1
Ἀποκάλυψις Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, ἣν ἔδωκεν αὐτῷ ὁ θεὸς δεῖξαι τοῖς δούλοις αὐτοῦ ἃ δεῖ γενέσθαι ἐν τάχει, καὶ ἐσήμανεν ἀποστείλας διὰ τοῦ ἀγγέλου αὐτοῦ τῷ δούλῳ αὐτοῦ Ἰωάννῃ,
The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place; and he made it known by sending it through his angel to his servant John,
Title and chain of revelationasyndetonThe book's superscription and its chain of mediation: revelation originates with God, is given to Jesus Christ, shown to his servants, signified through the angel, to John — a descending series that establishes the prophecy's authority.
Ἀποκάλυψιςrevelation/unveilingNominativesubject (verbless title)ἀποκάλυψις: 'uncovering, disclosure' (ἀπό + καλύπτω, 'unveil'); the book's title-word and genre — an apocalypse.
Ἰησοῦof JesusGenitivegenitive (subjective or objective)Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ: the genitive is ambiguous — the revelation given by Christ (subjective) or about Christ (objective); v.1b's chain favors the subjective, Christ as the mediator who shows.
ΧριστοῦChristGenitivegenitive (apposition)
ἣνwhichAccusativerelative pronoun (direct object of ἔδωκεν)
ἔδωκενgaveAor Act Indic 3 Sg · δίδωμιmain verb (rel. clause)→ constative aoristδίδωμι: 'give'; God gave the revelation to Christ — the apocalyptic chain begins in the Father.
αὐτῷto himDativeindirect object (= Christ)
ὁtheNominativearticle
θεὸςGodNominativesubject (of ἔδωκεν)θεός: God the Father, ultimate source of the revelation.
δεῖξαιto showAor Act Inf · δείκνυμιinfinitive of purpose→ constative aoristδείκνυμι: 'show, point out'; the verb of apocalyptic disclosure (cf. 4:1; 22:6), reframing the whole book as a shown vision.
τοῖςto theDativearticle
δούλοιςservantsDativeindirect object of δεῖξαιδοῦλος: 'slave, servant'; the prophets-and-people recipients (cf. 22:6); the book is for the whole church.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession
ἃthe things whichAccusativerelative pronoun (subject of δεῖ … γενέσθαι; acc. of inner content)
δεῖmustPres Act Indic 3 Sg · δεῖimpersonal verb→ gnomic presentδεῖ: 'it is necessary'; the divine necessity (cf. Dan 2:28 LXX) governing eschatological events.
γενέσθαιto take placeAor Mid Inf · γίνομαιcomplementary infinitive (of δεῖ)→ constative aoristγίνομαι: 'happen, come to pass'; what must occur — the certainty of God's appointed program.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (manner/time)
τάχειquickness/soonDativedat. of manner (ἐν τάχει)τάχος: 'speed, quickness'; ἐν τάχει = 'soon' or 'swiftly' (cf. 22:6) — the imminence that frames the book.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
ἐσήμανενhe made known/signifiedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · σημαίνωmain verb→ constative aoristσημαίνω: 'signify, make known by signs' (cf. σημεῖον); apt for revelation conveyed in symbols — Christ 'sign-ified' it.
ἀποστείλαςhaving sentAor Act Ptc · Nom Sg Masc · ἀποστέλλωadverbial participle (means/attendant)→ constative aoristἀποστέλλω: 'send, commission' (cf. ἄγγελος, 'sent one'); the means of signifying — via an angelic emissary.
διὰthroughpreposition + genitive (agency/means)
τοῦtheGenitivearticle
ἀγγέλουangelGenitiveobject of διά (intermediary)ἄγγελος: 'messenger, angel'; the interpreting angel (cf. 17:1; 22:6, 8) — Revelation's standard apocalyptic mediator.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession
τῷto theDativearticle
δούλῳservantDativeindirect object (recipient)δοῦλος: 'servant'; John as the prophet-servant in the line of OT prophets (Amos 3:7).
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession
Ἰωάννῃto JohnDativeapposition (to δούλῳ)Ἰωάννης: 'John'; the named seer, identified with the apostolic circle by early tradition.
2
ὃς ἐμαρτύρησεν τὸν λόγον τοῦ θεοῦ καὶ τὴν μαρτυρίαν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, ὅσα εἶδεν.
who testified to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, to all that he saw.
John's witnessasyndetonA relative clause defining John: he bore witness to everything he saw — 'the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ,' the twin phrase that recurs as Revelation's hallmark of faithful witness (cf. 1:9; 6:9; 20:4).
ὃςwhoNominativerelative pronoun (subject)
ἐμαρτύρησενtestified/bore witnessAor Act Indic 3 Sg · μαρτυρέωmain verb (rel. clause)→ constative aoristμαρτυρέω: 'bear witness, testify'; the legal-prophetic act underlying the whole book — John as sworn witness to what he saw.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle
λόγονwordAccusativedirect objectλόγος: 'word, message'; 'the word of God' — the divine revelation now committed to writing.
τοῦofGenitivearticle
θεοῦGodGenitivegenitive of source
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
τὴνtheAccusativearticle
μαρτυρίανtestimonyAccusativedirect objectμαρτυρία: 'testimony, witness'; the genitive Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ may be subjective (the witness Jesus bore) or objective (the witness to Jesus) — both senses run through Revelation.
Ἰησοῦof JesusGenitivegenitive (subjective/objective)
ΧριστοῦChristGenitivegenitive (apposition)
ὅσαall thatAccusativerelative pronoun (epexegetical/summary object)ὅσος: 'as much/many as'; 'whatsoever he saw' — summing up the visions as the content of his witness.
εἶδενhe sawAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ὁράωmain verb (rel. clause)→ constative aoristὁράω: 'see'; the visionary seeing that authorizes the testimony (cf. v.12, 'I turned to see').
3
μακάριος ὁ ἀναγινώσκων καὶ οἱ ἀκούοντες τοὺς λόγους τῆς προφητείας καὶ τηροῦντες τὰ ἐν αὐτῇ γεγραμμένα, ὁ γὰρ καιρὸς ἐγγύς.
Blessed is the one who reads aloud and those who hear the words of the prophecy and keep what is written in it, for the time is near.
Beatitude on reader and hearersasyndetonThe first of Revelation's seven beatitudes (cf. 22:7) crowns the prologue: blessing on the lector who reads aloud, on the congregation who hears, and on those who keep the prophecy — grounded in the nearness of the time.
μακάριοςblessedNominativepredicate adjective (fronted)μακάριος: 'blessed, happy'; the beatitude form (cf. Matt 5:3–11); first of seven in Revelation.
ὁthe oneNominativearticle (substantizes ptc.)
ἀναγινώσκωνwho reads aloudPres Act Ptc · Nom Sg Masc · ἀναγινώσκωsubstantival participle (subject)→ customary (characteristic)ἀναγινώσκω: 'read,' esp. read aloud publicly; the singular lector reading the book to the assembled church — a liturgical setting.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
οἱthoseNominativearticle (substantizes ptc.)
ἀκούοντεςwho hearPres Act Ptc · Nom Pl Masc · ἀκούωsubstantival participle (subject)→ customary (characteristic)ἀκούω: 'hear, listen'; the plural congregation — the blessing extends from reader to all who heed.
τοὺςtheAccusativearticle
λόγουςwordsAccusativedirect object (of both ptcs.)λόγος: 'word'; 'the words of the prophecy' — the book understood as prophetic Scripture (cf. 22:18–19).
τῆςof theGenitivearticle
προφητείαςprophecyGenitivegenitive (content/epexegetical)προφητεία: 'prophecy'; Revelation's self-designation as prophetic (cf. 22:7, 10, 18–19).
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
τηροῦντεςkeepPres Act Ptc · Nom Pl Masc · τηρέωsubstantival participle (subject, joined to ἀκούοντες)→ customary (characteristic)τηρέω: 'keep, observe, hold fast'; hearing must issue in obedience — a Johannine keynote (cf. 12:17; 14:12; John 14:15).
τὰthe thingsAccusativearticle (substantizes ptc.)
ἐνinpreposition + dative (location)
αὐτῇitDativeobject of ἐν (= the prophecy)
γεγραμμέναwrittenPerf Pass Ptc · Acc Pl Neut · γράφωsubstantival participle (object of τηροῦντες)→ perfect (abiding result)γράφω: 'write'; the perfect 'the things written' — fixed, abiding Scripture to be kept.
ὁtheNominativearticle
γὰρforexplanatory conjunction
καιρὸςtime/seasonNominativesubject (verbless clause)καιρός: 'appointed time, decisive moment'; the eschatological hour, not mere chronology (cf. Mark 1:15).
ἐγγύςnearadverb (predicate)ἐγγύς: 'near, at hand'; the imminence-motif (cf. 22:10) that grounds the urgency of keeping the words.
4
Ἰωάννης ταῖς ἑπτὰ ἐκκλησίαις ταῖς ἐν τῇ Ἀσίᾳ· χάρις ὑμῖν καὶ εἰρήνη ἀπὸ ὁ ὢν καὶ ὁ ἦν καὶ ὁ ἐρχόμενος, καὶ ἀπὸ τῶν ἑπτὰ πνευμάτων ἃ ἐνώπιον τοῦ θρόνου αὐτοῦ,
John, to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne,
Epistolary greeting (Trinitarian source)asyndetonThe letter-opening proper, in Pauline form (sender, addressees, grace-and-peace), but the source is a triadic God: the eternal One (with the famous solecism), the seven spirits, and (v.5) Jesus Christ. The blessing's grammar is deliberately frozen into a divine Name.
ἸωάννηςJohnNominativenominative (epistolary sender)Ἰωάννης: 'John'; the sender, named in epistolary nominative as in Greek letters.
ταῖςto theDativearticle
ἑπτὰsevenindeclinable numeral (attributive)ἑπτά: 'seven' (indeclinable); the number of completeness — seven actual churches representing the whole church.
ἐκκλησίαιςchurchesDativeindirect object (addressees)ἐκκλησία: 'assembly, church'; the seven congregations of Asia named in vv.11; 2–3.
ταῖςthoseDativearticle (attributive, second-attributive position)
ἐνinpreposition + dative (location)
τῇtheDativearticle
ἈσίᾳAsiaDativeobject of ἐνἈσία: the Roman province of Asia (western Asia Minor), not the continent.
χάριςgraceNominativesubject (wish, verbless)χάρις: 'grace, favor'; the Pauline salutation-pair, here from the triune God.
ὑμῖνto youDativedat. of advantage
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
εἰρήνηpeaceNominativesubject (wish, verbless)εἰρήνη: 'peace'; with χάρις, the standard Christian greeting fusing Greek and Hebrew salutations.
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (source) — here governing nominatives (solecism)ἀπό normally takes the genitive; here the following articular phrases stand in the nominative — a deliberate solecism freezing the divine title as an indeclinable Name.
ὁthe oneNominativearticle (substantizes ptc.; nom. after ἀπό — solecism)
ὢνwho isPres Act Ptc · Nom Sg Masc · εἰμίsubstantival participle (object of ἀπό, in nom.)→ present (timeless being)ὁ ὤν: 'the One who is' — the LXX rendering of the divine Name at Exod 3:14 (ἐγώ εἰμι ὁ ὤν); God's self-existent being.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
ὁthe one whoNominativearticle (with finite verb ἦν — an indeclinable title-phrase)Here the article governs a finite verb (ὁ ἦν) — impossible in classical grammar; John makes 'the-was' a frozen substantive.
ἦνwasImpf Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίfinite verb made substantival by article→ imperfect (continuous past being)εἰμί: 'be'; the imperfect ἦν ('was') for God's eternal past — no participle of past being exists, so the indicative stands.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
ὁthe oneNominativearticle (substantizes ptc.)
ἐρχόμενοςwho is to comePres Mid Ptc · Nom Sg Masc · ἔρχομαιsubstantival participle (in nom., the third title)→ futuristic present (the coming One)ἔρχομαι: 'come'; not 'will be' but 'the Coming One' — the future expressed as advent, the eschatological hope of Christ's coming (cf. v.7).
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (source)
τῶνtheGenitivearticle
ἑπτὰsevenindeclinable numeral (attributive)ἑπτά: 'seven'; the sevenfold fullness of the Spirit (cf. Isa 11:2 LXX; Zech 4).
πνευμάτωνspiritsGenitiveobject of ἀπό (source)πνεῦμα: 'spirit'; 'the seven spirits' — most read as the one Holy Spirit in sevenfold fullness (cf. 4:5; 5:6), the Spirit-member of the triad.
ἃwhichNominativerelative pronoun (subject of implied verb)
ἐνώπιονbeforeimproper preposition + genitive (place)ἐνώπιον: 'before, in the presence of'; the spirits stationed before the throne (cf. 4:5).
τοῦtheGenitivearticle
θρόνουthroneGenitiveobject of ἐνώπιονθρόνος: 'throne'; the divine throne, Revelation's controlling image of sovereignty (47× in the book).
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession
5
καὶ ἀπὸ Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, ὁ μάρτυς ὁ πιστός, ὁ πρωτότοκος τῶν νεκρῶν καὶ ὁ ἄρχων τῶν βασιλέων τῆς γῆς. Τῷ ἀγαπῶντι ἡμᾶς καὶ λύσαντι ἡμᾶς ἐκ τῶν ἁμαρτιῶν ἡμῶν ἐν τῷ αἵματι αὐτοῦ,
and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and freed us from our sins by his blood,
Christ the source; doxology beginsκαὶThe third source of grace, Jesus Christ, given three titles (witness, firstborn, ruler) — again with case-discord, the nominatives in apposition to the genitive Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ. The salutation then breaks into doxology (v.5b–6) to the one who loves and freed us.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (source)
ἸησοῦJesusGenitiveobject of ἀπόἸησοῦ Χριστοῦ: the third source of grace and peace — the historical-exalted Christ.
ΧριστοῦChristGenitivegenitive (apposition)
ὁtheNominativearticle (nom. in apposition to gen. — solecism)
μάρτυςwitnessNominativeapposition (nom.) to Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ (case-discord)μάρτυς: 'witness'; the nominative title stands in apposition to the genitive — a deliberate irregularity; from μάρτυς comes 'martyr,' Christ the faithful one to death (cf. 3:14; Ps 88:38 LXX).
ὁtheNominativearticle
πιστόςfaithfulNominativeattributive adjectiveπιστός: 'faithful, trustworthy'; Christ's reliable testimony, the model for the churches' own faithful witness.
ὁtheNominativearticle
πρωτότοκοςfirstbornNominativeapposition (nom.)πρωτότοκος: 'firstborn'; of the dead — the pioneer of resurrection (cf. Col 1:18; Ps 88:28 LXX), with the rank-and-priority sense of the Davidic king.
τῶνof theGenitivearticle
νεκρῶνdeadGenitivepartitive/relational genitiveνεκρός: 'dead'; the realm from which Christ rose first.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
ὁtheNominativearticle
ἄρχωνrulerNominativeapposition (nom.)ἄρχων: 'ruler, prince'; Christ over earth's kings (cf. Ps 88:28 LXX) — already sovereign over Caesar, a pointed claim under Rome.
τῶνof theGenitivearticle
βασιλέωνkingsGenitiveobjective/subordinate genitiveβασιλεύς: 'king'; the rulers of the earth, subject to Christ.
τῆςof theGenitivearticle
γῆςearthGenitivegenitive (relation)γῆ: 'earth, land'; the whole earthly sphere of dominion.
Τῷto him whoDativearticle (substantizes ptc.; dat. of the one praised)
ἀγαπῶντιlovesPres Act Ptc · Dat Sg Masc · ἀγαπάωsubstantival participle (recipient of doxology)→ present (ongoing love)ἀγαπάω: 'love'; the present 'who loves us' (read against the later aorist) — Christ's love is continuous, not merely past.
ἡμᾶςusAccusativedirect object
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
λύσαντιfreedAor Act Ptc · Dat Sg Masc · λύωsubstantival participle (joined to ἀγαπῶντι)→ constative aoristλύω: 'loose, release, free' (read here against λούσαντι, 'washed,' a near-homophone); 'freed us from our sins' — a decisive past act of liberation.
ἡμᾶςusAccusativedirect object
ἐκfrompreposition + genitive (separation)
τῶνtheGenitivearticle
ἁμαρτιῶνsinsGenitiveobject of ἐκ (separation)ἁμαρτία: 'sin'; the bondage from which Christ's blood frees.
ἡμῶνourGenitivegenitive of possession
ἐνbypreposition + dative (means)
τῷtheDativearticle
αἵματιbloodDativedat. of means/priceαἷμα: 'blood'; the price of liberation (cf. 5:9) — Christ's death the means of release.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession
6
καὶ ἐποίησεν ἡμᾶς βασιλείαν, ἱερεῖς τῷ θεῷ καὶ πατρὶ αὐτοῦ, αὐτῷ ἡ δόξα καὶ τὸ κράτος εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων· ἀμήν.
and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father — to him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.
Doxology: a kingdom and priestsκαὶThe doxology's climax: Christ has made redeemed believers a kingdom of priests (Exod 19:6 applied to the church), then ascribes to him eternal glory and dominion with a liturgical 'Amen.'
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
ἐποίησενmadeAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ποιέωmain verb (the ptcs. of v.5 resolve into a finite verb — solecism)→ constative aoristποιέω: 'make, do'; note the grammatical shift from participles (ἀγαπῶντι, λύσαντι) to a finite verb — a characteristic Revelation roughness.
ἡμᾶςusAccusativedirect object
βασιλείανa kingdomAccusativedouble accusative (object complement)βασιλεία: 'kingdom, royal rule'; the redeemed constituted a kingdom (Exod 19:6 LXX, βασίλειον) — they reign (cf. 5:10; 22:5).
ἱερεῖςpriestsAccusativeapposition (acc.) to βασιλείανἱερεύς: 'priest'; the whole people priests to God (Exod 19:6) — the priesthood of all believers.
τῷto theDativearticle
θεῷGodDativedat. of advantage/serviceθεός: God; the one served by this priesthood, named as Christ's own God and Father.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
πατρὶFatherDativeapposition to θεῷπατήρ: 'father'; 'his God and Father' — the Father of Jesus Christ (cf. John 20:17).
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of relation
αὐτῷto himDativedat. of possession (doxology)
ἡtheNominativearticle
δόξαgloryNominativesubject (verbless doxology)δόξα: 'glory'; the praise ascribed to Christ — strikingly, doxology directed to the Son.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
τὸtheNominativearticle
κράτοςdominion/mightNominativesubject (verbless doxology)κράτος: 'might, dominion'; sovereign power ascribed to Christ (cf. 1 Pet 4:11; 5:11).
εἰςforpreposition + accusative (extent of time)
τοὺςtheAccusativearticle
αἰῶναςagesAccusativeobject of εἰςαἰών: 'age'; 'unto the ages of the ages' — the Semitic superlative for eternity.
τῶνof theGenitivearticle
αἰώνωνagesGenitiveattributive genitive (intensifying)αἰών: 'age'; the doubled phrase = 'forever and ever.'
ἀμήνamenindeclinable (liturgical affirmation)ἀμήν: Hebrew 'truly, so be it'; the congregational seal on the doxology.
7
Ἰδοὺ ἔρχεται μετὰ τῶν νεφελῶν, καὶ ὄψεται αὐτὸν πᾶς ὀφθαλμὸς καὶ οἵτινες αὐτὸν ἐξεκέντησαν, καὶ κόψονται ἐπ’ αὐτὸν πᾶσαι αἱ φυλαὶ τῆς γῆς. ναί, ἀμήν.
Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and all the tribes of the earth will mourn over him. Yes, Amen.
Prophetic announcement of the comingasyndetonA prophetic oracle weaving Daniel 7:13 (coming with the clouds) and Zechariah 12:10 (looking on the pierced one, mourning): Christ's universal, visible advent — answered by a double affirmation, Greek 'yes' and Hebrew 'amen.'
Ἰδοὺbeholdinterjection (attention-marker)ἰδού: 'behold, look!'; a frozen aorist imperative of ὁράω used as a particle to arrest attention.
ἔρχεταιhe is comingPres Mid Indic 3 Sg · ἔρχομαιmain verb→ futuristic present (certainty)ἔρχομαι: 'come'; the futuristic present makes the certain advent vividly present (Dan 7:13).
μετὰwithpreposition + genitive (accompaniment)
τῶνtheGenitivearticle
νεφελῶνcloudsGenitiveobject of μετάνεφέλη: 'cloud'; the clouds of theophany and the Son of Man's coming (Dan 7:13; cf. Mark 13:26).
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
ὄψεταιwill seeFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · ὁράωmain verb→ predictive futureὁράω: 'see'; the future of the universal beholding — none will miss his coming.
αὐτὸνhimAccusativedirect object
πᾶςeveryNominativeattributive adjectiveπᾶς: 'every, all'; universal scope — 'every eye.'
ὀφθαλμὸςeyeNominativesubjectὀφθαλμός: 'eye'; metonymy for every person who sees.
καὶevenascensive conjunction
οἵτινεςthose whoNominativeindefinite relative pronoun (subject)ὅστις: 'whoever, such as'; here generalizing — 'those of the sort who pierced him.'
αὐτὸνhimAccusativedirect object (of ἐξεκέντησαν)
ἐξεκέντησανpiercedAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ἐκκεντέωmain verb (rel. clause)→ constative aoristἐκκεντέω: 'pierce through'; from Zech 12:10 (cf. John 19:37) — the crucified one seen by his crucifiers and all.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
κόψονταιwill mourn/wailFut Mid Indic 3 Pl · κόπτωmain verb→ predictive futureκόπτω (mid.): 'beat the breast, mourn'; the wailing of Zech 12:10–14 — whether of repentance or dread is left open.
ἐπ’overpreposition + accusative (reference)ἐπί + acc.: 'over, on account of'; the object of their mourning.
αὐτὸνhimAccusativeobject of ἐπί
πᾶσαιallNominativeattributive adjectiveπᾶς: 'all'; universal — every tribe.
αἱtheNominativearticle
φυλαὶtribesNominativesubjectφυλή: 'tribe, people'; 'all the tribes of the earth' (Zech 12:12) — universalized to all peoples.
τῆςof theGenitivearticle
γῆςearthGenitivepartitive/relational genitiveγῆ: 'earth'; the whole inhabited world.
ναίyesparticle of affirmation (Greek)ναί: 'yes, indeed'; the Greek affirmation paired with the Hebrew ἀμήν — a bilingual seal.
ἀμήνamenindeclinable (Hebrew affirmation)ἀμήν: 'truly, so be it'; doubling the certainty of the prophesied coming.
