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

13He who has an ear, let him hear what the Ruach is saying to Messiah’s communities.” 14To the angel of Messiah’s community in Laodicea write: “Thus says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Originator of God’s creation: I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. Oh, that you were either cold or hot! 16So because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I am about to spew you out of My mouth. 17For you say, ‘I am rich, I have made myself wealthy, and I need nothing.’ But you do not know that you are miserable and pitiable 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 3:1To the angel of Messiah’s community in Sardis write: “Thus says the One having the seven spirits of God and the seven stars: I know your deeds—you have a reputation for being alive, but you are dead.
• Revelation 2:2I know all about your deeds and your toil and your patient endurance, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. You have tested those who call themselves emissaries and are not, and have found them to be liars.
• Revelation 2:4“But this I have against you, that you have forsaken your first love.
• Matthew 24:12Because lawlessness will multiply, the love of many will grow cold.
• Philippians 1:9Now this I pray, that your love might overflow still more and more in knowledge and depth of discernment,
• 2 Thessalonians 1:3We ought to always thank God for you, brothers and sisters, as is appropriate, because your faithfulness grows wonderfully, and the love of each one of you for one another continually increases.
• 1 Peter 1:22Now that you have purified your souls in obedience to the truth, leading to sincere brotherly love, love one another fervently from a pure heart.
• Deuteronomy 5:29“So you must take care to do as Adonai your God has commanded you—do not turn aside to the right or to the left.
• Psalms 81:11I am Adonai your God, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt. Open your mouth wide and I will fill it.
• 2 Corinthians 12:20For I am afraid that perhaps when I come, I may find you not as I wish, or I may be found by you not as you wish—that there may be strife, envy, outbursts of anger, self-seeking disputes, lashon ha-ra , gossip, arrogance, unruly commotions.
• Joshua 24:15If it seems bad to you to worship Adonai, then choose for yourselves today whom you will serve—whether the gods that your fathers worshipped that were beyond the River or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will worship Adonai!”
• 1 Kings 18:21Then Elijah approached all the people and said, “How long will you waver between two opinions? If Adonai is God, follow Him; but if Baal is, follow him.” But the people did not answer him, not even a word.
• Proverbs 23:26My son, give your heart to me, and let your eyes observe my ways.
• Hosea 7:8Ephraim mixes himself with the peoples. Ephraim has become a pancake that never gets turned over.
• Hosea 10:2Their heart became smooth. Now they will bear their guilt. He will break down their altars. He will destroy their sacred pillars.
• Zephaniah 1:5those bowing down on the roofs to the host of the heavens. those bowing down, swearing to Adonai and also swearing by Molech

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