Revelation 22:14
in Revelation 22Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and may enter the city by its gates.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Blessed are they that wash their robes, that they may have the right to come to the tree of life, and may enter in by the gates into the city.
KJV
Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.
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This verse in Revelation 22
Commentary
17 notes on this verseInserting thus the particle of present time, "And now," He shows that He had made for a time, and at present, a prolongation of man's life. Therefore He did not actually curse Adam and Eve, for they were candidates for restoration, and they had been relieved by confession.
This site's exposition
enter the city by its gates
on Revelation 22:14-15
Blessed are those who wash their robes follows early manuscripts; the Textus Receptus behind the King James has a similar-sounding phrase about keeping His commandments. The washed robe recalls 7:14, and the list of those outside repeats 21:8 and 21:27.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers4 voices
He calls those blessed who either wash their nuptial garment in the blood of the Lord's passion through the washing of regeneration which they receive or who through the sorrow of their heart and with tears accomplish the washing away of sins committed at the …
Thus, too, again "Blessed they who act according to the precepts, that they may have power over the tree of life and over the gates, for entering into the holy city. Dogs, sorcerers, fornicators, murderers, out!" -of course, such as do not act according to the precepts; for to be sent out is the portion of those who have been within.
Blessed, he says, are they that wash their robes, that they may have right to the tree of life. By robes he means the bodies. Blessed therefore are those who live well and cleanse themselves from every filth of sin; for those who so live …
A commentator
Primasius of HadrumetumCOMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 22:14 · Written before 560.
proposed
After speaking of the faith he mentions the uprightness of our character, and by the washed robes he teaches about the keeping of the divine commandments. At the beginning of his Gospel John uses a different manner of speech but with the same meaning when …
The Medieval Church1 voice
A commentator
BonaventureCollations on the Hexaemeron, Collation 23 · Written in the 13th century.
proposed
These seals, then, are found in a twofold perfection: a series of twelve, which is a number of abundance, and of a thousand, which derives from a multiplication of ten by itself in a perfect way. Indeed, ten times ten are a hundred, and ten …
10 more voices on this verse
The Medieval Church5 voices
On account of which John says in the Revelation: Blessed are they who wash their robes in the blood of the Lamb, that their power may be over the tree of life, and that they may enter through the gates into the city; as if …
Those [who keep the commandments] are truly worthy of blessedness. For in life eternal they shall possess authority to find rest in the tree of life, namely, Christ our God, and to delight in the vision of him without any evil power becoming a hindrance …
That they may have the right to the tree of life. He promises a worthy reward to those clothed in white robes, that is, to those of an immaculate life, namely that they may enjoy the vision of the Lord, which is eternal life. Blessed …
And may enter through the gates into the city. Those who keep the Lord's commandments, saying: I am the door; if anyone enters by me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture (John X); undoubtedly enter through the gates …
A commentator
BonaventureCollations on the Hexaemeron, Collation 18 · Written in the 13th century.
proposed
This indeed is the fruit of Scripture: charity. It is for its sake that there are mysteries, interpretations, and theories. Hence towards the end of the Apocalypse: "Blessed are those who wash their robes that by the gates they may enter into the city." And …
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
Happy are they that do his commandments - His, who saith, I come - He speaks of himself. That they may have right - Through his gracious covenant. To the tree of life - To all the blessings signified by it.
Blessed are they that do his commandments,....
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
Blessed are they that do his commandments - They are happy who are obedient. That they may have right to the tree of life - The original is much more expressive, Ἱνα εσται ἡ εξουσια αυτων επι το ξυλον της ζωης· That they may have authority over the tree of life; an authority founded on right, this right founded on obedience to the commandments of God, and that obedience produced by the grace of God working in them.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
This reading takes away the pretext for the notion of salvation by works. But even English Version reading is quite compatible with salvation by grace; for God's first and grand Gospel "commandment" is to believe on Jesus. Thus our "right" to (Greek, "privilege" or "lawful authority over") the tree of life is due not to our doings, but to what He has done for us.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
Blessed are they that do his commandments - See the notes on Rev 1:3; Rev 22:7. That they may have right - That they may be entitled to approach the tree of life; that this privilege may be granted to them. It is not a right in the sense that they have merited it, but in the sense that the privilege is conferred on them as one of the rewards of God, and that, in virtue of the divine arrangements, they will be entitled to this honor. So the word used here - ἐξουσία exousia - means in Joh 1:12, rendered “power.” The reason why this right or privilege is conferred is not implied in the use of the word. In this case it is by grace, and all the right which they have to the tree of life is founded on the fact that God has been pleased graciously to confer it on them. To the tree of life - See the notes on Rev 22:2. They would not be forbidden to approach that tree as Adam was, but would be permitted always to partake of it, and would live forever. And may enter in through the gates into the city - The New Jerusalem, Rev 21:2. They would have free access there; they would be permitted to abide there forever.
