Revelation 2:12

The Holy Bible, Berean Study Bible

To the angel of the church in Pergamum write: These are the words of the One who holds the sharp, double-edged sword.

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
“Write to the angel of the church in Pergamum: Thus says the one who has the sharp, double-edged sword:

King James Version (1611)
And to the Angel of the Church in Pergamos, write, These things saith hee, which hath the sharpe sword with two edges:

King James Version
And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges;

English Standard Version
"And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write: ‘The words of him who has the sharp two-edged sword.

New American Standard Bible
"And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write: The One who has the sharp two-edged sword says this:

New Century Version
"Write this to the angel of the church in Pergamum: "The One who has the sharp, double-edged sword says this:

THE MESSAGE
Write this to Pergamum, to the Angel of the church. The One with the sharp-biting sword draws from the sheath of his mouth—out come the sword words:

New American Standard Bible (1995)
"And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write: The One who has the sharp two-edged sword says this:

Contemporary English Version
This is what you must write to the angel of the church in Pergamum: I am the one who has the sharp double-edged sword! Listen to what I say.

Complete Jewish Bible
"To the angel of the Messianic Community in Pergamum, write: ‘Here is the message from the one who has the sharp double-edged sword:

Darby Translation
And to the angel of the assembly in Pergamos write: These things says he that has the sharp two-edged sword:

Easy-to-Read Version
"Write this to the angel of the church in Pergamum: "Here is a message from the one who has the sharp two-edged sword.

Geneva Bible (1587)
And to the Angel of the Church, which is at Pergamus write, This saith he which hath that sharpe sworde with two edges.

George Lamsa Translation
And to the angel of the church in Per''gamos write: These things says he who has the sharp two-edged sword;

Good News Translation
"To the angel of the church in Pergamum write: "This is the message from the one who has the sharp two-edged sword.

Lexham English Bible
"And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write: "This is what the one who has the sharp double-edged sword says:

Literal Translation
And to the angel of the assembly in Pergamos, write: These things says the One having the sharp, two-edged sword:

Amplified Bible
"And to the angel (divine messenger) of the church in Pergamum write: These are the words of Him who has and wields the sharp two-edged sword [in judgment]:

American Standard Version
And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write: These things saith he that hath the sharp two-edged sword:

Bible in Basic English
And to the angel of the church in Pergamos say: These things says he who has the sharp two-edged sword:

Hebrew Names Version
"To the angel of the assembly in Pergamum write: "He who has the sharp two-edged sword says these things:

International Standard Version
"To the messengerangel">[fn] of the church in Pergamum, write:Revelation 1:16;">[xr] 'The one who holds the sharp, two-edged sword, says this:

Etheridge Translation
And to the angel of the church which is in Pergamos, write: These saith he who hath the sharp sword with two edges.

Murdock Translation
And to the angel of the church at Pergamos, write: Thus saith he who hath the sharp two-edged sword;

Bishop's Bible (1568)
And to the Angell of the Churche in Pergamos, write: This saith he which hath ye sharpe sword with two edges:

English Revised Version
And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write; These things saith he that hath the sharp two-edged sword:

World English Bible
"To the angel of the assembly in Pergamum write: "He who has the sharp two-edged sword says these things:

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
And to the angel of the church at Pergamos write, These things saith he who hath the sharp two-edged sword.

Weymouth's New Testament
"To the minister of the Church at Pergamum write as follows: "`This is what He who has the sharp, two-edged sword says. I know where you dwell.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And to the aungel of the chirche of Pergamus write thou, These thingis seith he, that hath the swerd scharp on ech side.

Update Bible Version
and to the angel of the church in Pergamum write: These things says he that has the sharp two-edged sword:

Webster's Bible Translation
And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he who hath the sharp sword with two edges;

New English Translation
"To the angel of the church in Pergamum write the following: "This is the solemn pronouncement of the one who has the sharp double-edged sword:

New King James Version
"And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write, "These things says He who has the sharp two-edged sword:

New Living Translation
"Write this letter to the angel of the church in Pergamum. This is the message from the one with the sharp two-edged sword:

New Life Bible
"Write this to the angel of the church in the city of Pergamum: ‘The One Who has the sharp sword that cuts both ways, says this:

New Revised Standard
"And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write: These are the words of him who has the sharp two-edged sword:

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And, unto the messenger of the assembly, in Pergamum, write: - These things, saith he that hath the sharp, two-edged sword:

Douay-Rheims Bible
And to the angel of the church of Pergamus write: These things saith he that hath the sharp two-edged sword:

Revised Standard Version
"And to the angel of the church in Per'gamum write: 'The words of him who has the sharp two-edged sword.

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
And to the messenger of the congregacion in Pergamos wryte: This sayth he which hath ye sharpe swearde with two edges.

Young's Literal Translation
`And to the messenger of the assembly in Pergamos write: These things saith he who is having the sharp two-edged sword:

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
And to the angell of the congregacion in Pergamos wryte: This sayth he which hath the sharpe swearde with two edges:

Mace New Testament (1729)
And to the angel of the church in Pergamos, write, "THESE things, saith he, who hath the sharp sword with two edges,

Simplified Cowboy Version
"To the angel of the outfit in Pergamum, write these words:

Contextual Overview

¹²To the angel of the church in Pergamum write: These are the words of the One who holds the sharp, double-edged sword.¹³I know where you live, where the throne of Satan sits. Yet you have held fast to My name and have not denied your faith in Me, even in the day when My faithful witness Antipas was killed among you, where Satan dwells. ¹⁴But I have a few things against you, because some of you hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to place a stumbling block before the Israelites so they would eat food sacrificed to idols and commit sexual immorality. ¹⁵In the same way, some of you also hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans. ¹⁶Therefore repent! Otherwise I will come to you shortly and wage war against them with the sword of My mouth. ¹⁷He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone inscribed with a new name, known only to the one who receives it.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

the angel: Revelation 2:1, Revelation 1:11

Pergamos: Pergamos, now Bergamo, the ancient metropolis of Mysia, and the residence of the Attalian kings, is situated on the river Caicus, about sixty miles north of Smyrna, in long. 27 degrees e lat. 39 degrees 11 minutes n. It still retains some measure of its ancient importance; containing a population of 15,000 souls, and having nine or ten mosques, two churches, and one synagogue.

which hath: Revelation 2:16, Revelation 1:16, Revelation 19:15, Revelation 19:21, Isaiah 11:4, Hebrews 4:12

Reciprocal: Judges 3:16 - two edges Isaiah 49:2 - he hath made Ezekiel 44:15 - the sons Zechariah 9:13 - made Romans 1:7 - To all 2 Corinthians 3:3 - the epistle Philippians 1:1 - the bishops 1 Thessalonians 5:12 - and are Revelation 1:4 - to the Revelation 1:20 - The seven stars Revelation 19:9 - Write

Cross-References

Exodus 28:20
and in the fourth row a beryl, an onyx, and a jasper. Mount these stones in gold filigree settings.

Exodus 39:13
and the fourth row had a beryl, an onyx, and a jasper. These stones were mounted in gold filigree settings.

Numbers 11:7
Now the manna resembled coriander seed, and its appearance was like that of gum resin.

Job 28:16
It cannot be valued in the gold of Ophir, in precious onyx or sapphire.

Ezekiel 28:13
You were in Eden, the garden of God. Every kind of precious stone adorned you: ruby, topaz, and diamond, beryl, onyx, and jasper, sapphire, turquoise, and emerald. Your mountings and settings were crafted in gold, prepared on the day of your creation.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write,.... Of the city of Pergamos, :-. In it was a church of Christ, but when it begun, and how long it lasted, is not certain. Antipas, who is mentioned, Revelation 2:13; is thought, by some, to have been the pastor of it. Though, according to the Apostolical Constitutions s, Caius was the first bishop of it; and it appears, that in the "second" century there were several in this place that suffered martyrdom for Christ, as Carpus, Papulus, and a woman whose name was Agathonice t. Attalus, the martyr, who suffered in the same century, was also a native of this place u. In the "fifth" century there was a bishop of Pergamos in the council at Ephesus; and in the "sixth" century, there was one in the "fifth" synod at Constantinople; and in the "seventh" century, Theodorus, bishop of the church here, was in the sixth synod held at the same place; and in the "eighth" century one Pastilas was bishop of Pergamos; and in the same age, Basil, bishop of this place, was in the Nicene synod w; and the Christian name now is not wholly, though almost extinct; for when our countryman, Dr. Smith x, was there, there was a little church called St. Theodore's, whither a priest was frequently sent from Smyrna, to perform divine service, there being but a very few Christian families in it. This church represents the church from the time of Constantine, and onward, rising up to, and enjoying great power, riches, and honour Pergamos signifies high and lofty; things that were sublime and lofty, were, by the Greeks, called τα περγαμα, and also all high and lofty towers y. It was built under a very high and steep mountain, upon the top of which a tower was erected, by the lords of the lesser Asia, which still continues z. The church it represents had its principal seat at Rome, where Satan dwelt, Revelation 2:13; which signifies exalted likewise; and it introduces the man of sin, antichrist, the popes of Rome, who exalted themselves above all that is called God, princes, kings, and emperors; whom they excommunicated, dethroned, trod upon their necks, kicked off their crowns, and obliged them to hold their stirrups while they mounted their horses, with other haughty action, too many to name.

These things, saith he, which hath the sharp sword with two edges: of which Revelation 2:13- :; This title is used partly to show, that the only weapon this church, and the true ministers and members of it had, to defend themselves against the growing corruptions of antichrist, who in this interval rose up by degrees, and was revealed, and came to the height of his power, was the word of God, the Scriptures of truth; and partly to show, that in process of time, though not in this period, the man of sin should be destroyed, with the breath of Christ's mouth, and the brightness of his coming; of which his fighting against the Nicolaitans, with the sword of his mouth, Revelation 2:16; is an emblem.

s L. 7. c. 46. t Euseb. Eccl. Hist. l. 4. c. 15. u Ib. l. 5. c. 1. w Hist. Eccl. Magdeburgh. cent. 5. c. 2. p. 3. cent. 6. c. 2. p. 4. cent. 7. c. 2. p. 3. c. 10. p. 254. cent. 8. c. 2. p. 4. x Notitia, p. 120. y Servius in Virgil. Aeneid. l. 1. p. 403, & l. 2. p. 633. Ed Basil. 1586. z Smith. Notitia, p. 112.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

And to the angel of the church in Pergamos - See the notes on Revelation 1:20.

These things saith he which hath the sharp sword, ... - See the notes on Revelation 1:16. Compare Hebrews 4:12; Ecclesiastes 12:11; Isaiah 49:2. Prof. Stuart suggests that when the Saviour, as represented in the vision, “uttered words, as they proceeded from his mouth, the halitus which accompanied them assumed, in the view of John, the form of an igneous two-edged sword.” It is more probable, however, that the words which proceeded from his mouth did not assume anything like a form or substance, but John means to represent them as if they were a sharp sword. His words cut and penetrate deep, and it was easy to picture him as having a sword proceeding from his mouth; that is, his words were as piercing as a sharp sword. As he was about to reprove the church at Pergamos, there was a propriety in referring to this power of the Saviour. Reproof cuts deep; and this is the idea represented here.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

The Epistle to the Church at Pergamos.

Verse Revelation 2:12. The angel of the Church in Pergamos — See the description of this place, Revelation 1:11.

Which hath the sharp sword — Revelation 1:16; Revelation 1:16. The sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, cuts every way; it convinces of sin, righteousness, and judgment; pierces between the joints and the marrow, divides between the soul and spirit, dissects the whole mind, and exhibits a regular anatomy of the soul. It not only reproves and exposes sin, but it slays the ungodly, pointing out and determining the punishment they shall endure. Jesus has the sword with the two edges, because he is the Saviour of sinners, and the Judge of quick and dead.