Revelation 3:16

Revelation 3:16 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
• New International Version (NIV)So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.
• English Standard Version (ESV)So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.
• New King James Version (NKJV)So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.

Context of Revelation 3:16

14And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; 15I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. 17Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: 18I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness may not appear; and anoint thy eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.

Revelation 3:16 word by word

οὕτως ὅτι χλιαρὸς εἶ καὶ οὔτε ζεστὸς οὔτε ψυχρός, μέλλω σε ἐμέσαι ἐκ τοῦ στόματός μου,Read the interlinear

• Soοὕτωςhoutō · thus(-ly)G3779
• becauseὅτιhoti · that/since: sinceG3754
• artεἶei · you areG1488
• lukewarmχλιαρόςchliaros · lukewarmG5513
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• neitherοὔτεoute · neitherG3777
• coldψυχρόςpsuchros · coldG5593
• hotζεστόςzestos · hotG2200
• willμέλλωmellō · to ensueG3195
• spueἐμέωemeō · to vomitG1692
• theeσέse · youG4571
• ofἐκek ex · out fromG1537
• myμοῦmou · of meG3450
• mouthστόμαstoma · mouthG4750

Cross-references for Revelation 3:16

• Revelation 2:5Remember therefore from which thou hast fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come to thee quickly, and will remove thy lampstand out of its place, except thou repent.
• Jeremiah 14:19Hast thou utterly rejected Judah? hath thy soul abhorred Zion? why hast thou smitten us, and there is no healing for us? we looked for peace, and there is no good; and for the time of healing, and behold trouble!
• Jeremiah 15:1Then said the LORD to me, Though Moses and Samuel stood before me, yet my mind could not be toward this people: cast them out of my sight, and let them go forth.
• Zechariah 11:8Three shepherds also I cut off in one month; and my soul lothed them, and their soul also abhorred me.

Commentaries on Revelation 3:16

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 16Because thou art lukewarm - Irresolute and undecided. I will spue thee out of my mouth - He alludes here to the known effect of tepid water upon the stomach; it generally produces a nausea. I wilt cast thee off. Thou shalt have no interest in me. Though thou hast been near to my heart, yet now I must pluck thee thence, because slothful, careless, and indolent; thou art not in earnest for thy soul.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 16So then because thou art lukewarm … I will spue thee out of my mouth - Referring, perhaps, to the well-known fact that tepid water tends to produce sickness at the stomach, and an inclination to vomit. The image is intensely strong, and denotes deep disgust and loathing at the indifference which prevailed in the church at Laodicea. The idea is, that they would be utterly rejected and cast off as a church - a threatening of which there has been an abundant…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. 1616. neither cold nor hot--So one oldest manuscript, B, and Vulgate read. But two oldest manuscripts, Syriac, and Coptic transpose thus, "hot nor cold." It is remarkable that the Greek adjectives are in the masculine, agreeing with the angel, not feminine, agreeing with the Church. The Lord addresses the angel as the embodiment and representative of the Church. The chief minister is answerable for his flock if he have not faithfully warned the members of…Read the comment

Topics related to Revelation 3:16

• Backsliders
• Church
• Instability
• Laodicea
• Lukewarmness
• Wicked (People)

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