King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.
Complete Jewish Bible:
He who wins the victory will, like them, be dressed in white clothing; and I will not blot his name out of the Book of Life; in fact, I will acknowledge him individually before my Father and before his angels.
Berean Standard Bible:
Like them, he who overcomes will be dressed in white. And I will never blot out his name from the Book of Life, but I will confess his name before My Father and His angels.
American Standard Version:
He that overcometh shall thus be arrayed in white garments; and I will in no wise blot his name out of the book of life, and I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
He that overcometh{G3528}, the same{G3778} shall be clothed{G4016} in{G1722} white{G3022} raiment{G2440}; and{G2532} I will{G1813} not{G3364} blot out{G1813} his{G846} name{G3686} out of{G1537} the book{G976} of life{G2222}, but{G2532} I will confess{G1843} his{G846} name{G3686} before{G1799} my{G3450} Father{G3962}, and{G2532} before{G1799} his{G846} angels{G32}.
Cross-References (KJV):
Matthew 10:32
- Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.
Revelation 21:27
- And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither [whatsoever] worketh abomination, or [maketh] a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.
Revelation 20:15
- And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
Luke 12:8
- Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God:
Revelation 17:8
- The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.
Revelation 20:12
- And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is [the book] of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
Psalms 69:28
- Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, and not be written with the righteous.
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Revelation 3:5
Revelation 3:5 is a verse from the New Testament of the Christian Bible, specifically from the Book of Revelation, which is traditionally attributed to John the Apostle. This book is apocalyptic literature, characterized by symbolic imagery and visions, and is the final book of the New Testament. It was likely written during a period of Christian persecution, towards the end of the first century AD, with the purpose of encouraging and reassuring the early Christian communities.
The verse itself is part of a message to the church in Sardis, one of the seven churches in Asia Minor addressed in the early chapters of Revelation. The theme of overcoming is central to the message, reflecting a common motif in Revelation that emphasizes perseverance in faith despite trials and tribulations. The promise to the "overcomer" includes three distinct rewards:
1. **Clothing in white raiment**: This symbolizes purity and righteousness, a common biblical metaphor. In the cultural context of the time, white garments were also associated with victory and festive occasions.
2. **Not blotting out his name from the book of life**: The book of life is mentioned several times in Revelation and is understood to be a divine record of all those who are saved. The promise here is one of eternal security—assurance that one's salvation is certain and will not be revoked.
3. **Confessing his name before the Father and His angels**: This indicates a public acknowledgment of the individual by Jesus Christ before God and the heavenly host, affirming the person's relationship with God and their acceptance into the divine community.
Historically, this verse has been interpreted to mean that those who remain faithful to Christ will receive divine approval and eternal life. It serves as an encouragement to maintain one's faith in the face of persecution and as a promise of the rewards that await the faithful in the afterlife. The imagery used in this verse would have resonated with the early Christians, offering them comfort and hope in their struggle to live out their faith in a hostile environment.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: G3528
There are 24 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: νικάω
Transliteration: nikáō
Pronunciation: nik-ah'-o
Description: from νίκη; to subdue (literally or figuratively):--conquer, overcome, prevail, get the victory. - Strong's Number: G3778
There are 344 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: οὗτος
Transliteration: hoûtos
Pronunciation: how'-tahee
Description: from the article ὁ and αὐτός; the he (she or it), i.e. this or that (often with article repeated):--he (it was that), hereof, it, she, such as, the same, these, they, this (man, same, woman), which, who. - Strong's Number: G4016
There are 24 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: περιβάλλω
Transliteration: peribállō
Pronunciation: per-ee-bal'-lo
Description: from περί and βάλλω; to throw all around, i.e. invest (with a palisade or with clothing):--array, cast about, clothe(-d me), put on. - Strong's Number: G1722
There are 2129 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: ἐν
Transliteration: en
Pronunciation: en
Description: a primary preposition denoting (fixed) position (in place, time or state), and (by implication) instrumentality (medially or constructively), i.e. a relation of rest (intermediate between εἰς and ἐκ); "in," at, (up-)on, by, etc.:--about, after, against, + almost, X altogether, among, X as, at, before, between, (here-)by (+ all means), for (… sake of), + give self wholly to, (here-)in(-to, -wardly), X mightily, (because) of, (up-)on, (open-)ly, X outwardly, one, X quickly, X shortly, (speedi-)ly, X that, X there(-in, -on), through(-out), (un-)to(-ward), under, when, where(-with), while, with(-in). Often used in compounds, with substantially the same import; rarely with verbs of motion, and then not to indicate direction, except (elliptically) by a separate (and different) preposition. - Strong's Number: G3022
There are 23 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: λευκός
Transliteration: leukós
Pronunciation: lyoo-kos'
Description: from ("light"); white:--white. - Strong's Number: G2440
There are 59 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: ἱμάτιον
Transliteration: himátion
Pronunciation: him-at'-ee-on
Description: neuter of a presumed derivative of ennumi (to put on); a dress (inner or outer):--apparel, cloke, clothes, garment, raiment, robe, vesture. - 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. - Strong's Number: G1813
There are 5 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: ἐξαλείφω
Transliteration: exaleíphō
Pronunciation: ex-al-i'-fo
Description: from ἐκ and ἀλείφω; to smear out, i.e. obliterate (erase tears, figuratively, pardon sin):--blot out, wipe away. - Strong's Number: G3364
There are 84 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: οὐ μή
Transliteration: ou mḗ
Pronunciation: oo may
Description: i.e. οὐ and μή; a double negative strengthening the denial; not at all:--any more, at all, by any (no) means, neither, never, no (at all), in no case (wise), nor ever, not (at all, in any wise). Compare μὴ οὐκ. - 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. - Strong's Number: G3686
There are 214 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: ὄνομα
Transliteration: ónoma
Pronunciation: on'-om-ah
Description: from a presumed derivative of the base of γινώσκω (compare ὀνίνημι); a "name" (literally or figuratively) (authority, character):--called, (+ sur-)name(-d). - Strong's Number: G1537
There are 761 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: ἐκ
Transliteration: ek
Pronunciation: ex
Description: a primary preposition denoting origin (the point whence action or motion proceeds), from, out (of place, time, or cause; literal or figurative; direct or remote):--after, among, X are, at, betwixt(-yond), by (the means of), exceedingly, (+ abundantly above), for(- th), from (among, forth, up), + grudgingly, + heartily, X heavenly, X hereby, + very highly, in, …ly, (because, by reason) of, off (from), on, out among (from, of), over, since, X thenceforth, through, X unto, X vehemently, with(-out). Often used in composition, with the same general import; often of completion. - Strong's Number: G976
There are 12 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: βίβλος
Transliteration: bíblos
Pronunciation: bib'-los
Description: properly, the inner bark of the papyrus plant, i.e. (by implication) a sheet or scroll of writing:--book. - Strong's Number: G2222
There are 126 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: ζωή
Transliteration: zōḗ
Pronunciation: dzo-ay'
Description: from ζάω; life (literally or figuratively):--life(-time). Compare ψυχή. - Strong's Number: G1843
There are 11 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: ἐξομολογέω
Transliteration: exomologéō
Pronunciation: ex-om-ol-og-eh'-o
Description: from ἐκ and ὁμολογέω; to acknowledge or (by implication, of assent) agree fully:--confess, profess, promise. - Strong's Number: G1799
There are 89 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: ἐνώπιον
Transliteration: enṓpion
Pronunciation: en-o'-pee-on
Description: neuter of a compound of ἐν and a derivative of ὀπτάνομαι; in the face of (literally or figuratively):--before, in the presence (sight) of, to. - 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. - Strong's Number: G3962
There are 372 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: πατήρ
Transliteration: patḗr
Pronunciation: pat-ayr'
Description: apparently a primary word; a "father" (literally or figuratively, near or more remote):--father, parent. - Strong's Number: G32
There are 228 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: ἄγγελος
Transliteration: ángelos
Pronunciation: ang'-el-os
Description: from (probably derived from ἄγω; compare ἀγέλη) (to bring tidings); a messenger; especially an "angel"; by implication, a pastor:--angel, messenger.