KJV: And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;
YLT: 'And to the messenger of the assembly in Philadelphia write: These things saith he who is holy, he who is true, he who is having the key of David, he who is opening and no one doth shut, and he shutteth and no one doth open!
Darby: And to the angel of the assembly in Philadelphia write: These things saith the holy, the true; he that has the key of David, he who opens and no one shall shut, and shuts and no one shall open:
ASV: And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth and none shall shut, and that shutteth and none openeth:
ἀγγέλῳ | [the] messenger |
Parse: Noun, Dative Masculine Singular Root: ἄγγελος Sense: a messenger, envoy, one who is sent, an angel, a messenger from God. |
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τῆς | of the |
Parse: Article, Genitive Feminine Singular Root: ὁ Sense: this, that, these, etc. |
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Φιλαδελφείᾳ | Philadelphia |
Parse: Noun, Dative Feminine Singular Root: Φιλαδέλφεια Sense: a city of Lydia in Asia Minor, situated near the eastern base of of Mount Tmolus, founded and named by the Pergamene king, Attalus II Philadelphus. |
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ἐκκλησίας | church |
Parse: Noun, Genitive Feminine Singular Root: ἐκκλησία Sense: a gathering of citizens called out from their homes into some public place, an assembly. |
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γράψον | write |
Parse: Verb, Aorist Imperative Active, 2nd Person Singular Root: γράφω Sense: to write, with reference to the form of the letters. |
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Τάδε | These things |
Parse: Demonstrative Pronoun, Accusative Neuter Plural Root: ὅδε Sense: this one here, these things, as follows, thus. |
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λέγει | says |
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular Root: λέγω Sense: to say, to speak. |
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ἅγιος | Holy [One] |
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Masculine Singular Root: ἅγιος Sense: most holy thing, a saint. |
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ἀληθινός | True [One] |
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Masculine Singular Root: ἀληθινός Sense: that which has not only the name and resemblance, but the real nature corresponding to the name, in every respect corresponding to the idea signified by the name, real, true genuine. |
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ὁ | - |
Parse: Article, Nominative Masculine Singular Root: ὁ Sense: this, that, these, etc. |
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κλεῖν | key |
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Singular Root: κλείς Sense: a key. |
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Δαυίδ | of David |
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Singular Root: Δαβίδ Sense: second king of Israel, and ancestor of Jesus Christ. |
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ὁ | the [One] |
Parse: Article, Nominative Masculine Singular Root: ὁ Sense: this, that, these, etc. |
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ἀνοίγων | opening |
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Singular Root: ἀνοίγω Sense: to open. |
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οὐδεὶς | no one |
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Masculine Singular Root: οὐδείς Sense: no one, nothing. |
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κλείσει | will shut |
Parse: Verb, Future Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular Root: κλείω Sense: to shut, shut up. |
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κλείων | shutting |
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Singular Root: κλείω Sense: to shut, shut up. |
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ἀνοίγει | opens |
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular Root: ἀνοίγω Sense: to open. |
Greek Commentary for Revelation 3:7
Some twenty-eight miles south-east of Sardis, in Lydia, subject to earthquakes, rebuilt by Tiberius after the great earthquake of a.d. 17, for a time called in coins Neo-Caesarea, in wine-growing district with Bacchus (Dionysos) as the chief deity, on fine Roman roads and of commercial importance, though not a large city, called by Ramsay (op. cit., p. 392) “the Missionary City” to promote the spread of the Graeco-Roman civilization and then of Christianity, later offering stubborn resistance to the Turks (1379-90 a.d.) and now called Ala-Sheher (reddish city, Charles, from the red hills behind it). The chief opposition to the faithful little church is from the Jews (cf. Rom 9-11). There are some 1,000 Christians there today. [source]
