New English Translation
Revelation 2:8
8“To the angel of the church in Smyrna write the following: “This is the solemn pronouncement of the one who is the first and the last, the one who was dead, but came to life:
Revelation 2:8 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive;
- New International Version (NIV)“To the angel of the church in Smyrna write: These are the words of him who is the First and the Last, who died and came to life again.
- English Standard Version (ESV)"And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: 'The words of the first and the last, who died and came to life.
- New King James Version (NKJV)“And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write, ‘These things says the First and the Last, who was dead, and came to life:
Context of Revelation 2:8
6But you do have this going for you: You hate what the Nicolaitans practice – practices I also hate. 7The one who has an ear had better hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers, I will permit him to eat from the tree of life that is in the paradise of God.’ “To the angel of the church in Smyrna write the following: “This is the solemn pronouncement of the one who is the first and the last, the one who was dead, but came to life: 9‘I know the distress you are suffering and your poverty (but you are rich). I also know the slander against you by those who call themselves Jews and really are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. 10Do not be afraid of the things you are about to suffer. The devil is about to have some of you thrown into prison so you may be tested, and you will experience suffering for ten days. Remain faithful even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown that is life itself.
Read all of Revelation 2Revelation 2:8 word by word
Καὶ τῷ ἀγγέλῳ τῆς ἐν Σμύρνῃ ἐκκλησίας γράψον· τάδε λέγει ὁ πρῶτος καὶ ὁ ἔσχατος, ὃς ἐγένετο νεκρὸς καὶ ἔζησεν·Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Andκαίkai · andG2532
- unto the angelὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- unto the angelἄγγελοςaggelos · angelG32
- of the churchἐκκλησίαekklēsia · assemblyG1577
- in SmyrnaΣμύρναSmurnaios · SmyrnaG4668
- writeγράφωgraphō · to writeG1125
- These thingsὅδεhode hēde tode · thisG3592
- saithλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
- the firstπρῶτοςprōtos · firstG4413
- the lastἔσχατοςeschatos · last/leastG2078
- whichὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
- wasγίνομαιginomai · to beG1096
- deadνεκρόςnekros · deadG3498
- is aliveζάωzaō · to liveG2198
Cross-references for Revelation 2:8
- Revelation 2:1“To the angel of the church in Ephesus, write the following: “This is the solemn pronouncement of the one who has a firm grasp on the seven stars in his right hand – the one who walks among the seven golden lampstands:
- Revelation 1:8“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God – the one who is, and who was, and who is still to come – the All-Powerful!
Commentaries on Revelation 2:8
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 8Unto the angel - This was probably the famous Polycarp. See below. These things saith the first and the last - He who is eternal; from whom all things come, and to whom all things must return. Which was dead, for the redemption of the world; and is alive to die no more for ever, his glorified humanity being enthroned at the Father's right hand.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 8And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write - On the meaning of the word “angel,” see the notes on Revelation 1:20. These things saith the first and the last - See the notes on Revelation 1:8, Revelation 1:17. Which was dead, and is alive - See the notes on Revelation 1:18. The idea is, that he is a Living Saviour; and there was a propriety in referring to that fact here from the nature of the promise which he was about to make to the church at…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. 8The seaport village of Smyrna was destroyed and rebuilt many times. Like Christ, the city was once dead but is now alive. It is the only one of the seven cities that still exists today as Izmir in modern Turkey.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 88. Smyrna--in Ionia, a little to the north of Ephesus. Polycarp, martyred in A.D. 168, eighty-six years after his conversion, was bishop, and probably "the angel of the Church in Smyrna" meant here. The allusions to persecutions and faithfulness unto death accord with this view. Ignatius [The Martyrdom of Ignatius 3], on his way to martyrdom in Rome, wrote to Polycarp, then (A.D. 108) bishop of Smyrna; if his bishopric commenced ten or twelve years…Read the comment
Topics related to Revelation 2:8
In the dictionaries
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
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