Revelation 2:2

Revelation 2:2 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars:
• New International Version (NIV)I 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.
• English Standard Version (ESV)"'I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false.
• New King James Version (NKJV)“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;

Context of Revelation 2:2

1Unto the angel of the Assembly 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 lampstands; I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: 3And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name’s sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted. 4Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.

Revelation 2:2 word by word

οἶδα τὰ ἔργα σου καὶ τὸν κόπον καὶ τὴν ὑπομονήν σου καὶ ὅτι οὐ δύνῃ βαστάσαι κακοὺς καὶ ἐπείρασας τοὺς λέγοντας ἑαυτοὺς ἀποστόλους καὶ οὐκ εἰσίν, καὶ εὗρες αὐτοὺς ψευδεῖς.Read the interlinear

• I knowεἴδωeidō · to perceive: understandG1492
• thyσύsu · youG4771
• worksὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• worksἔργονergon · workG2041
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• labourκόποςkopos · laborG2873
• patienceὑπομονήhupomonē · perseveranceG5281
• howὅτιhoti · that/since: thatG3754
• thou canstδύναμαιdunamai · be ableG1410
• notοὐou · noG3756
• bearβαστάζωbastazō · to carryG941
• them which are evilκακόςkakos · evil/harm: evilG2556
• thou hast triedπειράζωpeirazō · to test/tempt: testG3985
• them which sayφάσκωphaskō · to claimG5335
• they areεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• apostlesἀπόστολοςapostolos · apostleG652
• hast foundεὑρίσκωheuriskō · to find/meetG2147
• themαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• liarsψευδήςpseudēs · falseG5571

Cross-references for Revelation 2:2

• Revelation 2:9I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.
• Revelation 3:1And unto the angel of the Assembly in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.
• Psalms 1:6For Yhwh knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.
• Matthew 7:23And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
• 1 Thessalonians 1:3Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father;
• 2 Timothy 2:19Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.
• Hebrews 6:10For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.
• Revelation 2:6But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
• Galatians 1:7Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
• Ephesians 4:14That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
• 1 Thessalonians 5:21Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
• 2 Peter 2:1But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
• 1 John 4:1Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
• 2 Corinthians 11:13For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.
• 1 John 2:21I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth.

Commentaries on Revelation 2:2

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 2I know thy works - For the eyes of the Lord are throughout the earth, beholding the evil and the good; and, being omnipresent, all things are continually open and naked before him. It is worthy of remark, that whatsoever is praiseworthy in any of these Churches is first mentioned; thereby intimating that God is more intent on finding out the good than the evil in any person or Church; and that those who wish to reform such as have fallen or are not making…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 2I know thy works - The common formula with which all the epistles to the seven churches are introduced. It is designed to impress upon them deeply the conviction that he was intimately acquainted with all that they did, good and bad, and that therefore he was abundantly qualified to dispense rewards or administer punishments according to truth and justice. It may be observed that, as many of the things referred to in these epistles were things pertaining…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 2-3I know: This repeated refrain (Revelation 2:9, 13, 19; 3:1, 8, 15) shows Christ knows everything about his people, their actions, and their situations. The Ephesian Christians had a correct understanding of their beliefs, marked by perseverance and faithfulness. They examined various claims, disciplined evil people, could tell what is true and false, and patiently suffered for their faith in Christ.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 2:2

• Apostles
• Church
• Company
• Decision
• Ephesus
• Heart
• Heresy
• Hypocrisy
• Minister, Christian
• Patience
• Righteousness
• Sin
• Zeal, Religious

In the dictionaries

• Angel
• Bed
• Faithful
• Alliance
• Apostolic Age
• Asia Minor
• Church Government
• Commandment, the New
• Ear
• Ephesians, Epistle to the

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