Revelation 2:12

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 going to suffer. The devil is going to throw some of you into prison so that you may be tested. Your suffering will go on for ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. 11Let the person who has ears listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. Everyone who wins the victory will never be hurt by the second death. “To the messenger of the church in Pergamum, write: The one who holds the sharp two-edged sword says: 13I know where you live. Satan’s throne is there. You hold on to my name and have not denied your belief in me, even in the days of Antipas. He was my faithful witness who was killed in your presence, where Satan lives. 14But I have a few things against you: You have among you those who follow what Balaam taught Balak. Balak trapped the people of Israel by ⌞encouraging⌟ them to eat food sacrificed to idols and to sin sexually.

Revelation 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“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 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 2:27Those people will rule the nations with iron scepters and shatter them like pottery.
• Revelation 2:16So return to me and change the way you think and act, or I will come to you quickly and wage war against them with the sword from my mouth.
• 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 19:15A sharp sword comes out of his mouth to defeat the nations. He will rule them with an iron scepter and tread the winepress of the fierce anger of God Almighty.
• Isaiah 11:4He will judge the poor justly. He will make fair decisions for the humble people on earth. He will strike the earth with a rod from his mouth. He will kill the wicked with the breath from his lips.
• Hebrews 4:12God’s word is living and active. It is sharper than any two-edged sword and cuts as deep as the place where soul and spirit meet, the place where joints and marrow meet. God’s word judges a person’s thoughts and intentions.

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

• Angel of the Churches
• Church
• Minister, Christian
• Pergamos
• Sword

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