New International Version
Revelation 3:8
8I 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.
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.
- 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.
- New Living Translation (NLT)“I know all the things you do, and I have opened a door for you that no one can close. You have little strength, yet you obeyed my word and did not deny me.
Context of Revelation 3:8
6Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. 7“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. 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. 9I will make those who are of the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews though they are not, but are liars—I will make them come and fall down at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you. 10Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the 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 angel of the church in Sardis write: These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead.
- Revelation 2:2I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false.
- Revelation 3:7“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.
- 1 Corinthians 16:9because a great door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many who oppose me.
- 2 Corinthians 2:12Now when I went to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ and found that the Lord had opened a door for me,
- Colossians 4:3And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains.
- Daniel 11:34When they fall, they will receive a little help, and many who are not sincere will join them.
- 2 Corinthians 12:8Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me.
- Philippians 4:13I can do all this through him who gives me strength.
- Revelation 3:10Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth.
- Revelation 22:7“Look, I am coming soon! Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy written in this scroll.”
- John 14:21Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.”
- John 15:20Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also.
- John 17:6“I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word.
- 2 Timothy 4:7I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
- Revelation 2:13I know where you live—where Satan has his throne. Yet you remain true to my name. You did not renounce your faith in me, not even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness, who was put to death in your city—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
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