Focused Passage

Revelation 3:14-22

Christ Speaks to Three Churches: Wakefulness, Faithfulness, and Lukewarm Self-Deception

The chapter moves from Christ’s exposure of dead reputation, to his encouragement of weak faithfulness, to his rebuke of wealthy self-deception, summoning each church to hear, repent, hold fast, and overcome.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

14 To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Originator of God’s creation.

15 I know your deeds; you are neither cold nor hot. How I wish you were one or the other!

16 So because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to vomit you out of My mouth!

17 You say, ‘I am rich; I have grown wealthy and need nothing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked.

18 I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, white garments so that you may be clothed and your shameful nakedness not exposed, and salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see.

19 Those I love I rebuke and discipline. Therefore be earnest and repent.

20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in and dine with him, and he with Me.

21 To the one who overcomes, I will grant the right to sit with Me on My throne, just as I overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.

22 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 14

Original words

- Καὶ G2532 Conjunction To the τῷ G3588 Article - Dative Masculine Singular angel ἀγγέλῳ G32 Noun - Dative Masculine Singular of the τῆς G3588 Article - Genitive Feminine Singular church ἐκκλησίας G1577 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular in ἐν G1722 Preposition Laodicea Λαοδικείᾳ G2993 Noun - Dative Feminine Singular write γράψον G1125 Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 2nd Person Singular These [are] Τάδε G3592 Demonstrative Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Plural the words λέγει G3004 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular of the G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular Amen Ἀμήν G281 Hebrew Word the G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular - G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular faithful πιστὸς G4103 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction true ἀληθινός G228 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular Witness μάρτυς G3144 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular the G3588 Article - Nominative Feminine Singular Originator ἀρχὴ G746 Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular - τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Singular of God’s Θεοῦ G2316 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular - τῆς G3588 Article - Genitive Feminine Singular creation κτίσεως G2937 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular

BSB notes

  • Or Beginning or Ruler
Verse 15

Original words

I know Οἶδά G1492 Verb - Perfect Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular your σου G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Singular - τὰ G3588 Article - Accusative Neuter Plural deeds ἔργα G2041 Noun - Accusative Neuter Plural - ὅτι G3754 Conjunction you are εἶ G1510 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular neither οὔτε G3777 Conjunction cold ψυχρὸς G5593 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular nor οὔτε G3777 Conjunction hot ζεστός G2200 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular [How] I wish ὄφελον G3785 Interjection you were ἦς G1510 Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular [one] ψυχρὸς G5593 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular or G2228 Conjunction [the other] ζεστός G2200 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular
Verse 16

Original words

So οὕτως G3779 Adverb because ὅτι G3754 Conjunction you are εἶ G1510 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular lukewarm χλιαρὸς G5513 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular - καὶ G2532 Conjunction neither οὔτε G3777 Conjunction hot ζεστὸς G2200 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular nor οὔτε G3777 Conjunction cold ψυχρός G5593 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular I am about μέλλω G3195 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular to vomit ἐμέσαι G1692 Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active you σε G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 2nd Person Singular out of ἐκ G1537 Preposition My μου G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Singular - τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Neuter Singular mouth στόματός G4750 Noun - Genitive Neuter Singular
Verse 17

Original words

- Ὅτι G3754 Conjunction You say λέγεις G3004 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular - ὅτι G3754 Conjunction I am εἰμι G1510 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular rich Πλούσιός G4145 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular - καὶ G2532 Conjunction I have grown wealthy πεπλούτηκα G4147 Verb - Perfect Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction vvv ἔχω G2192 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular need χρείαν G5532 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular nothing οὐδὲν G3762 Adjective - Accusative Neuter Singular [But] καὶ G2532 Conjunction vvv οὐκ G3756 Adverb you do not realize οἶδας G1492 Verb - Perfect Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular that ὅτι G3754 Conjunction you σὺ G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 2nd Person Singular are εἶ G1510 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular - G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular wretched ταλαίπωρος G5005 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular - καὶ G2532 Conjunction pitiful ἐλεεινὸς G1652 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular - καὶ G2532 Conjunction poor πτωχὸς G4434 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular - καὶ G2532 Conjunction blind τυφλὸς G5185 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction naked γυμνός G1131 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular
Verse 18

Original words

I counsel συμβουλεύω G4823 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular you σοι G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 2nd Person Singular to buy ἀγοράσαι G59 Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active from παρ’ G3844 Preposition Me ἐμοῦ G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Singular gold χρυσίον G5553 Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular refined πεπυρωμένον G4448 Verb - Perfect Participle Middle or Passive - Accusative Neuter Singular by ἐκ G1537 Preposition fire πυρὸς G4442 Noun - Genitive Neuter Singular so that ἵνα G2443 Conjunction you may become rich πλουτήσῃς G4147 Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 2nd Person Singular - καὶ G2532 Conjunction white λευκὰ G3022 Adjective - Accusative Neuter Plural garments ἱμάτια G2440 Noun - Accusative Neuter Plural so that ἵνα G2443 Conjunction you may be clothed περιβάλῃ G4016 Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Middle - 2nd Person Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction - G3588 Article - Nominative Feminine Singular your σου G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Singular shameful αἰσχύνη G152 Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular - τῆς G3588 Article - Genitive Feminine Singular nakedness γυμνότητός G1132 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular vvv μὴ G3361 Adverb not exposed φανερωθῇ G5319 Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Passive - 3rd Person Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction salve κολλούριον G2854 Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular to anoint ἐγχρῖσαι G1472 Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active your σου G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Singular - τοὺς G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Plural eyes ὀφθαλμούς G3788 Noun - Accusative Masculine Plural so that ἵνα G2443 Conjunction you may see βλέπῃς G991 Verb - Present Subjunctive Active - 2nd Person Singular
Verse 19

Original words

Those ὅσους G3745 Personal / Relative Pronoun - Accusative Masculine Plural I ἐγὼ G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 1st Person Singular vvv ἐὰν G1437 Conjunction love φιλῶ G5368 Verb - Present Subjunctive Active - 1st Person Singular I rebuke ἐλέγχω G1651 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction discipline παιδεύω G3811 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular Therefore οὖν G3767 Conjunction be earnest ζήλευε G2206 Verb - Present Imperative Active - 2nd Person Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction repent μετανόησον G3340 Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 2nd Person Singular
Verse 20

Original words

Behold Ἰδοὺ G2400 Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 2nd Person Singular I stand ἕστηκα G2476 Verb - Perfect Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular at ἐπὶ G1909 Preposition the τὴν G3588 Article - Accusative Feminine Singular door θύραν G2374 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction knock κρούω G2925 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular If ἐάν G1437 Conjunction anyone τις G5100 Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular hears ἀκούσῃ G191 Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Singular My μου G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Singular - τῆς G3588 Article - Genitive Feminine Singular voice φωνῆς G5456 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction opens ἀνοίξῃ G455 Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Singular the τὴν G3588 Article - Accusative Feminine Singular door θύραν G2374 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular - καὶ G2532 Conjunction I will come in εἰσελεύσομαι G1525 Verb - Future Indicative Middle - 1st Person Singular - πρὸς G4314 Preposition - αὐτὸν G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction dine δειπνήσω G1172 Verb - Future Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular with μετ’ G3326 Preposition him αὐτοῦ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction he αὐτὸς G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative Masculine 3rd Person Singular with μετ’ G3326 Preposition Me ἐμοῦ G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Singular
Verse 21

Original words

To [the one] αὐτῷ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Singular who G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular overcomes νικῶν G3528 Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular I will grant [the right] δώσω G1325 Verb - Future Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular to sit καθίσαι G2523 Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active with μετ’ G3326 Preposition Me ἐμοῦ G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Singular on ἐν G1722 Preposition My μου G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Singular - τῷ G3588 Article - Dative Masculine Singular throne θρόνῳ G2362 Noun - Dative Masculine Singular just as ὡς G5613 Adverb I κἀγὼ G2504 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 1st Person Singular overcame ἐνίκησα G3528 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction sat down ἐκάθισα G2523 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular with μετὰ G3326 Preposition My μου G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Singular - τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Singular Father Πατρός G3962 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular on ἐν G1722 Preposition His αὐτοῦ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular - τῷ G3588 Article - Dative Masculine Singular throne θρόνῳ G2362 Noun - Dative Masculine Singular
Verse 22

Original words

He who G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular has ἔχων G2192 Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular an ear οὖς G3775 Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular let him hear ἀκουσάτω G191 Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 3rd Person Singular what τί G5101 Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Singular the τὸ G3588 Article - Nominative Neuter Singular Spirit Πνεῦμα G4151 Noun - Nominative Neuter Singular says λέγει G3004 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular to the ταῖς G3588 Article - Dative Feminine Plural churches ἐκκλησίαις G1577 Noun - Dative Feminine Plural

Berean Standard Bible (BSB): CC0 Public Domain Scripture text. Focused passages are drawn from the same reader contract as the full chapter. Reference sources explains external study-link sources.