God’s Word Translation
Revelation 2:1
1“To the messenger of the church in Ephesus, write: The one who holds the seven stars in his right hand, the one who walks among the seven gold lamp stands, says:
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
“To the messenger of the church in Ephesus, write: The one who holds the seven stars in his right hand, the one who walks among the seven gold lamp stands, says: 2I know what you have done—how hard you have worked and how you have endured. I also know that you cannot tolerate wicked people. You have tested those who call themselves apostles but are not apostles. You have discovered that they are liars. 3You have endured, suffered trouble because of my name, and have not grown weary.
Read all of Revelation 2Revelation 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“To the messenger of the church in Smyrna, write: The first and the last, who was dead and became alive, says:
- Revelation 3:1“To the messenger of the church in Sardis, write: The one who has God’s seven spirits and the seven stars says: I know what you have done. You are known for being alive, but you are dead.
- 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 1:16In his right hand he held seven stars, and out of his mouth came a sharp, two-edged sword. His face was like the sun when it shines in all its brightness.
- Revelation 8:10When the third angel blew his trumpet, a huge star flaming like a torch fell from the sky. It fell on one-third of the rivers and on the springs.
- Revelation 12:1A spectacular sign appeared in the sky: There was a woman who was dressed in the sun, who had the moon under her feet and a crown of 12 stars on her head.
- John 5:35John was a lamp that gave off brilliant light. For a time you enjoyed the pleasure of his light.
- Revelation 1:12I turned toward the voice which was talking to me, and when I turned, I saw seven gold lamp stands.
- Ezekiel 28:13You were in Eden, God’s garden. You were covered with every kind of precious stone: red quartz, topaz, crystal, beryl, onyx, gray quartz, sapphire, turquoise, and emerald. Your settings and your sockets were made of gold when you were created.
- Matthew 18:20Where two or three have come together in my name, I am there among them.”
- Matthew 28:20Teach them to do everything I have commanded you. “And remember that I am always 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
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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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