Revelation 22:9 kjv
Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God.
Revelation 22:9 nkjv
Then he said to me, "See that you do not do that. For I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren the prophets, and of those who keep the words of this book. Worship God."
Revelation 22:9 niv
But he said to me, "Don't do that! I am a fellow servant with you and with your fellow prophets and with all who keep the words of this scroll. Worship God!"
Revelation 22:9 esv
but he said to me, "You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers the prophets, and with those who keep the words of this book. Worship God."
Revelation 22:9 nlt
But he said, "No, don't worship me. I am a servant of God, just like you and your brothers the prophets, as well as all who obey what is written in this book. Worship only God!"
Revelation 22 9 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Rev 19:10 | Then I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, “Do not do it! I am your fellow servant... Worship God!” | Direct parallel, repeats the angelic prohibition against worship. |
| Matt 4:10 | Then Jesus said to him, “Go, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only.’” | Christ's command of exclusive worship for God. |
| Deut 6:13 | You shall fear the Lord your God; you shall serve Him and swear by His name. | Old Testament commandment regarding singular devotion to God. |
| Luke 4:8 | Jesus answered him, “It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve Him only.’” | Reinforces the exclusive worship of God. |
| Ps 95:6 | Come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord our Maker. | Exhortation to worship the Creator, God. |
| Exod 20:3-5 | “You shall have no other gods before Me... You shall not bow down to them or serve them.” | First Commandment prohibiting worship of anything but God. |
| Col 2:18 | Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism and worship of angels... | Warning against angel worship within the early church. |
| Heb 1:14 | Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation? | Angels as servants for believers, not objects of worship. |
| Isa 42:8 | “I am the Lord; that is My name; My glory I give to no other, nor My praise to carved idols.” | God's exclusive claim to glory and worship. |
| Rom 1:25 | ...who exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator... | Condemnation of worshipping creation over the Creator. |
| 1 Chr 16:29 | Ascribe to the Lord the glory due His name; bring offerings and come before Him! Worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness. | Call to ascribe glory and worship only to the Lord. |
| Phil 2:7 | But emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. | Christ as a humble servant, contrasting with angelic prohibition. |
| Rom 6:18 | and having been set free from sin, became slaves of righteousness. | Believers as servants/slaves to righteousness/God. |
| Eph 6:6 | ...not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart. | Emphasizes believers' role as servants of Christ/God. |
| Rev 1:3 | Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it... | Blessing upon those who keep the sayings of the book. |
| Rev 22:7 | “And behold, I am coming soon. Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.” | Emphasizes the importance of keeping the prophetic words. |
| Rev 22:18-19 | I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them... if anyone takes away from the words... | Stresses the integrity and importance of keeping the book's sayings. |
| John 14:15 | “If you love me, you will keep my commandments." | Obedience to God's word as a sign of love. |
| Jas 1:22 | But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. | Exhortation to act upon God's word, 'keep the sayings.' |
| Heb 1:1-2 | Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son... | God's revelation through prophets and finally Christ. |
| Rev 22:12 | “Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done." | Relates to accountability for keeping or not keeping the sayings. |
Revelation 22 verses
Revelation 22 9 Meaning
Revelation 22:9 presents a divine correction to John, who falls at the angel's feet in reverence. The angel swiftly forbids this action, affirming that he is merely a fellow servant alongside John, the prophets, and all believers who obey God's word. The central command is unequivocal: worship God alone, underscoring that all worship must be directed solely to the Creator, not to any creature, even a glorious heavenly messenger.
Revelation 22 9 Context
Revelation 22:9 occurs near the conclusion of the Book of Revelation, within John’s final visions of the new heavens and new earth, and the New Jerusalem. Having seen glorious displays of God’s redemptive plan completed, John is overwhelmed by the angel's majestic revelation of truth. This specific incident in verse 9 mirrors a similar event in Rev 19:10, emphasizing a crucial theological principle repeatedly through the book. The chapter itself is filled with promises of Christ’s imminent return, blessings for those who obey His word, and stern warnings against altering the book’s prophecy. Historically, the early Christian church faced challenges of syncretism and pressures to worship various pagan deities or imperial figures, and even the temptation to elevate spiritual beings (Col 2:18). This verse firmly establishes the boundary of worship exclusively for the one true God, countering any tendency towards angelolatry.
Revelation 22 9 Word analysis
- Then saith he unto me,: Identifies the immediate speaker as the interpreting angel previously encountered by John in the vision, highlighting the direct communication and ongoing revelation to the apostle.
- See thou do it not: (Greek: βλέπε μὴ ποιήσῃς - blepe mē poiēsēs) A strong, prohibitive command. "Blepe" means "look" or "see to it," indicating careful attention, followed by "mē poiēsēs," meaning "do not do this." It's an imperative injunction, immediate and absolute. This swift correction underscores the absolute imperative against worshipping any created being.
- for I am thy fellowservant,: (Greek: σύνδουλός - syndoulos) The angel humbly identifies himself as "fellow-slave" or "fellow-servant" of God with John. This term denotes shared service, submission, and loyalty to the same Lord. It eliminates any hierarchical distinction that would warrant worship. The highest of created beings, an angel, refuses worship, thereby highlighting God’s unique claim to it.
- and of thy brethren the prophets,: This expands the angelic identity, establishing solidarity with human prophets. It connects the divine revelation given to John and other prophets directly back to God through common messengers. It implies that both heavenly beings (angels) and earthly messengers (prophets) serve the same divine purpose and belong to the same divine household under God.
- and of them which keep the sayings of this book: (Greek: τηροῦντων τοὺς λόγους - tērountōn tous logous) This further broadens the community of "fellow-servants" to include all believers who diligently observe, obey, and preserve the prophetic words of Revelation. "Keep" (tērountōn) signifies careful guarding and active obedience, not merely passive hearing. This emphasizes the unity of all God's obedient servants across time and realms.
- worship God. (Greek: προσκύνησον τῷ Θεῷ - proskynēson tō Theō) This is the definitive, unyielding command. "Proskyneson" refers to prostrating oneself in homage, adoration, or worship. The dative "tō Theō" (to God) explicitly names the sole and proper object of such worship. This is the culmination of the correction, reaffirming God's exclusive right to worship.
Revelation 22 9 Bonus section
The repeated incident of John attempting to worship the angel (Rev 19:10 and 22:9) functions as a chiastic structure in Revelation, bracketing the climactic visions of the New Jerusalem and underscoring the vital lesson of exclusive worship of God. This repetition intensifies the warning against diverting worship from God. The angel's humble self-identification as "fellowservant" challenges human tendencies to elevate any part of creation above its rightful place, highlighting God's preeminence. The inclusion of "those who keep the sayings of this book" firmly connects receiving revelation with the responsibility of obedient living, showing that true worship extends beyond reverence to active adherence to God's commands.
Revelation 22 9 Commentary
Revelation 22:9 serves as a profound theological anchor, asserting the non-negotiable principle of worshipping God alone. It dramatically portrays the distinction between Creator and creature, even between the majestic angelic messenger and the human apostle. John's instinctive reaction of worship towards the angel, while perhaps born of reverence for the divine message bearer, is immediately and unequivocally corrected. The angel's refusal underscores his identity not as a god but as a mere servant, just like John, the prophets, and indeed, all believers who faithfully obey God's word. This principle acts as a vital guardrail against angel worship or any form of devotion to created beings, reminding all generations that the glory, adoration, and service we render are exclusively due to the triune God who is the ultimate source of all revelation and salvation.