Revelation 3:15

Revelation 3:15 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.
• New International Version (NIV)I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other!
• English Standard Version (ESV)"'I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot!
• New King James Version (NKJV)“I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot.

Context of Revelation 3:15

13“Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches. 14“Write this letter to the angel of the church in Laodicea. This is the message from the one who is the Amen—the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God’s new creation: “I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other! 16But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth! 17You say, ‘I am rich. I have everything I want. I don’t need a thing!’ And you don’t realize that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked.

Revelation 3:15 word by word

οἶδά σου τὰ ἔργα ὅτι οὔτε ψυχρὸς εἶ οὔτε ζεστός. ὄφελον ψυχρὸς ἦς ἢ ζεστός·Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• I knowεἴδωeidō · to perceive: understandG1492
• thyσύsu · youG4771
• worksὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• worksἔργονergon · workG2041
• thatὅτιhoti · that/since: thatG3754
• thou artεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• neitherοὔτεoute · neitherG3777
• coldψυχρόςpsuchros · coldG5593
• hotζεστόςzestos · hotG2200
• I wouldὄφελονophelon · I wish!G3785
• orἤē · orG2228

Cross-references for Revelation 3:15

• Revelation 3:1“Write this letter to the angel of the church in Sardis. This is the message from the one who has the sevenfold Spirit of God and the seven stars: “I know all the things you do, and that you have a reputation for being alive—but you are dead.
• Revelation 2:2“I know all the things you do. I have seen your hard work and your patient endurance. I know you don’t tolerate evil people. You have examined the claims of those who say they are apostles but are not. You have discovered they are liars.
• Revelation 2:4“But I have this complaint against you. You don’t love me or each other as you did at first!
• Matthew 24:12Sin will be rampant everywhere, and the love of many will grow cold.
• Philippians 1:9I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding.
• 2 Thessalonians 1:3Dear brothers and sisters, we can’t help but thank God for you, because your faith is flourishing and your love for one another is growing.
• 1 Peter 1:22You were cleansed from your sins when you obeyed the truth, so now you must show sincere love to each other as brothers and sisters. Love each other deeply with all your heart.
• Deuteronomy 5:29Oh, that they would always have hearts like this, that they might fear me and obey all my commands! If they did, they and their descendants would prosper forever.
• Psalms 81:11“But no, my people wouldn’t listen. Israel did not want me around.
• 2 Corinthians 12:20For I am afraid that when I come I won’t like what I find, and you won’t like my response. I am afraid that I will find quarreling, jealousy, anger, selfishness, slander, gossip, arrogance, and disorderly behavior.
• Joshua 24:15But if you refuse to serve the Lord, then choose today whom you will serve. Would you prefer the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates? Or will it be the gods of the Amorites in whose land you now live? But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.”
• 1 Kings 18:21Then Elijah stood in front of them and said, “How much longer will you waver, hobbling between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him! But if Baal is God, then follow him!” But the people were completely silent.
• Proverbs 23:26O my son, give me your heart. May your eyes take delight in following my ways.
• Hosea 7:8“The people of Israel mingle with godless foreigners, making themselves as worthless as a half-baked cake!
• Hosea 10:2The hearts of the people are fickle; they are guilty and must be punished. The Lord will break down their altars and smash their sacred pillars.
• Zephaniah 1:5For they go up to their roofs and bow down to the sun, moon, and stars. They claim to follow the Lord, but then they worship Molech, too.

Commentaries on Revelation 3:15

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 15Thou art neither cold nor hot - Ye are neither heathens nor Christians - neither good nor evil - neither led away by false doctrine, nor thoroughly addicted to that which is true. In a word, they were listless and indifferent, and seemed to care little whether heathenism or Christianity prevailed. Though they felt little zeal either for the salvation of their own souls or that of others, yet they had such a general conviction of the truth and importance…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 15I know thy works - notes on Revelation 2:2. That thou art neither cold nor hot - The word “cold” here would seem to denote the state where there was no pretension to religion; where everything was utterly lifeless and dead. The language is obviously figurative, but it is such as is often employed, when we speak of one as being cold toward another, as having a cold or icy heart, etc. The word “hot” would denote, of course, the opposite - warm and zealous…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 14-22Verses 14-22 Laodicea was the last and worst of the seven churches of Asia. Here our Lord Jesus styles himself, "The Amen;" one steady and unchangeable in all his purposes and promises. If religion is worth anything, it is worth every thing. Christ expects men should be in earnest. How many professors of gospel doctrine are neither hot nor cold; except as they are indifferent in needful matters, and hot and fiery in disputes about things of lesser moment!…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 15-16neither cold nor hot: The hot springs in Hierapolis were famous for their healing qualities. Colossae was equally famous for its cold, refreshing springs. In contrast, the water in Laodicea was smelly and lukewarm. Such water is unpleasant. Jesus was saying that the church's indecisive commitment to him was revolting.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1515. neither cold--The antithesis to "hot," literally, "boiling" ("fervent," Ac 18:25; Ro 12:11; compare So 8:6; Lu 24:32), requires that "cold" should here mean more than negatively cold; it is rather, positively icy cold: having never yet been warmed. The Laodiceans were in spiritual things cold comparatively, but not cold as the world outside, and as those who had never belonged to the Church. The lukewarm state, if it be the transitional stage to a…Read the comment

Topics related to Revelation 3:15

• Backsliders
• Church
• Instability
• Laodicea
• Lukewarmness

In the dictionaries

• Angel
• Chasten
• Cold
• Counsel
• Dead
• Lukewarm
• Naked
• Poor
• Rich
• Apocrypha

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