God’s Word Translation
Revelation 3:8
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.
Revelation 3:8 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.
- New International Version (NIV)I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.
- English Standard Version (ESV)"'I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.
- New King James Version (NKJV)“I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name.
Context of Revelation 3:8
6Let the person who has ears listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. 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: I 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. 10Because you have obeyed my command to endure, I will keep you safe during the time of testing which is coming to the whole world to test those living on earth.
Read all of Revelation 3Revelation 3:8 word by word
οἶδά σου τὰ ἔργα. ἰδοὺ δέδωκα ἐνώπιόν σου θύραν ἠνεῳγμένην ἣν οὐδεὶς δύναται κλεῖσαι αὐτήν· ὅτι μικρὰν ἔχεις δύναμιν καὶ ἐτήρησάς μου τὸν λόγον καὶ οὐκ ἠρνήσω τὸ ὄνομά μου.Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- I knowεἴδωeidō · to perceive: understandG1492
- thyσύsu · youG4771
- worksὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- worksἔργονergon · workG2041
- beholdὁράωhoraō · to see: seeG3708
- I have setδίδωμιdidōmi · to giveG1325
- beforeἐνώπιονenōpion · beforeG1799
- anθύραthura · doorG2374
- openἀνοίγωanoigō · to openG455
- andκαίkai · andG2532
- no manοὐδείςoudeis · noneG3762
- canδύναμαιdunamai · be ableG1410
- shutκλείωkleiō · to shutG2808
- itαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
- forὅτιhoti · that/since: sinceG3754
- thou hastἔχωechō · to have/beG2192
- a littleμικρόςmikros mikroteros · smallG3398
- strengthδύναμιςdunamis · powerG1411
- hast keptτηρέωtēreō · to keep: observeG5083
- myἐγώegō · I/weG1473
- wordλόγοςlogos · wordG3056
- hastἀρνέομαιarneomai · to denyG720
- notοὐou · noG3756
- nameὄνομαonoma · nameG3686
Cross-references for Revelation 3:8
- 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 2:2I 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.
- Revelation 3:7“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:
- 1 Corinthians 16:9I have a great opportunity to do effective work here, although there are many people who oppose me.
- 2 Corinthians 2:12When I went to the city of Troas, the Lord gave me an opportunity to spread the Good News about Christ.
- Colossians 4:3At the same time also pray for us. Pray that God will give us an opportunity to speak the word so that we may tell the mystery about Christ. It is because of this mystery that I am a prisoner.
- Daniel 11:34As they are being defeated, they will get a little help, but many who are not sincere will join them.
- 2 Corinthians 12:8I begged the Lord three times to take it away from me.
- Philippians 4:13I can do everything through Christ who strengthens me.
- Revelation 3:10Because you have obeyed my command to endure, I will keep you safe during the time of testing which is coming to the whole world to test those living on earth.
- Revelation 22:7I’m coming soon! Blessed is the one who follows the words of the prophecy in this book.”
- John 14:21Whoever knows and obeys my commandments is the person who loves me. Those who love me will have my Father’s love, and I, too, will love them and show myself to them.”
- John 15:20Remember what I told you: ‘A servant isn’t greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they did what I said, they will also do what you say.
- John 17:6“I made your name known to the people you gave me. They are from this world. They belonged to you, and you gave them to me. They did what you told them.
- 2 Timothy 4:7I have fought the good fight. I have completed the race. I have kept the faith.
- Revelation 2:13I 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.
Commentaries on Revelation 3:8
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 8I have set before thee an open door - I have opened to thee a door to proclaim and diffuse my word; and, notwithstanding there are many adversaries to the spread of my Gospel, yet none of them shall be able to prevent it. Thou hast a little strength - Very little political authority or influence; yet thou hast kept my word - hast kept the true doctrine; and hast not denied my name, by taking shelter in heathenism when Christianity was persecuted. The…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 8I know thy works - See the notes on Revelation 2:2. Behold, I have set before thee an open door - Referring to his authority as stated in Revelation 3:7. The “open door” here evidently refers to the enjoyment of some privilege or honor; and, so far as the language is concerned, it may refer to any one of the following things - either: (1)the ability to do good - represented as the “opening of the door.” Compare Acts 14:27; 1 Corinthians 16:9; 2…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. 8I know: See study note on Revelation 2:2–3. little strength: Like the city of Philadelphia itself (see study note on Revelation 3:7), the Christians there were not wealthy and lacked status and power. However, Christ opened a door for them (see Revelation 3:7) to claim his status and authority. Despite their weakness, the Philadelphia church obeyed Christ’s word and did not deny him under pressure.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 88. I have set--Greek, "given": it is My gracious gift to thee. open door--for evangelization; a door of spiritual usefulness. The opening of a door by Him to the Philadelphian Church accords with the previous assignation to Him of "the key of David." and--The three oldest manuscripts, A, B, C, and Origen read, "which no man can shut." for--"because." a little--This gives the idea that Christ says, He sets before Philadelphia an open door because she has…Read the comment
Topics related to Revelation 3:8
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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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