Limitless Word
I know your deeds; you are neither cold nor hot. How I wish you were one or the other!
Revelation 3:15 · Berean Standard Bible
Parallel translations
  • WEB “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were cold or hot.
  • KJV I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.
  • ESV “‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot!
  • NKJV “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot.
  • NASB ‘I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot.
  • NLT “I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other!

Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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

Christ knows they are neither cold nor hot and wishes they were one or the other. It matters because spiritual lukewarmness is offensive to Christ.

Overview

Laodicea's faith is described as tepid and ineffective, neither refreshing nor healing. Drawing perhaps on the city's lukewarm water supply, Christ contrasts useful hot and cold water with their uselessness. He longs for a faith of real substance rather than complacent mediocrity.

Cross-references & the web

Cross-references · 22

  • Rom 12:11Do not let your zeal subside; keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.
  • Matt 6:24No one can serve two masters: Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.
  • 1 Kgs 18:21Then Elijah approached all the people and said, “How long will you waver between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him. But if Baal is God, follow him.” But the people did not answer a word.
  • Jas 1:8He is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
  • Rev 2:4But I have this against you: You have abandoned your first love.
  • Ps 81:11–13But My people would not listen to Me, and Israel would not obey Me.
  • Matt 24:12Because of the multiplication of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold.
  • Zeph 1:5–6those who bow on the rooftops to worship the host of heaven, those who bow down and swear by the LORD but also swear by Milcom,
  • Prov 23:26My son, give me your heart, and let your eyes delight in my ways.
  • 2 Cor 12:20For I am afraid that when I come, I may not find you as I wish, and you may not find me as you wish. I fear that there may be quarreling, jealousy, rage, rivalry, slander, gossip, arrogance, and disorder.
  • 1 Pet 1:22Since you have purified your souls by obedience to the truth so that you have a genuine love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from a pure heart.
  • Phil 1:9And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight,
  • Rev 3:1“To the angel of the church in Sardis write: These are the words of the One who holds the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars. I know your deeds; you have a reputation for being alive, yet you are dead.
  • Matt 10:37Anyone who loves his father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me;
  • Deut 5:29If only they had such a heart to fear Me and keep all My commandments always, so that it might be well with them and with their children forever.
  • Luke 14:27–28And whoever does not carry his cross and follow Me cannot be My disciple.
  • 2 Th 1:3We are obligated to thank God for you all the time, brothers, as is fitting, because your faith is growing more and more, and your love for one another is increasing.
  • Rev 2:2I know your deeds, your labor, and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate those who are evil, and you have tested and exposed as liars those who falsely claim to be apostles.
  • Hos 10:2Their hearts are devious; now they must bear their guilt. The LORD will break down their altars and demolish their sacred pillars.
  • Josh 24:15–24But if it is unpleasing in your sight to serve the LORD, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living. As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD!”
  • 1 Cor 16:22If anyone does not love the Lord, let him be under a curse. Come, O Lord!
  • Hos 7:8Ephraim mixes with the nations; Ephraim is an unturned cake.

Themes, concepts, people & topics

Topics (3)

Resources, by level

Commentaries & study tools

  • VideoBibleProject — Revelation videosBibleProject · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.

  • VideoWatch teaching on Revelation 3:15YouTube · Lay · Free

    Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.

  • CommentaryEnduring Word — verse-by-verseDavid Guzik · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.

  • CommentaryClassic commentaries for this verseBibleHub (20+ works) · Pastoral · Free

    Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.

  • CommentaryMatthew Henry on RevelationMatthew Henry · Pastoral · Free · evangelical

    The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).

  • ReferenceInterlinear, lexicon & Strong'sBlue Letter Bible · Seminary · Free

    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 3:15 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.