The words behind it
23 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Μακάριοι | makarioi | Blessed [are] | G3107 → | 50 times |
| οἱ | hoi | those | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| πλύνοντες | plunontes | washing | G4150 → | |
| τὰς | tas | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| στολὰς | stolas | robes | G4749 → | 9 times |
| αὐτῶν, | auton | of them, | G846 → | 5565 times |
| ἵνα | ina | that | G2443 → | 668 times |
| ἔσται | estai | will be | G1510 → | 2333 times |
| ἡ | he | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἐξουσία | exousia | right | G1849 → | 102 times |
| αὐτῶν | auton | of them | G846 → | 5565 times |
| ἐπὶ | epi | to | G1909 → | 883 times |
| τὸ | to | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ξύλον | xulon | tree | G3586 → | 20 times |
| τῆς | tes | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ζωῆς, | zoes | of life, | G2222 → | 135 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| τοῖς | tois | by the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| πυλῶσιν | pulosin | gates | G4440 → | 18 times |
| εἰσέλθωσιν | eiselthosin | they may enter | G1525 → | 194 times |
| εἰς | eis | into | G1519 → | 1755 times |
| τὴν | ten | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| πόλιν.¶ | polin | city. | G4172 → | 163 times |
ΜακάριοιBlessed [are]
makarioiG3107 →50 times
οἱthose
hoiG3588 →19766 times
πλύνοντεςwashing
plunontesG4150 →
τὰςthe
tasG3588 →19766 times
στολὰςrobes
stolasG4749 →9 times
αὐτῶν,of them,
autonG846 →5565 times
ἵναthat
inaG2443 →668 times
ἔσταιwill be
estaiG1510 →2333 times
ἡthe
heG3588 →19766 times
ἐξουσίαright
exousiaG1849 →102 times
αὐτῶνof them
autonG846 →5565 times
ἐπὶto
epiG1909 →883 times
τὸthe
toG3588 →19766 times
ξύλονtree
xulonG3586 →20 times
τῆς<the>
tesG3588 →19766 times
ζωῆς,of life,
zoesG2222 →135 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
τοῖςby the
toisG3588 →19766 times
πυλῶσινgates
pulosinG4440 →18 times
εἰσέλθωσινthey may enter
eiselthosinG1525 →194 times
εἰςinto
eisG1519 →1755 times
τὴνthe
tenG3588 →19766 times
πόλιν.¶city.
polinG4172 →163 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
1 John 3:3And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as Christ is pure.
it leads to
- 2 Corinthians 7:1
Therefore, beloved, since we have these promises, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that defiles body and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
- 1 John 2:6
Whoever claims to abide in Him must walk as Jesus walked.
- 2 Corinthians 7:1
Through
1 John 5:3For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome,
it leads to
- John 14:15
If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.
- John 15:10
If you keep My commandments, you will remain in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and remain in His love.
- Deuteronomy 7:9
Know therefore that the LORD your God is God, the faithful God who keeps His covenant of loving devotion for a thousand generations of those who love Him and keep His commandments.
- John 14:21–24
Whoever has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me. The one who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and reveal Myself to him.”
- 2 John 1:6
And this is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the very commandment you have heard from the beginning, that you must walk in love.
- John 14:15
Through
Revelation 22:7“Behold, I am coming soon. Blessed is the one who keeps the words of prophecy in this book.”
it leads to
- Revelation 1:3
Blessed 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.
- Revelation 1:3
Where this verse is studied
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About Revelation
This page draws on 16 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); Andreas of Caesarea, COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 22:14; Apringius of Beja, TRACTATE ON THE APOCALYPSE 22:14; Bede, Commentary on Revelation; Bonaventure, Collations on the Hexaemeron, Collation 23; Bonaventure, Itinerarium Mentis in Deum, Prologue; Bonaventure, Collations on the Hexaemeron, Collation 18; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Oecumenius, Commentary on Revelation; Primasius of Hadrumetum, COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 22:14; Tertullian, Against Marcion Book II and Tertullian, On Modesty.