Revelation 2 23

Revelation 2:23 kjv

And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.

Revelation 2:23 nkjv

I will kill her children with death, and all the churches shall know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works.

Revelation 2:23 niv

I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that I am he who searches hearts and minds, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds.

Revelation 2:23 esv

and I will strike her children dead. And all the churches will know that I am he who searches mind and heart, and I will give to each of you according to your works.

Revelation 2:23 nlt

I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that I am the one who searches out the thoughts and intentions of every person. And I will give to each of you whatever you deserve.

Revelation 2 verses

Revelation 2 23 Meaning

Revelation 2:23 declares Christ's omniscient judgment upon the false teacher "Jezebel" and her followers in Thyatira. Jesus asserts His divine attribute as the One who thoroughly inspects the innermost thoughts and motives ("minds and hearts"). He pledges to bring about severe, decisive judgment ("strike her children dead") to demonstrate His righteous authority to all churches. This judgment will be precise and personal, as He promises to justly repay each individual according to their specific actions, both good and bad.

Revelation 2 23 Context

Revelation 2:23 is part of Christ's specific message to the church in Thyatira, the fourth of the seven churches addressed in chapters 2 and 3. Thyatira was a prosperous trade center known for its powerful trade guilds, whose activities often intertwined with pagan worship, requiring participants to compromise their faith by attending idolatrous feasts and engaging in associated immorality. Christ commends the church for its love, faith, service, and perseverance but strongly condemns its tolerance of "Jezebel," a symbolic figure or group who actively teaches believers to participate in such idolatry and sexual sin. This verse escalates the promised judgment, moving from warning to the severe consequences for Jezebel and her followers, demonstrating Christ's unwavering resolve against spiritual compromise and impurity. It emphasizes Christ's full awareness of their inner corruption, not just their outward actions, positioning His coming judgment as fully just and unavoidable.

Revelation 2 23 Word analysis

• "I will strike" (ἀποκτενῶ, apoktenō):

  • Meaning: To kill, slay, put to death.
  • Significance: This signifies a decisive and final act of divine judgment. It is not merely a warning but a statement of coming execution.

• "her children" (τὰ τέκνα αὐτῆς, ta tekna autēs):

  • Meaning: Literally "her offspring" or "her children."
  • Significance: In this context, it refers to the spiritual progeny or followers who have been led astray and indoctrinated by "Jezebel's" false teachings and practices. It emphasizes a lineage of influence and spiritual heritage. This could include literal offspring influenced by her.

• "dead" (ἐν θανάτῳ, en thanatō):

  • Meaning: "in death" or "with death."
  • Significance: This phrase intensifies the preceding verb, clarifying that the striking will result in literal, tangible death or a complete and visible destruction. It underscores the severity and mortality of the judgment.

• "Then all the churches will know" (καὶ γνώσονται πᾶσαι αἱ ἐκκλησίαι, kai gnōsontai pasai hai ekklēsiai):

  • Meaning: Future tense, "they will know," involving every assembly of believers.
  • Significance: The judgment enacted upon Thyatira, specifically "Jezebel" and her followers, will serve as a stark object lesson for all other churches. It highlights that God's justice is revealed for the edification and warning of His entire people.

• "that I am he who searches" (ὅτι ἐγώ εἰμι ὁ ἐρευνῶν, hoti egō eimi ho ereunōn):

  • Meaning: "That I AM the One who searches." "ἐγώ εἰμι" (egō eimi) is a powerful divine self-designation, echoing Yahweh's declaration in Exo 3:14, asserting Christ's full deity and omniscient authority. "ἐρευνῶν" (ereunōn) means to search carefully, to scrutinize, to examine thoroughly.
  • Significance: Christ declares His intrinsic nature as God, capable of absolute, deep insight into every being. This confirms His divine prerogatives and knowledge beyond human capacity.

• "minds" (νεφροὺς, nephrous):

  • Meaning: Literally "kidneys." In Semitic thought, the kidneys were considered the seat of emotions, deepest thoughts, inward motivations, and even conscience.
  • Significance: This refers to the most profound, secret parts of one's inner being, hidden feelings, desires, and inclinations. Christ's search extends to the deepest, most hidden motivations.

