The Meaning of Revelation 3:15 Explained

Revelation 3:15

KJV: I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.

YLT: I have known thy works, that neither cold art thou nor hot; I would thou wert cold or hot.

Darby: I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot; I would thou wert cold or hot.

ASV: I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

I know  thy  works,  that  thou art  neither  cold  nor  hot:  I would  thou wert  cold  or  hot. 

What does Revelation 3:15 Mean?

Context Summary

Revelation 3:14-22 - "i Stand At The Door And Knock"
It is better to be cold than lukewarm, for in the latter case all that God's love can do for the soul has only produced a moderate result, while if we are cold, our soul has yet to be tried. The Gospel has a better chance with the openly profane and godless than with those who have been brought up under its influence and are so far unaffected. The mischief with men generally is that they do not know themselves, and do not want to know; and they are equally ignorant of the rich stores of blessedness that Christ waits to bestow. We think that we abound in gift and grace, when in Christ's eyes we are most pitiable. Yet, at this moment, He is standing at the door, laden with the gifts of heaven. Admit Him, or at least lift the latch of the will, so that He may push the door back and enter. Do not attempt to deal with the squalor within; He will see to that, and cleanse, keep, and enrich. Do not try to provide supper; He will bring thee His own flesh and blood.
Ponder that last beatitude, which promises to all believers that if they share with Him His age-long conflict against the evil of the world, they shall share His rule and power, which they shall use with Him for the uplift and blessing of mankind. Complete and continually renewed self-surrender to Christ will admit into our hearts the royalty and power of Christ. [source]

Chapter Summary: Revelation 3

1  The angel of the church of Sardis is reproved and exhorted to repent
7  The angel of the church of Philadelphia is approved for his diligence and patience;
14  the angel of Laodicea rebuked for being neither hot nor cold
20  Christ stands at the door and knocks

Greek Commentary for Revelation 3:15

Neither cold [ουτε πσυχρος]
Old word from πσυχω — psuchō to grow cold (Matthew 24:12), in N.T. only Matthew 10:42 and this passage. [source]
Nor hot [ουτε ζεστος]
Late verbal from ζεω — zeō to boil, (Romans 12:11), boiling hot, here only in N.T.I would thou wert (οπελον ης — ophelon ēs). Wish about the present with οπελον — ophelon (really ωπελον — ōphelon second aorist active indicative of οπειλω — opheilō without augment) with the imperfect ης — ēs (instead of the infinitive) as in 2 Corinthians 11:1, when the old Greek used ειτε — eithe or ει γαρ — ei gar See 1 Corinthians 4:8 for the aorist indicative and Galatians 5:12 for the future. [source]
I would thou wert [οπελον ης]
Wish about the present with οπελον — ophelon (really ωπελον — ōphelon second aorist active indicative of οπειλω — opheilō without augment) with the imperfect ης — ēs (instead of the infinitive) as in 2 Corinthians 11:1, when the old Greek used ειτε — eithe or ει γαρ — ei gar See 1 Corinthians 4:8 for the aorist indicative and Galatians 5:12 for the future. [source]
Cold [ψυχρός]
Attached to the world and actively opposed to the Church. “This,” as Alford remarks, “as well as the opposite state of spiritual fervor, would be an intelligible and plainly-marked condition; at all events free from the danger of mixed motive and disregarded principle which belongs to the lukewarm state: inasmuch as a man in earnest, be he right or wrong, is ever a better man than one professing what he does not feel.” [source]
Hot [ζεστός]
From ζέω to boil or seethe. See on fervent, Acts 18:25. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Revelation 3:15

