Revelation 22:18

“I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book;”
Revelation 22:18 · direct translation from the Greek

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The Bible ends with the Spirit and the bride saying “Come”Jesus Will Return

With the Greek beneath

IἐγὼtestifyΜαρτυρῶto everyoneπαντὶwho hearsτῷ ἀκούοντιthe wordsτοὺς λόγουςof the prophecyτῆς προφητείαςof thisτούτουbook:τοῦ βιβλίουifἐάνanyoneτιςaddsἐπιθῇtoἐπ’them,αὐτάGodὁ θεὸςwill addἐπιθήσειtoἐπ’himαὐτὸνthe plaguesτὰς πληγὰςthat are writtenτὰς γεγραμμέναςinἐνthisτούτῳbook;τῷ βιβλίῳ

Allusion · Deuteronomy 4:2

Go to Deuteronomy 4:2

Both texts forbid adding to or taking away from the words: Deuteronomy 4:2, those of the commandment; Revelation 22:18-19, those of this book.

They share words that are rare in the original, without a quotation.

ἀφέλῃaphelēiG851תִגְרְעוּtigruH1639“take away, cut off”
λόγουςlogousG3056דָּבָרdavarH1697“word, message”

Revelation 22:18, word by word

testifyΜαρτυρῶMartyrō

testify

To tell what one knows or has seen.

Where else “Martyrō” appears

who hearsἀκούοντιakouonti

hear

To perceive a sound, a voice or words with the ears.

Where else “akouonti” appears

the wordsλόγουςlogous

message

What God says, proclaimed to people.

Where else “logous” appears

of the prophecyπροφητείαςprophēteias

prophecy

Prophecy: a message from God spoken by a prophet; also prophesying.

Where else “prophēteias” appears

bookβιβλίουbibliou

scroll

A long writing on a scroll, like those of the prophets or the book of life.

Where else “bibliou” appears

addsἐπιθῇepithēi

add

To add something to what is there, or to set upon someone.

Where else “epithēi” appears

Godθεὸςtheos

God

The Creator and Lord of all, the one God of Israel.

Where else “theos” appears

the plaguesπληγὰςplēgas

plague

A disaster that falls as punishment.

Where else “plēgas” appears

that are writtenγεγραμμέναςgegrammenas

write

To set down words in writing: letters, laws, books.

Where else “gegrammenas” appears

Translation note

Probably Jesus is speaking, “the one who testifies to these things” (22:20); that is why 22:18-19 is in purple. It recalls Deuteronomy 4:2 and 12:32.

The context

17And the Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wishes take the water of life freely.

18 · This verse (above)

19and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share from the tree of life and from the holy city, which are written about in this book.

Read all of Revelation 22

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