Revelation 22 · Verse 16

Revelation 22:16

I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.
Revelation 22:16, King James Version

Revelation 22:16 in other translations

BSB“I, Jesus, have sent My angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the bright Morning Star.”
WEBI, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify these things to you for the assemblies. I am the root and the offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star.”
ASVI Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things for the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, the bright, the morning star.
YLT‘I, Jesus did send my messenger to testify to you these things concerning the assemblies; I am the root and the offspring of David, the bright and morning star!
DARBYI Jesus have sent mine angel to testify these things to you in the assemblies. I am the root and offspring of David, the bright and morning star.
BBEI, Jesus, have sent my angel to give witness to you of these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, the bright and morning star.
WebsterI Jesus have sent my angel to testify to you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning-star.

What does Revelation 22:16 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
16. mine angel--for Jesus is Lord of the angels. unto you--ministers and people in the seven representative churches, and, through you, to testify to Christians of all times and places. root ... offspring of David--appropriate title here where assuring His Church of "the sure mercies of David," secured to Israel first, and through Israel to the Gentiles. Root of David, as being Jehovah; the offspring of David as man. David's Lord, yet David's son (Mt 22:42-45). the morning star--that ushered in the day of grace in the beginning of this dispensation and that shall usher in the everlasting day of glory at its close.

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

Barnes' Notes
Verse 16. I Jesus. Here the Saviour appears expressly as the speaker-- ratifying and confirming all that had been communicated by the instrumentality of the angel.

Have sent mine angel. Barnes on "Re 1:1".

To testify unto you. That is, to be a witness for me in communicating these things to you.

In the churches. Directly and immediately to the seven churches in Asia Minor, (chapters 2 and 3) remotely and ultimately to all churches to the end of time. Compare Barnes on "Re 1:11".

I am the root. Not the root in the sense that David sprang from him, as a tree does from a root, but in the sense that he was the "root-shoot" of David, or that he himself sprang from him, as a sprout starts up from a decayed and fallen tree--as of the oak, the willow, the chesnut, etc. Isa 11:1. The meaning then is, not that he was the ancestor of David, or that David sprang from him, but that he was the offspring of David, according to the promise in the Scripture, that the Messiah should be descended from him. No argument then, can be derived from this passage in proof of the pre-existence, or the divinity of Christ.

And the offspring. The descendant; the progeny of David: "the seed of David according to the flesh." Rom 1:3. It is not unusual to employ two words in close connexion to express the same idea with some slight shade of difference.

And the bright and morning star. Rev 2:28. It is not uncommon to compare a prince, a leader, a teacher, with that bright and beautiful star which at some seasons of the year precedes the rising of the sun, and leads on the day. Compare Barnes on "Isa 14:12". The reference here is to that star as the harbinger of day; and the meaning of the Saviour is, that he sustains a relation to a dark world similar to this beautiful star. At one time he is indeed compared with the sun itself in giving light to the world; here he is compared with that morning star rather with reference to its beauty than its light. May it not also have been one object in this comparison to lead us, when we look on that star, to think of the Saviour? It is perhaps the most beautiful object in nature; it succeeds the darkness of the night; it brings on the day--and as it mingles with the first rays of the morning, it seems to be so joyous, cheerful, exulting, bright, that nothing can be better adapted to remind us of Him who came to lead on eternal day. Its place--the first thing that arrests the eye in the morning--might serve to remind us that the Saviour should be the first object that should draw the eye and the heart on the return of each day. In each trial--each scene of sorrow--let us think of the bright star of the morning as it rises on the darkness of the night--emblem of the Saviour rising on our sorrow and our gloom.

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 16 I Jesus - The Maker, the Redeemer, and Judge of all men. Have sent mine angel - An especial messenger from heaven. I am the root and the offspring of David - Christ is the root of David as to his Divine nature; for from that all the human race sprang, for he is the Creator of all things, and without him was nothing made which is made. And he is the offspring of David as to his human nature; for that he took of the stock of David, becoming thereby heir to the Jewish throne, and the only heir which then existed; and it is remarkable that the whole regal family terminated in Christ: and as He liveth for ever, he is the alone true David and everlasting King. The bright and morning star - I am splendor and glory to my kingdom; as the morning star ushers in the sun, so shall I usher in the unclouded and eternal glories of the everlasting kingdom.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Revelation 22:6-19

The Lord Jesus spake by the angel, solemnly confirming the contents of this book, particularly of this last vision. He is the Lord God faithful and true. Also by his messengers; the holy angels showed them to holy men of God. They are things that must shortly be done; Christ will come quickly, and put all things out of doubt. And by the integrity of that angel who had been the apostle's interpreter. He refused to…

Read the full comment on Revelation 22:6-19 →

Revelation 22:16 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.

ἘγὼEgōI myselfG1473
ἸησοῦςIēsousJesusG2424
ἔπεμψαepempsasentG3992
τὸνtontheG3588
ἄγγελόνangelonangelG32
μουmouof MineG3165
μαρτυρῆσαιmarturēsaito testifyG3140
ὑμῖνhuminto youG4771
ταῦταtautathese thingsG3778
ἐπὶepiinG1909
ταῖςtaistheG3588
ἐκκλησίαις.ekklēsiaischurches.G1577
ἐγώegōI myselfG1473
εἰμιeimiamG1510
ἡhētheG3588
ῥίζαrhizarootG4491
καὶkaiandG2532
τὸtotheG3588
γένοςgenosoffspringG1085
Δαυίδ,Dauidof David,G1138
ὁhotheG3588
ἀστὴρastērstarG792
ὁhotheG3588
λαμπρὸςlamprosbrightG2986
ὁhotheG3588
πρωϊνός.prōinosmorning.G4407

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

Cross references for Revelation 22:16

  • Revelation 5:5

    And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.

  • 2 Peter 1:19

    We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:

  • Isaiah 11:1

    And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots:

  • Romans 1:3-4

    Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:

  • Revelation 1:4

    John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne;

  • Revelation 22:20

    He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.

  • Matthew 22:42

    Saying, What think ye of Christ? whose son is he? They say unto him, The Son of David.

  • Revelation 22:6

    And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to shew unto his servants the things which must shortly be done.

  • Matthew 2:2

    Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.

  • Revelation 2:28-29

    And I will give him the morning star. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

  • Numbers 24:17

    I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth.

  • Revelation 1:1

    The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
I Jesus.
6; 1:1
to testify.
20
See on ver.
1,11; 2:7,11,17,29; 3:6,13,22
I am.
5:5; Isa 11:1; Zec 6:12; Mt 22:42,45; Ro 1:3,4; 9:5
the bright.
2:28; Nu 24:17; Mt 2:2,7-10; Lu 1:78; 2Pe 1:19

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

Context

  • Revelation 22:15

    For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.

  • Revelation 22:16

    I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.

  • Revelation 22:17

    And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

Read all of Revelation 22

Revelation 22:16 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Yo Jesús he enviado mi ángel para daros testimonio de estas cosas en las iglesias. Yo soy la raíz y el linaje de David, la estrella resplandeciente, y de la mañana.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Moi, Jésus, j’ai envoyé mon ange pour vous rendre témoignage de ces choses dans les assemblées. Moi, je suis la racine et la postérité de David, l’étoile brillante du matin.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Ich, Jesus, habe meinen Engel gesandt, euch diese Dinge zu bezeugen in den Versammlungen. Ich bin die Wurzel und das Geschlecht Davids, der glänzende Morgenstern.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Ego Jesus misi angelum meum testificari vobis hæc in ecclesiis. Ego sum radix, et genus David, stella splendida et matutina.