8
Ἐγώ εἰμι τὸ Ἄλφα καὶ τὸ Ὦ, λέγει κύριος ὁ θεός, ὁ ὢν καὶ ὁ ἦν καὶ ὁ ἐρχόμενος, ὁ παντοκράτωρ.
"I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty."
God's self-declarationasyndetonGod speaks in his own person for the first time, sealing the prologue: 'I am the Alpha and the Omega' — first and last letter of the alphabet, the totality of being and history — declared by the Lord God, the eternal Almighty, echoing the title of v.4.
ἘγώINominativesubject (emphatic pronoun)ἐγώ: 'I'; emphatic — the divine self-predication, echoing the LXX 'I am' (ἐγώ εἰμι, Exod 3:14; Isa 41–48).
εἰμιamPres Act Indic 1 Sg · εἰμίcopula→ stative presentεἰμί: 'be'; the 'I am' formula of divine self-revelation.
τὸtheNominativearticle
ἌλφαAlphaNominativepredicate nominativeἄλφα: the first letter of the Greek alphabet (indeclinable as a letter-name, here neuter with τό); God as the beginning.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
τὸtheNominativearticle
ὮOmegaNominativepredicate nominativeὦ (ὦ μέγα): the last letter of the alphabet; Alpha-and-Omega = the totality, first and last, the One who begins and ends all (cf. 21:6; 22:13).
λέγειsaysPres Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech-frame)→ present (oracular)λέγω: 'say'; the prophetic 'thus says the Lord' formula introducing divine speech.
κύριοςLordNominativesubject (of λέγει)κύριος: 'Lord'; rendering the divine Name YHWH — 'the Lord God' (κύριος ὁ θεός), LXX idiom.
ὁtheNominativearticle
θεόςGodNominativeapposition to κύριοςθεός: God; 'the Lord God,' the OT covenant title of the speaker.
ὁthe oneNominativearticle (substantizes ptc.)
ὢνwho isPres Act Ptc · Nom Sg Masc · εἰμίsubstantival participle (apposition)→ present (timeless being)ὁ ὤν: 'the One who is' (Exod 3:14 LXX); the threefold eternity-title, now grammatically regular in apposition to the nominative κύριος.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
ὁthe one whoNominativearticle (with finite verb ἦν)
ἦνwasImpf Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίfinite verb made substantival by article→ imperfect (continuous past)εἰμί: 'be'; 'the-was' — again the article + indicative, the frozen title of v.4.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
ὁthe oneNominativearticle (substantizes ptc.)
ἐρχόμενοςwho is to comePres Mid Ptc · Nom Sg Masc · ἔρχομαιsubstantival participle (apposition)→ futuristic present (the coming One)ἔρχομαι: 'come'; 'the Coming One' — the future as advent, completing the eternity-formula.
ὁtheNominativearticle
παντοκράτωρAlmightyNominativeapposition (climactic title)παντοκράτωρ: 'all-ruling, Almighty' (πᾶς + κρατέω); the LXX title for YHWH Sabaoth — Revelation's favorite divine epithet (9× in the book).
9
Ἐγὼ Ἰωάννης, ὁ ἀδελφὸς ὑμῶν καὶ συγκοινωνὸς ἐν τῇ θλίψει καὶ βασιλείᾳ καὶ ὑπομονῇ ἐν Ἰησοῦ, ἐγενόμην ἐν τῇ νήσῳ τῇ καλουμένῃ Πάτμῳ διὰ τὸν λόγον τοῦ θεοῦ καὶ τὴν μαρτυρίαν Ἰησοῦ.
I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation and kingdom and patient endurance in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.
John on PatmosasyndetonThe narrative of the inaugural vision begins. John identifies with his readers as fellow-sufferer — sharing tribulation, kingdom, and endurance in Jesus — and locates himself on Patmos, exiled for his witness.
ἘγὼINominativesubject (emphatic)ἐγώ: 'I'; the seer steps forward in his own person to narrate.
ἸωάννηςJohnNominativeapposition (subject)Ἰωάννης: 'John'; the named author, in solidarity with the churches.
ὁtheNominativearticle
ἀδελφὸςbrotherNominativeappositionἀδελφός: 'brother'; not lording it over them but a fellow-member of the suffering family.
ὑμῶνyourGenitivegenitive of relation
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
συγκοινωνὸςpartner/fellow-sharerNominativeappositionσυγκοινωνός: 'co-sharer, partner' (σύν + κοινωνός); fellowship in suffering and reign alike.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (sphere)
τῇtheDativearticle
θλίψειtribulationDativeobject of ἐν (sphere)θλῖψις: 'pressure, affliction, tribulation'; the present trials of the churches under Rome.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
βασιλείᾳkingdomDativeobject of ἐν (sphere)βασιλεία: 'kingdom, royal reign'; the three nouns share one article — tribulation, kingdom, endurance held together as one reality in Jesus.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
ὑπομονῇpatient enduranceDativeobject of ἐν (sphere)ὑπομονή: 'steadfast endurance' (ὑπό + μένω); the keynote virtue of Revelation's faithful (cf. 13:10; 14:12).
ἐνinpreposition + dative (union)
ἸησοῦJesusDativeobject of ἐν (union)Ἰησοῦ: 'Jesus'; 'in Jesus' — the sphere in which all three are borne.
ἐγενόμηνcame to be/wasAor Mid Indic 1 Sg · γίνομαιmain verb→ constative aoristγίνομαι: 'become, come to be'; 'I came to be on the island' — perhaps with the nuance of being put there (exile).
ἐνonpreposition + dative (location)
τῇtheDativearticle
νήσῳislandDativeobject of ἐν (location)νῆσος: 'island'; the small Aegean island Patmos, a place of relegation.
τῇtheDativearticle (attributive)
καλουμένῃcalledPres Pass Ptc · Dat Sg Fem · καλέωattributive participle→ present (designation)καλέω: 'call, name'; 'the island called Patmos.'
ΠάτμῳPatmosDativeapposition (dat.)Πάτμος: Patmos, a rocky island off the coast of Asia Minor — John's place of exile.
διὰbecause ofpreposition + accusative (cause)διά + acc.: 'because of'; the cause of his being there — his witness, whether persecution or preaching-mission.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle
λόγονwordAccusativeobject of διάλόγος: 'word'; 'the word of God,' the same phrase as v.2 — the cause of his exile.
τοῦofGenitivearticle
θεοῦGodGenitivegenitive of source
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
τὴνtheAccusativearticle
μαρτυρίανtestimonyAccusativeobject of διάμαρτυρία: 'testimony'; 'the testimony of Jesus' — the witness-pair of v.2 recurs.
Ἰησοῦof JesusGenitivegenitive (subjective/objective)
10
ἐγενόμην ἐν πνεύματι ἐν τῇ κυριακῇ ἡμέρᾳ, καὶ ἤκουσα ὀπίσω μου φωνὴν μεγάλην ὡς σάλπιγγος
I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet,
Visionary raptureasyndetonThe visionary state and its setting: 'in the Spirit' (prophetic rapture, cf. Ezek 3:12) on the Lord's day, John hears a commanding voice loud as a trumpet behind him — the call into the inaugural vision.
ἐγενόμηνI came to be/wasAor Mid Indic 1 Sg · γίνομαιmain verb→ ingressive aoristγίνομαι: 'become, come to be'; 'I came to be in the Spirit' — entry into the prophetic ecstatic state (cf. 4:2; 17:3; 21:10).
ἐνinpreposition + dative (sphere)
πνεύματιSpiritDativeobject of ἐν (sphere)πνεῦμα: 'Spirit'; 'in the Spirit' = caught up in prophetic vision by the Spirit's power (Ezekiel-language).
