Revelation 3:20

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

Complete Jewish Bible:

Here, I’m standing at the door, knocking. If someone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he will eat with me.

Berean Standard Bible:

Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in and dine with him, and he with Me.

American Standard Version:

Behold, I stand at the door and knock: if any man hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

Behold^{G2400}, I stand^{G2476} at^{G1909} the door^{G2374}, and^{G2532} knock^{G2925}: if^{G1437} any man^{G5100} hear^{G191} my^{G3450} voice^{G5456}, and^{G2532} open^{G455} the door^{G2374}, I will come in^{G1525} to^{G4314} him^{G846}, and^{G2532} will sup^{G1172} with^{G3326} him^{G846}, and^{G2532} he^{G846} with^{G3326} me^{G1700}.

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Commentary for Revelation 3:20

Revelation 3:20 is part of the messages to the seven churches in Asia Minor found in the opening chapters of the Book of Revelation, the last book of the New Testament. These messages were dictated by Jesus Christ to the apostle John and were intended for specific churches in the first century. The verse in question is from the message to the church in Laodicea, known for its lukewarm faith and spiritual complacency.

The themes of Revelation 3:20 include invitation, personal relationship with Christ, and the transformative power of fellowship with the divine. The verse metaphorically portrays Jesus standing outside the door of one's heart, knocking, and waiting for an invitation to enter. This image conveys God's respect for human free will and His desire for a close, intimate relationship with believers. The act of opening the door signifies a personal decision to accept Jesus into one's life. The promise that Jesus will come in and eat with the individual, and they with Him, symbolizes the mutual fellowship and communion that is available to those who respond to His call.

Historically, this verse reflects the early Christian understanding of Jesus as a personal savior who seeks a dynamic and interactive relationship with His followers. It also emphasizes the individual's role in responding to God's initiative. The metaphor of a shared meal suggests the intimacy of table fellowship, which in the ancient world was a sign of acceptance, friendship, and covenantal relationship.

In summary, Revelation 3:20 is a powerful invitation from Jesus to believers to deepen their relationship with Him. It highlights the themes of divine invitation, personal response, and intimate communion with God, while also reflecting the historical context of early Christian fellowship and the expectation of a vibrant, two-way relationship between the believer and Christ.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: G2400
   There are 204 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: ἰδού
   Transliteration: idoú
   Pronunciation: id-oo'
   Description: second person singular imperative middle voice of εἴδω; used as imperative lo!; --behold, lo, see.
   
2. Strong's Number: G2476
   There are 152 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: ἵστημι
   Transliteration: hístēmi
   Pronunciation: stah'-o
   Description: a prolonged form of a primary (of the same meaning, and used for it in certain tenses); to stand (transitively or intransitively), used in various applications (literally or figuratively):--abide, appoint, bring, continue, covenant, establish, hold up, lay, present, set (up), stanch, stand (by, forth, still, up). Compare τίθημι.
   
3. Strong's Number: G1909
   There are 790 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: ἐπί
   Transliteration: epí
   Pronunciation: ep-ee'
   Description: a primary preposition; properly, meaning superimposition (of time, place, order, etc.), as a relation of distribution (with the genitive case), i.e. over, upon, etc.; of rest (with the dative case) at, on, etc.; of direction (with the accusative case) towards, upon, etc.:--about (the times), above, after, against, among, as long as (touching), at, beside, X have charge of, (be-, (where-))fore, in (a place, as much as, the time of, -to), (because) of, (up-)on (behalf of), over, (by, for) the space of, through(-out), (un-)to(-ward), with. In compounds it retains essentially the same import, at, upon, etc. (literally or figuratively).
   
4. Strong's Number: G2374
   There are 37 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: θύρα
   Transliteration: thýra
   Pronunciation: thoo'-rah
   Description: apparently a primary word (compare "door"); a portal or entrance (the opening or the closure, literally or figuratively):--door, gate.
   
5. Strong's Number: G2532
   There are 5212 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: καί
   Transliteration: kaí
   Pronunciation: kahee
   Description: apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words:--and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.
   
6. Strong's Number: G2925
   There are 9 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: κρούω
   Transliteration: kroúō
   Pronunciation: kroo'-o
   Description: apparently a primary verb; to rap:--knock.
   
7. Strong's Number: G1437
   There are 254 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: ἐάν
   Transliteration: eán
   Pronunciation: eh-an'
   Description: from εἰ and ἄν; a conditional particle; in case that, provided, etc.; often used in connection with other particles to denote indefiniteness or uncertainty:--before, but, except, (and) if, (if) so, (what-, whither-)soever, though, when (-soever), whether (or), to whom, (who-)so(-ever). See μή.
   
8. Strong's Number: G5100
   There are 419 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: τὶς
   Transliteration: tìs
   Pronunciation: tis
   Description: an enclitic indefinite pronoun; some or any person or object:--a (kind of), any (man, thing, thing at all), certain (thing), divers, he (every) man, one (X thing), ought, + partly, some (man, -body, - thing, -what), (+ that no-)thing, what(-soever), X wherewith, whom(-soever), whose(-soever).
   
9. Strong's Number: G191
   There are 448 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: ἀκούω
   Transliteration: akoúō
   Pronunciation: ak-oo'-o
   Description: a primary verb; to hear (in various senses):--give (in the) audience (of), come (to the ears), (shall) hear(-er, -ken), be noised, be reported, understand.
   
10. Strong's Number: G3450
    There are 471 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: μοῦ
    Transliteration: moû
    Pronunciation: moo
    Description: the simpler form of ἐμοῦ; of me:--I, me, mine (own), my.
    
11. Strong's Number: G5456
    There are 129 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: φωνή
    Transliteration: phōnḗ
    Pronunciation: fo-nay'
    Description: probably akin to φαίνω through the idea of disclosure; a tone (articulate, bestial or artificial); by implication, an address (for any purpose), saying or language:--noise, sound, voice.
    
12. Strong's Number: G455
    There are 100 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: ἀνοίγω
    Transliteration: anoígō
    Pronunciation: an-oy'-go
    Description: from ἀνά and (to open); to open up (literally or figuratively, in various applications):--open.
    
13. Strong's Number: G1525
    There are 186 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: εἰσέρχομαι
    Transliteration: eisérchomai
    Pronunciation: ice-er'-khom-ahee
    Description: from εἰς and ἔρχομαι; to enter (literally or figuratively):--X arise, come (in, into), enter in(-to), go in (through).
    
14. Strong's Number: G4314
    There are 674 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: πρός
    Transliteration: prós
    Pronunciation: pros
    Description: a strengthened form of πρό; a preposition of direction; forward to, i.e. toward (with the genitive case, the side of, i.e. pertaining to; with the dative case, by the side of, i.e. near to; usually with the accusative case, the place, time, occasion, or respect, which is the destination of the relation, i.e. whither or for which it is predicated):--about, according to , against, among, at, because of, before, between, (where-)by, for, X at thy house, in, for intent, nigh unto, of, which pertain to, that, to (the end that), X together, to (you) -ward, unto, with(-in). In the comparative case, it denotes essentially the same applications, namely, motion towards, accession to, or nearness at.
    
15. Strong's Number: G846
    There are 3776 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: αὐτός
    Transliteration: autós
    Pronunciation: ow-tos'
    Description: from the particle (perhaps akin to the base of ἀήρ through the idea of a baffling wind) (backward); the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative ἑαυτοῦ) of the third person , and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons:--her, it(-self), one, the other, (mine) own, said, (self-), the) same, ((him-, my-, thy- )self, (your-)selves, she, that, their(-s), them(-selves), there(-at, - by, -in, -into, -of, -on, -with), they, (these) things, this (man), those, together, very, which. Compare αὑτοῦ.
    
16. Strong's Number: G1172
    There are 4 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: δειπνέω
    Transliteration: deipnéō
    Pronunciation: dipe-neh'-o
    Description: from δεῖπνον; to dine, i.e. take the principle (or evening) meal:--sup (X -er).
    
17. Strong's Number: G3326
    There are 445 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: μετά
    Transliteration: metá
    Pronunciation: met-ah'
    Description: a primary preposition (often used adverbially); properly, denoting accompaniment; "amid" (local or causal); modified variously according to the case (genitive association, or accusative succession) with which it is joined; occupying an intermediate position between ἀπό or ἐκ and εἰς or πρός; less intimate than ἐν and less close than σύν):--after(-ward), X that he again, against, among, X and, + follow, hence, hereafter, in, of, (up-)on, + our, X and setting, since, (un-)to, + together, when, with (+ -out). Often used in composition, in substantially the same relations of participation or proximity, and transfer or sequence.
    
18. Strong's Number: G1700
    There are 104 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: ἐμοῦ
    Transliteration: emoû
    Pronunciation: em-oo'
    Description: a prolonged form of μόχθος; of me:--me, mine, my.