Revelation 3:5 kjv

He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.

Revelation 3:5 nkjv

He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.

Revelation 3:5 niv

The one who is victorious will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out the name of that person from the book of life, but will acknowledge that name before my Father and his angels.

Revelation 3:5 esv

The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life. I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels.

Revelation 3:5 nlt

All who are victorious will be clothed in white. I will never erase their names from the Book of Life, but I will announce before my Father and his angels that they are mine.

Revelation 3 verses

Revelation 3 5 Meaning

Revelation 3:5 describes a triple promise of divine assurance and reward for those in the church who maintain spiritual vitality and faithfulness in the face of spiritual deadness. It assures them of glorious honor through white garments, eternal security by their names remaining in God's Book of Life, and ultimate public recognition by Christ Himself before God the Father and His angels.

Revelation 3 5 Context

Revelation 3:5 is part of the specific message from Christ to the church in Sardis, one of the seven churches in Asia Minor. The Sardis church is predominantly characterized by spiritual apathy and outward religiosity without inner life, described as having "a name that you are alive, but you are dead" (Rev 3:1). Amidst this pervasive spiritual decay, there were "a few names in Sardis who have not defiled their garments" (Rev 3:4). The promise in verse 5 is directed to these faithful few, and to anyone in Sardis who chooses to "wake up" and overcome the prevailing deadness. Historically, Sardis was an ancient city with a reputation for complacency, having been conquered multiple times due to its inhabitants' overconfidence and lack of vigilance, making Christ's warning to "come as a thief" particularly poignant for this specific audience. The verse thus highlights the crucial distinction between mere outward profession and genuine, enduring faith and works.

Revelation 3 5 Word analysis

• He that overcometh (ὁ νικῶν - ho nikōn):

  • Word: "Overcometh" comes from the Greek nikaō, meaning to conquer, overcome, prevail, or gain the victory.
  • Significance: This term is a recurring motif in the letters to the seven churches, appearing in every promise to the faithful. It signifies spiritual victory over sin, worldly pressures, false doctrines, and the forces of evil (Rev 2:7, 2:11, 2:17, 2:26, 3:12, 3:21). It is not merely a single act but a continuous characteristic of one who perseveres in faith to the end (1 Jn 5:4).
  • Context: For Sardis, "overcoming" means triumphing over spiritual apathy, dead works, and complacency.

• the same shall be clothed in white raiment (ἐν ἱματίοις λευκοῖς περιβαλεῖται - en himatiois leukois peribaleitai):

  • Word: "White raiment" (leukos himation) symbolizes purity, righteousness, victory, honor, and celebration.
  • Significance: In biblical context, white garments often signify divine approval, spiritual purity (Isa 1:18, Psa 51:7), and the righteousness granted by Christ (Rev 7:14, 19:8). The clothing is an act of divine bestowal, not a result of human earning, representing participation in Christ's righteousness and triumph.
  • Contrast: It contrasts sharply with the "defiled garments" of the majority in Sardis (Rev 3:4), symbolizing their spiritual impurity and deadness.

• and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life (οὐ μὴ ἐξαλείψω τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ ἐκ τῆς βίβλου τῆς ζωῆς - ou mē exaleipsō to onoma autou ek tēs biblou tēs zōēs):

  • Words:
    • "Not blot out": This is a strong double negative in Greek, emphatically stating that removal will not happen.
    • "Blot out" (exaleiphō): Means to wipe away, erase, obliterate. Used in ancient times for effacing writing on tablets or rolls.
    • "Book of life" (biblos tēs zōēs): A divine register where the names of the saved or eternally elect are recorded (Psa 69:28, Phil 4:3, Rev 21:27).
  • Significance: This phrase promises ultimate security and eternal salvation for the overcomer. While God can blot out names due to unfaithfulness or rebellion (Exo 32:32-33, Psa 9:5), this promise assures the steadfast believer that their eternal status is secure in Christ. It highlights divine preservation and election in response to human perseverance in faith.

• but I will confess his name before My Father, and before His angels (καὶ ὁμολογήσω τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ ἐνώπιον τοῦ Πατρὸς μου καὶ ἐνώπιον τῶν ἀγγέλων αὐτοῦ - kai homolegesō to onoma autou enōpion tou Patros mou kai enōpion tōn angelōn autou):

  • Words:
    • "Confess" (homologeō): Means to agree with, to acknowledge, to profess, to declare publicly.
    • "My Father, and before His angels": Indicates the highest heavenly tribunal and an audience of utmost importance.
  • Significance: This is the ultimate act of divine vindication and honor. Just as believers confess Christ before men (Matt 10:32), Christ promises to acknowledge and affirm them before God the Father and all the angels (Luke 12:8-9). It represents complete acceptance, adoption, and recognition within the divine presence, a powerful antidote to any earthly shame or rejection endured for Christ's sake.

Revelation 3 5 Bonus section

The specific choice of "blot out" links directly to ancient administrative practices where records were kept in books or scrolls. If a name was to be removed, it was literally wiped or scraped away. This image underscores the reality and permanence of inclusion in (or exclusion from) God's eternal record. While the emphasis in Revelation 3:5 is on the assurance of not being blotted out for those who overcome, the underlying possibility implied in passages like Exodus 32:32-33 serves to underscore the critical importance of enduring faith and righteous living as characteristics of true saving grace. It reminds us that election leads to perseverance, and perseverance confirms election, not by human merit, but by divine enablement through faith in Christ. The church at Sardis, despite its widespread deadness, contained a faithful remnant—a crucial detail reminding us that God always preserves a people for Himself even in the midst of general apostasy. This highlights the personal accountability to "overcome" regardless of the surrounding spiritual climate.

Revelation 3 5 Commentary

Revelation 3:5 delivers profound assurances to those who overcome the spiritual challenges of their age. The "overcomer" is not perfect, but one who genuinely believes, perseveres in faith, and remains loyal to Christ despite external pressures or internal spiritual decline, exemplified by the few in Sardis. The promise of being "clothed in white raiment" speaks to a divine bestowment of righteousness and purity, indicating full acceptance and a share in Christ's victory and glory. This divine garment contrasts starkly with the spiritual nakedness of the unfaithful. Furthermore, the guarantee that one's name will "not be blotted out of the book of life" offers supreme comfort regarding eternal security, indicating that perseverance in faith is evidence of a true and enduring relationship with God. Finally, the promise of Christ confessing the overcomer's name before the Father and angels signifies ultimate vindication and public honor in the heavenly court, the highest form of recognition and affirmation. This verse underscores that true faith is active, persevering, and will be eternally rewarded by God Himself.

• Examples of practical usage:
  • For the believer facing apathy or temptation, the promise of "white garments" encourages daily striving for purity in thought, word, and deed, trusting in Christ for righteousness.
  • Knowing one's name will "not be blotted out" reinforces the need for continual faithfulness and perseverance, even amidst spiritual warfare or doubt.
  • The prospect of Christ's personal confession before the Father inspires believers to boldly confess Christ before others, valuing eternal approval over temporal acceptance.