New King James Version
Revelation 2:1
1“To the angel of the church of Ephesus write, ‘These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands:
Revelation 2:1 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks;
- New International Version (NIV)“To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands.
- English Standard Version (ESV)"To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: 'The words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks among the seven golden lampstands.
- New Living Translation (NLT)“Write this letter to the angel of the church in Ephesus. This is the message from the one who holds the seven stars in his right hand, the one who walks among the seven gold lampstands:
Context of Revelation 2:1
“To the angel of the church of Ephesus write, ‘These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands: 2“I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; 3and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary.
Read all of Revelation 2Revelation 2:1 word by word
Τῷ ἀγγέλῳ τῆς ἐν Ἐφέσῳ ἐκκλησίας γράψον· τάδε λέγει ὁ κρατῶν τοὺς ἑπτὰ ἀστέρας ἐν τῇ δεξιᾷ αὐτοῦ, ὁ περιπατῶν ἐν μέσῳ τῶν ἑπτὰ λυχνιῶν τῶν χρυσῶν·Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Unto the angelὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- Unto the angelἄγγελοςaggelos · angel: messengerG32
- of the churchἐκκλησίαekklēsia · assemblyG1577
- of EphesusἘφεσῖνοςEphesinos · EphesusG2179
- writeγράφωgraphō · to writeG1125
- These thingsὅδεhode hēde tode · thisG3592
- saithλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
- he that holdethκρατέωkrateō · to grasp/seizeG2902
- theἀστήρastēr · starG792
- sevenἑπτάhepta · sevenG2033
- inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
- hisαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
- right handδεξιόςdexios · rightG1188
- who walkethπεριπατέωperipateō · to walkG4043
- the midstμέσοςmesos · midstG3319
- of theλυχνίαluchnia · lampstandG3087
- goldenχρύσεοςchruseos · goldenG5552
Cross-references for Revelation 2:1
- Revelation 2:8“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:
- Revelation 3:1“And to the angel of the church in Sardis write, ‘These things says He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars: “I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead.
- Revelation 1:11saying, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last,” and, “What you see, write in a book and send it to the seven churches which are in Asia: to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamos, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea.”
- Revelation 1:16He had in His right hand seven stars, out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, and His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength.
- Revelation 8:10Then the third angel sounded: And a great star fell from heaven, burning like a torch, and it fell on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water.
- Revelation 12:1Now a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a garland of twelve stars.
- John 5:35He was the burning and shining lamp, and you were willing for a time to rejoice in his light.
- Revelation 1:12Then I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands,
- Ezekiel 28:13You were in Eden, the garden of God; Every precious stone was your covering: The sardius, topaz, and diamond, Beryl, onyx, and jasper, Sapphire, turquoise, and emerald with gold. The workmanship of your timbrels and pipes Was prepared for you on the day you were created.
- Matthew 18:20For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.”
- Matthew 28:20teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.
Commentaries on Revelation 2:1
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 1Unto the angel of the Church of Ephesus - By , angel, we are to understand the messenger or person sent by God to preside over this Church; and to him the epistle is directed, not as pointing out his state, but the state of the Church under his care. Angel of the Church here answers exactly to that officer of the synagogue among the Jews called ציבור שליח sheliach tsibbur, the messenger of the Church, whose business it was to read, pray, and teach in the…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1The Epistle to the Church at Ephesus The contents of the epistle to the church at Ephesus - the first addressed - are these: (1)The attribute of the Saviour referred to is, that he “holds the stars in his right hand, and walks in the midst of the golden candlesticks,” Revelation 2:1. (2)he commends them for their patience, and for their opposition to those who are evil, and for their zeal and fidelity in carefully examining into the character of some who…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 1Epistles to the churches in Asia, with warnings and encouragements, To the church at Ephesus; (1-7) at Smyrna; (8-11) at Pergamos; (12-17) and at Thyatira. (18-29) Verses 1-7 These churches were in such different states as to purity of doctrine and the power of godliness, that the words of Christ to them will always suit the cases of other churches, and professors. Christ knows and observes their state; though in heaven, yet he walks in the midst of his…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1To the angel … write: This repeated command introducing each of the seven letters shows the message's importance. Ephesus became the main city of the Roman province of Asia. It had the temple of Artemis (see Acts 19:23–35) and became the richest banking center in that region. The people of Ephesus were very independent. They refused help from Alexander to rebuild their temple after its destruction in the 300s BC. They argued that one god should not build…Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-29Each of the seven epistles in this and the third chapter, commences with, "I know thy works." Each contains a promise from Christ, "To him that overcometh." Each ends with, "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches." The title of our Lord in each case accords with the nature of the address, and is mainly taken from the imagery of the vision, Re 1:12-16. Each address has a threat or a promise, and most of the addresses have…Read the comment
Topics related to Revelation 2:1
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
New King James Version — © 1982 Thomas Nelson, Inc
Commentaries