Revelation 2 · Verse 21

Revelation 2:21

And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not.
Revelation 2:21, King James Version

Revelation 2:21 in other translations

BSBEven though I have given her time to repent of her immorality, she is unwilling.
WEBI gave her time to repent, but she refuses to repent of her sexual immorality.
ASVAnd I gave her time that she should repent; and she willeth not to repent of her fornication.
YLTand I did give to her a time that she might reform from her whoredom, and she did not reform;
DARBYAnd I gave her time that she should repent, and she will not repent of her fornication.
BBEAnd I gave her time for a change of heart, but she has no mind to give up her unclean ways.
WebsterAnd I gave her time to repent of her lewdness, and she repented not.

What does Revelation 2:21 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
21. space--Greek, "time." of her fornication ... she repented not--The three oldest manuscripts read, "and she willeth not to repent of (literally, 'out of,' that is, so as to come out of) her fornication." Here there is a transition from literal to spiritual fornication, as appears from Re 2:22. The idea arose from Jehovah's covenant relation to the Old Testament Church being regarded as a marriage, any transgression against which was, therefore, harlotry, fornication, or adultery.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 21. And I gave her space to repent of her fornication. Probably after some direct and solemn warning of the evil of her course. The error and sin had been of long standing, but he now resolved to bear with it no longer. It is true of almost every great sinner, that sufficient time is given for repentance, and that vengeance is delayed after crime is committed. But it cannot always be deferred, for the period must arrive when no reason shall exist for longer delay, and when punishment must come upon the offender.

And she repented not. As she did not do it; as she showed no disposition to abandon her course; as all plea of having had no time to repent would now be taken away, it was proper that he should rise in his anger and cut her down.

(e) "space" Rom 2:14 (f) "repented not" Rev 9:20

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 21 I gave her space to repent - "This alludes to the history of Jezebel. God first sent Elijah to Ahab to pronounce a severe judgment upon him; upon which Ahab showed tokens of repentance, and so God put off his punishment. By these means the like punishment pronounced against Jezebel was also put off. Thus God gave her time to repent, which she did not, but instead of that seduced her sons to the same sins. See 1 Kings 21:1-29. According to the Mosaical law, the punishment of idolatrous seducers was not to be delayed at all, but God sometimes showed mercy; and now much more under the Christian dispensation, though that mercy is often abused, and thus produces the contrary effect, as in the case of this Jezebel. See Ecc 8:11.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Revelation 2:18-29

Even when the Lord knows the works of his people to be wrought in love, faith, zeal, and patience; yet if his eyes, which are as a flame of fire, observe them committing or allowing what is evil, he will rebuke, correct, or punish them. Here is praise of the ministry and people of Thyatira, by One who knew the principles from which they acted. They grew wiser and better. All Christians should earnestly desire that…

Read the full comment on Revelation 2:18-29 →

Revelation 2:21 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

καὶkaiAndG2532
ἔδωκαedōkaI have givenG1325
αὐτῇautēato herG846
χρόνονchronontimeG5550
ἵναinathatG2443
μετανοήσῃmetanoēsēshe may repentG3340
καὶkaiandG2532
οὐounotG3756
θέλειtheleishe is willingG2309
μετανοῆσαιmetanoēsaito repentG3340
ἐκekofG1537
τῆςtēstheG3588
πορνείαςporneiassexual immoralityG4202
αὐτῆς.autēsof her.G846

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Revelation 2:21

  • 2 Peter 3:9

    The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

  • Romans 2:4-5

    Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;

  • Revelation 9:20-21

    And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk: Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts.

  • Revelation 16:11

    And blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and repented not of their deeds.

  • Revelation 16:9

    And men were scorched with great heat, and blasphemed the name of God, which hath power over these plagues: and they repented not to give him glory.

  • 1 Peter 3:20

    Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.

  • 2 Peter 3:15

    And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;

  • Jeremiah 8:4-6

    Moreover thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the Lord; Shall they fall, and not arise? shall he turn away, and not return? Why then is this people of Jerusalem slidden back by a perpetual backsliding? they hold fast deceit, they refuse to return. I hearkened and heard, but they spake not aright: no man repented him of his wickedness, saying, What have I done? every one turned to his course, as the horse rusheth into the battle.

  • Romans 9:22

    What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction:

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
space.
9:20,21; Jer 8:4-6; Ro 2:4,5; 9:22; 1Pe 3:20; 2Pe 3:9,15

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Revelation 2:20

    Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.

  • Revelation 2:21

    And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not.

  • Revelation 2:22

    Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds.

Read all of Revelation 2

Revelation 2:21 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y le he dado tiempo para que se arrepienta de la fornicación; y no se ha arrepentido.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et je lui ai donné du temps afin qu’elle se repente; et elle ne veut pas se repentir de sa fornication.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und ich gab ihr Zeit, auf daß sie Buße täte, und sie will nicht Buße tun von ihrer Hurerei.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Et dedi illi tempus ut pœnitentiam ageret: et non vult pœnitere a fornicatione sua.