• "and hearts" (καὶ καρδίας, kai kardias):

  • Meaning: "Hearts." In biblical usage, the heart encompasses intellect, will, emotions, and moral character—the entire inner self and source of outward action.
  • Significance: Together with "minds" (kidneys), it represents a comprehensive scrutiny of the entire inner person—their thoughts, intentions, emotions, and underlying character. No part of a person's inner life is hidden from Christ.

• "and I will repay" (καὶ δώσω, kai dōsō):

  • Meaning: "And I will give" or "I will render/repay." Future tense of granting or awarding.
  • Significance: Emphasizes that the outcome is determined by Christ and is a direct consequence of actions. It underscores divine retribution and just desserts.

• "each of you" (ὑμῖν ἑκάστῳ, hymin hekastō):

  • Meaning: "To you, each one" or "to each individual among you."
  • Significance: Stresses individual accountability. Judgment is not generic or collective only, but specifically tailored to each person's unique choices and conduct.

• "according to your deeds" (κατὰ τὰ ἔργα ὑμῶν, kata ta erga hymōn):

  • Meaning: "According to your works/actions." "ἔργα" (erga) means deeds, actions, conduct.
  • Significance: The standard by which divine judgment is rendered is consistent and observable—one's actual conduct and fruit. This highlights the practical outworking of one's faith (or lack thereof).

• "I will strike her children dead": This is a direct pronouncement of severe, destructive judgment upon those who perpetuate or embrace "Jezebel's" unrepentant wickedness, emphasizing the literal and terminal consequence of rebellion.

• "all the churches will know that I am he who searches minds and hearts": This phrase highlights a divine teaching moment. The visible judgment serves to reveal Christ's true identity and omniscient nature as the all-seeing God who understands even the deepest, hidden motives of individuals. This revelation solidifies His authority and omniscience for all believers.

• "and I will repay each of you according to your deeds": This underscores the principles of divine justice and individual responsibility. Judgment is perfectly calibrated, righteous, and fair, given that it aligns precisely with each person's actions. It signifies both retribution for the wicked and righteous recompense for the faithful.

Revelation 2 23 Bonus section

The concept of God searching the "kidneys and hearts" (νεφροὺς καὶ καρδίας) is deeply rooted in the Old Testament, where these organs metaphorically represent the entirety of the inner person. The "kidneys" (Hebrew: כְּלָיוֹת, kilyōt) were believed to be the seat of strong emotions, feelings, and conscience. Combining them with the "heart" (Hebrew: לֵב, lev; Greek: καρδία, kardia), which signified the mind, will, and moral character, paints a picture of comprehensive divine knowledge that leaves nothing unexplored within a person's inner being. This phrase communicates a divine insight that transcends mere external observation; it pierces to the core of intent and motive, highlighting the complete transparency of humanity before Christ. This attributes full deity to Jesus, echoing Yahweh's claim in the prophetic books, underscoring that the judge of the universe stands before the churches. The phrase "strike her children dead" can imply either literal death for some individuals as a punitive act, or more broadly, the eradication of "Jezebel's" spiritual influence and the total cessation of her destructive teaching and those who embody it within the church. It signifies a decisive end to the corrupt lineage.

Revelation 2 23 Commentary

Revelation 2:23 underscores three fundamental truths about Christ and His kingdom: His unparalleled omniscience, His unwavering justice, and the principle of individual accountability. The stark judgment on "Jezebel" and her "children"—spiritual followers of destructive error—is not arbitrary but serves as a profound object lesson for all churches, demonstrating that Christ meticulously scrutinizes not just outward actions, but the deepest recesses of the human mind and heart. He knows the underlying motivations, the hidden compromises, and the concealed idolatries. The promised "repayment according to deeds" ensures that divine judgment is perfectly tailored and just, affirming that every action, stemming from either faith or rebellion, will receive its rightful consequence. This verse is a stern warning against spiritual compromise and an affirmation of God's holy, all-seeing character.

• Practical application example: For individuals, it calls for genuine introspection and repentance, acknowledging that even secret thoughts and hidden motives are known to God. For churches, it serves as a warning against tolerating false teaching or immoral practices, reinforcing the necessity of purity within the body of Christ.