Revelation 22 · Verse 19

Revelation 22:19

And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.
Revelation 22:19, King James Version

Revelation 22:19 in other translations

BSBAnd if anyone takes away from the words of this book of prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and the holy city, which are described in this book.
WEBIf anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his part from the tree of life, and out of the holy city, which are written in this book.
ASVand if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the tree of life, and out of the holy city, which are written in this book.
YLTand if any one may take away from the words of the scroll of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the scroll of the life, and out of the holy city, and the things that have been written in this scroll;'
DARBYAnd if any one take from the words of the book of this prophecy,God shall take away his part from the tree of life, and out of the holy city, which are written in this book.
BBEAnd if any man takes away from the words of this book, God will take away from him his part in the tree of life and the holy town, even the things which are in this book.
WebsterAnd if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

What does Revelation 22:19 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
19. book--None of our manuscripts read this. A, B, Aleph, Vulgate, Syriac, and Coptic read, "(take away his part, that is, portion) from the tree of life," that is, shall deprive him of participation in the tree of life. and from the things--so Vulgate. But A, B, Aleph, Syriac, Coptic, and Andreas omit "and"; then "which are written in this book" will refer to "the holy city and the tree of life." As in the beginning of this book (Re 1:3) a blessing was promised to the devout, obedient student of it, so now at its close a curse is denounced against those who add to, or take from, it.

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

Barnes' Notes
Verse 19. And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy. If he shall reject the book altogether; if he shall, in transcribing it, designedly strike any part of it out. It is conceivable that, from the remarkable nature of the communications made in this book, and the fact that they seemed to be unintelligible, John supposed there might be those who would be inclined to omit some portions as improbable, or that he apprehended that when the portions which describe Antichrist were fulfilled in distant ages, those to whom those portions applied would be disposed to strike them from the sacred volume, or to corrupt them. He thought proper to guard against this by this solemn declaration of the consequence which would follow such an act. The whole book was to be received--with all its fearful truths--as a revelation from God; and however obscure it might seem, in due time it would be made plain; however faithfully it might depict a fearful apostasy, it was important, both to show the truth of Divine inspiration and to save the church, that these disclosures should be in their native purity in the possession of the people of God.

God shall take away his part out of the book of life. Perhaps there is here an intimation that this would be most likely to be done by those who professed to be Christians, and who supposed that their names were in the book of life. In fact, most of the corruptions of the sacred Scriptures have been attempted by those who have professed some form of Christianity. Infidels have but little interest in attempting such changes, and but little influence to make them received by the church. It is most convenient for them, as it is most agreeable to their feelings, to reject the Bible altogether. When it said here that "God would take away his part out of the book of life," the meaning is not that his name had been written in that book, but that he would take away the part which he might have had, or which he professed to have in that book. Such corruption of the Divine oracles would show that they had no true religion, and would be excluded from heaven. On the phrase "book of life," Rev 3:5.

And out of the holy city. Described in chapter 21. He would not be permitted to enter that city; he would have no part among the redeemed.

And from the things which are written in this book. The promises that are made; the glories that are described.

(e) "take away" Rev 3:5 (1) "out of the book" "from the tree"

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 19 If any man shall take away - If any man shall lessen this meaning, curtail the sense, explain away the spirit and design, of these prophecies, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, etc. Thus Jesus Christ warns all those who consider this book to beware of indulging their own conjectures concerning it. I confess that this warning has its own powerful influence upon my mind, and has prevented me from indulging my own conjectures concerning its meaning, or of adopting the conjectures of others. These visions and threatenings are too delicate and awful a subject to trifle with, or even to treat in the most solemn manner, where the meaning is obscure. I must leave these things to time and event, the surest interpreters. No jot or tittle of Christ's word shall fall to the ground; all shall have its fulfillment in due time. This is termed a revelation, but it is a revelation of symbols; an exhibition of enigmas, to which no particular solution is given, and to which God alone can give the solution.

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 22:19 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
ἐάνeanifG1437
τιςtisanyoneG5100
ἀφέλῃaphelēshall take awayG851
ἀπὸapofromG575
τῶνtōntheG3588
λόγωνlogōnwordsG3056
τοῦtouof theG3588
βιβλίουbiblioubookG975
τῆςtēsof theG3588
προφητείαςprophēteiasprophecyG4394
ταύτης,tautēsthis,G3778
ἀφελεῖapheleiwill take awayG851
ὁho<the>G3588
θεὸςtheosGodG2316
τὸtotheG3588
μέροςmerospartG3313
αὐτοῦautouof himG846
ἀπὸapofromG575
τοῦtoutheG3588
ξύλουxuloutreeG3586
τῆςtēs<the>G3588
ζωῆςzōēsof lifeG2222
καὶkaiandG2532
ἐκekout ofG1537
τῆςtēstheG3588
πόλεωςpoleōscityG4172
τῆςtēs<the>G3588
ἁγίας,hagiasholy,G40
τῶνtōnof thoseG3588
γεγραμμένωνgegrammenōnwrittenG1125
ἐνeninG1722
τῷtō<the>G3588
βιβλίῳbibliōbookG975
τούτῳ.¶toutōthis.G3778

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

Cross references for Revelation 22:19

  • Deuteronomy 4:2

    Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you.

  • Luke 11:52

    Woe unto you, lawyers! for ye have taken away the key of knowledge: ye entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye hindered.

  • Revelation 22:2

    In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.

  • Psalms 69:28

    Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, and not be written with the righteous.

  • Revelation 1:3

    Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.

  • Revelation 21:22-27

    And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it. And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there. …

  • Revelation 21:2

    And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

  • Revelation 3:4-5

    Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy. He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.

  • Exodus 32:33

    And the Lord said unto Moses, Whosoever hath sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book.

  • Revelation 22:12

    And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.

  • Revelation 3:12

    Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.

  • Revelation 2:26

    And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
take.
2:18; Lu 11:52
God.
3:5; 13:8; Ex 32:33; Ps 69:28
out of the book of life. or, from the tree of life.
2
and out.
21:2,22-27
and from.
12; 1:3; 2:7,11,17,26; 3:4,5,12,21; 7:9-17; 14:13

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

Context

  • Revelation 22:18

    For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:

  • Revelation 22:19

    And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

  • Revelation 22:20

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

Read all of Revelation 22

Revelation 22:19 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y si alguno quitare de las palabras del libro de esta profecía, Dios quitará su parte del libro de la vida, y de la santa ciudad, y de las cosas que están escritas en este libro.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		et que si quelqu’un ôte quelque chose des paroles du livre de cette prophétie, Dieu ôtera sa part de l’arbre de vie et de la sainte cité, qui sont écrits dans ce livre.
German
Elberfelder 1871		und wenn jemand von den Worten des Buches dieser Weissagung wegnimmt, so wird Gott sein Teil wegnehmen von dem Baume des Lebens und aus der heiligen Stadt, die in diesem Buche geschrieben ist.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Et si quis diminuerit de verbis libri prophetiæ hujus, auferet Deus partem ejus de libro vitæ, et de civitate sancta, et de his quæ scripta sunt in libro isto: