She was given clothing of fine linen, bright and pure.” For the fine linen she wears is the righteous acts of the saints.
Parallel translations
- WEB It was given to her that she would array herself in bright, pure, fine linen: for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.
- KJV And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.
- NKJV And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.
- NASB It was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.
- NLT She has been given the finest of pure white linen to wear.” For the fine linen represents the good deeds of God’s holy people.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The bride is clothed in bright, pure linen, which is the righteous acts of the saints. Her purity is both given and lived out.
Overview
The bride's fine linen, granted to her, stands for the righteous deeds of God's people. The clothing is 'given,' showing grace as its source, yet it is worked out in holy living. This holds together justification and sanctification: believers are clothed in Christ's righteousness, which produces real obedience, in contrast to the prostitute's gaudy attire.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 16
- Isa 61:10I will rejoice greatly in the LORD, my soul will exult in my God; for He has clothed me with garments of salvation and wrapped me in a robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom wears a priestly headdress, as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
- Rev 7:13–14Then one of the elders addressed me: “These in white robes,” he asked, “who are they, and where have they come from?”
- Ps 132:9May Your priests be clothed with righteousness, and Your saints shout for joy.
- Eph 5:26–27to sanctify her, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word,
- Ezek 16:10I clothed you in embroidered cloth and gave you sandals of fine leather. I wrapped you in fine linen and covered you with silk.
- Rom 13:14Instead, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the desires of the flesh.
- Mark 9:3His clothes became radiantly white, brighter than any launderer on earth could bleach them.
- Matt 22:12‘Friend,’ he asked, ‘how did you get in here without wedding clothes?’ But the man was speechless.
- Rev 3:18I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, white garments so that you may be clothed and your shameful nakedness not exposed, and salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see.
- Rev 3:4–5But you do have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their garments, and because they are worthy, they will walk with Me in white.
- Rev 15:4Who will not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your name? For You alone are holy. All nations will come and worship before You, for Your righteous acts have been revealed.”
- Acts 1:10They were looking intently into the sky as He was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them.
- Luke 24:4While they were puzzling over this, suddenly two men in radiant apparel stood beside them.
- Ps 45:13–14All glorious is the princess in her chamber; her gown is embroidered with gold.
- Rom 3:22And this righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no distinction,
- Matt 17:2There He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
Revelation ends the story with the slain-yet-standing Lamb who is worthy, the Lion of Judah, the Alpha and Omega, the returning King who makes all things new and dwells with his people forever.
How Revelation 19:8 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.