And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.
Parallel translations
- WEB “Behold, I come quickly. My reward is with me, to repay to each man according to his work.
- BSB “Behold, I am coming soon, and My reward is with Me, to give to each one according to what he has done.
- NKJV “And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work.
- NASB “Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to reward each one as his work deserves.
- NLT “Look, I am coming soon, bringing my reward with me to repay all people according to their deeds.
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
Jesus again declares, 'I come quickly,' bringing reward to repay each according to his work. Christ returns as the righteous Judge of all.
Overview
The promise of swift return is joined to judgment, for Christ repays each person justly (cf. Isaiah 40:10; Matthew 16:27). Recompense according to works affirms that how one lives reveals one's true allegiance. For the redeemed this is reward by grace; for the unrepentant, just judgment.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 14
- Matt 16:27For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.
- Isa 62:11Behold, the LORD hath proclaimed unto the end of the world, Say ye to the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy salvation cometh; behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him.
- Isa 40:10Behold, the Lord GOD will come with strong hand, and his arm shall rule for him: behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him.
- 1 Cor 3:14If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
- Rev 22:7Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.
- 1 Cor 3:8Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.
- Rom 2:6–11Who will render to every man according to his deeds:
- Rom 14:12So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.
- Rev 11:18And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.
- Rev 22:20He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.
- Rev 20:12And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
- Isa 3:10–11Say ye to the righteous, that it shall be well with him: for they shall eat the fruit of their doings.
- Zeph 1:14The great day of the LORD is near, it is near, and hasteth greatly, even the voice of the day of the LORD: the mighty man shall cry there bitterly.
- 1 Cor 9:17–18For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me.
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 22:12 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
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