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Revelation 22:18

in Revelation 22

I testify to everyone who hears the words of prophecy in this book: If anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book.

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾

ASV

I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto them, God shall add unto him the plagues which are written in this book:

KJV

For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:

This verse in Revelation 22

Commentary

11 notes on this verse

A commentator

Tertullian

Against Hermogenes · Written before 220.

In the gospel, moreover, I discover a Minister and Witness of the Creator, even His Word. But whether all things were made out of any underlying Matter, I have as yet failed anywhere to find. Where such a statement is written, Hermogenes' shop must tell us. If it is nowhere written, then let it fear the woe which impends on all who add to or take away from the written word.

This site's exposition

the plagues described in this book

on Revelation 22:18-19

The warning against adding or taking away echoes Deuteronomy 4:2 and Proverbs 30:6. If anyone adds, God will add to him the plagues described in this book; whoever takes away loses his share in the tree of life.

The record, by era

The Church Fathers3 voices

A commentator

Primasius of Hadrumetum

COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 22:19 · Written before 560.

proposed

Solomon said, "Do not add to his words, lest you be rebuked and be found a liar." In this passage he also adds the terror of the plagues so that he might urge and warn not only by the weight of his authority but also …

A commentator

Oecumenius

Commentary on Revelation · Written before 550.

proposed

I testify, he says, to everyone who hears these present words; that is, I bear witness not to add anything, lest he bring upon himself the blows spoken here, nor to take away, so that the portion of the tree of life and of the …

A commentator

Apringius of Beja

TRACTATE ON THE APOCALYPSE 22:18-19 · Written before 600.

proposed

It is not that he denies that the words that he had spoken were not to be explained. Rather, around that very time in which the saint had his vision, the error of various teachers and heretics began to emerge and to take their rise. …

The Medieval Church2 voices

A commentator

Andreas of Caesarea

COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 22:18-19 · Written before 614.

proposed

The curse against those who falsify the divine Scriptures is terrible, since the daring insolence of such self-willed persons can deprive them of the blessings of the coming age. In order that we might not suffer that lot, he testifies to us who listen neither …

A commentator

Bede

Commentary on Revelation · Written before 735.

proposed

If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book. He said this concerning falsifiers, not concerning those who simply say what they feel, without mutilating the prophecy in any way.
4 more voices on this verse

The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice

For I testify to every man,....

The Nineteenth Century3 voices

A commentator

Adam Clarke

1762–1832

Commentary on the Bible · Written before 1832.

If any man shall add - Shall give any other meaning to these prophecies, or any other application of them than God intends, he, though not originally intended, shall have the plagues threatened in this book for his portion.

A commentator

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

1802–1910

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)

For I testify--None of our manuscripts have this. A, B, Vulgate, and ANDREAS read, "I" emphatic in the Greek. "I testify." unto these things--A, B, and ANDREAS read, "unto them." add . . . add--just retribution in kind.
For I testify - The writer does not specify who is meant by the word “I” in this place. The most natural construction is to refer it to the writer himself, and not to the angel, or the Saviour. The meaning is, “I bear this solemn witness, or make this solemn affirmation, in conclusion.” The object is to guard his book against being corrupted by any interpolation or change. It would seem not improbable, from this, that as early as the time of John, books were liable to be corrupted by additions or omissions, or that at least there was felt to be great danger that mistakes might be made by the carelessness of transcribers. Against this danger, John would guard this book in the most solemn manner. Perhaps he felt, too, that as this book would be necessarily regarded as obscure from the fact that symbols were so much used, there was great danger that changes would be made by well-meaning persons with a view to make it appear more plain. Unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book - The word “heareth” seems here to be used in a very general sense. Perhaps in most cases persons would be made acquainted with the contents of the book by hearing it read in the churches; but still the spirit of the declaration must include all methods of becoming acquainted with it. If any man shall add unto these things - With a view to furnish a more full and complete revelation; or with a profession that new truth had been communicated by inspiration. The reference here is to the book of Revelation only - for at that time the books that now constitute what we call the Bible were not collected into a single volume. This passage, therefore, should not be adduced as referring to the whole of the sacred Scriptures. […]

The words behind it

30 Greek words

Every 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.

A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.

The walk

8 stops

Each 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

    Deuteronomy 4:2

    You must not add to or subtract from what I command you, so that you may keep the commandments of the LORD your God that I am giving you.

    it leads to

    • Revelation 22:18–19

      I testify to everyone who hears the words of prophecy in this book: If anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book.

      Reached by 3 separate paths from here.

    • Deuteronomy 12:32

      See that you do everything I command you; do not add to it or subtract from it.

      Reached by 2 separate paths from here.

    • Proverbs 30:6

      Do not add to His words, lest He rebuke you and prove you a liar.

      Reached by 2 separate paths from here.

    • Joshua 1:7

      Above all, be strong and very courageous. Be careful to observe all the law that My servant Moses commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that…

      Reached by 2 separate paths from here.

  • Through

    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.

    it leads to

    • Luke 11:28

      But He replied, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.”

    • Revelation 22:10

      Then he told me, “Do not seal up the words of prophecy in this book, because the time is near.

    • Romans 13:11

      And 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.

  • Through

    Deuteronomy 12:32

    See that you do everything I command you; do not add to it or subtract from it.

    it leads to

    • Deuteronomy 4:2

      You must not add to or subtract from what I command you, so that you may keep the commandments of the LORD your God that I am giving you.

      Reached by 2 separate paths from here.

Where this verse is studied

About Revelation

The Adoration of the Mystic Lamb, Jan and Hubert van Eyck, about 1430 to 1432. Public domain.
The Adoration of the Mystic Lamb, Jan and Hubert van Eyck, about 1430 to 1432. Public domain.
This page draws on 11 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); Andreas of Caesarea, COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 22:18-19; Apringius of Beja, TRACTATE ON THE APOCALYPSE 22:18-19; 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; Primasius of Hadrumetum, COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 22:19 and Tertullian, Against Hermogenes.