Separate articles (four in all) for each item in this description. “The holy, the genuine.” Asyndeton in the Greek. Latin Vulgate, Sanctus et Verus. αγιος Hosea hagios is ascribed to God in Revelation 4:8; Revelation 6:10 (both αλητινος hagios and αλητινος alēthinos as here), but to Christ in Mark 1:24; Luke 4:34; John 6:69; Acts 4:27, Acts 4:30; 1 John 2:20, a recognized title of the Messiah as the consecrated one set apart. Swete notes that αλητης alēthinos is verus as distinguished from verax So it is applied to God in Revelation 6:10 and to Christ in Revelation 3:14; Revelation 19:11 as in John 1:9; John 6:32; John 15:1.He that hath the key of David (και ουδεις κλεισει ho echōn tēn klein Daueid). This epithet comes from Isaiah 22:22, where Eliakim as the chief steward of the royal household holds the keys of power. Christ as the Messiah (Revelation 5:5; Revelation 22:16) has exclusive power in heaven, on earth, and in Hades (Matthew 16:19; Matthew 28:18; Romans 14:9; Philemon 2:9.; Revelation 1:18). Christ has power to admit and exclude of his own will (Matthew 25:10.; Ephesians 1:22; Revelation 3:21; Revelation 19:11-16; Revelation 20:4; Revelation 22:16).And none shall shut Charles calls the structure Hebrew (future active indicative of ο ανοιγων kleiō), and not Greek because it does not correspond to the present articular participle just before και ουδεις ανοιγει ho anoigōn (the one opening), but it occurs often in this book as in the very next clause, “and none openeth” (κλειων kai oudeis anoigei) over against κλειει kleiōn (present active participle, opening) though here some MSS. read kleiei (present active indicative, open). [source]
This epithet comes from Isaiah 22:22, where Eliakim as the chief steward of the royal household holds the keys of power. Christ as the Messiah (Revelation 5:5; Revelation 22:16) has exclusive power in heaven, on earth, and in Hades (Matthew 16:19; Matthew 28:18; Romans 14:9; Philemon 2:9.; Revelation 1:18). Christ has power to admit and exclude of his own will (Matthew 25:10.; Ephesians 1:22; Revelation 3:21; Revelation 19:11-16; Revelation 20:4; Revelation 22:16). [source]
Charles calls the structure Hebrew (future active indicative of ο ανοιγων kleiō), and not Greek because it does not correspond to the present articular participle just before και ουδεις ανοιγει ho anoigōn (the one opening), but it occurs often in this book as in the very next clause, “and none openeth” (κλειων kai oudeis anoigei) over against κλειει kleiōn (present active participle, opening) though here some MSS. read kleiei (present active indicative, open). [source]
Seventy-five miles southeast of Sardis. The second city in Lydia. The adjacent region was celebrated as a wine-growing district, and its coins bore the head of Bacchus and the figure of a Bacchante. The population included Jews, Jewish Christians, and converts from heathenism. It suffered from frequent earthquakes. Of all the seven churches it had the longest duration of prosperity as a Christian city. It still exists as a Turkish town under the name of Allah Shehr, City of God. The situation is picturesque, the town being built on four or five hills, and well supplied with trees, and the climate is healthful. One of the mosques is believed by the native Christians to have been the gathering-place of the church addressed in Revelation. “One solitary pillar of high antiquity has been often noticed as reminding beholders of the words in Revelation 3:12: 'Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God.'” [source]
See on Acts 26:10. Christ is called holy, Acts 2:27; Acts 13:35; Hebrews 7:26; in all which passages the word, however, is ὅσιος , which is holy by sanction, applied to one who diligently observes all the sanctities of religion. It is appropriate to Christ, therefore, as being the one in whom these eternal sanctities are grounded and reside. Ἅγιος , the word used here, refers rather to separation from evil. [source]
See on John 1:9. Αληθινὸς is not merely, genuine as contrasted with the absolutely false, but as contrasted with that which is only subordinately or typically true. It expresses the perfect realization of an idea as contrasted with its partial realization. Thus, Moses gave bread, but the Father giveth the true bread ( τὸν ἄρτον τὸν ἀληθινόν ). Israel was a vine of God's planting (Psalm 80:8), Christ is the true ( ἡ ἀληθινὴ ) vine (John 15:1). The word is so characteristic of John that, while found only once in the Synoptic Gospels, once in a Pauline Epistle, and four times in the Epistle to the Hebrews, it occurs nine times in the fourth Gospel, four times in John's First Epistle, and ten times in Revelation, and in every instance in these three latter books in its own distinctive signification. [source]
See on Revelation 1:18, and compare Isaiah 22:22. David is the type of Christ, the supreme ruler of the kingdom of heaven. See Jeremiah 30:9; Ezekiel 34:23; Ezekiel 37:24. The house of David is the typical designation of the kingdom of Jesus Christ (Psalm 122:5). The holding of the keys, the symbols of power, thus belongs to Christ as Lord of the kingdom and Church of God. See on Matthew 16:19: He admits and excludes at His pleasure. [source]
Read κλείσει shallshut So Rev. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Revelation 3:7
