Revelation 22:15

KJV

For without [are] dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.

KJV (with Strong's)

For {G1161} without {G1854} are dogs {G2965}, and {G2532} sorcerers {G5333}, and {G2532} whoremongers {G4205}, and {G2532} murderers {G5406}, and {G2532} idolaters {G1496}, and {G2532} whosoever {G3956} loveth {G5368} and {G2532} maketh {G4160} a lie {G5579}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Outside are the homosexuals, those involved with the occult and with drugs, the sexually immoral, murderers, idol-worshippers, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.

Berean Standard Bible

But outside are the dogs, the sorcerers, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.

American Standard Version

Without are the dogs, and the sorcerers, and the fornicators, and the murderers, and the idolaters, and every one that loveth and maketh a lie.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Revelation 22:15 serves as a solemn and definitive declaration of exclusion from the New Jerusalem, enumerating a stark list of those whose unrepentant character and actions fundamentally oppose the holiness and truth of God. Standing in sharp contrast to the blessed who enter the city, this verse underscores the ultimate consequences of a life lived in rebellion against divine standards, highlighting the absolute purity required to dwell in God's eternal presence.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Revelation 22:15 is situated in the concluding chapter of the Bible, immediately following the description of the glorious New Jerusalem and the river of life. It acts as a final, stark warning, delineating those who are excluded from the eternal city, in direct opposition to the promise given in [Revelation 22:14](/revelation/22-14 "Revelation 22:14 - Blessing for the Obedient"), which blesses those who wash their robes, granting them access to the tree of life and entrance into the city. This verse reinforces the absolute purity of God's dwelling place, echoing the earlier declaration in [Revelation 21:27](/revelation/21-27 "Revelation 21:27 - Nothing Unclean Enters the New Jerusalem") that "nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful." It functions as a final, comprehensive summary of the character and conduct antithetical to God's kingdom, serving as a climactic warning before the book's final benedictions and Christ's concluding affirmations.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The terms used in Revelation 22:15 would have resonated deeply with the original audience, who were familiar with the moral and religious landscape of the Roman world. "Dogs" (κύνες) were often used metaphorically in ancient Near Eastern and Greco-Roman cultures to refer to morally impure, contemptible, or aggressive individuals, often associated with male prostitutes or those outside the covenant community. "Sorcerers" (φαρμακοί) refers to practitioners of magic, often involving drugs (φάρμακον - *pharmakon*) and occultic rituals, which were prevalent and condemned in both Jewish and early Christian contexts as a form of idolatry and rebellion against God's sovereignty. "Whoremongers" and "murderers" represent fundamental violations of God's moral law, while "idolaters" speaks to the ultimate betrayal of loyalty to the one true God, a pervasive issue in a polytheistic Roman Empire. The emphasis on "loving and making a lie" speaks to a deep-seated spiritual corruption, contrasting with the absolute truthfulness of God and the early Christian emphasis on integrity in a world rife with deception.
* **Key Themes:** This verse contributes significantly to several overarching themes in Revelation and the broader biblical narrative. Firstly, it powerfully reiterates the theme of **Divine Justice and Judgment**, demonstrating God's unwavering standard of holiness and the certain exclusion of unrepentant sin from His presence. Secondly, it underscores the theme of **Purity and Holiness**, emphasizing that the New Jerusalem is a sanctuary of absolute moral and spiritual cleanliness, where nothing defiled can enter. This aligns with the call to holiness found throughout Scripture, from [Leviticus 11:44-45](/leviticus/11-44-45 "Leviticus 11:44-45 - Be Holy, For I Am Holy") to [1 Peter 1:15-16](/1_peter/1-15-16 "1 Peter 1:15-16 - Call to Holiness"). Thirdly, the verse highlights the **Contrast Between Light and Darkness**, or truth and deception, culminating in the exclusion of those who embrace falsehood, aligning them with the "father of lies" ([John 8:44](/john/8-44 "John 8:44 - The Devil, Father of Lies")). Finally, it reinforces the **Sovereignty of God** in establishing the criteria for eternal life, ensuring that His kingdom is populated by those who reflect His righteous character.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Dogs (Greek, _kýōn'_):** In ancient cultures, dogs were often seen as scavenging, unclean, and aggressive animals. Metaphorically, as used here, "dogs" refers to morally impure, contemptible individuals who are outside the covenant community and are characterized by a lack of moral restraint and spiritual discernment. This term signifies those who are spiritually depraved and hostile to God's ways, often associated with paganism or vicious behavior.
* **Idolaters (Greek, _eidōlolátrēs'_):** This term refers to one who serves or worships an image or idol. In a broader sense, it encompasses anyone who gives ultimate loyalty, devotion, or worship to anything other than the one true God. Idolatry is consistently condemned in Scripture as spiritual adultery, diverting the heart's true allegiance from the Creator to created things, whether physical images, worldly desires, or self-worship.
* **Lie (Greek, _pseûdos'_):** This word denotes falsehood, untruth, or deception. In the context of Revelation 22:15, "whosoever loveth and maketh a lie" refers not merely to telling an occasional untruth but to a fundamental disposition and active practice of deception. It describes a character that delights in and perpetuates falsehood, aligning itself with the very nature of Satan, who is the "father of lies" ([John 8:44](/john/8-44 "John 8:44 - The Devil, Father of Lies")). This stands in stark opposition to God, who is absolute truth.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"For without [are] dogs":** This clause immediately establishes the boundary of exclusion. "Without" (G1854, _éxō_) signifies outside the city walls of the New Jerusalem. "Dogs" (G2965, _kýōn_) are not literal animals but a derogatory term for those who are morally impure, spiritually defiled, and hostile to God's holiness, often associated with those who practice vile acts or are outside the covenant.
* **"and sorcerers":** This refers to those who practice magic, witchcraft, or occult arts (G5333, _phármakos_). This often involved the use of drugs (φάρμακον) for spiritual manipulation or divination. Such practices are condemned as an affront to God's sovereignty and a turning to demonic powers rather than divine truth.
* **"and whoremongers":** This term (G4205, _pórnos_) denotes those engaged in various forms of sexual immorality, including prostitution, adultery, fornication, and any illicit sexual behavior outside of God's design for marriage. It speaks to a lifestyle characterized by sexual impurity and a disregard for God's moral boundaries concerning human sexuality.
* **"and murderers":** This refers to those who unlawfully take human life (G5406, _phoneús_). This sin is a direct violation of God's command and reflects a profound disregard for the sanctity of life, which is created in God's image.
* **"and idolaters":** This refers to those who worship idols or give ultimate allegiance to anything other than the one true God (G1496, _eidōlolátrēs_). This is seen as spiritual adultery, a betrayal of loyalty to the Creator, and a fundamental distortion of worship.
* **"and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie":** This final, comprehensive clause (G3956 _pâs_ "whosoever", G5368 _philéō_ "loveth", G4160 _poiéō_ "maketh", G5579 _pseûdos_ "lie") broadens the scope to include anyone whose character is defined by a delight in and active propagation of falsehood. It highlights a profound spiritual alignment with deception, which is antithetical to the nature of God, who is truth. This is not merely telling a lie but having a disposition that embraces and fabricates untruth.

