomination or a lie, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.
- Revelation 9:20–21
Now the rest of mankind who were not killed by these plagues still did not repent of the works of their hands. They did not stop worshiping demons and idols of gold, silver, bronze,…
- Galatians 5:19–21
Through
Revelation 2:11He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who overcomes will not be harmed by the second death.
it leads to
- Revelation 20:6
Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection! The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and will reign with Him…
- Revelation 20:14
Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death—the lake of fire.
- Revelation 2:7
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who overcomes, I will grant the right to eat from the tree of life in the…
- Revelation 20:6
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies35
On this verse
On this chapter
- The Apocalypse of Weeks
- Revelation, the Canon's Closing Scroll
- Covenant Theology and Dispensationalism
- Darkness
- Ezekiel's Temple, Ezekiel 40-48
- The Fall Feasts
Show the next 6 titles
- The Hebrew Feasts
- God and the Nations, from Abraham to the New Jerusalem
- God Dwelling with His People, from Eden to the New Jerusalem
- Heaven
- Immanuel
- Isaiah, the Study Guide
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- Jerusalem
- The New Jerusalem
- Precious Stones
- The Tabernacle
- The Feast of Tabernacles
- The Appointed Times Read as a Calendar of Prophecy
Show the next 6 titles
About Revelation

This page draws on 15 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Alcuin of York, QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS MANUAL ON REVELATION; Andreas of Caesarea, COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 21:8; Bede, Commentary on Revelation; Bonaventure, Collations on the Hexaemeron, Collation 17; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament; John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Oecumenius, Commentary on Revelation; Tertullian, Scorpiace; Tertullian, On Modesty and Tertullian, On Flight in Persecution.
