Revelation 1:2
in Revelation 1who testifies to everything he saw. This is the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
who bare witness of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, even of all things that he saw.
KJV
Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw.
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This verse in Revelation 1
Commentary
12 notes on this verseWho bare record of the word of God - Is there a reference here to the first chapter of John’s gospel, In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, etc.? Of this Word John did bear record. Or, does the writer mean the fidelity with which he noted and related the word - doctrines or prophecies, which he received at this time by revelation from God? This seems more consistent with the latter part of the verse.
This site's exposition
the revelation of Jesus Christ
on Revelation 1:1-3
The book names itself in its first words, the revelation of Jesus Christ, the Greek apokalupsis, an unveiling. Verse 3 gives the first of the book's seven blessings, on the one who reads aloud the words and on those who hear and obey.
This site's exposition
who testifies to everything he saw
Adam Clarke asks whether the word of God here points back to the Word of John 1, and settles on the plainer sense. John set down the prophecies revealed to him. Jamieson, Fausset and Brown read the testimony of Jesus by Revelation 19:10, where it is the spirit of prophecy.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
In the opening words, it is fitting to point out that in all his writings, the divine John, having dwelt upon the God-inspired words of our Savior Jesus Christ, in the present work dwells rather on his human aspects, so that he might not only …
The Medieval Church3 voices
Who has given testimony to the word of God In the beginning of his gospel about his eternal Godhead saying, "In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God (Jn. 1:1)"; that is about to his incarnation, …
Who bore witness to the word of God, and the testimony of Jesus, etc. Lest you doubt the person of John, it is he who bore witness to the eternal Word of God and the same incarnate, as he saw, saying: We have seen his …
Who hath given testimony to the word of God, and the testimony of Jesus Christ, what things soever he hath seen. John gave testimony then, and now the Church does, whose symbol he was bearing when he saw this Apocalypse. He makes a distinction between …
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
4 John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne; 5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth.
quarantine:scripture (2026-07-29) — verbatim-scripture
4 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
The word of God - Given directly by God. And the testimony of Jesus - Which he hath left us, as the faithful and true witness. Whatsoever things he saw - In such a manner as was a full confirmation of the divine original of this book.
Who bore record of the word of God,....
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
The word of God constitutes his testimony; Re 1:3, "the words of this prophecy." the testimony of Jesus--"the Spirit of prophecy" (Re 19:10). and of all things that, &c.--The oldest manuscripts omit "and." Translate, "whatsoever things he saw," in apposition with "the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ."
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
Who bare record of the word of God - Who bore witness to, or testified of ἐμαρτύρησεν emarturēsen the Word of God. He regarded himself merely as a “witness” of what he had seen, and claimed only to make a fair and faithful “record” of it. “This is the disciple which “testifieth” (ὁ μαρτυρῶν ho marturōn) of these things, and wrote these things,” Joh 21:24. “And he that saw it bare record” - μεμαρτύρηκε memarturēke Joh 19:35. Compare also the following places, where the apostle uses the same word of himself: 1Jn 1:2; 1Jn 4:14. The expression here, “the word of God,” is one the meaning of which has been much controverted, and is important in its bearing on the question who was the author of the Book of Revelation. The main inquiry is, whether the writer refers to the “testimony” which he bears in this book respecting the “word of God”; or whether he refers to some testimony on that subject in some other book with which those to whom he wrote were so familiar that they would at once recognize him as the author; or whether he refers to the fact that he had borne his testimony to the great truths of religion, and especially respecting Jesus Christ, as a preacher who was well known, and who would be characterized by this expression. The phrase “the word of God” - τὸν λόγον τοῦ Θεοῦ ton logon tou Theou - occurs frequently in the New Testament (compare Joh 10:35; Act 4:31; Act 6:2, Act 6:7; Act 11:1; Act 12:24); and may either mean the Word or doctrine respecting God - that which teaches what God is - or what he speaks or teaches. It is more commonly used in the latter sense (compare the passages referred to above), and especially refers to what God speaks or commands in the gospel. The fair meaning of this expression would be, that John had borne faithful witness to, or testimony of, the truth which God had spoken to man in the gospel of Christ. […]
The words behind it
13 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ὃς | hos | who | G3739 → | 1405 times |
| ἐμαρτύρησεν | emarturesen | testified | G3140 → | 76 times |
| τὸν | ton | to the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| λόγον | logon | word | G3056 → | 329 times |
| τοῦ | tou | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| θεοῦ | theou | of God | G2316 → | 1312 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| τὴν | ten | to the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| μαρτυρίαν | marturian | testimony | G3141 → | 37 times |
| Ἰησοῦ | iesou | of Jesus | G2424 → | 908 times |
| Χριστοῦ | christou | Christ | G5547 → | 523 times |
| ὅσα | hosa | as much as | G3745 → | 110 times |
| εἶδεν. | eiden | he saw. | G1492 → | 374 times |
ὃςwho
hosG3739 →1405 times
ἐμαρτύρησενtestified
emarturesenG3140 →76 times
τὸνto the
tonG3588 →19766 times
λόγονword
logonG3056 →329 times
τοῦ<the>
touG3588 →19766 times
θεοῦof God
theouG2316 →1312 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
τὴνto the
tenG3588 →19766 times
μαρτυρίανtestimony
marturianG3141 →37 times
Ἰησοῦof Jesus
iesouG2424 →908 times
ΧριστοῦChrist
christouG5547 →523 times
ὅσαas much as
hosaG3745 →110 times
εἶδεν.he saw.
eidenG1492 →374 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 1:1That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our own eyes, which we have gazed upon and touched with our own hands—this is the Word of life.
it leads to
- Acts 4:20
For we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.”
- John 20:27
Then Jesus said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and look at My hands. Reach out your hand and put it into My side. Stop doubting and believe.”
- 1 John 4:14
And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent His Son to be the Savior of the world.
- John 1:1–18
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
- Luke 24:39
Look at My hands and My feet. It is I Myself. Touch Me and see—for a spirit does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.”
- Acts 4:20
Through
John 21:24This is the disciple who testifies to these things and who has written them down. And we know that his testimony is true.
it leads to
- John 15:27
And you also must testify, because you have been with Me from the beginning.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- John 15:27
Through
1 Corinthians 1:6because our testimony about Christ was confirmed in you.
it leads to
- 2 Timothy 1:8
So do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, or of me, His prisoner. Instead, join me in suffering for the gospel by the power of God.
- 2 Timothy 1:8
Through
John 19:35The one who saw it has testified to this, and his testimony is true. He knows that he is telling the truth, so that you also may believe.
it leads to
- John 21:24
This is the disciple who testifies to these things and who has written them down. And we know that his testimony is true.
- John 21:24
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies27
On this chapter
- Afterlife Vocabulary
- Apocalyptic Literature
- The Designer's Fingerprint
- Revelation, the Canon's Closing Scroll
- Fire
- The Four Schools of Revelation
Show the next 6 titles
- How to Study the Bible
- John on Patmos, Revelation 1
- Names of God
- The Scarlet Thread
- The Seven Churches of Revelation
- The Tabernacle
Show the next 6 titles
About Revelation
This page draws on 10 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, COMMENTARY ON REVELATION; Bede, Commentary on Revelation; 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; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Nicholas of Lyra, Commentary (church-history corpus) and Oecumenius, Commentary on Revelation.