Revelation 2:1

Revelation 2:1 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks;
• New International Version (NIV)“To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands.
• English Standard Version (ESV)"To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: 'The words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks among the seven golden lampstands.
• New King James Version (NKJV)“To the angel of the church of Ephesus write, ‘These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands:

Context of Revelation 2:1

‘Now write this to the angel of the church at Ephesus: “This is the message to you from the one who holds the seven stars. He holds them carefully in his right hand. He walks among the seven gold lampstands. 2I know everything that you do. You have worked much for me. You have continued to work patiently. I know that you do not accept bad people as your friends. Some of these bad people say that they are apostles of Jesus. You have thought carefully about what they teach people. And you have discovered that it is not true. 3You have been patient and strong in times of trouble. You have continued to serve me because you believe in me. You have not stopped when you become tired.

Revelation 2:1 word by word

Τῷ ἀγγέλῳ τῆς ἐν Ἐφέσῳ ἐκκλησίας γράψον· τάδε λέγει ὁ κρατῶν τοὺς ἑπτὰ ἀστέρας ἐν τῇ δεξιᾷ αὐτοῦ, ὁ περιπατῶν ἐν μέσῳ τῶν ἑπτὰ λυχνιῶν τῶν χρυσῶν·Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Unto the angelὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Unto the angelἄγγελοςaggelos · angel: messengerG32
• of the churchἐκκλησίαekklēsia · assemblyG1577
• of EphesusἘφεσῖνοςEphesinos · EphesusG2179
• writeγράφωgraphō · to writeG1125
• These thingsὅδεhode hēde tode · thisG3592
• saithλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
• he that holdethκρατέωkrateō · to grasp/seizeG2902
• theἀστήρastēr · starG792
• sevenἑπτάhepta · sevenG2033
• inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• hisαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• right handδεξιόςdexios · rightG1188
• who walkethπεριπατέωperipateō · to walkG4043
• the midstμέσοςmesos · midstG3319
• of theλυχνίαluchnia · lampstandG3087
• goldenχρύσεοςchruseos · goldenG5552

Cross-references for Revelation 2:1

• Revelation 2:8‘Write this to the angel of the church at Smyrna: “This is the message to you from the one who is the first and the last. He was dead, but he became alive again.
• Revelation 3:1‘Write this to the angel of the church at Sardis: “This is the message to you from the one who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. I know everything that you do. I know that people praise you. They think that you are alive. But that is not true, because really you are dead in your spirits.
• Revelation 1:11The voice said: ‘When you see these things, write them in a book. Then you must send the book to the seven churches in these cities: Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, Laodicea.’
• Revelation 1:16He held seven stars in his right hand. A sword with two sharp edges came out of his mouth. His face was like the sun when it shines very brightly.
• Revelation 8:10Then the third angel made a sound with his trumpet. I saw a very big star, which was burning with a bright light. It fell from the sky on a third of the rivers and the springs of water.
• Revelation 12:1A very wonderful thing then appeared in the sky. I saw a woman who was wearing the sun like her clothes. The moon was under her feet. A crown of 12 stars was on her head.
• John 5:35John was like a light that shone brightly. For a certain time, you enjoyed the light that he gave.
• Revelation 1:12I turned round to see who was speaking to me. When I turned, I saw seven gold lampstands with their lights.
• Ezekiel 28:13You lived in God's beautiful garden, Eden. You wore valuable jewels on your clothes. The jewels were ruby, topaz, emerald, chrysolite, onyx, jasper, sapphire, turquoise and beryl. They were fixed to pieces of gold. They were ready for you to wear on the day that you were born.
• Matthew 18:20Two or more people may meet together because they believe in me. If they do that, I will be there with them.’
• Matthew 28:20Teach them to obey everything that I have taught you. You can be sure that I will be with you always. I will be with you until the end of time.’

Commentaries on Revelation 2:1

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 1Unto the angel of the Church of Ephesus - By , angel, we are to understand the messenger or person sent by God to preside over this Church; and to him the epistle is directed, not as pointing out his state, but the state of the Church under his care. Angel of the Church here answers exactly to that officer of the synagogue among the Jews called ציבור שליח sheliach tsibbur, the messenger of the Church, whose business it was to read, pray, and teach in the…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1The Epistle to the Church at Ephesus The contents of the epistle to the church at Ephesus - the first addressed - are these: (1)The attribute of the Saviour referred to is, that he “holds the stars in his right hand, and walks in the midst of the golden candlesticks,” Revelation 2:1. (2)he commends them for their patience, and for their opposition to those who are evil, and for their zeal and fidelity in carefully examining into the character of some who…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 1Epistles to the churches in Asia, with warnings and encouragements, To the church at Ephesus; (1-7) at Smyrna; (8-11) at Pergamos; (12-17) and at Thyatira. (18-29) Verses 1-7 These churches were in such different states as to purity of doctrine and the power of godliness, that the words of Christ to them will always suit the cases of other churches, and professors. Christ knows and observes their state; though in heaven, yet he walks in the midst of his…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1To the angel … write: This repeated command introducing each of the seven letters shows the message's importance. Ephesus became the main city of the Roman province of Asia. It had the temple of Artemis (see Acts 19:23–35) and became the richest banking center in that region. The people of Ephesus were very independent. They refused help from Alexander to rebuild their temple after its destruction in the 300s BC. They argued that one god should not build…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-29Each of the seven epistles in this and the third chapter, commences with, "I know thy works." Each contains a promise from Christ, "To him that overcometh." Each ends with, "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches." The title of our Lord in each case accords with the nature of the address, and is mainly taken from the imagery of the vision, Re 1:12-16. Each address has a threat or a promise, and most of the addresses have…Read the comment

Topics related to Revelation 2:1

• Angel of the Churches
• Church
• Ephesus
• Minister, Christian

In the dictionaries

• Ephesus
• Ephesus, Ephesian
• Seven Stars
• Angel
• Bed
• Church
• Faithful
• Alliance
• Apostolic Age
• Asia Minor

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