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

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: 15I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. Oh, that you were either cold or hot! So 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. 18I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may be rich, and white clothes so that you may dress yourself and so the shame of your nakedness will not be revealed, and eye salve to anoint your eyes so that you may 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

Words taken from the KJV.

• So thenοὕτωςhoutō · thus(-ly)G3779
• becauseὅτιhoti · that/since: sinceG3754
• thou artεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• lukewarmχλιαρόςchliaros · lukewarmG5513
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• neitherοὔτεoute · neitherG3777
• coldψυχρόςpsuchros · coldG5593
• hotζεστόςzestos · hotG2200
• I willμέλλωmellō · to ensueG3195
• spueἐμέωemeō · to vomitG1692
• theeσύsu · youG4771
• out ofἐκek ex · out fromG1537
• myἐγώegō · I/weG1473
• mouthὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• mouthστόμαstoma · mouthG4750

Cross-references for Revelation 3:16

• Revelation 2:5Remember then from where you have fallen. Repent and do the deeds you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your menorah from its place—unless you repent.
• Jeremiah 14:19Have You utterly rejected Judah? Has Your soul loathed Zion? Why have You smitten us, and there is no healing for us? We looked for shalom, but nothing good came, and for a time of healing, but suddenly, terror!
• Jeremiah 15:1Then said Adonai to me: “Even if Moses and Samuel stood before Me, My soul could not be toward this people. Cast them out of My presence, and let them go out!”
• Zechariah 11:8Next I disposed of the three shepherds in one month—for my soul was impatient with them and their soul also detested 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