Here again we have the figure of a building with keys to open from the outside. The question is raised at once if Jesus does not here mean the same thing by “kingdom” that he did by “church” in Matthew 16:18. In Revelation 1:18; Revelation 3:7 Christ the Risen Lord has “the keys of death and of Hades.” He has also “the keys of the kingdom of heaven” which he here hands over to Peter as “gatekeeper” or “steward” Later after the Resurrection Christ will use this same language to all the disciples (John 20:23), showing that it was not a special prerogative of Peter. He is simply first among equals, primus inter pares, because on this occasion he was spokesman for the faith of all. It is a violent leap in logic to claim power to forgive sins, to pronounce absolution, by reason of the technical rabbinical language that Jesus employed about binding and loosing. Every preacher uses the keys of the kingdom when he proclaims the terms of salvation in Christ. The proclamation of these terms when accepted by faith in Christ has the sanction and approval of God the Father. The more personal we make these great words the nearer we come to the mind of Christ. The more ecclesiastical we make them the further we drift away from him. [source]
Lit., yea has come to pass in Him. He has shown Himself absolutely the truth. Compare John 14:6; Revelation 3:7, Revelation 3:14. [source]
Holy, see on saints, Acts 26:10; see on Revelation 3:7. The fundamental idea of the word is separation unto God and from worldly defilement. Unblamable, Rev. much better, without blemish. Compare Ephesians 1:4; Ephesians 5:27; and see on 1 Peter 1:19, and see on blemishes, 2 Peter 2:13. Unreprovable, not only actually free from blemish, but from the charge of it. See on 1 Corinthians 1:8, and compare 1 Timothy 6:14. [source]
Φιλαδελφία in Paul, Romans 12:10; 1 Thessalonians 4:9. As a proper name, Revelation 1:11; Revelation 3:7. It is not necessary to suppose that the admonition implies signs of estrangement among those addressed. Comp. Hebrews 3:13; Hebrews 6:10; Hebrews 10:24; Hebrews 12:12-15. [source]
Compare Revelation 3:7, Revelation 3:14; Revelation 6:10. On true, see on John 1:9. “God very strangely condescends indeed in making things plain to me, actually assuming for the time the form of a man, that I at my poor level may better see Him. This is my opportunity to know Him. This incarnation is God making Himself accessible to human thought - God opening to man the possibility of correspondence through Jesus Christ. And this correspondence and this environment are those I seek. He Himself assures me, 'This is life eternal, that they might know Thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom Thou hast sent.' Do I not now discern the deeper meaning in Jesus Christ whom Thou hast sent? Do I not better understand with what vision and rapture the profoundest of the disciples exclaims, 'The Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we might know Him that is true?'” (Drummond, “Natural Law in the Spiritual World”). [source]
Christ. See John 6:69; Acts 3:14; Acts 4:27, Acts 4:30; Revelation 3:7. [source]
See on John 1:9; see on Revelation 3:7. [source]
See on Revelation 3:7. The veracity of Christ is thus asserted in the word faithful, true being not true as distinguished from false, but true to the normal idea of a witness. [source]
Rev., correctly, of Death and of Hades. Conceived as a prison-house or a walled city. See on Matthew 16:18. The keys are the symbol of authority. See Matthew 16:19; Revelation 3:7; Revelation 9:1; Revelation 20:1. The Rabbinical proverb said: “There are four keys lodged in God's hand, which He committeth neither to angel nor to seraph: the key of the rain, the key of food, the key of the tombs, and the key of a barren woman.” [source]
Periphrastic present active indicative, “I am living,” as the words ο ζων ho zōn just used mean.Forevermore (εις τους αιωνας των αιωνων eis tous aiōnas tōn aiōnōn). “Unto the ages of the ages,” a stronger expression of eternity even than in Revelation 1:6.The keys One of the forms for the accusative plural along with κλειδας kleidas the usual one (Matthew 16:19).Of death and of Hades (του τανατου και του αιδου tou thanatou kai tou hāidou). Conceived as in Matthew 16:18 as a prison house or walled city. The keys are the symbol of authority, as we speak of honouring one by giving him the keys of the city. Hades here means the unseen world to which death is the portal. Jesus has the keys because of his victory over death. See this same graphic picture in Revelation 6:8; Revelation 20:13. For the key of David see Revelation 3:7, for the key of the abyss see Revelation 9:1; Revelation 20:1. [source]
One of the forms for the accusative plural along with κλειδας kleidas the usual one (Matthew 16:19).Of death and of Hades (του τανατου και του αιδου tou thanatou kai tou hāidou). Conceived as in Matthew 16:18 as a prison house or walled city. The keys are the symbol of authority, as we speak of honouring one by giving him the keys of the city. Hades here means the unseen world to which death is the portal. Jesus has the keys because of his victory over death. See this same graphic picture in Revelation 6:8; Revelation 20:13. For the key of David see Revelation 3:7, for the key of the abyss see Revelation 9:1; Revelation 20:1. [source]
