Revelation 2 21

Revelation 2:21 kjv

And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not.

Revelation 2:21 nkjv

And I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent.

Revelation 2:21 niv

I have given her time to repent of her immorality, but she is unwilling.

Revelation 2:21 esv

I gave her time to repent, but she refuses to repent of her sexual immorality.

Revelation 2:21 nlt

I gave her time to repent, but she does not want to turn away from her immorality.

Revelation 2 verses

Revelation 2 21 Meaning

This verse conveys the Lord's profound grace and enduring patience, extended to a symbolic figure identified as "Jezebel." This figure embodies a pervasive influence of false teaching and moral compromise within the church in Thyatira. Despite the ample opportunity and time the Lord provided for her to turn away from her spiritual and literal immorality and erroneous doctrines, she adamantly refused to repent. This declaration underscores divine justice, the Father's heartfelt desire for genuine repentance, and the grave consequences that follow a deliberate rejection of His merciful invitation.

Revelation 2 21 Context

The letter to the church in Thyatira (Revelation 2:18-29) describes a congregation praised for its good works, love, faith, service, and perseverance. Despite these commendable qualities, it harbored a severe spiritual problem: the toleration of a woman referred to as "Jezebel." This name is undoubtedly symbolic, drawing parallels to the notorious Old Testament queen, the instigator of Baal worship and the persecution of prophets in Israel (1 Kgs 18-19). In Thyatira, this "Jezebel" was likely a prominent individual, possibly a self-proclaimed prophetess, who propagated false doctrines. These teachings evidently encouraged believers to participate in practices intertwined with pagan trade guilds (koina or thiasoi). Membership in these guilds was crucial for economic livelihood, but their banquets often involved eating food sacrificed to idols (eidolothuta) and engagement in sexual immorality (porneia). The Lord’s specific accusation against Jezebel in verse 21 highlights His preceding patience and gracious warning. This patience allowed her ample opportunity to renounce her destructive teachings and defiling practices, yet she defiantly chose to persist in her ways. This set the stage for the stern judgment pronounced upon her and her followers in the subsequent verses, emphasizing Christ's commitment to maintaining the purity and holiness of His church.

Revelation 2 21 Word analysis

• I gave: From the Greek edōka (ἔδωκα), the aorist form of didōmi (δίδωμι), "to give." This signifies a past, completed, and decisive action. It emphasizes God’s initiative and generosity in extending mercy and an opportunity for change, highlighting His active role in providing a path to repentance.

• her: autē (αὐτῇ). This feminine singular pronoun refers back to "the woman Jezebel" mentioned in Revelation 2:20. In the context of the letter to Thyatira, "Jezebel" represents not necessarily a specific historical individual, but rather a false prophetess or a powerful influence propagating spiritually corrupting doctrines and immoral practices within the church.

• time: chronon (χρόνον). This refers to a period or duration. The inclusion of this word highlights God's patience and forbearance. It indicates that the Lord did not immediately bring judgment but offered a gracious window of opportunity, a sufficient span, for repentance to occur. This "time" underscores the long-suffering nature of God before retribution.

• to repent: metanoēsē (μετανοήσῃ). Derived from metanoia (μετάνοια), meaning a fundamental change of mind, leading to a change in direction, behavior, and attitude. It denotes a turning away from sin and a turning towards God. This word emphasizes God's desire for a genuine inner transformation, not just outward religious performance.

• of her immorality: ek tēs porneias autēs (ἐκ τῆς πορνείας αὐτῆς). The word porneia (πορνεία) has a broad scope in the Bible. While it can literally refer to sexual immorality, in this prophetic context, especially in Revelation and Old Testament prophetic books (e.g., Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Hosea), it frequently symbolizes spiritual unfaithfulness, idolatry, and syncretism. Given the Thyatiran context of participating in pagan guild feasts involving food sacrificed to idols, it likely encompasses both physical sexual promiscuity and, more significantly, the spiritual "harlotry" of mixing Christian faith with pagan religious practices and idolatrous allegiance.

• but she did not: kai ouk (καὶ οὐκ). This conjunction ("but" or "and yet") followed by the negative particle strongly highlights a direct opposition and an unwavering refusal. It stresses the contrast between God's generous provision of time and opportunity and Jezebel's willful rejection of it.

• repent: ēthelēsen metanoēsai (ἠθέλησεν μετανοῆσαι). The verb ēthelēsen (ἠθέλησεν) comes from thelō (θέλω), "to will, to desire." Its use here signifies a volitional, deliberate, and persistent refusal to change or to embrace God's call to repentance. This indicates that Jezebel's impenitence was not due to ignorance or lack of opportunity, but an active, willful choice against God's merciful overture.

• "I gave her time to repent": This phrase underscores the active grace and patience of the Lord Jesus Christ. It portrays Him as slow to anger, consistently extending opportunities for restoration before executing judgment. This act reveals His heart, which desires that none should perish, but that all should come to repentance, even those leading others astray. The provision of "time" implies a boundary—a period during which His forbearance endures before righteous judgment commences.

• "of her immorality, but she did not repent": This contrasting clause powerfully highlights the grave nature of willful impenitence. Despite the clear divine mandate to abandon her porneia—encompassing her spiritual idolatry and actual licentiousness—and despite the extended grace period, Jezebel’s refusal was an intentional act of resistance. This voluntary turning away from God’s gracious offer establishes her full accountability for the ensuing judgment. It teaches that God respects human free will even unto their detriment, affirming the crucial choice laid before every individual regarding His call.

Revelation 2 21 Bonus section

The offer of "time to repent" is a recurring theme throughout biblical history, signifying God's constant approach to humanity before impending judgment. From the forty days given to Nineveh (Jonah 3:4-5) to the warnings delivered by the prophets to ancient Israel and Judah, the divine pattern is consistent: grace precedes judgment, providing ample opportunity for a change of heart and direction. The strong language used to describe "Jezebel's" unwillingness highlights the grave offense of rejecting such an opportunity, signifying that impenitence is not merely passive inaction but often a conscious, active rebellion of the will. This willful refusal to embrace God's patience transforms a period of grace into a period of self-hardening, culminating in the individual being handed over to the consequences of their chosen path. The mention of "immorality" (porneia) is not merely about physical acts but encompasses the core spiritual infidelity, as this mixture of worship and unholy practices constituted a complete departure from exclusive devotion to Christ, the essence of spiritual harlotry in the eyes of a holy God.

Revelation 2 21 Commentary

Revelation 2:21 succinctly yet profoundly illustrates a crucial aspect of God's character: His infinite patience combined with His ultimate justice. The "time to repent" offered to "Jezebel" underscores the boundless measure of divine grace. The Lord, who perfectly discerns hearts and minds (Rev 2:23), granted this opportunity, not out of weakness, but out of His compassionate desire for all to turn from wickedness. This period allowed for full culpability to be established; no excuse could be made of insufficient opportunity or misunderstanding. However, the subsequent statement, "but she did not repent," reveals a deeply significant and sorrowful truth: despite God's patience, human will can stubbornly resist His most gracious invitations. Her deliberate unwillingness (highlighted by ouk ēthelēsen) to forsake her porneia (idolatrous practices and potential sexual immorality) demonstrates an entrenched rebellion. This unrepentant stance not only solidified her condemnation but also marked a clear boundary where divine forbearance concludes and righteous judgment begins. This passage serves as a potent reminder that while God's mercy is vast, it is not eternal or unconditional when persistently rejected; it eventually gives way to the immutable requirements of His holiness and justice, impacting both individuals and communities that tolerate such corruption.

• Example for practical usage: A believer leading a Christian ministry falls into moral compromise or begins promoting questionable doctrines. God, through the Holy Spirit or warnings from other believers, gives "time" for this individual to confess and cease their damaging behavior. If the person defiantly resists these calls to repentance, their refusal marks a point where further consequences or even divine judgment may be imminent, impacting both them and those influenced by their unrepentant ways. This emphasizes accountability within the body of Christ.