Revelation 2:3

Revelation 2:3 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name’s sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.
• New International Version (NIV)You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary.
• English Standard Version (ESV)I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name's sake, and you have not grown weary.
• New King James Version (NKJV)and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary.

Context of Revelation 2:3

1“To the angel (divine messenger) of the church in Ephesus write: These are the words of the One who holds [firmly] the seven stars [which are the angels or messengers of the seven churches] in His right hand, the One who walks among the seven golden lampstands (the seven churches): 2‘I know your deeds and your toil, and your patient endurance, and that you cannot tolerate those who are evil, and have tested and critically appraised those who call themselves apostles (special messengers, personally chosen representatives, of Christ), and [in fact] are not, and have found them to be liars and impostors; and [I know that] you [who believe] are enduring patiently and are bearing up for My name’s sake, and that you have not grown weary [of being faithful to the truth]. 4But I have this [charge] against you, that you have left your first love [you have lost the depth of love that you first had for Me]. 5So remember the heights from which you have fallen, and repent [change your inner self—your old way of thinking, your sinful behavior—seek God’s will] and do the works you did at first [when you first knew Me]; otherwise, I will visit you and remove your lampstand (the church, its impact) from its place—unless you repent.

Revelation 2:3 word by word

καὶ ὑπομονὴν ἔχεις καὶ ἐβάστασας διὰ τὸ ὄνομά μου καὶ οὐRead the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Andκαίkai · andG2532
• hast borneβαστάζωbastazō · to carryG941
• hastἔχωechō · to have/beG2192
• patienceὑπομονήhupomonē · perseveranceG5281
• forδιάdia · through/because ofG1223
• myἐγώegō · I/weG1473
• name’sὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• name’sὄνομαonoma · nameG3686
• hast labouredκοπιάωkopiaō · to laborG2872
• hastκάμνωkamnō · be weary/sick: weakG2577
• notοὐou · noG3756

Cross-references for Revelation 2:3

• Psalms 69:7Because for Your sake I have borne reproach; Confusion and dishonor have covered my face.
• Micah 7:9I will bear the indignation and wrath of the Lord Because I have sinned against Him, Until He pleads my case and executes judgment for me. He will bring me out to the light, And I will behold His [amazing] righteousness and His remarkable deliverance.
• Mark 15:21They forced into service a passer-by coming in from the countryside, Simon of Cyrene (the father of Alexander and Rufus), to carry His cross.
• Luke 14:27Whoever does not carry his own cross [expressing a willingness to endure whatever may come] and follow after Me [believing in Me, conforming to My example in living and, if need be, suffering or perhaps dying because of faith in Me] cannot be My disciple.
• 1 Corinthians 13:7Love bears all things [regardless of what comes], believes all things [looking for the best in each one], hopes all things [remaining steadfast during difficult times], endures all things [without weakening].
• Galatians 6:2Carry one another’s burdens and in this way you will fulfill the requirements of the law of Christ [that is, the law of Christian love].
• Hebrews 13:13So, let us go out to Him outside the camp, bearing His contempt [the disgrace and shame that He had to suffer].
• Revelation 1:9I, John, your brother and companion in the tribulation and kingdom and patient endurance which are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos, [exiled there] because of [my preaching of] the word of God [regarding eternal salvation] and the testimony of Jesus Christ.
• Revelation 3:10Because you have kept the word of My endurance [My command to persevere], I will keep you [safe] from the hour of trial, that hour which is about to come on the whole [inhabited] world, to test those who live on the earth.
• Psalms 37:7Be still before the Lord; wait patiently for Him and entrust yourself to Him; Do not fret (whine, agonize) because of him who prospers in his way, Because of the man who carries out wicked schemes.
• Luke 8:15But as for that seed in the good soil, these are the ones who have heard the word with a good and noble heart, and hold on to it tightly, and bear fruit with patience.
• Luke 21:19By your [patient] endurance [empowered by the Holy Spirit] you will gain your souls.
• Romans 2:7to those who by persistence in doing good seek [unseen but certain heavenly] glory, honor, and immortality, [He will give the gift of] eternal life.
• Romans 5:3And not only this, but [with joy] let us exult in our sufferings and rejoice in our hardships, knowing that hardship (distress, pressure, trouble) produces patient endurance;
• Romans 8:25But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait eagerly for it with patience and composure.
• Romans 12:12constantly rejoicing in hope [because of our confidence in Christ], steadfast and patient in distress, devoted to prayer [continually seeking wisdom, guidance, and strength],

Commentaries on Revelation 2:3

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 3And hast borne - The same things mentioned in the preceding verse, but in an inverted order, the particular reason of which does not appear; perhaps it was intended to show more forcibly to this Church that there was no good which they had done, nor evil which they had suffered, that was forgotten before God. And hast not fainted - They must therefore have had a considerable portion of this love remaining, else they could not have thus acted.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 3And hast borne - Hast borne up under trials; or hast borne with the evils with which you have been assailed. That is, you have not given way to murmuring or complaints in trial, you have not abandoned the principles of truth and yielded to the prevalence of error. And hast patience - That is, in this connection, hast shown that thou canst bear up under these things with patience. This is a repetition of what is said in Revelation 2:2, but in a somewhat…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 2-3I know: This repeated refrain (Revelation 2:9, 13, 19; 3:1, 8, 15) shows Christ knows everything about his people, their actions, and their situations. The Ephesian Christians had a correct understanding of their beliefs, marked by perseverance and faithfulness. They examined various claims, disciplined evil people, could tell what is true and false, and patiently suffered for their faith in Christ.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 33. borne ... patience--The oldest manuscripts transpose these words. Then translate as Greek, "persevering endurance ... borne." "Thou hast borne" My reproach, but "thou canst not bear the evil" (Re 2:2). A beautiful antithesis. and ... hast laboured, and hast not fainted--The two oldest manuscripts and oldest versions read, "and ... hast not labored," omitting "and hast fainted." The difficulty which transcribers by English Version reading tried to…Read the comment

Topics related to Revelation 2:3

• Church
• Decision
• Ephesus
• Patience
• Persecution
• Righteousness
• Zeal, Religious

In the dictionaries

• Angel
• Bed
• Faithful
• Alliance
• Apostolic Age
• Asia Minor
• Church Government
• Commandment, the New
• Ear
• Ephesians, Epistle to the

Commentaries on Revelation 2

• 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
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings