“To the angel of the assembly in Pergamum write: “He who has the sharp two-edged sword says these things:
Parallel translations
- KJV And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges;
- BSB To the angel of the church in Pergamum write: These are the words of the One who holds the sharp, double-edged sword.
- 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 2:16Repent therefore, or else I am coming to you quickly, and I will make war against them with the sword of my mouth.
- Heb 4:12For the word of God is living and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and is able to discern the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
- Rev 1:16He had seven stars in his right hand. Out of his mouth proceeded a sharp two-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining at its brightest.
- Rev 1:11saying, “What you see, write in a book and send to the seven assemblies: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and to Laodicea.”
- Rev 19:15Out of his mouth proceeds a sharp, double-edged sword, that with it he should strike the nations. He will rule them with an iron rod. He treads the wine press of the fierceness of the wrath of God, the Almighty.
- Isa 11:4but with righteousness he will judge the poor, and decide with equity for the humble of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth; and with the breath of his lips he will kill the wicked.
- Rev 19:21The rest were killed with the sword of him who sat on the horse, the sword which came out of his mouth. All the birds were filled with their flesh.
- Rev 2:1“To the angel of the assembly in Ephesus write: “He who holds the seven stars in his right hand, he who walks among the seven golden lamp stands says these things:
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.