Conceived as in Matthew 16:18 as a prison house or walled city. The keys are the symbol of authority, as we speak of honouring one by giving him the keys of the city. Hades here means the unseen world to which death is the portal. Jesus has the keys because of his victory over death. See this same graphic picture in Revelation 6:8; Revelation 20:13. For the key of David see Revelation 3:7, for the key of the abyss see Revelation 9:1; Revelation 20:1. [source]
Perfect active indicative of διδωμι didōmi “I have given” (a gift of Christ, this open door). See Luke 12:51 for a like use of διδωμι didōmi door opened Perfect (triple reduplication) passive predicate participle of ανοιγω anoigō (Revelation 3:7) accusative feminine singular. The metaphor of the open door was a common one (John 10:7-9; Acts 14:27; 1 Corinthians 16:9; 2 Corinthians 2:12; Colossians 4:3; Revelation 3:20; Revelation 4:1). Probably it means here a good opportunity for missionary effort in spite of the Jewish hostility. [source]
Pleonastic vernacular and Hebrew repetition of the personal pronoun ην autēn (it) after the relative οτι hēn (which). Direct reference to the statement in Revelation 3:7.That (οιδα σου τα εργα hoti). This conjunction resumes the construction of ιδουαυτην oida sou ta erga (I know thy works) after the parenthesis (μικραν δυναμιν idou- και ετηρησας autēn Behold - shut).A little power Probably “little power,” little influence or weight in Philadelphia, the members probably from the lower classes (1 Corinthians 1:26.).And didst keep (τηρεω kai etērēsas). “And yet (adversative use of ουκ ηρνησω kai) didst keep” (first aorist active indicative of αρνεομαι tēreō) my word in some crisis of trial. See John 17:6 for the phrase “keeping the word.”Didst not deny First aorist middle indicative second person singular of arneomai The issue was probably forced by the Jews (cf. Revelation 2:9), but they stood true. [source]
Ablative plural in apposition with συναγωγης sunagōgēs On the construction of εαυτους Ιουδαιους ειναι heautous Ioudaious einai see note on Revelation 2:9 Present middle indicative of πσευδομαι pseudomai explanatory positive, addition here to και ουκ εισιν kai ouk eisin of Revelation 2:9, in contrast also with ο αλητινος ho alēthinos of Revelation 3:7 and in Johannine style (John 8:44; 1 John 1:10; 1 John 2:4).I will make them Future active indicative of ποιεω poieō resuming the prophecy after the parenthesis “That they come and worship” (final clause, like facio ut in Latin, with ηκω hina and the future active of προσκυνεω hēkō and και γνωσιν proskuneō). The language is based on Isaiah 45:14; Isaiah 60:14. The Jews expected homage (not worship in the strict sense) from the Gentiles, but it will come to the Christians at last (1 Corinthians 14:24). Later Ignatius (Philad. 6) warns this church against Judaizing Christians, perhaps one result of an influx of Jews.And to know Continuation of the purpose clause with ινα hina but with the second aorist active subjunctive rather than the less usual future indicative. See both constructions also with εγω ηγαπησα σε hina in Revelation 22:14. Probably a reminiscence of Isaiah 43:4 in egō ēgapēsa se (I loved thee), first aorist active indicative. [source]
Present middle indicative of πσευδομαι pseudomai explanatory positive, addition here to και ουκ εισιν kai ouk eisin of Revelation 2:9, in contrast also with ο αλητινος ho alēthinos of Revelation 3:7 and in Johannine style (John 8:44; 1 John 1:10; 1 John 2:4). [source]
Personal (masculine article) name here alone, though in Isaiah 65:16 we have “the God of Amen” understood in the lxx as “the God of truth” Here applied to Christ. See Revelation 1:5 for ο μαρτυς ο πιστος ho martus ho pistos (the faithful witness) and Revelation 3:7 for ο αλητινος ho alēthinos (the genuine), “whose testimony never falls short of the truth” (Swete).The beginning of the creation of God (η αρχη της κτισεως του τεου hē archē tēs ktiseōs tou theou). Not the first of creatures as the Arians held and Unitarians do now, but the originating source of creation through whom God works (Colossians 1:15, Colossians 1:18, a passage probably known to the Laodiceans, John 1:3; Hebrews 1:2, as is made clear by Revelation 1:18; Revelation 2:8; Revelation 3:21; Revelation 5:13). [source]
Nominative articular form, but used as vocative On δεσποτης despotēs (correlative of δουλος doulos) see Luke 2:29. Here (alone in the Apocalypse) it is applied to God as in Luke 2:29; Acts 4:24, but to Christ in Judges 1:4; 2 Peter 2:1.The holy and true (ο αγιος και αλητινος ho hagios kai alēthinos). See Revelation 3:7 for these attributes of God.Avenge our blood on them that dwell upon the earth This same idiom in Revelation 19:2 and see it also in Luke 18:7., “a passage which goes far to answer many questions in theodicy” (Swete). We find εκδικεω ekdikeō late compound, used with εκ ek as here in Deuteronomy 18:19; 1 Samuel 24:13, but with απο apo in Luke 18:3. For επι της γης epi tēs gēs (upon the earth) see Revelation 3:10. [source]
See Revelation 3:7 for these attributes of God. [source]