New King James Version
Revelation 3:8
8“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.
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 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
6“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ’ 7“And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write, ‘These things says He who is holy, He who is true, “He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens”: “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. 9Indeed I will make those of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews and are not, but lie—indeed I will make them come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you. 10Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on 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“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 2:2“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;
- Revelation 3:7“And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write, ‘These things says He who is holy, He who is true, “He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens”:
- 1 Corinthians 16:9For a great and effective door has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.
- 2 Corinthians 2:12Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ’s gospel, and a door was opened to me by the Lord,
- Colossians 4:3meanwhile praying also for us, that God would open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in chains,
- Daniel 11:34Now when they fall, they shall be aided with a little help; but many shall join with them by intrigue.
- 2 Corinthians 12:8Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me.
- Philippians 4:13I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
- Revelation 3:10Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.
- Revelation 22:7“Behold, I am coming quickly! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.”
- John 14:21He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.”
- John 15:20Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also.
- John 17:6“I have manifested Your name to the men whom You have given Me out of the world. They were Yours, You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word.
- 2 Timothy 4:7I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
- Revelation 2:13“I know your works, and where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is. And you hold fast to My name, and did not deny My faith even in the days in which Antipas was My faithful martyr, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells.
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
New King James Version — © 1982 Thomas Nelson, Inc
Commentaries