ἐνonpreposition + dative (time)
τῇtheDativearticle
κυριακῇLord'sDativeattributive adjectiveκυριακός: 'belonging to the Lord'; 'the Lord's day' — earliest attestation of the term for Sunday, the day of resurrection (cf. 1 Cor 16:2).
ἡμέρᾳdayDativedat. of timeἡμέρα: 'day'; the day of worship on which the vision came.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
ἤκουσαI heardAor Act Indic 1 Sg · ἀκούωmain verb→ constative aoristἀκούω: 'hear'; the auditory commission preceding the vision.
ὀπίσωbehindimproper preposition + genitive (place)ὀπίσω: 'behind, after'; the voice comes from behind, so John must turn (v.12).
μουmeGenitiveobject of ὀπίσω
φωνὴνvoice/soundAccusativedirect objectφωνή: 'voice, sound'; the loud commanding voice — the speaker revealed in vv.17–18 as the risen Christ.
μεγάληνloud/greatAccusativeattributive adjectiveμέγας: 'great, loud'; the volume befits a theophanic voice.
ὡςlikecomparative particleὡς: 'as, like'; the visionary's repeated 'as if' — straining ordinary language toward the indescribable.
σάλπιγγοςtrumpetGenitivegenitive of comparison (after ὡς)σάλπιγξ: 'trumpet'; the trumpet of theophany and revelation (Exod 19:16–19; cf. 4:1).
11
λεγούσης· Ὃ βλέπεις γράψον εἰς βιβλίον καὶ πέμψον ταῖς ἑπτὰ ἐκκλησίαις, εἰς Ἔφεσον καὶ εἰς Σμύρναν καὶ εἰς Πέργαμον καὶ εἰς Θυάτειρα καὶ εἰς Σάρδεις καὶ εἰς Φιλαδέλφειαν καὶ εἰς Λαοδίκειαν.
saying, "Write what you see in a book and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamum and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea."
The commission to writeasyndetonThe voice's commission, naming the seven churches in the geographical order a courier would travel. The double imperative — write, send — defines the book's purpose as a circular prophecy to the named congregations.
λεγούσηςsayingPres Act Ptc · Gen Sg Fem · λέγωattributive participle (agreeing with σάλπιγγος/φωνῆς)→ present (ongoing speech)λέγω: 'say'; the feminine genitive agrees in form with σάλπιγγος (or the implied φωνῆς), introducing the voice's words.
ὋwhatAccusativerelative pronoun (object of βλέπεις and γράψον)
βλέπειςyou seePres Act Indic 2 Sg · βλέπωmain verb (rel. clause)→ progressive presentβλέπω: 'see, look at'; the visionary seeing to be recorded.
γράψονwriteAor Act Impv 2 Sg · γράφωimperative (command)→ constative aorist (urgent command)γράφω: 'write'; the commission to write recurs through chs. 2–3 ('to the angel … write').
εἰςin/intopreposition + accusative (goal)
βιβλίονbook/scrollAccusativeobject of εἰς (goal)βιβλίον: 'scroll, book'; the written record, to be circulated.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
πέμψονsendAor Act Impv 2 Sg · πέμπωimperative (command)→ constative aorist (urgent command)πέμπω: 'send'; the book is a single circular letter for all seven.
ταῖςto theDativearticle
ἑπτὰsevenindeclinable numeral (attributive)ἑπτά: 'seven'; the seven actual congregations of Asia.
ἐκκλησίαιςchurchesDativeindirect object (recipients)ἐκκλησία: 'church'; addressed individually in chs. 2–3.
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (goal)
ἜφεσονEphesusAccusativeobject of εἰςἜφεσος: Ephesus; the leading city of Asia — first on the courier's circuit.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
εἰςtopreposition + accusative
ΣμύρνανSmyrnaAccusativeobject of εἰςΣμύρνα: Smyrna; the persecuted church (2:8–11).
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
εἰςtopreposition + accusative
ΠέργαμονPergamumAccusativeobject of εἰςΠέργαμος: Pergamum; 'where Satan's throne is' (2:13).
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
εἰςtopreposition + accusative
ΘυάτειραThyatiraAccusativeobject of εἰςΘυάτειρα: Thyatira (neut. pl.); the church of 'Jezebel' (2:18–29).
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
εἰςtopreposition + accusative
ΣάρδειςSardisAccusativeobject of εἰςΣάρδεις: Sardis (fem. pl.); the church 'alive but dead' (3:1–6).
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
εἰςtopreposition + accusative
ΦιλαδέλφειανPhiladelphiaAccusativeobject of εἰςΦιλαδέλφεια: Philadelphia; the faithful church of the open door (3:7–13).
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
εἰςtopreposition + accusative
ΛαοδίκειανLaodiceaAccusativeobject of εἰςΛαοδίκεια: Laodicea; the lukewarm church (3:14–22) — last on the circuit.
12
καὶ ἐπέστρεψα βλέπειν τὴν φωνὴν ἥτις ἐλάλει μετ’ ἐμοῦ, καὶ ἐπιστρέψας εἶδον ἑπτὰ λυχνίας χρυσᾶς,
Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking with me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands,
Turning to the visionκαὶJohn turns toward the voice — a vivid catachresis, 'to see the voice' — and beholds the first element of the vision: seven golden lampstands, identified in v.20 as the churches.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction (narrative)
ἐπέστρεψαI turnedAor Act Indic 1 Sg · ἐπιστρέφωmain verb→ constative aoristἐπιστρέφω: 'turn around'; John turns to face the speaker behind him.
βλέπεινto seePres Act Inf · βλέπωinfinitive of purpose→ progressive presentβλέπω: 'see'; 'to see the voice' — a bold mixing of senses (catachresis) for the source of the voice.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle
φωνὴνvoiceAccusativedirect object of βλέπεινφωνή: 'voice'; here by metonymy the speaker himself.
ἥτιςwhichNominativerelative pronoun (subject)ὅστις: 'which, that'; the relative resumes 'voice.'
ἐλάλειwas speakingImpf Act Indic 3 Sg · λαλέωmain verb (rel. clause)→ imperfect (ongoing)λαλέω: 'speak'; the imperfect depicts the voice still speaking as he turned.
μετ’withpreposition + genitive (association)
ἐμοῦmeGenitiveobject of μετά
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
ἐπιστρέψαςhaving turnedAor Act Ptc · Nom Sg Masc · ἐπιστρέφωadverbial participle (temporal/attendant)→ constative aorist (antecedent)ἐπιστρέφω: 'turn'; resuming the act — 'and when I had turned.'
εἶδονI sawAor Act Indic 1 Sg · ὁράωmain verb→ constative aoristὁράω: 'see'; the visionary 'I saw' that punctuates the chapter.
ἑπτὰsevenindeclinable numeral (attributive)ἑπτά: 'seven'; the lampstands of Zech 4 here separated, one per church.
λυχνίαςlampstandsAccusativedirect objectλυχνία: 'lampstand' (cf. menorah, Exod 25:31–37); the churches as light-bearers, identified in v.20.
χρυσᾶςgoldenAccusativeattributive adjectiveχρυσοῦς: 'golden'; the precious worth of the churches in Christ's sight.
13
καὶ ἐν μέσῳ τῶν λυχνιῶν ὅμοιον υἱὸν ἀνθρώπου, ἐνδεδυμένον ποδήρη καὶ περιεζωσμένον πρὸς τοῖς μαστοῖς ζώνην χρυσᾶν·
and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed with a robe reaching to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden sash;
The Son of Man among the lampstandsκαὶThe central figure: 'one like a son of man' (Dan 7:13) standing among the lampstands — present in the midst of his churches. The Daniel-vision and the high-priestly robe begin a cascade of OT theophany-imagery (vv.13–16).
