Greek Form Guide

ἔρχου, (erchou) in Revelation 22:20: Verb Second Person Singular Present Middle or Passive Deponent Imperative

ἔρχου, (erchou) in Revelation 22:20

Textual Witness

ἔρχου, erchou Verb Second Person Singular Present Middle or Passive Deponent Imperative

The witness reads ἔρχου in Revelation 22:20 within the phrase, 'Ναί, ἔρχου, Κύριε Ἰησοῦ.'

How The Form Affects Interpretation

The form clarifies the line as prayerful response, not a narrative report or detached command.

How To Communicate It

When teaching Revelation 22:20, use this form to preserve the devotional and expectant force of 'Come, Lord Jesus.'

What Not To Say

  • Grammar should serve context, not override it.
  • Do not treat this imperative as a demand detached from worshipful response.
  • Do not overread present tense or deponent voice beyond the prayerful appeal.
  • Do not make the form settle every question about the Lord's coming.
  • Do not use the grammar profile as a shortcut around the wording and logic of the verse.

What Does The Label Mean?

Part of Speech

Verb: the form names an action or state, and here it is the lemma ἔρχομαι in an imperative form.

Tense / Aspect

Present: often views the action as in progress, customary, or presently in view. Context decides the exact force.

Voice

Middle or Passive Deponent: uses a middle or passive form traditionally read with active sense. The lexeme and sentence still govern the meaning.

Mood

Imperative: presents the verbal idea as a command, appeal, or summons to action.

Person

Second person: the hearer or hearers are grammatically addressed by the verbal form.

Case

Not applicable: this verb form is not using noun case to mark its sentence role.

Number

Singular: the form addresses one person directly, so the command is grammatically singular in this occurrence.

Gender

Not applicable: this verb form does not use grammatical gender to make its point.

What The Form Does In This Verse

Attached To

The closing prayer in Revelation 22:20, 'Come, Lord Jesus'

Governed By

The response to Christ's promise, 'Yes, I am coming quickly'

Role In The Phrase

It voices a direct petition to the Lord Jesus in response to his promise of coming.

What It Is Not Doing

The imperative does not by itself set the timing, location, or complete doctrine of the Lord's coming.

How Much The Form Matters Here

Interpretive Weight

High: The form carries Scripture's closing prayerful appeal to the Lord Jesus.

Syntax Profile

Present deponent second-person singular imperative in direct address. voices a petition in response to Christ's promise. Attached to the phrase Come, Lord Jesus in Revelation 22:20. Governed by the response to Christ's promise that he is coming quickly. The imperative has command form but functions as worshipful petition in direct address.

Reader Question

What is the speaker asking? The speaker asks the Lord Jesus to come.

Translation Effect

Direct: The imperative directly supports the rendering Come as a prayerful appeal.

Where Caution Is Needed

The imperative gives petition force in direct address. Present tense should not be overread as a timing claim. The eschatological meaning comes from the promise-response context.

Fallacies To Avoid

Imperative alone settles timing: The imperative voices the petition; the passage and canon govern eschatological timing. present means continuous in every context: The present imperative should be read within the closing prayer.

How The Interpretation Is Derived

Textual Witness

The witness reads ἔρχου in Revelation 22:20 within the phrase, 'Ναί, ἔρχου, Κύριε Ἰησοῦ.'

Lexical Identity

The lemma is ἔρχομαι, a common verb meaning to come or go, and this form keeps that lexical identity while taking an imperative force.

Grammar In Context

The imperative stands in direct address to the Lord Jesus and answers his promise with a plea.

Passage Meaning

Revelation 22:20 moves from Christ's promise of coming quickly to the responsive plea that he would come.

Canonical Fit

The form fits Revelation's closing hope and expectation of the Lord's coming.

Communication Use

When teaching Revelation 22:20, use this form to preserve the devotional and expectant force of 'Come, Lord Jesus.'

Do Not Derive

Do not derive the full doctrine of eschatology or timing from V-PNM-2S alone. The form voices the petition in context.