Christian Standard Bible
Revelation 2:12
12“Write to the angel of the church in Pergamum: Thus says the one who has the sharp, double-edged sword:
Revelation 2:12 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges;
- New International Version (NIV)“To the angel of the church in Pergamum write: These are the words of him who has the sharp, double-edged sword.
- English Standard Version (ESV)"And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write: 'The words of him who has the sharp two-edged sword.
- New King James Version (NKJV)“And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write, ‘These things says He who has the sharp two-edged sword:
Context of Revelation 2:12
10Don’t be afraid of what you are about to suffer. Look, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison to test you, and you will experience affliction for ten days. Be faithful to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life. 11“Let anyone who has ears to hear listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers will never be harmed by the second death. “Write to the angel of the church in Pergamum: Thus says the one who has the sharp, double-edged sword: 13I know where you live — where Satan’s throne is. Yet you are holding on to my name and did not deny your faith in me, even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness who was put to death among you, where Satan lives. 14But I have a few things against you. You have some there who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to place a stumbling block in front of the Israelites: to eat meat sacrificed to idols and to commit sexual immorality.
Read all of Revelation 2Revelation 2:12 word by word
Καὶ τῷ ἀγγέλῳ τῆς ἐν Περγάμῳ ἐκκλησίας γράψον· τάδε λέγει ὁ ἔχων τὴν ῥομφαίαν τὴν δίστομον τὴν ὀξεῖαν·Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Andκαίkai · andG2532
- to the angelὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- to the angelἄγγελοςaggelos · angelG32
- of the churchἐκκλησίαekklēsia · assemblyG1577
- inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
- PergamosΠέργαμοςPergamos · PergamumG4010
- writeγράφωgraphō · to writeG1125
- These thingsὅδεhode hēde tode · thisG3592
- saithλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
- he which hathἔχωechō · to have/beG2192
- theῥομφαίαrhomphaia · swordG4501
- sharpὀξύςoxus · sharp/swiftG3691
- with two edgesδίστομοςdistomos · double-edgedG1366
Cross-references for Revelation 2:12
- Revelation 2:1“Write to the angel of the church in Ephesus: Thus says the one who holds the seven stars in his right hand and who walks among the seven golden lampstands:
- Revelation 1:11saying, “Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.”
- Revelation 2:27and he will rule them with an iron scepter; he will shatter them like pottery —
- Revelation 2:16So repent! Otherwise, I will come to you quickly and fight against them with the sword of my mouth.
- Revelation 1:16He had seven stars in his right hand; a sharp double-edged sword came from his mouth, and his face was shining like the sun at full strength.
- Revelation 19:15A sharp sword came from his mouth, so that he might strike the nations with it. He will rule them with an iron rod. He will also trample the winepress of the fierce anger of God, the Almighty.
- Isaiah 11:4but he will judge the poor righteously and execute justice for the oppressed of the land. He will strike the land with a scepter from his mouth, and he will kill the wicked with a command from his lips.
- Hebrews 4:12For the word of God is living and effective and sharper than any double-edged sword, penetrating as far as the separation of soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
Commentaries on Revelation 2:12
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 12The angel of the Church in Pergamos - See the description of this place, Revelation 1:11. Which hath the sharp sword - See on Revelation 1:16; (note). The sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, cuts every way; it convinces of sin, righteousness, and judgment; pierces between the joints and the marrow, divides between the soul and spirit, dissects the whole mind, and exhibits a regular anatomy of the soul. It not only reproves and exposes sin, but…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 12And to the angel of the church in Pergamos - See the notes on Revelation 1:20. These things saith he which hath the sharp sword, - See the notes on Revelation 1:16. Compare Hebrews 4:12; Ecclesiastes 12:11; Isaiah 49:2. Prof. Stuart suggests that when the Saviour, as represented in the vision, “uttered words, as they proceeded from his mouth, the halitus which accompanied them assumed, in the view of John, the form of an igneous two-edged sword.” It is…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 12-17Verses 12-17 The word of God is a sword, able to slay both sin and sinners. It turns and cuts every way; but the believer need not fear this sword; yet this confidence cannot be supported without steady obedience. As our Lord notices all the advantages and opportunities we have for duty in the places where we dwell, so he notices our temptations and discouragements from the same causes. In a situation of trials, the church of Pergamos had not denied the…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 12Christ's sharp, double-edged sword shows that these Christians would face the Lord’s harshest judgment (see Revelation 2:16; see study note on Revelation 1:16). The double-edged sword was a Roman symbol of authority, representing Pergamum as the province's capital. If the church failed, Christ, the true governor of the city, would use his authority against them.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1212. Trench prefers writing Pergamus, or rather, Pergamum, on the river Caicus. It was capital of Attalus the Second's kingdom, which was bequeathed by him to the Romans, 133 B.C. Famous for its library, founded by Eumenes (197-159), and destroyed by Caliph Omar. Parchment, that is, Pergamena charta, was here discovered for book purposes. Also famous for the magnificent temple of Æsculapius, the healing god [Tacitus, Annals, 3.63]. he which hath the sharp…Read the comment
Topics related to Revelation 2:12
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
Christian Standard Bible — © 2017 Holman Bible Publishers
Commentaries