REV 1:9-20

Johnʼs Vision on Patmos

9I, John, your brother and fellow-participant in the crushing and the kingdom and the steadfast endurance in Jesus, came to be on the island called Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. [1:10] I came to be in the Spirit on the Lord's day and heard behind me a great voice like a trumpet [1:11] saying: Write in a scroll what you see and send it to the seven assemblies — to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamum and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea. [1:12] And I turned to see the voice that was speaking with me, and having turned I saw seven golden lampstands, [1:13] and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, having clothed himself in a robe reaching to the feet and girded around the chest with a golden belt. [1:14] His head and hair were white like white wool, like snow, and his eyes like a flame of fire, [1:15] and his feet like burnished bronze as when refined in a furnace, and his voice like the sound of many waters. [1:16] And in his right hand he held seven stars, and out of his mouth a sharp two-edged sword going out, and his face like the sun shining in its full strength. [1:17] And when I saw him I fell at his feet like a dead man. And he placed his right hand on me, saying: Do not fear. Jesus said: I am the first and the last [1:18] and the living one. And I was dead — and look, I am alive into the ages of the ages — and I have the keys of death and of Hades. [1:19] Write therefore what you saw and what is and what is about to take place after these things. [1:20] The mystery of the seven stars you saw in my right hand and the seven golden lampstands: the seven stars are the angels of the seven assemblies, and the seven lampstands are the seven assemblies.

In the world it was spoken into

John, writing from Patmos, addresses the seven churches in Asia Minor, framing his message within the context of Roman imperial domination and Jewish apocalyptic tradition. Patmos, a small island in the Aegean Sea, was likely a place of exile or forced labor for political dissidents, reflecting John’s status as a persecuted figure. The term 'tribulation' evokes the intense suffering experienced by early Christians under Roman authority, while 'endurance' suggests active resistance to imperial pressures. John’s vision occurs on 'the Lord’s day' , a term repurposed from its imperial connotations ('belonging to the emperor') to signify allegiance to Christ. The imagery of the 'Alpha and Omega' draws on Jewish apocalyptic literature, asserting Christ’s supremacy over Roman claims of eternal dominion. The seven churches, located in urban centers of Roman Asia Minor, would have understood this vision as a counter-imperial proclamation, affirming Christ’s authority over Caesar’s.

›See the receipts

How other translations render this

REV 1:9

KJV: I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.
BSB: I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation and kingdom and perseverance that are in Jesus, was on the island of Patmos because of the word of God and my testimony about Jesus.
Koinōnos: I, John, your brother and fellow-participant in the crushing and the kingdom and the steadfast endurance in Jesus, came to be on the island called Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.

REV 1:10

KJV: I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,
BSB: On the Lordʼs day I was in the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet,
Koinōnos: I came to be in the Spirit on the Lord's day and heard behind me a great voice like a trumpet

REV 1:11

KJV: Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.
BSB: saying, “Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.”
Koinōnos: saying: Write in a scroll what you see and send it to the seven assemblies — to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamum and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea.

REV 1:12

KJV: And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks;
BSB: Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking with me. And having turned, I saw seven golden lampstands,
Koinōnos: And I turned to see the voice that was speaking with me, and having turned I saw seven golden lampstands,

REV 1:13

KJV: And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.
BSB: and among the lampstands was One like the Son of Man, dressed in a long robe, with a golden sash around His chest.
Koinōnos: and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, having clothed himself in a robe reaching to the feet and girded around the chest with a golden belt.

REV 1:14

KJV: His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;
BSB: The hair of His head was white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes were like a blazing fire.
Koinōnos: His head and hair were white like white wool, like snow, and his eyes like a flame of fire,

REV 1:15

KJV: And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters.
BSB: His feet were like polished bronze refined in a furnace, and His voice was like the roar of many waters.
Koinōnos: and his feet like burnished bronze as when refined in a furnace, and his voice like the sound of many waters.

REV 1:16

KJV: And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.
BSB: He held in His right hand seven stars, and a sharp double-edged sword came from His mouth. His face was like the sun shining at its brightest.
Koinōnos: And in his right hand he held seven stars, and out of his mouth a sharp two-edged sword going out, and his face like the sun shining in its full strength.

REV 1:17

KJV: And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:
BSB: When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man. But He placed His right hand on me and said, “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last,
Koinōnos: And when I saw him I fell at his feet like a dead man. And he placed his right hand on me, saying: Do not fear. Jesus said: I am the first and the last

REV 1:18

KJV: I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.
BSB: the Living One. I was dead, and behold, now I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of Death and of Hades.
Koinōnos: and the living one. And I was dead — and look, I am alive into the ages of the ages — and I have the keys of death and of Hades.

REV 1:19

KJV: Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter;
BSB: Therefore write down the things you have seen, and the things that are, the things that will happen after this.
Koinōnos: Write therefore what you saw and what is and what is about to take place after these things.

REV 1:20

KJV: The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.
BSB: This is the mystery of the seven stars you saw in My right hand and of the seven golden lampstands: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.
Koinōnos: The mystery of the seven stars you saw in my right hand and the seven golden lampstands: the seven stars are the angels of the seven assemblies, and the seven lampstands are the seven assemblies.

Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.

Translator's notes

REV 1:9

the:The word translated 'the' here refers to a severe pressure or crushing, often used metaphorically for intense suffering or affliction, not just general trouble.
<the>:The term used here for 'perseverance' implies an active, steadfast endurance in the face of trials, a remaining firm under pressure rather than passive waiting.

REV 1:10

Lord’s:The word translated 'Lord’s' specifically denotes something belonging to or pertaining to a master or owner, and in this context, it refers to the Lord Jesus.

REV 1:13

having clothed himself:The phrase 'having clothed himself' describes a garment that is floor-length, reaching down to the feet, often associated with robes of dignity or priestly attire.