Revelation 22:18
in Revelation 22I 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:
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This verse in Revelation 22
Commentary
11 notes on this verseIn 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 HadrumetumCOMMENTARY 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 …
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 …
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
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 …
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
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 & Brown1802–1910
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.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
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 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Μαρτυρῶ | marturo | Testify | G3140 → | 76 times |
| ἐγὼ | ego | I myself | G1473 → | 839 times |
| παντὶ | panti | to everyone | G3956 → | 1235 times |
| τῷ | to | who | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἀκούοντι | akouonti | is 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 |
| τοῦ | tou | of the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| βιβλίου | bibliou | book | G975 → | 34 times |
| τούτου· | toutou | this: | G3778 → | 1381 times |
| ἐάν | ean | If | G1437 → | 352 times |
| τις | tis | anyone | G5100 → | 528 times |
| ἐπιθῇ | epithea | shall add | G2007 → | |
| ἐπ᾽ | ep᾽ | to | G1909 → | 883 times |
| αὐτά, | auta | these things, | G846 → | 5565 times |
| ἐπιθήσει | epithesei | will add | G2007 → | |
| ὁ | ho | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| θεὸς | theos | God | G2316 → | 1312 times |
| ἐπ᾽ | ep᾽ | unto | G1909 → | 883 times |
| αὐτὸν | auton | him | G846 → | 5565 times |
| τὰς | tas | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| πληγὰς | plegas | plagues | G4127 → | 22 times |
| τὰς | tas | which | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| γεγραμμένας | gegrammenas | written | G1125 → | 189 times |
| ἐν | en | in | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| τῷ | to | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| βιβλίῳ | biblio | book | G975 → | 34 times |
| τούτῳ. | touto | this. | G3778 → | 1381 times |
ΜαρτυρῶTestify
marturoG3140 →76 times
ἐγὼI myself
egoG1473 →839 times
παντὶto everyone
pantiG3956 →1235 times
τῷwho
toG3588 →19766 times
ἀκούοντιis hearing
akouontiG191 →425 times
τοὺςthe
tousG3588 →19766 times
λόγουςwords
logousG3056 →329 times
τῆςof the
tesG3588 →19766 times
προφητείαςprophecy
propheteiasG4394 →19 times
τοῦof the
touG3588 →19766 times
βιβλίουbook
bibliouG975 →34 times
τούτου·this:
toutouG3778 →1381 times
ἐάνIf
eanG1437 →352 times
τιςanyone
tisG5100 →528 times
ἐπιθῇshall add
epitheaG2007 →
ἐπ᾽to
ep᾽G1909 →883 times
αὐτά,these things,
autaG846 →5565 times
ἐπιθήσειwill add
epitheseiG2007 →
ὁ<the>
hoG3588 →19766 times
θεὸςGod
theosG2316 →1312 times
ἐπ᾽unto
ep᾽G1909 →883 times
αὐτὸνhim
autonG846 →5565 times
τὰςthe
tasG3588 →19766 times
πληγὰςplagues
plegasG4127 →22 times
τὰςwhich
tasG3588 →19766 times
γεγραμμέναςwritten
gegrammenasG1125 →189 times
ἐνin
enG1722 →2738 times
τῷ<the>
toG3588 →19766 times
βιβλίῳbook
biblioG975 →34 times
τούτῳ.this.
toutoG3778 →1381 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
Deuteronomy 4:2You 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.
- Revelation 22:18–19
Through
Revelation 1:3Blessed 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.
- Luke 11:28
Through
Deuteronomy 12:32See 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.
- Deuteronomy 4:2
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies34
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About Revelation

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.
