Revelation 2:9

Revelation 2:9 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.
• New International Version (NIV)I know your afflictions and your poverty—yet you are rich! I know about the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.
• English Standard Version (ESV)"'I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich) and the slander of those who say that they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.
• New King James Version (NKJV)“I know your works, tribulation, and poverty (but you are rich); and I know the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.

Context of Revelation 2:9

7He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will grant to eat of the tree of life which is in the Paradise of God.’ 8“And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: The first and the last, who was dead, and has come to life, says this: ‘I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich), and the blasphemy by those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. 10Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, so that you will be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. 11He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes will not be hurt by the second death.’

Revelation 2:9 word by word

οἶδά σου τὴν θλῖψιν καὶ τὴν πτωχείαν, ἀλλὰ πλούσιος εἶ, καὶ τὴν βλασφημίαν ἐκ τῶν λεγόντων Ἰουδαίους εἶναι ἑαυτοὺς καὶ οὐκ εἰσίν, ἀλλὰ συναγωγὴ τοῦ σατανᾶ.Read the interlinear

• tribulationθλῖψιςthlipsis · pressureG2347
• povertyπτωχείαptōcheia · povertyG4432
• richπλούσιοςplousios · richG4145
• and the blasphemyβλασφημίαblasphēmia · blasphemyG988
• by thoseὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• sayλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
• they are JewsἸουδαῖοςIoudaios · JewG2453
• and are not, but are a synagogueσυναγωγήsunagōgē · synagogueG4864
• SatanΣατανᾶςSatanas · SatanG4567

Cross-references for Revelation 2:9

• Revelation 2:2‘I know your deeds and your toil and perseverance, and that you cannot tolerate evil men, and you put to the test those who call themselves apostles, and they are not, and you found them to be false;
• Revelation 7:14I said to him, “My lord, you know.” And he said to me, “These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
• John 16:33These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”
• Acts 14:22strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying, “Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.”
• Romans 5:3And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance;
• Romans 8:35Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
• Romans 12:12rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer,
• 1 Thessalonians 3:4For indeed when we were with you, we kept telling you in advance that we were going to suffer affliction; and so it came to pass, as you know.
• 2 Thessalonians 1:6For after all it is only just for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you,
• Luke 4:18“The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim release to the captives, And recovery of sight to the blind, To set free those who are oppressed,
• Luke 6:20And turning His gaze toward His disciples, He began to say, “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.
• 2 Corinthians 8:2that in a great ordeal of affliction their abundance of joy and their deep poverty overflowed in the wealth of their liberality.
• James 2:5Listen, my beloved brethren: did not God choose the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?
• Revelation 3:17Because you say, “I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing,” and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked,
• Luke 12:21So is the man who stores up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”
• 2 Corinthians 6:10as sorrowful yet always rejoicing, as poor yet making many rich, as having nothing yet possessing all things.

Commentaries on Revelation 2:9

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 9I know thy works - As he had spoken to the preceding Church, so he speaks to this: I know all that ye have done, and all that ye have suffered. The tribulation here mentioned must mean persecution, either from the Jews, the heathens, or from the heretics, who, because of their flesh-pampering doctrines might have had many partisans at Smyrna. And poverty - Stripped probably of all their temporal possessions, because of their attachment to the Gospel. But…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 9I know thy works - The uniform method of introducing these epistles, implying a most intimate acquaintance with all that pertained to the church. See the notes on Revelation 2:2. And tribulation - This word is of a general signification, and probably includes all that they suffered in any form, whether from persecution, poverty, or the blasphemy of opposers. And poverty - It would seem that this church, at that time, was eminently poor, for this is not…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 8-11Verses 8-11 Our Lord Jesus is the First, for by him were all things made; he was before all things, with God, and is God himself. He is the Last, for he will be the Judge of all. As this First and Last, who was dead and is alive, is the believer's Brother and Friend, he must be rich in the deepest poverty, honourable amidst the lowest abasement, and happy under the heaviest tribulation, like the church of Smyrna. Many who are rich as to this world, are…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 9Jesus linked material poverty with the blessing of being rich in God's Kingdom (Matthew 5:3, 10–12; Luke 6:20). Jews without faith are criticized for siding with Satan against Christianity (Revelation 3:9; see John 8:44; Acts 14:2–5; 17:13; 18:6; 20:3; Galatians 5:11; 1 Thessalonians 2:14–16). At the Jewish council of Jamnia, Jewish leaders decided that Christians were unholy and should be excluded. John was not speaking against Jewish people as a whole…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 99. thy works, and--omitted in two oldest manuscripts, Vulgate, and Coptic. Supported by one oldest manuscript. tribulation--owing to persecution. poverty--owing to "the spoiling of their goods." but thou art rich--in grace. Contrast Laodicea, rich in the world's eyes and her own, poor before God. "There are both poor rich-men, and rich poor-men in God's sight" [Trench]. blasphemy of them--blasphemous calumny of thee on the part of (or arising from) them…Read the comment

Topics related to Revelation 2:9

• Afflictions and Adversities
• Blasphemy
• Church
• Hypocrisy
• Persecution
• Satan
• Synagogue

In the dictionaries

• Satan
• Satan, devil, evil one
• Synagogue of Satan
• Angel
• Bed
• Faithful
• Smyrna
• Alliance
• Apostolic Age
• Asia Minor

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