To the angel of the church in Pergamum write: These are the words of the One who holds the sharp, double-edged sword.
Parallel translations
- WEB “To the angel of the assembly in Pergamum write: “He who has the sharp two-edged sword says these things:
- KJV And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges;
- NKJV “And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write, ‘These things says He who has the sharp two-edged sword:
- NASB “And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write: The One who has the sharp two-edged sword says this:
- NLT “Write this letter to the angel of the church in Pergamum. This is the message from the one with the sharp two-edged sword:
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
To Pergamum, Christ presents himself as the one with the sharp two-edged sword. It matters because his word will judge the compromise in their midst.
Overview
The title highlights the penetrating, judging power of Christ's word, fitting for a church tempted toward false teaching. Pergamum was a center of pagan worship and emperor cult. The image prepares for both warning and the promise of Christ's righteous intervention.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 8
- Rev 2:16Therefore repent! Otherwise I will come to you shortly and wage war against them with the sword of My mouth.
- Heb 4:12For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it pierces even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It judges the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
- Rev 1:16He held in His right hand seven stars, and a sharp double-edged sword came from His mouth. His face was like the sun shining at its brightest.
- Rev 1:11saying, “Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.”
- Rev 19:15And from His mouth proceeds a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and He will rule them with an iron scepter. He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty.
- Isa 11:4but with righteousness He will judge the poor, and with equity He will decide for the lowly of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of His mouth and slay the wicked with the breath of His lips.
- Rev 19:21And the rest were killed with the sword that proceeded from the mouth of the One seated on the horse. And all the birds gorged themselves on their flesh.
- Rev 2:1“To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: These are the words of Him who holds the seven stars in His right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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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 2:12 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.