Revelation 1:3

Revelation 1:3 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.
• New International Version (NIV)Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near.

Context of Revelation 1:3

1This is the revelation of Jesus Christ [His unveiling of the divine mysteries], which God [the Father] gave to Him to show to His bond-servants (believers) the things which must soon take place [in their entirety]; and He sent and communicated it by His angel (divine messenger) to His bond-servant John, 2who testified and gave supporting evidence to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to everything that he saw [in his visions]. Blessed (happy, prosperous, to be admired) is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and who keep the things which are written in it [heeding them and taking them to heart]; for the time [of fulfillment] is near. 4John, to the seven churches that are in [the province of] Asia: Grace [be granted] to you and peace [inner calm and spiritual well-being], from Him Who is [existing forever] and Who was [continually existing in the past] and Who is to come, and from the seven Spirits that are before His throne, 5and from Jesus Christ, the faithful and trustworthy Witness, the Firstborn of the dead, and the Ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who [always] loves us and who [has once for all] freed us [or washed us] from our sins by His own blood (His sacrificial death)—

Revelation 1:3 word by word

μακάριος ὁ ἀναγινώσκων καὶ οἱ ἀκούοντες τοὺς λόγους τῆς προφητείας καὶ τηροῦντες τὰ ἐν αὐτῇ γεγραμμένα· ὁ γὰρ καιρὸς ἐγγύς.¶Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Blessedμακάριοςmakarios · blessedG3107
• he that readethὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• he that readethἀναγινώσκωanaginōskō · to readG314
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• they that hearἀκούωakouō · to hearG191
• the wordsλόγοςlogos · wordG3056
• of this prophecyπροφητείαprophēteia · prophecyG4394
• keepτηρέωtēreō · to keep: observeG5083
• those things which are writtenγράφωgraphō · to writeG1125
• thereinἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• thereinαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• forγάρgar · forG1063
• the timeκαιρόςkairos · time/right timeG2540
• at handἐγγύςeggus · nearG1451

Cross-references for Revelation 1:3

• Revelation 22:7“And behold, I am coming quickly. Blessed (happy, prosperous, to be admired) is the one who heeds and takes to heart and remembers the words of the prophecy [that is, the predictions, consolations, and warnings] contained in this book (scroll).”
• Proverbs 8:34Blessed [happy, prosperous, to be admired] is the man who listens to me, Watching daily at my gates, Waiting at my doorposts.
• Daniel 12:12How blessed [happy, fortunate, spiritually prosperous] and beloved is he who waits expectantly [enduring without wavering for the period of tribulation] and comes to the 1,335 days!
• Luke 11:28But He said, “On the contrary, blessed (happy, favored by God) are those who hear the word of God and continually observe it.”
• Revelation 22:6Then he said to me, “These words are faithful and true.” And the Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, has sent His angel [as a representative] to show His bond-servants the things that must soon take place.
• Romans 13:11Do this, knowing that this is a critical time. It is already the hour for you to awaken from your sleep [of spiritual complacency]; for our salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed [in Christ].
• James 5:8You too, be patient; strengthen your hearts [keep them energized and firmly committed to God], because the coming of the Lord is near.
• 1 Peter 4:7The end and culmination of all things is near. Therefore, be sound-minded and self-controlled for the purpose of prayer [staying balanced and focused on the things of God so that your communication will be clear, reasonable, specific and pleasing to Him.]
• 2 Peter 3:8Nevertheless, do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years is like one day.

Commentaries on Revelation 1:3

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 3Blessed is he that readeth - This is to be understood of the happiness or security of the persons who, reading and hearing the prophecies of those things which were to come to pass shortly, took proper measures to escape from the impending evils. The time is at hand - Either in which they shall be all fulfilled, or begin to be fulfilled. See the note on Revelation 1:1. These three verses contain the introduction; now the dedication to the seven Churches…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 3Blessed is he that readeth - That is, it is to be regarded as a privilege attended with many blessings, to be permitted to mark the disclosures to be made in this book; the important revelations respecting future times. Prof. Stuart supposes that this refers to a public reading, and that the phrase “those who hear the words of this prophecy,” refers to those who listened to the public reader, and that both the reader and hearer should regard themselves as…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 3blessed is the one: Revelation includes seven promises of blessing (Revelation 1:3; 14:13; 16:15; 19:9; 20:6; 22:7, 14). hear and obey: True listening means you follow what you hear.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 33. he that readeth, and they that hear--namely, the public reader in Church assemblies, and his hearers. In the first instance, he by whom John sent the book from Patmos to the seven churches, read it publicly: a usage most scriptural and profitable. A special blessing attends him who reads or hears the apocalyptic "prophecy" with a view to keeping the things therein (as there is but one article to "they that hear and keep those things," not two classes…Read the comment

Topics related to Revelation 1:3

• Word of God

In the dictionaries

• Alpha
• Beginning
• Star
• Alliance
• Asia Minor
• Canon of the New Testament
• Ephesians, Epistle to the
• Judges, Period of
• Parousia
• Revelation of John

Commentaries on Revelation 1

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings