Revelation 3:6 kjv

He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

Revelation 3:6 nkjv

"He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches." '

Revelation 3:6 niv

Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

Revelation 3:6 esv

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.'

Revelation 3:6 nlt

"Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches.

Revelation 3 verses

Revelation 3 6 Meaning

This verse serves as a crucial concluding command to each of the seven letters to the churches in Revelation. It is an urgent spiritual summons, emphasizing that merely possessing a physical ear is insufficient; true reception of the divine message requires a spiritual ear and an open heart, enabling one to truly understand and respond to the Holy Spirit's ongoing communication directed at the entire body of believers. It underscores the personal responsibility of every individual believer within the collective church to discern and act upon the divine truth.

Revelation 3 6 Context

This verse is the concluding sentence of the message to the church in Sardis within Revelation chapter 3. The letter to Sardis sharply rebukes them for their spiritual deadness, for having a reputation for being alive while truly being near death. John calls them to "wake up" and strengthen what remains. Therefore, "He who has an ear, let him hear" directly follows this severe warning, intensifying the call to individual spiritual attentiveness for the believers in Sardis, urging them to break free from their complacency. This same admonition is found at the close of all seven letters (Rev 2:7, 11, 17, 29; 3:6, 13, 22), serving as a crucial interpretive key. Historically, these messages were written to specific churches in Asia Minor facing unique challenges, yet the recurring phrase underscores that their specific lessons are universal and applicable to all churches and believers across all times, demanding a deeply personal and spiritual discernment enabled by the Holy Spirit. This call for spiritual hearing also functioned as a subtle polemic against the prevailing indifference or reliance on mere outward religious practice found in some churches, emphasizing true spiritual vitality.

Revelation 3 6 Word analysis

• He who has (Gk. Ὁ ἔχων - Ho echōn): This is a singular masculine present active participle. It denotes a continuous state of possessing this capacity. The use of the singular emphasizes individual responsibility and capacity for spiritual perception; not everyone inherently "has" such an ear.
• an ear (Gk. οὖς - ous): While physically singular, this refers not merely to the auditory organ but to the spiritual faculty of receptivity, discernment, and understanding. It signifies a willingness and ability to grasp divine truths.
• let him hear (Gk. ἀκουέτω - akouetō): This is a strong, present imperative verb. It is a direct and urgent command to listen actively, thoughtfully, and obediently. The present tense implies continuous and attentive hearing, leading to spiritual comprehension and responsive action.
• what (Gk. τί - ti): This interrogative pronoun means "what things" or "that which." It points to the specific content and significance of the message that follows, emphasizing that there is indeed something vital and specific to be understood.
• the Spirit (Gk. τὸ Πνεῦμα - to Pneuma): This refers definitively to the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity. He is the divine source and author of the message, providing truth, insight, and revelation. This emphasizes the divine authority and supernatural origin of the messages in Revelation.
• says (Gk. λέγει - legei): A present active indicative verb, indicating that the Spirit's communication is not a past event but an ongoing, living declaration. The Spirit continually speaks through the inspired Word and through inner conviction to the Church.
• to the churches (Gk. ταῖς ἐκκλησίαις - tais ekklēsiais): The definite article and plural form emphasize that while the immediate context is the specific letter to Sardis, the message is intended for all the seven churches, and by extension, for the universal Church across history. It signifies the collective corporate recipients of the Spirit's word.

• "He who has an ear, let him hear": This phrase functions as a solemn, individualized summons to profound spiritual perception and responsiveness. It draws a clear distinction between superficial hearing and genuine, Spirit-enabled understanding and obedience. It highlights the reality that not everyone who physically hears will truly "hear" the deeper meaning.
• "what the Spirit says": This clause unequivocally declares the divine authorship and authority behind the entire message. It removes the message from merely human opinion or prophetic insight, establishing it as direct, revealed truth from the Holy Spirit. It stresses that it is not merely John's word, but God's.
• "to the churches": This final segment of the phrase expands the immediate scope of each letter. While each message addresses particular circumstances of a specific church, this ending universalizes its application, signifying that the truths, warnings, and promises are relevant and applicable to the entirety of God's people throughout the world and across time.

Revelation 3 6 Bonus section

• This specific phrase is one of seven identical refrains found at the end of each letter to the churches in Revelation (Rev 2:7, 11, 17, 29; 3:6, 13, 22). Its repetitive nature emphasizes its profound importance and acts as a consistent structural marker for universal application across the diverse spiritual conditions of the churches.
• The emphasis on the Holy Spirit as the speaker highlights the prophetic nature of the book of Revelation, linking John's revelatory experience to the continuous ministry of the Spirit in guiding and instructing the Church.
• This admonition implies that not all who "hear" the message outwardly will inwardly "perceive" it. It suggests a spiritual truth: that God grants the ability to understand His words to those who genuinely seek and are willing to respond, creating a division between those with receptive hearts and those with hardened ones.

Revelation 3 6 Commentary

Revelation 3:6, like its identical counterparts concluding each of the seven letters, serves as a divine clarion call, inviting and challenging believers to a deep spiritual attentiveness. It reiterates Jesus' earlier teaching on the need for spiritual perception beyond mere physical hearing (Matt 13:9). The phrase acts as a personal challenge to individual discernment, signifying that while the message is corporately addressed "to the churches," its understanding and application are profoundly individual. It underscores the Holy Spirit's active and continuous role as the one who communicates God's truth to His people, enabling them to understand the divine will for their lives and for the community of faith. True "hearing" in this context is not passive reception but an active engagement that leads to obedient response, often distinguishing true believers from those who are only nominally Christian. It's a reminder that God's word is not just for information but for transformation. For example, believers who faithfully study Scripture, pray for wisdom, and are open to the Spirit's conviction when faced with sin or complacency are "hearing" what the Spirit says, while those who prioritize worldly distractions or resist correction remain spiritually deaf.