Berean Standard Bible
Revelation 2:9
9I know your affliction and your poverty—though you are rich! And I am aware of the slander of those who falsely claim to be Jews, but are in fact a synagogue of Satan.
Revelation 2:9 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.
- New International Version (NIV)I know your afflictions and your poverty—yet you are rich! I know about the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.
- English Standard Version (ESV)"'I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich) and the slander of those who say that they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.
- New King James Version (NKJV)“I know your works, tribulation, and poverty (but you are rich); and I know the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.
Context of Revelation 2:9
7He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who overcomes, I will grant the right to eat from the tree of life in the Paradise of God. 8To the angel of the church in Smyrna write: These are the words of the First and the Last, who died and returned to life. I know your affliction and your poverty—though you are rich! And I am aware of the slander of those who falsely claim to be Jews, but are in fact a synagogue of Satan. 10Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison to test you, and you will suffer tribulation for ten days. Be faithful even unto death, and I will give you the crown of life. 11He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who overcomes will not be harmed by the second death.
Read all of Revelation 2Revelation 2:9 word by word
οἶδά σου τὴν θλῖψιν καὶ τὴν πτωχείαν, ἀλλὰ πλούσιος εἶ, καὶ τὴν βλασφημίαν ἐκ τῶν λεγόντων Ἰουδαίους εἶναι ἑαυτοὺς καὶ οὐκ εἰσίν, ἀλλὰ συναγωγὴ τοῦ σατανᾶ.Read the interlinear
- I knowεἴδωeidō · to perceive: understandG1492
- yourσύsu · youG4771
- ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- afflictionθλῖψιςthlipsis · pressureG2347
- andκαίkai · andG2532
- povertyπτωχείαptōcheia · povertyG4432
- thoughἀλλάalla · butG235
- you areεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
- richπλούσιοςplousios · richG4145
- slanderβλασφημίαblasphēmia · blasphemyG988
- ofἐκek ex · out fromG1537
- ·ἑαυτοῦheautou · themselfG1438
- falselyοὐou · noG3756
- claimλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
- JewsἸουδαῖοςIoudaios · JewG2453
- a synagogueσυναγωγήsunagōgē · synagogueG4864
- of SatanΣατανᾶςSatanas · SatanG4567
Cross-references for Revelation 2:9
- Revelation 2:2I know your deeds, your labor, and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate those who are evil, and you have tested and exposed as liars those who falsely claim to be apostles.
- Revelation 7:14“Sir,” I answered, “you know.” So he replied, “These are the ones who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
- John 16:33I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take courage; I have overcome the world!”
- Acts 14:22strengthening the souls of the disciples and encouraging them to continue in the faith. “We must endure many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,” they said.
- Romans 5:3Not only that, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance;
- Romans 8:35Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?
- Romans 12:12Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, persistent in prayer.
- 1 Thessalonians 3:4Indeed, when we were with you, we kept warning you that we would suffer persecution; and as you know, it has come to pass.
- 2 Thessalonians 1:6After all, it is only right for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you,
- Luke 4:18“The Spirit of the Lord is on Me, because He has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to release the oppressed,
- Luke 6:20Looking up at His disciples, Jesus said: “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.
- 2 Corinthians 8:2In the terrible ordeal they suffered, their abundant joy and deep poverty overflowed into rich generosity.
- James 2:5Listen, my beloved brothers: Has not God chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom He promised those who love Him?
- Revelation 3:17You say, ‘I am rich; I have grown wealthy and need nothing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked.
- Luke 12:21This is how it will be for anyone who stores up treasure for himself but is not rich toward God.”
- 2 Corinthians 6:10sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.
Commentaries on Revelation 2:9
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 9I know thy works - As he had spoken to the preceding Church, so he speaks to this: I know all that ye have done, and all that ye have suffered. The tribulation here mentioned must mean persecution, either from the Jews, the heathens, or from the heretics, who, because of their flesh-pampering doctrines might have had many partisans at Smyrna. And poverty - Stripped probably of all their temporal possessions, because of their attachment to the Gospel. But…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 9I know thy works - The uniform method of introducing these epistles, implying a most intimate acquaintance with all that pertained to the church. See the notes on Revelation 2:2. And tribulation - This word is of a general signification, and probably includes all that they suffered in any form, whether from persecution, poverty, or the blasphemy of opposers. And poverty - It would seem that this church, at that time, was eminently poor, for this is not…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 8-11Verses 8-11 Our Lord Jesus is the First, for by him were all things made; he was before all things, with God, and is God himself. He is the Last, for he will be the Judge of all. As this First and Last, who was dead and is alive, is the believer's Brother and Friend, he must be rich in the deepest poverty, honourable amidst the lowest abasement, and happy under the heaviest tribulation, like the church of Smyrna. Many who are rich as to this world, are…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 9Jesus linked material poverty with the blessing of being rich in God's Kingdom (Matthew 5:3, 10–12; Luke 6:20). Jews without faith are criticized for siding with Satan against Christianity (Revelation 3:9; see John 8:44; Acts 14:2–5; 17:13; 18:6; 20:3; Galatians 5:11; 1 Thessalonians 2:14–16). At the Jewish council of Jamnia, Jewish leaders decided that Christians were unholy and should be excluded. John was not speaking against Jewish people as a whole…Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 99. thy works, and--omitted in two oldest manuscripts, Vulgate, and Coptic. Supported by one oldest manuscript. tribulation--owing to persecution. poverty--owing to "the spoiling of their goods." but thou art rich--in grace. Contrast Laodicea, rich in the world's eyes and her own, poor before God. "There are both poor rich-men, and rich poor-men in God's sight" [Trench]. blasphemy of them--blasphemous calumny of thee on the part of (or arising from) them…Read the comment
Topics related to Revelation 2:9
In the dictionaries
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
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