Revelation 1:3
in Revelation 1Blessed 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.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of the prophecy, and keep the things that are written therein: for the time is at hand.
KJV
Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.
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This verse in Revelation 1
Commentary
17 notes on this verseA commentator
Victorinus of PettauCommentary on the Apocalypse of the Blessed John · Written before 304.
"The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave to Him, and showed unto His servants things which must shortly come to pass, and signified it. Blessed are they who read and hear the words of this prophecy, and keep the things which are written." The beginning of the book promises blessing to him that reads and hears and keeps, that he who takes pains about the reading may thence learn to do works, and may keep the precepts.
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
Blessed is the one who reads aloud
The one who reads aloud and those who hear are both blessed. Albert Barnes takes the words as read aloud to the churches, so that the one who reads and those who hear are blessed together. Victorinus of Pettau presses obey, so that reading leads to doing.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
He wishes to make clear that the reading does not accomplish the obedience of the commandments, nor does the hearing display the completion of an accomplished deed. Rather, that alone is perfection, when you perform with understanding what you read and what you hear. "The …
He did not say only those who read are blessed, for many would be so blessed, since most read, but also those who hear and become obedient to the exhortations contained in it, and those who preserve and guard what is spoken as divine laws. …
The Medieval Church3 voices
for the time is at hand. the time of the giving out rewards, because the brief moment of life is small in comparison to the future.
Blessed is he that readeth and they that hear the words of the prophecy of this book, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is at hand. Here it is made clear how great this book's authority is, since it …
QUESTION: What is meant by Blessed is he that reads and they that hear the words of this prophecy, etc.? ANSWER: The teacher and his listeners are blessed because, for those who keep the words of God, the short time of hardship is followed by …
9 more voices on this verse
The Medieval Church2 voices
Blessed is he who reads, etc. Therefore, teachers and hearers are blessed, because the short time of labor is followed by eternal joys for those who keep the word of God.
Blessed He tells the hearers to listen to the power of the book; that is, how to get blessedness, saying: Blessed is he that reads Referring to the doctors of the Church, who hear Referring to pious students, The words of this prophesy, By keeping …
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
The words of this prophecy - It is a Revelation with regard to Christ who gives it; a prophecy, with regard to John who delivers it to the churches. And keep the things which are written therein - In such a manner as the nature of them requires; namely, with repentance, faith, patience, prayer, obedience, watchfulness, constancy.
Blessed is he that readeth,....
A glorious vision or appearance of the Lord Jesus Christ to the apostle John, when he delivered to him this revelation,
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
Blessed is he that readeth - That is, it is to be regarded as a privilege attended with many blessings, to be permitted to mark the disclosures to be made in this book; the important revelations respecting future times. Prof. Stuart supposes that this refers to a public reading, and that the phrase “those who hear the words of this prophecy,” refers to those who listened to the public reader, and that both the reader and hearer should regard themselves as highly favored.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
Note: the term "prophecy" has relation to the human medium or prophet inspired, here John: "Revelation" to the Divine Being who reveals His will, here Jesus Christ. God gave the revelation to Jesus: He by His angel revealed it to John, who was to make it known to the Church.
Blessed is he that readeth - This is to be understood of the happiness or security of the persons who, reading and hearing the prophecies of those things which were to come to pass shortly, took proper measures to escape from the impending evils. The time is at hand - Either in which they shall be all fulfilled, or begin to be fulfilled. See the note on Rev 1:1. These three verses contain the introduction; now the dedication to the seven Churches commences.
Modern Voices1 voice
Revelation is the only book of the Bible that promises a special blessing to the reader!
The words behind it
20 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| μακάριος | makarios | blessed [is] | G3107 → | 50 times |
| ὁ | ho | the [one] | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἀναγινώσκων | anaginoskon | reading | G314 → | |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| οἱ | hoi | those | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἀκούοντες | akouontes | hearing | G191 → | 425 times |
| τοὺς | tous | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| λόγους | logous | words | G3056 → | 329 times |
| τῆς | tes | of the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| προφητείας | propheteias | prophecy | G4394 → | 19 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| τηροῦντες | terountes | keeping | G5083 → | 70 times |
| τὰ | ta | the [things] | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἐν | en | in | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| αὐτῇ | autea | it | G846 → | 5565 times |
| γεγραμμένα· | gegrammena | written; | G1125 → | 189 times |
| ὁ | ho | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| γὰρ | gar | for | G1063 → | 1039 times |
| καιρὸς | kairos | the time [is] | G2540 → | 84 times |
| ἐγγύς.¶ | engus | near. | G1451 → |
μακάριοςblessed [is]
makariosG3107 →50 times
ὁthe [one]
hoG3588 →19766 times
ἀναγινώσκωνreading
anaginoskonG314 →
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
οἱthose
hoiG3588 →19766 times
ἀκούοντεςhearing
akouontesG191 →425 times
τοὺςthe
tousG3588 →19766 times
λόγουςwords
logousG3056 →329 times
τῆςof the
tesG3588 →19766 times
προφητείαςprophecy
propheteiasG4394 →19 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
τηροῦντεςkeeping
terountesG5083 →70 times
τὰthe [things]
taG3588 →19766 times
ἐνin
enG1722 →2738 times
αὐτῇit
auteaG846 →5565 times
γεγραμμένα·written;
gegrammenaG1125 →189 times
ὁ<the>
hoG3588 →19766 times
γὰρfor
garG1063 →1039 times
καιρὸςthe time [is]
kairosG2540 →84 times
ἐγγύς.¶near.
engusG1451 →
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
Romans 13:11And do this, understanding the occasion. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, for our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.
it leads to
- 1 Peter 4:7
The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear-minded and sober, so that you can pray.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:5–8
For you are all sons of the light and sons of the day; we do not belong to the night or to the darkness.
- 1 Peter 4:7
Through
Luke 11:28But He replied, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.”
it leads to
- Luke 6:47–48
I will show you what he is like who comes to Me and hears My words and acts on them:
- Luke 8:21
But He replied, “My mother and brothers are those who hear the word of God and carry it out.”
- Psalms 112:1
Hallelujah! Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, who greatly delights in His commandments.
- James 1:21–25
Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and every expression of evil, and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save your souls.
- John 13:17
If you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.
- Luke 6:47–48
Through
1 Peter 4:7The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear-minded and sober, so that you can pray.
it leads to
- James 5:8–9
You, too, be patient and strengthen your hearts, because the Lord’s coming is near.
- James 5:8–9
Where this verse is studied
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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, COMMENTARY ON REVELATION; Alcuin of York, QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS MANUAL ON REVELATION; Andreas of Caesarea, Commentary (church-history corpus); Apringius of Beja, TRACTATE ON THE APOCALYPSE 1:3; Bede, Commentary on Revelation; Chuck Missler, The Book of Revelation (article); 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); Oecumenius, Commentary on Revelation and Victorinus of Pettau, Commentary on the Apocalypse of the Blessed John.