REV 22:18-21

Nothing May Be Added or Removed

18I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the divine calamities written in this scroll; [22:19] and if anyone takes away from the words of the scroll of this prophecy, God will take away his part from the tree of life and from the holy city, which are written in this scroll. [22:20] The one who testifies to these things says, "Yes, I am coming quickly." Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. [22:21] The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all.

In the world it was spoken into

In the 1st century, written texts, particularly sacred ones, held immense authority and were treated with reverence. The (scroll) mentioned here would have been understood as a carefully preserved document, often copied meticulously to avoid errors. Adding to or removing from such a text was not merely an act of editing but a violation of its sacred integrity, akin to tampering with divine authority. The (plagues) referenced evoke the severe consequences of such actions, drawing on Jewish and Greco-Roman understandings of divine retribution. The (tree) of life connects to Jewish apocalyptic imagery, symbolizing eternal blessing and restoration, while exclusion from the holy city reflects the ultimate loss of communal and divine favor. The invocation of (Lord) Jesus underscores his supreme authority and the eschatological urgency of his return, a central hope for early Christian communities. This passage reinforces the inviolability of the prophetic message and the certainty of divine judgment and reward.

›See the receipts

How other translations render this

REV 22:18

KJV: For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:
BSB: I testify to everyone who hears the words of prophecy in this book: If anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book.
Koinōnos: I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the divine calamities written in this scroll;

REV 22:19

KJV: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.
BSB: And if anyone takes away from the words of this book of prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and the holy city, which are described in this book.
Koinōnos: and if anyone takes away from the words of the scroll of this prophecy, God will take away his part from the tree of life and from the holy city, which are written in this scroll.

REV 22:20

KJV: He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.
BSB: He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!
Koinōnos: The one who testifies to these things says, "Yes, I am coming quickly." Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

REV 22:21

KJV: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
BSB: The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all the saints. Amen.
Koinōnos: The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all.

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

Translator's notes

REV 22:18

book:The word translated 'book' here refers to a scroll, which was the common form of written document in the ancient world, rather than a bound volume.
plagues:The term translated 'plagues' carried the sense of a severe blow or wound, often implying a divinely inflicted calamity or punishment.

REV 22:19

tree:The word translated 'tree' more broadly meant 'wood' or 'timber,' and could refer to a living tree, cut wood, or even a wooden object.

REV 22:20

do come,:The word translated 'Lord' here signifies someone with ultimate authority and power, often used in a divine context to refer to God or Christ.