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
ἐνinpreposition + dative (place)
μέσῳmidstDativeobject of ἐν (place)μέσος: 'middle'; ἐν μέσῳ = 'in the midst' — Christ stands among, not above, his churches (cf. 2:1).
τῶνof theGenitivearticle
λυχνιῶνlampstandsGenitivepartitive genitiveλυχνία: 'lampstand'; the seven churches among whom he walks.
ὅμοιονone likeAccusativepredicate adjective (object of implied εἶδον)ὅμοιος: 'like, resembling'; normally + dative, but here followed by the accusative υἱόν — a Revelation irregularity; 'one resembling a son of man.'
υἱὸνa sonAccusativeaccusative (after ὅμοιον — case-irregularity)υἱός: 'son'; υἱὸν ἀνθρώπου ('son of man'), the Danielic title (Dan 7:13) for the glorious heavenly figure — here the risen Christ.
ἀνθρώπουof manGenitivegenitive of relationἄνθρωπος: 'man, human being'; the anarthrous 'son of man' renders the Danielic Aramaic, signaling the heavenly-human Judge.
ἐνδεδυμένονclothedPerf Mid Ptc · Acc Sg Masc · ἐνδύωattributive/circumstantial participle→ perfect (settled state)ἐνδύω (mid.): 'put on, be clothed'; the perfect describes his abiding attire — a long robe.
ποδήρηa foot-length robeAccusativeaccusative of thing (with ἐνδεδυμένον)ποδήρης: 'reaching to the feet' (πούς + ἄρω); the high-priestly and royal robe (Exod 28:4 LXX; Dan 10:5) — Christ as priest and king.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
περιεζωσμένονgirdedPerf Mid Ptc · Acc Sg Masc · περιζώννυμιattributive/circumstantial participle→ perfect (settled state)περιζώννυμι (mid.): 'gird about'; the high golden sash at the chest, a mark of dignity (cf. Dan 10:5).
πρὸςatpreposition + dative (location)πρός + dat.: 'at, near' (rare); 'at the breasts' — the high girding of a dignitary, not the workman's waist-belt.
τοῖςtheDativearticle
μαστοῖςchest/breastsDativeobject of πρός (location)μαστός: 'breast, chest'; the place of the high sash.
ζώνηνsash/beltAccusativeaccusative of thing (with περιεζωσμένον)ζώνη: 'belt, sash'; the golden girdle of priestly-royal honor.
χρυσᾶνgoldenAccusativeattributive adjectiveχρυσοῦς: 'golden'; the gold of glory and worth pervading the vision.
14
ἡ δὲ κεφαλὴ αὐτοῦ καὶ αἱ τρίχες λευκαὶ ὡς ἔριον λευκόν, ὡς χιών, καὶ οἱ ὀφθαλμοὶ αὐτοῦ ὡς φλὸξ πυρός,
his head and his hair were white like white wool, like snow, and his eyes were like a flame of fire,
The Son of Man's appearance (1)δὲThe description proper begins. The white head and hair apply to the Son of Man the imagery of the Ancient of Days (Dan 7:9) — a striking identification of Christ with the eternal God — and the fiery eyes (Dan 10:6) bespeak penetrating judgment.
ἡtheNominativearticle
δὲand/butconnective conjunction (narrative)
κεφαλὴheadNominativesubjectκεφαλή: 'head'; the head and hair together, white as the Ancient of Days (Dan 7:9).
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
αἱtheNominativearticle
τρίχεςhairsNominativesubject (joined to κεφαλή)θρίξ: 'hair'; white hair — the dignity and eternity of God ascribed to Christ.
λευκαὶwhiteNominativepredicate adjectiveλευκός: 'white, bright'; the white of purity and glory (Dan 7:9).
ὡςlikecomparative particle
ἔριονwoolNominativepredicate (after ὡς)ἔριον: 'wool'; 'white as wool' (Dan 7:9; cf. Isa 1:18).
λευκόνwhiteNominativeattributive adjectiveλευκός: 'white'; intensifying the dazzling whiteness.
ὡςlikecomparative particle
χιώνsnowNominativepredicate (after ὡς)χιών: 'snow'; the second comparison, heaping up the brilliance (Dan 7:9).
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
οἱtheNominativearticle
ὀφθαλμοὶeyesNominativesubjectὀφθαλμός: 'eye'; the all-seeing, judging gaze (cf. 2:18; 19:12).
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession
ὡςlikecomparative particle
φλὸξflameNominativepredicate (after ὡς)φλόξ: 'flame'; 'a flame of fire' (Dan 10:6) — eyes of penetrating, refining judgment.
πυρόςof fireGenitiveattributive genitiveπῦρ: 'fire'; the fire of judgment and holiness.
15
καὶ οἱ πόδες αὐτοῦ ὅμοιοι χαλκολιβάνῳ ὡς ἐν καμίνῳ πεπυρωμένης, καὶ ἡ φωνὴ αὐτοῦ ὡς φωνὴ ὑδάτων πολλῶν,
and his feet were like burnished bronze, refined as in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of many waters,
The Son of Man's appearance (2)καὶFeet of glowing, furnace-refined bronze (Dan 10:6; Ezek 1:7) — unshakeable strength and tested purity — and a voice like the roar of many waters (Ezek 1:24; 43:2), the overwhelming sound of God's own approach.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
οἱtheNominativearticle
πόδεςfeetNominativesubjectπούς: 'foot'; the feet of bronze — firmness and crushing strength (cf. 2:18).
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession
ὅμοιοιlikeNominativepredicate adjectiveὅμοιος: 'like'; here regularly + dative (χαλκολιβάνῳ).
χαλκολιβάνῳburnished bronzeDativedat. (after ὅμοιοι)χαλκολίβανον: an obscure compound (χαλκός + ?), a fine, gleaming bronze-like alloy; the precise referent is uncertain — a Revelation hapax.
ὡςascomparative particle
ἐνinpreposition + dative (place)
καμίνῳfurnaceDativeobject of ἐν (place)κάμινος: 'furnace, kiln'; the refining-furnace image — bronze fired to glowing purity.
πεπυρωμένηςhaving been refinedPerf Pass Ptc · Gen Sg Fem · πυρόωattributive participle (case-discord: gen. where dat. expected)→ perfect (completed refining)πυρόω: 'burn, refine by fire'; the feminine genitive disagrees with the dative χαλκολιβάνῳ — a notable solecism; perfect = settled, tested purity.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
ἡtheNominativearticle
φωνὴvoiceNominativesubjectφωνή: 'voice, sound'; the thunderous voice of the theophany.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession
ὡςlikecomparative particle
φωνὴsoundNominativepredicate (after ὡς)φωνή: 'sound'; 'the sound of many waters' (Ezek 43:2) — the roar of God's coming.
ὑδάτωνof watersGenitivegenitive of sourceὕδωρ: 'water'; cataract-like waters, an image of overwhelming power.
πολλῶνmanyGenitiveattributive adjectiveπολύς: 'many, much'; 'many waters' (cf. 14:2; 19:6).
16
καὶ ἔχων ἐν τῇ δεξιᾷ χειρὶ αὐτοῦ ἀστέρας ἑπτά, καὶ ἐκ τοῦ στόματος αὐτοῦ ῥομφαία δίστομος ὀξεῖα ἐκπορευομένη, καὶ ἡ ὄψις αὐτοῦ ὡς ὁ ἥλιος φαίνει ἐν τῇ δυνάμει αὐτοῦ.
and he had in his right hand seven stars, and from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in its strength.