2 Corinthians 11:1 Would that ye could bear with me [οπελον ανειχεστε μου]
Koiné{[28928]}š way of expressing a wish about the present, οπελον — ophelon (as a conjunction, really second aorist active indicative of οπειλω — opheilō without augment) and the imperfect indicative instead of ειτε — eithe or ει γαρ — ei gar (Robertson, Grammar, p. 1003). Cf. Revelation 3:15. See note on Galatians 5:12 for future indicative with οπελον — ophelon and note on 1 Corinthians 4:8 for aorist. Μου — Mou is ablative case after ανειχεστε — aneichesthe (direct middle, hold yourselves back from me). There is a touch of irony here. [source]
Revelation 2:2 I know [οιδα]
Rather than γινωσκω — ginōskō and so “emphasizes better the absolute clearness of mental vision which photographs all the facts of life as they pass” (Swete). So also in Revelation 2:9, Revelation 2:13, Revelation 2:19; Revelation 3:1, Revelation 3:8, Revelation 3:15. For the distinction see John 21:17, “where the universal knowledge passes into the field of special observation.” [source]
Revelation 3:17 Have gotten riches [πεπλουτηκα]
Perfect active indicative of πλουτεω — plouteō old verb from πλουτος — ploutos used here of imagined spiritual riches which the church did not possess, just the opposite of church in Smyrna (poor in wealth, rich in grace). This church was in a rich city and was rich in pride and conceit, but poor in grace and ignorant of its spiritual poverty Old adjective from τλαω — tlaō to endure, and πωρος — pōros a callus, afflicted, in N.T. only here and Romans 7:24. Note the one article in the predicate with all these five adjectives unifying the picture of sharp emphasis on “thou” (συ — su), “thou that boastest.”Miserable Pitiable as in 1 Corinthians 15:19.Poor (πτωχος — ptōchos). See Revelation 2:9 for spiritual poverty. Perhaps some local example of self-complacency is in mind.Blind Spiritual blindness as often (Matthew 23:17), and note “eye-salve” in Revelation 3:18.Naked (γυμνος — gumnos). “The figure completes the picture of actual poverty” (Beckwith). See Revelation 3:15, Revelation 3:16. [source]
Revelation 3:17 Miserable [ελεεινος]
Pitiable as in 1 Corinthians 15:19.Poor (πτωχος — ptōchos). See Revelation 2:9 for spiritual poverty. Perhaps some local example of self-complacency is in mind.Blind Spiritual blindness as often (Matthew 23:17), and note “eye-salve” in Revelation 3:18.Naked (γυμνος — gumnos). “The figure completes the picture of actual poverty” (Beckwith). See Revelation 3:15, Revelation 3:16. [source]
Revelation 3:17 Blind [τυπλος]
Spiritual blindness as often (Matthew 23:17), and note “eye-salve” in Revelation 3:18.Naked (γυμνος — gumnos). “The figure completes the picture of actual poverty” (Beckwith). See Revelation 3:15, Revelation 3:16. [source]
Revelation 3:17 Naked [γυμνος]
“The figure completes the picture of actual poverty” (Beckwith). See Revelation 3:15, Revelation 3:16. [source]

What do the individual words in Revelation 3:15 mean?

I know your - works that neither cold you are nor hot I wish you would be or
Οἶδά σου τὰ ἔργα ὅτι οὔτε ψυχρὸς εἶ οὔτε ζεστός ὄφελον ἦς

Οἶδά  I  know 
Parse: Verb, Perfect Indicative Active, 1st Person Singular
Root: οἶδα  
Sense: to see.
σου  your 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive 2nd Person Singular
Root: σύ  
Sense: you.
τὰ  - 
Parse: Article, Accusative Neuter Plural
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
ἔργα  works 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Neuter Plural
Root: ἔργον  
Sense: business, employment, that which any one is occupied.
ὅτι  that 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: ὅτι  
Sense: that, because, since.
οὔτε  neither 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: οὔτε  
Sense: neither, and not.
ψυχρὸς  cold 
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: ψυχρός  
Sense: cold, cool.
εἶ  you  are 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 2nd Person Singular
Root: εἰμί  
Sense: to be, to exist, to happen, to be present.
οὔτε  nor 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: οὔτε  
Sense: neither, and not.
ζεστός  hot 
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: ζεστός  
Sense: boiling hot, hot.
ὄφελον  I  wish 
Parse: Interjection
Root: ὄφελον  
Sense: would that, where one wishes that a thing had happened which has not happened or a thing be done which probably will not be done.
ἦς  you  would  be 
Parse: Verb, Imperfect Indicative Active, 2nd Person Singular
Root: εἰμί  
Sense: to be, to exist, to happen, to be present.