Revelation 2:1
in Revelation 2“To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: These are the words of Him who holds the seven stars in His right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, he that walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks:
KJV
Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks;
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This verse in Revelation 2
Commentary
12 notes on this verseA commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
For three years Paul labored there. He subsequently ordained Timothy superintending overseer or bishop there: probably his charge was but of a temporary nature. John, towards the close of his life, took it as the center from which he superintended the province. holdeth--Greek, "holdeth fast," as in Re 2:25;
This site's exposition
Him who holds the seven stars
on Revelation 2:1-3
Ephesus hears from Him who holds the seven stars and walks among the seven golden lampstands, the picture of 1:13 and 1:16. The church is praised for your labor, and your perseverance and for testing those who falsely claim to be apostles.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers3 voices
The first act of my words and interpretations has indeed been accomplished; now again another target must be struck, showing what is the exhortation to the churches. Therefore, first to the church in Ephesus, as presiding over the rest of Asia, it is commanded to …
In many places, and especially in the Psalms, you will find speech addressed to the angels. Power has been given to man—at least to him who has the Holy Spirit—to speak even to the angels. I shall give one example from these instances, so that we might realize that angels too can be taught by human voices.
Therefore he has trifled both with his own "spirit," and with "the angel of the Church," and with "the power of the Lord," if he rescinded what by their counsel he had formally pronounced.
The Medieval Church2 voices
And unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write: These things saith he, who holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks: I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience. In this …
To the angel of the church in Ephesus write. He reproaches part of this church according to the quality of its name and praises part. For Ephesus is said to be interpreted as a great fall and my will in it.
5 more voices on this verse
The Medieval Church2 voices
These things says he who holds the seven stars in his right hand. That is, he holds you in his hand and governs and controls you by his power.
Who walks in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks. Who, moving among you, investigates the hearts and loins of each one.
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write,.... Of the city of Ephesus; see Gill on Rev 1:11 and see Gill on Act 18:
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
Unto the angel of the Church of Ephesus - By αγγελος, angel, we are to understand the messenger or person sent by God to preside over this Church; and to him the epistle is directed, not as pointing out his state, but the state of the Church under his care. Angel of the Church here answers exactly to that officer of the synagogue among the Jews called שליח ציבור sheliach tsibbur, the messenger of the Church, whose business it was to read, pray, and teach in the synagogue. The Church at Ephesus is first addressed, as being the place where John chiefly resided; and the city itself was the metropolis of that part of Asia. The angel or bishop at this time was most probably Timothy, who presided over that Church before St. John took up his residence there, and who is supposed to have continued in that office till a.d. 97, and to have been martyred a short time before St. John’s return from Patmos. Holdeth the seven stars - Who particularly preserves, and guides, and upholds, not only the ministers of those seven Churches, but all the genuine ministers of his Gospel, in all ages and places. Walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks - Is the supreme Bishop and Head, not only of those Churches, but of all the Churches or congregations of his people throughout the world.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
The Epistle to the Church at Ephesus The contents of the epistle to the church at Ephesus - the first addressed - are these: (1) The attribute of the Saviour referred to is, that he “holds the stars in his right hand, and walks in the midst of the golden candlesticks,” Rev 2:
The words behind it
27 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Τῷ | to | To the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἀγγέλῳ | angelo | angel | G32 → | 175 times |
| τῆς | tes | of the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἐν | en | in | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| Ἐφέσῳ | epheso | Ephesus | G2181 → | |
| ἐκκλησίας | ekklesias | church | G1577 → | 113 times |
| γράψον· | grapson | do write: | G1125 → | 189 times |
| τάδε | tade | These things | G3592 → | 10 times |
| λέγει | legei | says | G3004 → | 1325 times |
| ὁ | ho | the [One] | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| κρατῶν | kraton | holding | G2902 → | 47 times |
| τοὺς | tous | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἑπτὰ | hepta | seven | G2033 → | 86 times |
| ἀστέρας | asteras | stars | G792 → | 24 times |
| ἐν | en | in | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| τῇ | tea | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| δεξιᾷ | dexia | right hand | G1188 → | 53 times |
| αὐτοῦ, | autou | of Him, | G846 → | 5565 times |
| ὁ | ho | who | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| περιπατῶν | peripaton | is walking | G4043 → | 94 times |
| ἐν | en | in | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| μέσῳ | meso | [the] midst | G3319 → | 56 times |
| τῶν | ton | of the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἑπτὰ | hepta | seven | G2033 → | 86 times |
| λυχνιῶν | luchnion | lampstands | G3087 → | 12 times |
| τῶν | ton | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| χρυσῶν· | chruson | golden; | G5552 → | 18 times |
ΤῷTo the
toG3588 →19766 times
ἀγγέλῳangel
angeloG32 →175 times
τῆςof the
tesG3588 →19766 times
ἐνin
enG1722 →2738 times
ἘφέσῳEphesus
ephesoG2181 →
ἐκκλησίαςchurch
ekklesiasG1577 →113 times
γράψον·do write:
grapsonG1125 →189 times
τάδεThese things
tadeG3592 →10 times
λέγειsays
legeiG3004 →1325 times
ὁthe [One]
hoG3588 →19766 times
κρατῶνholding
kratonG2902 →47 times
τοὺςthe
tousG3588 →19766 times
ἑπτὰseven
heptaG2033 →86 times
ἀστέραςstars
asterasG792 →24 times
ἐνin
enG1722 →2738 times
τῇthe
teaG3588 →19766 times
δεξιᾷright hand
dexiaG1188 →53 times
αὐτοῦ,of Him,
autouG846 →5565 times
ὁwho
hoG3588 →19766 times
περιπατῶνis walking
peripatonG4043 →94 times
ἐνin
enG1722 →2738 times
μέσῳ[the] midst
mesoG3319 →56 times
τῶνof the
tonG3588 →19766 times
ἑπτὰseven
heptaG2033 →86 times
λυχνιῶνlampstands
luchnionG3087 →12 times
τῶν<the>
tonG3588 →19766 times
χρυσῶν·golden;
chrusonG5552 →18 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 3:1“To the angel of the church in Sardis write: These are the words of the One who holds the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars. I know your deeds; you have a…
it leads to
- 1 Timothy 5:6
But she who lives for pleasure is dead even while she is still alive.
- James 2:26
As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.
- Revelation 1:4
John, To the seven churches in the province of Asia: Grace and peace to you from Him who is and was and is to come, and from the seven Spirits before His throne,
- 1 Timothy 5:6
Through
Revelation 1:16He held in His right hand seven stars, and a sharp double-edged sword came from His mouth. His face was like the sun shining at its brightest.
it leads to
- Hebrews 4:12
For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it pierces even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It judges the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
- Revelation 2:12
To the angel of the church in Pergamum write: These are the words of the One who holds the sharp, double-edged sword.
- Revelation 19:15
And from His mouth proceeds a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and He will rule them with an iron scepter. He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath…
- Revelation 2:16
Therefore repent! Otherwise I will come to you shortly and wage war against them with the sword of My mouth.
- Ephesians 6:17
And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
- Hebrews 4:12
Where this verse is studied
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Who and where
1 name in this verse with a page on the site.
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); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Oecumenius, Commentary on Revelation; Origen of Alexandria, HOMILIES ON THE GOSPEL OF LUKE 23.7 and Tertullian, On Modesty.