Revelation 3 · Verse 16

Revelation 3:16

So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
Revelation 3:16, King James Version

Revelation 3:16 in other translations

BSBSo because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to vomit you out of My mouth!
WEBSo, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will vomit you out of my mouth.
ASVSo because thou art lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spew thee out of my mouth.
YLTSo--because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I am about to vomit thee out of my mouth;
DARBYThus because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I am about to spue thee out of my mouth.
BBESo because you are not one thing or the other, I will have no more to do with you.
WebsterSo then, because thou art luke-warm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit thee out of my mouth:

What does Revelation 3:16 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
16. neither cold nor hot--So one oldest manuscript, B, and Vulgate read. But two oldest manuscripts, Syriac, and Coptic transpose thus, "hot nor cold." It is remarkable that the Greek adjectives are in the masculine, agreeing with the angel, not feminine, agreeing with the Church. The Lord addresses the angel as the embodiment and representative of the Church. The chief minister is answerable for his flock if he have not faithfully warned the members of it. I will--Greek, "I am about to," "I am ready to": I have it in my mind: implying graciously the possibility of the threat not being executed, if only they repent at once. His dealings towards them will depend on theirs towards Him. spue thee out of my month--reject with righteous loathing, as Canaan spued out its inhabitants for their abominations. Physicians used lukewarm water to cause vomiting. Cold and hot drinks were common at feasts, but never lukewarm. There were hot and cold springs near Laodicea.

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

Barnes' Notes
Verse 16. So then because thou art lukewarm-I will spue thee out of my mouth. Referring, perhaps, to the well-known fact that tepid water tends to produce sickness at the stomach, and an inclination to vomit. The image is intensely strong, and denotes deep disgust and loathing at the indifference which prevailed in the church at Laodicea. The idea is, that they would be utterly rejected and cast off as a church: a threatening of which there has been an abundant fulfilment in subsequent times. It may be remarked, also, that what was threatened to that church may be expected to occur to all churches, if they are in the same condition; and that all professing Christians, and Christian churches, that are lukewarm, have special reason to dread the indignation of the Saviour.

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 16 Because thou art lukewarm - Irresolute and undecided. I will spue thee out of my mouth - He alludes here to the known effect of tepid water upon the stomach; it generally produces a nausea. I wilt cast thee off. Thou shalt have no interest in me. Though thou hast been near to my heart, yet now I must pluck thee thence, because slothful, careless, and indolent; thou art not in earnest for thy soul.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Revelation 3:14-22

Laodicea was the last and worst of the seven churches of Asia. Here our Lord Jesus styles himself, "The Amen;" one steady and unchangeable in all his purposes and promises. If religion is worth anything, it is worth every thing. Christ expects men should be in earnest. How many professors of gospel doctrine are neither hot nor cold; except as they are indifferent in needful matters, and hot and fiery in disputes…

Read the full comment on Revelation 3:14-22 →

Revelation 3:16 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.

οὕτωςhoutōsSoG3779
ὅτιhotibecauseG3754
χλιαρὸςchliaroslukewarmG5513
εἶeiyou areG1510
καὶkaiandG2532
οὔτεouteneitherG3777
ζεστὸςzestoshotG2200
οὔτεoutenorG3777
ψυχρός,psuchroscold,G5593
μέλλωmellōI am aboutG3195
σεseyouG4771
ἐμέσαιemesaito spitG1692
ἐκekout ofG1537
τοῦtoutheG3588
στόματόςstomatosmouthG4750
μου,mouof Mine,G3165

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

Cross references for Revelation 3:16

  • Revelation 2:5

    Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.

  • Zechariah 11:8-9

    Three shepherds also I cut off in one month; and my soul lothed them, and their soul also abhorred me. Then said I, I will not feed you: that that dieth, let it die; and that that is to be cut off, let it be cut off; and let the rest eat every one the flesh of another.

  • Jeremiah 14:19

    Hast thou utterly rejected Judah? hath thy soul lothed Zion? why hast thou smitten us, and there is no healing for us? we looked for peace, and there is no good; and for the time of healing, and behold trouble!

  • Jeremiah 15:1-4

    Then said the Lord unto me, Though Moses and Samuel stood before me, yet my mind could not be toward this people: cast them out of my sight, and let them go forth. And it shall come to pass, if they say unto thee, Whither shall we go forth? then thou shalt tell them, Thus saith the Lord; Such as are for death, to death; and such as are for the sword, to the sword; and such as are for the famine, to the famine; and such as are for the captivity, to the captivity. And I will appoint over them four kinds, saith the Lord: the sword to slay, and the dogs to tear, and the fowls of the heaven, and the beasts of the earth, to devour and destroy. And I will cause them to be removed into all kingdoms of the earth, because of Manasseh the son of Hezekiah king of Judah, for that which he did in Jerusalem.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
I will spue thee out.
2:5; Jer 14:19; 15:1-4; Zec 11:8,9

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

Context

  • Revelation 3:15

    I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.

  • Revelation 3:16

    So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.

  • Revelation 3:17

    Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:

Read all of Revelation 3

Revelation 3:16 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Mas porque eres tibio, y no frío ni caliente, te vomitaré de mi boca.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Ainsi, parce que tu es tiède et que tu n’es ni froid ni bouillant, je vais te vomir de ma bouche.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Also, weil du lau bist und weder kalt noch warm, so werde ich dich ausspeien aus meinem Munde.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		sed quia tepidus es, et nec frigidus, nec calidus, incipiam te evomere ex ore meo: