Revelation 22 18

Revelation 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:

Revelation 22:18 nkjv

For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book;

Revelation 22:18 niv

I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to that person the plagues described in this scroll.

Revelation 22:18 esv

I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book,

Revelation 22:18 nlt

And I solemnly declare to everyone who hears the words of prophecy written in this book: If anyone adds anything to what is written here, God will add to that person the plagues described in this book.

Revelation 22 verses

Revelation 22 18 Meaning

This verse delivers a solemn and absolute warning to anyone who hears the words of the Book of Revelation. It declares that if anyone presumptuously adds to its divine message, God Himself will inflict upon them the very plagues described within the book. This serves as a powerful deterrent against tampering with God's final prophetic revelation given through John, underscoring its authority, integrity, and finality.

Revelation 22 18 Context

Revelation 22:18 appears near the very end of the Book of Revelation, within its concluding blessings, warnings, and invitations. Chapters 21 and 22 depict the glorious New Jerusalem and the eternal state, contrasting sharply with the severe judgments of previous chapters. This warning is part of a series of final admonitions given by John (and implicitly Christ) regarding the integrity and authority of the prophetic message delivered. It immediately precedes a similar warning against subtracting from the book and is followed by final blessings and appeals for the Lord's return. The immediate context underscores the imminent nature of Christ's coming and the urgency for recipients to heed this prophecy without alteration. Historically, this final warning functions as a traditional scribal colophon to protect the text from alteration, much like ancient legal documents and sacred scrolls were safeguarded.

Revelation 22 18 Word analysis

• For I testify: (Greek: Martyrō) – Signifies a solemn, authoritative declaration, a bearing witness as in a court of law. It implies a divinely appointed truth being proclaimed, carrying weighty implications. John is the mouthpiece of this testimony, but the ultimate source is God.
• unto every man: (Greek: Panti tō akouonti) – Emphasizes the universal reach of the warning. It is not limited to a select group but applies to anyone who encounters this prophetic book. This universality underscores its grave importance.
• that heareth: (Greek: akouonti) – Refers not just to passive reception but to active listening, understanding, and considering the message. It implies responsibility to truly apprehend the words of the prophecy.
• the words: (Greek: tous logous) – Points to the specific divine utterances and expressions within the prophecy. It is not about a general spirit but the concrete textual content.
• of the prophecy: (Greek: tēs prophēteias) – Identifies Revelation explicitly as a divinely inspired foretelling, connecting it to the long tradition of biblical prophecy from the Old Testament, where God’s prophetic word was sacred and unalterable.
• of this book: (Greek: tou bibliou toutou) – Precisely defines the scope of the warning: the very Book of Revelation that John has written. This is crucial for interpreting the direct applicability of the verse.
• If any man: (Greek: ean tis) – Indicates a conditional possibility open to anyone, irrespective of status or intention, highlighting the accessibility and universal relevance of the warning.
• shall add: (Greek: epithē) – Means "to place upon," "to add to," or "to superimpose." This refers to augmenting, modifying, or appending new teachings, interpretations, or narratives as if they were part of the original, inspired revelation.
• unto these things: (Greek: pros tauta) – Refers specifically to the prophetic content, the specific "words of the prophecy of this book." It's about preserving the revealed truth as it is.
• God shall add unto him: (Greek: prostēsei ho theos) – A powerful statement of divine, reciprocal justice. The one who adds to God's word will receive an addition from God – in the form of judgment. This emphasizes divine retribution.
• the plagues: (Greek: tas plēgas) – Refers to divine judgments or calamities, particularly those vividly described throughout Revelation itself (e.g., seven trumpets, seven bowls). This directly connects the punishment to the very warnings within the book.
• that are written in this book: (Greek: ta gegrammena en tō bibliō toutou) – Reiterates that the specific consequences for disobedience are detailed within Revelation, making the judgment specific and inescapable for those who defy its integrity.
• "For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book": This opening phrase establishes the gravity, scope, and target audience of the warning. It is a formal, universal pronouncement about the divinely inspired nature and specific textual content of Revelation. The act of "hearing" implies a responsibility to listen and understand this divine communication.
• "If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book": This presents the clear condition and severe consequence. The "adding" refers to falsifying the revealed truth, either by introducing new doctrines that contradict it, claiming new insights as equally authoritative, or embellishing the text. The consequence is divine retribution, mirroring the very judgments found within the prophecy itself. This parallel action ("add" in both intent and consequence) highlights the righteous and direct nature of God's justice against those who would corrupt His word.

Revelation 22 18 Bonus section

This warning in Rev 22:18-19 is often called a "post-canonical admonition," acting as a guardian against further divine revelation that would either contradict or be treated with equal authority as the canon which was effectively closing with Revelation. It emphasizes that the Church, throughout history, should not look for new prophecies to add to God’s complete word, but rather to faithfully adhere to what has been "once for all delivered." The inclusion of this warning within Revelation itself solidifies its self-authenticating nature. The consequences for disobedience are not merely abstract, but are tied to the tangible and terrifying judgments already foretold within the very book itself, making the warning deeply personal and immediate to its hearers. The phrase "this book" is paramount, affirming the specific authority of John’s apocalyptic vision as a definitive word from God. While its primary reference is to Revelation, it establishes a theological precedent for respecting the integrity of all Scripture.

Revelation 22 18 Commentary

Revelation 22:18 stands as a final, weighty safeguard at the conclusion of God’s prophetic unveiling through John. It underscores the sanctity and inviolability of divine revelation. The verse functions as a solemn declaration from God Himself, conveyed through His prophet, emphasizing the immense gravity of tampering with His word. The warning against "adding" speaks to both conscious theological alteration and careless handling of revealed truth. It cautions against the presumption of human authority over divine Scripture, highlighting that prophetic words are not subject to human editing or expansion. The direct reciprocity of the punishment – "God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book" – reveals a profound poetic justice. Those who would defile the message by appending human invention will suffer the very judgments detailed within that sacred text. While primarily directed at the book of Revelation, this principle extends across all Scripture, reinforcing the integrity, sufficiency, and finality of God's entire written word, demanding reverence and faithful preservation from all who hear it. This principle warns against new revelations that contradict or augment established biblical truth.