Nevertheless, hold fast to what you have until I come.
Parallel translations
- WEB Nevertheless, hold that which you have firmly until I come.
- KJV But that which ye have already hold fast till I come.
- NKJV But hold fast what you have till I come.
- NASB Nevertheless what you have, hold firmly until I come.
- NLT except that you hold tightly to what you have until I come.
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
He calls them simply to hold fast what they have until he comes. It matters because perseverance, not novelty, is the path of faithfulness.
Overview
The faithful are urged to maintain their sound faith and conduct firmly until Christ returns. No new demand is added beyond steadfastness. The forward look to his coming gives endurance its motive and hope.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 16
- Rev 3:11I am coming soon. Hold fast to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.
- Rev 3:3Remember, then, what you have received and heard. Keep it and repent. If you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know the hour when I will come upon you.
- Heb 10:23Let us hold resolutely to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful.
- Rev 22:7“Behold, I am coming soon. Blessed is the one who keeps the words of prophecy in this book.”
- 1 Th 5:21but test all things. Hold fast to what is good.
- Rom 12:9Love must be sincere. Detest what is evil; cling to what is good.
- Rev 1:7Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him—even those who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. So shall it be! Amen.
- Rev 22:20He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!
- John 14:3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and welcome you into My presence, so that you also may be where I am.
- Heb 3:6But Christ is faithful as the Son over God’s house. And we are His house, if we hold firmly to our confidence and the hope of which we boast.
- John 21:22–23Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain until I return, what is that to you? You follow Me!”
- Heb 4:14Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we profess.
- 2 Pet 3:10But the Day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar, the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and its works will be laid bare.
- 1 Cor 4:5Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God.
- 1 Cor 11:26For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.
- Acts 11:28One of them named Agabus stood up and predicted through the Spirit that a great famine would sweep across the whole world. (This happened under Claudius.)
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
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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 2:25 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.