Apocalypse 3:4

Louis Segond

Cependant tu as à Sardes quelques hommes qui n'ont pas souillé leurs vêtements; ils marcheront avec moi en vêtements blancs, parce qu'ils en sont dignes.

Parallel Translations

La Bible David Martin (1744)
[Toutefois] tu as quelque peu de personnes aussi � Sardes, qui n'ont point souill� leurs v�tements, et qui marcheront avec moi en v�tements blancs, car ils en sont dignes.

La Bible Ostervald (1996)
Tu as aussi � Sardes quelque peu de personnes qui n'ont point souill� leurs v�tements, et qui marcheront avec moi en v�tements blancs, car ils en sont dignes.

Darby's French Translation
Toutefois tu as quelques noms � Sardes qui n'ont pas souill� leurs v�tements; et ils marcheront avec moi en v�tements blancs, car ils en sont dignes.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

names: Revelation 11:13,*Gr: Acts 1:15

even: 1 Kings 19:18, Isaiah 1:9, Romans 11:4-6

which: Revelation 7:14, Revelation 19:8, Isaiah 52:1, Isaiah 59:6, Isaiah 61:3, Isaiah 61:10, Isaiah 64:6, Zechariah 3:3-6, Jude 1:23

walk: Revelation 3:5, Revelation 3:18, Revelation 4:4, Revelation 6:11, Revelation 7:9, Revelation 7:13, Revelation 19:14, Esther 8:15, Psalms 68:14, Ecclesiastes 9:8, Zechariah 3:4, Mark 16:5

for: Matthew 10:11, Luke 20:35, Luke 21:36, 2 Thessalonians 1:5

Reciprocal: Leviticus 13:48 - thing made of Song of Solomon 5:2 - my dove Isaiah 24:13 - there Zechariah 3:7 - places Matthew 10:37 - not Matthew 22:8 - but Matthew 22:11 - which Matthew 28:3 - his raiment Luke 7:4 - worthy Luke 12:8 - Whosoever Luke 15:22 - the best John 20:12 - in Acts 1:10 - two 2 Thessalonians 1:11 - would Revelation 14:4 - which follow Revelation 16:15 - lest Revelation 22:19 - and from

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Thou hast a few names even in Sardis,.... The Alexandrian copy and others, the Complutensian edition, the Vulgate Latin, and all the Oriental versions, read, "but thou hast a few names", c. or "a few men", as the Ethiopic version renders it who were called by name, and were men of renown, excellent men, men famous for holding the truth of doctrine, and for powerful and practical godliness; men of great light and grace, and who were known by name to God and Christ: these are said to be but "few", not in comparison of the world, in which sense all the elect of God are but few, though a large number, considered in themselves; but in comparison of formal lifeless professors of religion, with which this church state abounds; and which, if we were not as dead as we are, might easily be observed; there may not only be hypocrites in churches, but a majority of them: yea, these few may be understood in comparison of the greater number of true believers; for in this period of the church there are but few, even of them, that are lively, zealous, and careful, and are heartily concerned for the purity of doctrine, discipline, worship, and conversation; and a few there are, blessed be God, even in this our Sardian church state. God will have a few in whom he will be glorified in the most declining times; and the Lord knows and takes notice of these few; and for their sake the church state is kept up, the Gospel and its ordinances are continued; nor is a church to be judged of by the number of its members, nor is a multitude to be followed to do evil.

Which have not defiled their garments; the Ethiopic version adds, "with a woman", the woman Jezebel. They were not guilty either of corporeal or spiritual fornication, which is idolatry; they kept their outward conversation garments pure, and maintained a profession of Christ and his truths incorrupt; they did not defile it by an unbecoming walk, or by a denial of Christ and a departure from him, and by embracing false doctrines; they were neither erroneous in their principles, nor immoral in their practices; few there, are indeed of this sort. Defiled garments, in either sense, very ill become members of the reformed churches. Among the Jews i, if a priest's garments were spotted or defiled, he might not minister; if he did, his service was rejected.

And they shall walk with me in white; there is a walking in Christ by faith; and a walking before him as in his sight; and a walking worthy of him, in all well pleasing in his ways and ordinances; and here a walking with him, in a way of special and comfortable communion, both here and hereafter: and this is in white; in white raiment, meaning either in the robe of his own righteousness, compared to fine linen and white; or in the shining robes of immortality and glory; and may be expressive of that spiritual joy which such shall be partakers of, as well as of their spotless purity and innocence in the other world. White raiment was used among the Romans as a token of joy at festivals, and on birthdays, and at weddings, and such like times.

For they are worthy; not of themselves, or through any works of righteousness done by them, which are neither meritorious of grace here, nor of glory hereafter; but through the grace of God, and worthiness of Christ. The Jews have a saying somewhat like this k;

"they that walk with God in their lifetime, זוכים, "are worthy" to walk with him after their death;''

In the Apocrypha we read:

"Take thy number, O Sion, and shut up those of thine that are clothed in white, which have fulfilled the law of the Lord.'' (2 Esdras 2:40)

This clause is left out in the Ethiopic version.

i T. Bab. Zebachim, fol. 35. 1. k Tzeror Hammor, fol. 10. 3.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Thou hast a few names even in Sardis - See the analysis of the chapter. The word “names” here is equivalent to “persons”; and the idea is, that even in a place so depraved, and where religion had so much declined, there were a few persons who had kept themselves free from the general contamination. In most cases, when error and sin prevail, there may be found a few who are worthy of the divine commendation; a few who show that true religion may exist even when the mass are evil. Compare the notes on Romans 11:4.

Which have not defiled their garments - Compare the notes on Jude 1:23. The meaning is, that they had not defiled themselves by coming in contact with the profane and the polluted; or, in other words, they had kept themselves free from the prevailing corruption. They were like persons clothed in white walking in the midst of the defiled, yet keeping their raiment from being soiled.

And they shall walk with me in white - White is the emblem of innocence, and is hence appropriately represented as the color of the raiment of the heavenly inhabitants. The persons here referred to had kept their garments uncontaminated on the earth, and as an appropriate reward it is said that they would appear in white raiment in heaven. Compare Revelation 7:9; Revelation 19:8.

For they are worthy - They have shown themselves worthy to be regarded as followers of the Lamb; or, they have a character that is suited for heaven. The declaration is not that they have any claim to heaven on the ground of their own merit, or that it will be in virtue of their own works that they will be received there; but that there is a fitness or propriety that they should thus appear in heaven. We are all personally unworthy to be admitted to heaven, but we may evince such a character as to show that, according to the arrangements of grace, it is fit and proper that we should be received there. We have the character to which God has promised eternal life.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Revelation 3:4. Thou hast a few names even in Sardis — A few persons, names being put for those who bore them. And as the members of the Church were all enrolled, or their names entered in a book, when admitted into the Church or when baptized, names are here put for the people themselves. See Revelation 3:5.

Have not defiled their garments — Their souls. The Hebrews considered holiness as the garb of the soul, and evil actions as stains or spots on this garb. So in Shabbath, fol. 152, 2: "A certain king gave royal garments to his servants: those who were prudent folded them up, and laid them by in a chest; those who were foolish put them on, and performed their daily labour in them. After some time the king asked for those royal robes; the wise brought theirs white and clean, the foolish brought theirs spotted with dirt. With the former the king was well pleased; with the latter he was angry. Concerning the former he said: Let those garments be laid up in my wardrobe, and let the persons go home in peace. Of the latter he said: Let the garments be put into the hands of the fuller, and cast those who wore them into prison." This parable is spoken on these words of Ecclesiastes, Ecclesiastes 12:7: The spirit shall return to God who gave it.

They shall walk with me in white — They shall be raised to a state of eternal glory, and shall be for ever with their Lord.