The Son of Man's appearance (3)καὶThe vision's climax: seven stars in his right hand (the churches' angels, v.20), a sharp double-edged sword from his mouth (the conquering word, Isa 49:2), and a face blazing like the sun at full strength — a glory beyond bearing. Note the nominative participle ἔχων loosely attached, a Revelation construction.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
ἔχωνhaving/he hadPres Act Ptc · Nom Sg Masc · ἔχωparticiple for finite verb (nom. — solecism)→ present (ongoing possession)ἔχω: 'have, hold'; the loosely-hung nominative participle functioning as a main verb — a characteristic Revelation construction; he holds the stars.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (place)
τῇtheDativearticle
δεξιᾷrightDativeattributive adjectiveδεξιός: 'right (hand)'; the hand of power and protection — the stars are held safe (cf. v.17).
χειρὶhandDativeobject of ἐν (place)χείρ: 'hand'; the right hand grasping the seven stars.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession
ἀστέραςstarsAccusativedirect object (of ἔχων)ἀστήρ: 'star'; the seven stars = the angels of the churches (v.20).
ἑπτάsevenindeclinable numeral (attributive)ἑπτά: 'seven'; the sevenfold completeness, matching the lampstands.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
ἐκfrompreposition + genitive (source)
τοῦtheGenitivearticle
στόματοςmouthGenitiveobject of ἐκ (source)στόμα: 'mouth'; the word that proceeds from him is the conquering sword (cf. 19:15).
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession
ῥομφαίαswordNominativesubject (of ἐκπορευομένη clause)ῥομφαία: 'large broadsword'; the word of judgment (Isa 11:4; 49:2; cf. Heb 4:12).
δίστομοςtwo-edgedNominativeattributive adjectiveδίστομος: 'two-mouthed, double-edged' (δίς + στόμα); a sword that cuts both ways — incisive judgment.
ὀξεῖαsharpNominativeattributive adjectiveὀξύς: 'sharp, keen'; the cutting edge of the word.
ἐκπορευομένηproceedingPres Mid Ptc · Nom Sg Fem · ἐκπορεύομαιattributive participle (agreeing with ῥομφαία)→ present (continuous procession)ἐκπορεύομαι: 'go out, proceed'; the sword continually issues from his mouth — the ever-living word.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
ἡtheNominativearticle
ὄψιςface/appearanceNominativesubjectὄψις: 'face, appearance'; his countenance blazing in glory (cf. Matt 17:2).
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession
ὡςascomparative particle
ὁtheNominativearticle
ἥλιοςsunNominativesubject (of φαίνει)ἥλιος: 'sun'; the blinding solar glory (cf. 10:1; Judg 5:31).
φαίνειshinesPres Act Indic 3 Sg · φαίνωmain verb (comparison-clause)→ gnomic presentφαίνω: 'shine, give light'; the sun shining at full strength.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (manner)
τῇtheDativearticle
δυνάμειstrengthDativedat. of mannerδύναμις: 'power, strength'; 'in its strength' = at full noonday force.
αὐτοῦitsGenitivegenitive of possession
17
Καὶ ὅτε εἶδον αὐτόν, ἔπεσα πρὸς τοὺς πόδας αὐτοῦ ὡς νεκρός· καὶ ἔθηκεν τὴν δεξιὰν αὐτοῦ ἐπ’ ἐμὲ λέγων· Μὴ φοβοῦ· ἐγώ εἰμι ὁ πρῶτος καὶ ὁ ἔσχατος
When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, "Do not fear; I am the first and the last,
Prostration and reassuranceκαὶThe seer's prostration (the standard response to theophany, cf. Ezek 1:28; Dan 8:17) and Christ's reassuring touch and word — 'Do not fear' — sealed by a divine self-predication: 'I am the first and the last' (Isa 44:6; 48:12), a title of YHWH now claimed by the risen Christ.
Καὶandcoordinating conjunction (narrative)
ὅτεwhentemporal conjunctionὅτε: 'when'; introducing the moment of seeing.
εἶδονI sawAor Act Indic 1 Sg · ὁράωmain verb (temporal clause)→ constative aoristὁράω: 'see'; the sight that overwhelmed the seer.
αὐτόνhimAccusativedirect object
ἔπεσαI fellAor Act Indic 1 Sg · πίπτωmain verb→ constative aoristπίπτω: 'fall'; the prostration before divine glory (Ezek 1:28; Dan 10:9).
πρὸςatpreposition + accusative (direction)
τοὺςtheAccusativearticle
πόδαςfeetAccusativeobject of πρόςπούς: 'foot'; he fell at the feet of the glorious one.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession
ὡςas thoughcomparative particleὡς: 'as, as if'; 'as a dead man' — utterly undone by the glory.
νεκρόςdeadNominativepredicate nominative (after ὡς)νεκρός: 'dead'; the prophet's collapse — soon answered by the Living One (v.18).
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
ἔθηκενhe laidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · τίθημιmain verb→ constative aoristτίθημι: 'place, lay'; the reassuring touch (cf. Dan 10:10, 18).
τὴνtheAccusativearticle
δεξιὰνright handAccusativedirect objectδεξιός: 'right (hand)'; the same hand holding the stars (v.16) now rests on the seer.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession
ἐπ’onpreposition + accusative (place)
ἐμὲmeAccusativeobject of ἐπί
λέγωνsayingPres Act Ptc · Nom Sg Masc · λέγωadverbial participle (attendant/means)→ present (accompanying speech)λέγω: 'say'; introducing the reassuring oracle.
Μὴnotnegative particle (with imperative)
φοβοῦfearPres Mid Impv 2 Sg · φοβέομαιimperative (prohibition)→ present (cease/do not continue fearing)φοβέομαι: 'fear, be afraid'; 'stop being afraid' — the theophanic reassurance (cf. Isa 41:10; Dan 10:12).
ἐγώINominativesubject (emphatic)ἐγώ: 'I'; emphatic — the divine self-identification.
εἰμιamPres Act Indic 1 Sg · εἰμίcopula→ stative presentεἰμί: 'be'; the 'I am' of self-revelation (cf. v.8).
ὁtheNominativearticle
πρῶτοςfirstNominativepredicate nominativeπρῶτος: 'first'; 'the first and the last' — YHWH's title (Isa 44:6; 48:12) claimed by Christ (cf. 2:8; 22:13).
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
ὁtheNominativearticle
ἔσχατοςlastNominativepredicate nominativeἔσχατος: 'last'; the bracket of all things — Christ encompasses beginning and end.
18
καὶ ὁ ζῶν, καὶ ἐγενόμην νεκρὸς καὶ ἰδοὺ ζῶν εἰμι εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων, καὶ ἔχω τὰς κλεῖς τοῦ θανάτου καὶ τοῦ ᾅδου.
and the living one. I was dead, and behold, I am alive forever and ever, and I have the keys of Death and of Hades.
The Living One who holds death's keysκαὶThe self-predication continues: 'the Living One' who died and now lives forever — the ground of the reassurance, for he holds the keys of Death and Hades, sovereign over the very realm that overwhelmed the seer.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
ὁthe oneNominativearticle (substantizes ptc.)
ζῶνlivingPres Act Ptc · Nom Sg Masc · ζάωsubstantival participle (apposition to subject)→ present (the ever-living one)ζάω: 'live'; 'the Living One' — a divine title (cf. Deut 32:40; Dan 12:7), here of the risen Christ who possesses life in himself.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
ἐγενόμηνI became/wasAor Mid Indic 1 Sg · γίνομαιmain verb→ ingressive aoristγίνομαι: 'become'; 'I became dead' — entered death, the crucifixion.
νεκρὸςdeadNominativepredicate nominativeνεκρός: 'dead'; Christ truly died — yet now lives.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
ἰδοὺbeholdinterjection (attention-marker)ἰδού: 'behold'; arresting attention on the resurrection-fact.
ζῶνliving/alivePres Act Ptc · Nom Sg Masc · ζάωpredicate participle (periphrastic with εἰμι)→ present (ongoing life)ζάω: 'live'; 'I am living' — the periphrastic stresses his abiding resurrection-life.
εἰμιI amPres Act Indic 1 Sg · εἰμίcopula (periphrastic with ζῶν)→ stative presentεἰμί: 'be'; with the participle, the living state that has no end.
εἰςforpreposition + accusative (extent of time)
τοὺςtheAccusativearticle
αἰῶναςagesAccusativeobject of εἰςαἰών: 'age'; 'unto the ages of the ages' — eternally alive.
τῶνof theGenitivearticle
αἰώνωνagesGenitiveattributive genitive (intensifying)αἰών: 'age'; the doubled eternity-formula.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
ἔχωI havePres Act Indic 1 Sg · ἔχωmain verb→ stative presentἔχω: 'have, hold'; he possesses authority over death itself.
τὰςtheAccusativearticle
κλεῖςkeysAccusativedirect objectκλείς: 'key'; the keys = authority to open and shut (cf. 3:7; 9:1; 20:1) — Christ controls access to death and the grave.
τοῦofGenitivearticle
θανάτουDeathGenitiveobjective/possessive genitiveθάνατος: 'death'; personified, with Hades, as a defeated power (cf. 6:8; 20:13–14).
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
τοῦofGenitivearticle
ᾅδουHadesGenitiveobjective/possessive genitiveᾅδης: 'Hades, the grave/realm of the dead' (Heb. Sheol); the underworld, over which Christ holds the keys.
19
γράψον οὖν ἃ εἶδες καὶ ἃ εἰσὶν καὶ ἃ μέλλει γενέσθαι μετὰ ταῦτα.
Write therefore the things that you have seen, and the things that are, and the things that are to take place after these.
The commission's scopeοὖνThe renewed commission, often read as the book's outline: write what you saw (the vision, ch. 1), what is (the churches' present, chs. 2–3), and what is to come (the future, chs. 4–22) — though the threefold phrase may simply embrace the whole prophecy.
γράψονwriteAor Act Impv 2 Sg · γράφωimperative (command)→ constative aorist (urgent command)γράφω: 'write'; the central commission renewed (cf. v.11).
οὖνthereforeinferential particleοὖν: 'therefore'; drawing the command from the revelation of who he is (vv.17–18).
ἃthe things whichAccusativerelative pronoun (object of γράψον / εἶδες)
εἶδεςyou sawAor Act Indic 2 Sg · ὁράωmain verb (rel. clause)→ constative aoristὁράω: 'see'; 'the things you saw' — the inaugural vision just given.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
ἃthe things whichNominativerelative pronoun (subject of εἰσίν)
εἰσὶνarePres Act Indic 3 Pl · εἰμίmain verb (rel. clause)→ stative presentεἰμί: 'be'; 'the things that are' — present realities, esp. the churches of chs. 2–3.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
ἃthe things whichNominativerelative pronoun (subject of μέλλει)
μέλλειare aboutPres Act Indic 3 Sg · μέλλωmain verb (rel. clause)→ present (impending)μέλλω: 'be about to, be destined'; the impending future, the visions of chs. 4–22.
γενέσθαιto take placeAor Mid Inf · γίνομαιcomplementary infinitive (of μέλλει)→ constative aoristγίνομαι: 'happen, come to pass'; echoing v.1's ἃ δεῖ γενέσθαι.
μετὰafterpreposition + accusative (time)
ταῦταthese thingsAccusativeobject of μετά (demonstrative)οὗτος: 'this'; 'after these things' (cf. 4:1) — the future beyond the present vision.
20
τὸ μυστήριον τῶν ἑπτὰ ἀστέρων οὓς εἶδες ἐπὶ τῆς δεξιᾶς μου, καὶ τὰς ἑπτὰ λυχνίας τὰς χρυσᾶς· οἱ ἑπτὰ ἀστέρες ἄγγελοι τῶν ἑπτὰ ἐκκλησιῶν εἰσιν, καὶ αἱ λυχνίαι αἱ ἑπτὰ ἑπτὰ ἐκκλησίαι εἰσίν.
As for the mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.
Interpretation of the symbolsasyndetonThe chapter closes with the angel-interpreter's standard apocalyptic device — the vision decoded: the seven stars are the angels of the churches, the seven lampstands the churches themselves. The dangling accusative τὸ μυστήριον (in apposition to ἃ εἶδες) is another loose Revelation construction.
τὸtheAccusativearticle
μυστήριονmystery/secret meaningAccusativeaccusative in apposition to ἃ εἶδες (loose construction)μυστήριον: 'mystery, hidden meaning'; here the symbolic sense to be disclosed (cf. 17:7) — the dangling accusative hangs from v.19.
τῶνof theGenitivearticle
ἑπτὰsevenindeclinable numeral (attributive)ἑπτά: 'seven'.
ἀστέρωνstarsGenitivegenitive (content/reference)ἀστήρ: 'star'; the seven stars of v.16, now interpreted.
οὓςwhichAccusativerelative pronoun (object of εἶδες)
εἶδεςyou sawAor Act Indic 2 Sg · ὁράωmain verb (rel. clause)→ constative aoristὁράω: 'see'; recalling the vision of v.16.
ἐπὶin/onpreposition + genitive (place)
τῆςtheGenitivearticle
δεξιᾶςright handGenitiveobject of ἐπί (place)δεξιός: 'right (hand)'; the stars held secure in his right hand.
μουmyGenitivegenitive of possession
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
τὰςtheAccusativearticle
ἑπτὰsevenindeclinable numeral (attributive)ἑπτά: 'seven'.
λυχνίαςlampstandsAccusativeaccusative (joined to μυστήριον, object of interpretation)λυχνία: 'lampstand'; the lampstands of v.12, now interpreted.
τὰςtheAccusativearticle (attributive)
χρυσᾶςgoldenAccusativeattributive adjectiveχρυσοῦς: 'golden'; the precious lampstands.
οἱtheNominativearticle
ἑπτὰsevenindeclinable numeral (attributive)ἑπτά: 'seven'.
ἀστέρεςstarsNominativesubjectἀστήρ: 'star'; the subject of the first identification.
ἄγγελοιangels/messengersNominativepredicate nominativeἄγγελος: 'angel, messenger'; the 'angels' of the churches (chs. 2–3) — variously heavenly guardians, the churches' spirit, or human messengers; the term is disputed.
τῶνof theGenitivearticle
ἑπτὰsevenindeclinable numeral (attributive)ἑπτά: 'seven'.
ἐκκλησιῶνchurchesGenitivepossessive/relational genitiveἐκκλησία: 'church'; the seven congregations addressed in chs. 2–3.
εἰσινarePres Act Indic 3 Pl · εἰμίmain verb (copula)→ stative presentεἰμί: 'be'; the equation 'the stars are the angels.'
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
αἱtheNominativearticle
λυχνίαιlampstandsNominativesubjectλυχνία: 'lampstand'; the subject of the second identification.
αἱtheNominativearticle (attributive)
ἑπτὰsevenindeclinable numeral (attributive)ἑπτά: 'seven'.
ἑπτὰsevenindeclinable numeral (attributive, predicate)ἑπτά: 'seven'; the predicate 'seven churches.'
ἐκκλησίαιchurchesNominativepredicate nominativeἐκκλησία: 'church'; the lampstands are the churches — light-bearers sustained by Christ in their midst.
εἰσίνarePres Act Indic 3 Pl · εἰμίmain verb (copula)→ stative presentεἰμί: 'be'; the closing equation, sealing the inaugural vision.