God’s Word Translation
Revelation 3:7
7“To the messenger of the church in Philadelphia, write: The one who is holy, who is true, who has the key of David, who opens ⌞a door⌟ that no one can shut, and who shuts ⌞a door⌟ that no one can open, says:
Revelation 3:7 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;
- New International Version (NIV)“To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open.
- English Standard Version (ESV)"And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: 'The words of the holy one, the true one, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one opens.
- New King James Version (NKJV)“And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write, ‘These things says He who is holy, He who is true, “He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens”:
Context of Revelation 3:7
5Everyone who wins the victory this way will wear white clothes. I will never erase their names from the Book of Life. I will acknowledge them in the presence of my Father and his angels. 6Let the person who has ears listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. “To the messenger of the church in Philadelphia, write: The one who is holy, who is true, who has the key of David, who opens ⌞a door⌟ that no one can shut, and who shuts ⌞a door⌟ that no one can open, says: 8I know what you have done. See, I have opened a door in front of you that no one can shut. You only have a little strength, but you have paid attention to my word and have not denied my name. 9I will make those who are in Satan’s synagogue come and bow at your feet and realize that I have loved you. They claim that they are Jewish, but they are lying.
Read all of Revelation 3Revelation 3:7 word by word
Καὶ τῷ ἀγγέλῳ τῆς ἐν Φιλαδελφείᾳ ἐκκλησίας γράψον· τάδε λέγει ὁ ἅγιος, ὁ ἀληθινός, ὁ ἔχων τὴν κλεῖν Δαυίδ, ὁ ἀνοίγων καὶ οὐδεὶς κλείσει καὶ κλείων καὶ οὐδεὶς ἀνοίγει·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
- PhiladelphiaΦιλαδέλφειαPhiladelpheia · PhiladelphiaG5359
- writeγράφωgraphō · to writeG1125
- These thingsὅδεhode hēde tode · thisG3592
- saithλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
- he that is holyἅγιοςhagios · holyG40
- he that is trueἀληθινόςalēthinos · trueG228
- he that hathἔχωechō · to have/beG2192
- the keyκλείςkleis · keyG2807
- of DavidΔαυείδ, Δαυίδ, ΔαβίδDabid · DavidG1138
- he that openethἀνοίγωanoigō · to openG455
- no manοὐδείςoudeis · noneG3762
- shuttethκλείωkleiō · to shutG2808
Cross-references for Revelation 3:7
- 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 2:1“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 4:8Each of the four living creatures had six wings and were covered with eyes, inside and out. Without stopping day or night they were singing, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, who is, and who is coming.”
- Revelation 6:10They cried out in a loud voice, “Holy and true Master, how long before you judge and take revenge on those living on earth who shed our blood?”
- Psalms 16:10because you do not abandon my soul to the grave or allow your holy one to decay.
- Psalms 89:18Our shield belongs to the Lord. Our king belongs to the Holy One of Israel.
- Psalms 145:17The Lord is fair in all his ways and faithful in everything he does.
- Isaiah 6:3They called to each other and said, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of Armies! The whole earth is filled with his glory.”
- Isaiah 30:11Get out of our way! Stop blocking our path! Get the Holy One of Israel out of our sight.’ ”
- Isaiah 41:14Don’t be afraid, Jacob, you worm. You people of Israel, I will help you,” declares the Lord, your Defender, the Holy One of Israel.
- Isaiah 47:4Our defender is the Holy One of Israel. His name is the Lord of Armies.
- Isaiah 48:17This is what the Lord, your Defender, the Holy One of Israel, says: I am the Lord your God. I teach you what is best for you. I lead you where you should go.
- Isaiah 49:7The Lord is the defender of Israel, its Holy One. This is what the Lord says to the despised one, to the one scorned by the nation, to the slave of rulers: Kings will see ⌞you⌟ and stand. Princes will see ⌞you⌟ and bow. The Lord is faithful. The Holy One of Israel has chosen you.
- Isaiah 54:5Your husband is your maker. His name is the Lord of Armies. Your defender is the Holy One of Israel. He is called the God of the whole earth.
- Isaiah 55:5You will summon a nation that you don’t know, and a nation that doesn’t know you will run to you because of the Lord your God, because of the Holy One of Israel. He has honored you.”
- Mark 1:24“What do you want with us, Jesus from Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!”
Commentaries on Revelation 3:7
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 7He that is holy - In whom holiness essentially dwells, and from whom all holiness is derived. He that is true - He who is the fountain of truth; who cannot lie nor be imposed on; from whom all truth proceeds; and whose veracity in his Revelation is unimpeachable. He that hath the key of David - See this metaphor explained, Matthew 16:19. Key is the emblem of authority and knowledge; the key of David is the regal right or authority of David. David could…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 7And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia - See the notes on Revelation 1:20. These things saith he that is holy - This refers undoubtedly to the Lord Jesus. The appellation holy, or the holy one, is one that befits him, and is not infrequently given to him in the New Testament, Luke 1:35; Acts 2:27; Acts 3:14. It is not only an appellation appropriate to the Saviour, but well adapted to be employed when he is addressing the churches. Our impression…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 7-13Verses 7-13 The same Lord Jesus has the key of government and authority in and over the church. He opens a door of opportunity to his churches; he opens a door of utterance to his ministers; he opens a door of entrance, opens the heart. He shuts the door of heaven against the foolish, who sleep away their day of grace; and against the workers of iniquity, how vain and confident soever they may be. The church in Philadelphia is commended; yet with a gentle…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 7Philadelphia was located in the foothills of the Timolus Mountains, with fertile plains to the east. The city often suffered from severe earthquakes, which left it weak and poor. This verse uses phrases from Isaiah 22:22. key of David: Jesus the Messiah, God's chosen one, is the successor to David’s royal line. As the gatekeeper of heaven, Jesus has the authority to open and close the way to heaven (compare Matthew 16:19).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 77. Philadelphia--in Lydia, twenty-eight miles southeast of Sardis, built by Attalus Philadelphus, king of Pergamos, who died A.D. 138. It was nearly destroyed by an earthquake in the reign of Tiberius [Tacitus, Annals, 2.47]. The connection of this Church with Jews there causes the address to it to have an Old Testament coloring in the images employed. It and Smyrna alone of the seven receive unmixed praise. he that is holy--as in the Old Testament, "the…Read the comment
Topics related to Revelation 3:7
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Revelation 3
- 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
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