God’s Word Translation
Revelation 22:18
18I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy in this book: If anyone adds anything to this, God will strike him with the plagues that are written in this book.
Revelation 22:18 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:
- New International Version (NIV)I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to that person the plagues described in this scroll.
- English Standard Version (ESV)I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book,
- New King James Version (NKJV)For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book;
Context of Revelation 22:18
16“I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give this testimony to you for the churches. I am the root and descendant of David. I am the bright morning star.” 17The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” Let those who hear this say, “Come!” Let those who are thirsty come! Let those who want the water of life take it as a gift. I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy in this book: If anyone adds anything to this, God will strike him with the plagues that are written in this book. 19If anyone takes away any words from this book of prophecy, God will take away his portion of the tree of life and the holy city that are described in this book. 20The one who is testifying to these things says, “Yes, I’m coming soon!” Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!
Read all of Revelation 22Revelation 22:18 word by word
Μαρτυρῶ ἐγὼ παντὶ τῷ ἀκούοντι τοὺς λόγους τῆς προφητείας τοῦ βιβλίου τούτου· ἐάν τις ἐπιθῇ ἐπ᾽ αὐτά, ἐπιθήσει ὁ θεὸς ἐπ᾽ αὐτὸν τὰς πληγὰς τὰς γεγραμμένας ἐν τῷ βιβλίῳ τούτῳ.Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Forγάρgar · forG1063
- I testifyσυμμαρτυρέωsummartureō · to testify withG4828
- unto every manπᾶςpas · allG3956
- that hearethἀκούωakouō · to hearG191
- the wordsὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- the wordsλόγοςlogos · wordG3056
- of the prophecyπροφητείαprophēteia · prophecyG4394
- of thisοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
- bookβιβλίονbiblion · scrollG975
- Ifἐάνean · ifG1437
- any manτιςtis · oneG5100
- shall addἐπιτίθημιepitithēmi · to put/lay onG2007
- untoπρόςpros · to/withG4314
- Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
- untoἐπίepi · upon/to/againstG1909
- himαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
- the plaguesπληγήplēgē · plague/blow/woundG4127
- that are writtenγράφωgraphō · to writeG1125
- inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
Cross-references for Revelation 22:18
- Revelation 22:16“I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give this testimony to you for the churches. I am the root and descendant of David. I am the bright morning star.”
- Revelation 3:14“To the messenger of the church in Laodicea, write: The amen, the witness who is faithful and true, the source of God’s creation, says:
- Ephesians 4:17So I tell you and encourage you in the Lord’s name not to live any longer like other people in the world. Their minds are set on worthless things.
- 1 Thessalonians 4:6No one should take advantage of or exploit other believers that way. The Lord is the one who punishes people for all these things. We’ve already told you and warned you about this.
- Revelation 1:3Blessed is the one who reads, as well as those who hear the words of this prophecy and pay attention to what is written in it because the time is near.
- Deuteronomy 4:2Never add anything to what I command you, or take anything away from it. Then you will be able to obey the commands of the Lord your God that I give you.
- Deuteronomy 12:32Be sure to do everything I command you. Never add anything to it or take anything away from it.
- Proverbs 30:6Do not add to his words, or he will reprimand you, and you will be found to be a liar.
- Matthew 15:6does not have to honor his father. Because of your traditions you have destroyed the authority of God’s word.
- Revelation 14:10will drink the wine of God’s fury, which has been poured unmixed into the cup of God’s anger. Then he will be tortured by fiery sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and the lamb.
- Revelation 15:1I saw another sign in heaven. It was spectacular and amazing. There were seven angels with the last seven plagues which are the final expression of God’s anger.
- Revelation 16:1I heard a loud voice from the temple saying to the seven angels, “Pour the seven bowls of God’s anger over the earth.”
- Revelation 19:20The beast and the false prophet who had done miracles for the beast were captured. By these miracles the false prophet had deceived those who had the brand of the beast and worshiped its statue. Both of them were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur.
- Revelation 20:10The devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the fiery lake of sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet were also thrown. They will be tortured day and night forever and ever.
- Leviticus 26:18“If you still will not listen to me, I will discipline you seven times for your sins.
Commentaries on Revelation 22:18
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 18If any man shall add - Shall give any other meaning to these prophecies, or any other application of them than God intends, he, though not originally intended, shall have the plagues threatened in this book for his portion.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 18For I testify - The writer does not specify who is meant by the word “I” in this place. The most natural construction is to refer it to the writer himself, and not to the angel, or the Saviour. The meaning is, “I bear this solemn witness, or make this solemn affirmation, in conclusion.” The object is to guard his book against being corrupted by any interpolation or change. It would seem not improbable, from this, that as early as the time of John, books…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 6-19Verses 6-19 The Lord Jesus spake by the angel, solemnly confirming the contents of this book, particularly of this last vision. He is the Lord God faithful and true. Also by his messengers; the holy angels showed them to holy men of God. They are things that must shortly be done; Christ will come quickly, and put all things out of doubt. And by the integrity of that angel who had been the apostle's interpreter. He refused to accept religious worship from…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 18-19I testify: John swears to protect the integrity of the Book of Revelation. He curses anyone who changes the book's content or message (compare Deuteronomy 4:2; 12:32). This curse contrasts with the blessing for those who read aloud, listen to, and follow the prophecy (Revelation 1:3). When Revelation was written, scribes sometimes changed books to fit their views. Early Christians quickly developed ways to verify messages and messengers (see John 21:24; 1…Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1818. For I testify--None of our manuscripts have this. A, B, Vulgate, and Andreas read, "I" emphatic in the Greek. "I testify." unto these things--A, B, and Andreas read, "unto them." add ... add--just retribution in kind.Read the comment
Topics related to Revelation 22:18
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Revelation 22
- 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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