#### Literary Devices
Revelation 22:15 prominently employs **Enumeration**, listing distinct categories of individuals who are excluded from the New Jerusalem. This creates a clear, unambiguous statement of moral and spiritual boundaries. The use of the conjunction "and" (καί, G2532) repeatedly emphasizes the cumulative nature of these disqualifying characteristics, building a comprehensive picture of unrighteousness. Furthermore, there is powerful **Symbolism** at play, particularly with the term "dogs," which metaphorically represents the morally debased and unclean, contrasting sharply with the purity of the holy city. The entire verse functions as a stark **Contrast** to the blessedness described in the preceding verse, highlighting the absolute separation between those who belong to God's kingdom and those who do not. The final phrase, "whosoever loveth and maketh a lie," uses **Synecdoche** by focusing on a specific action (making a lie) and a disposition (loving a lie) to represent a broader character of spiritual deception and opposition to truth.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Revelation 22:15 powerfully reinforces the biblical truth that God's presence demands absolute holiness and that unrepentant sin cannot coexist with His divine purity. This verse serves as a final, urgent call to repentance and a clear delineation of the moral and spiritual requirements for eternal life. It underscores that salvation is not merely an intellectual assent but a transformative process that leads to a life of righteousness, truth, and genuine worship. The enumerated sins represent fundamental rejections of God's character and His moral law, demonstrating that those who persist in such lifestyles have chosen a path fundamentally opposed to the kingdom of light. The exclusion is not arbitrary but a just consequence for those who refuse to turn from their sin and embrace the truth and life offered by God.

* [1 Corinthians 6:9-10](/1_corinthians/6-9-10 "1 Corinthians 6:9-10 - Those Who Will Not Inherit the Kingdom of God")
* [Galatians 5:19-21](/galatians/5-19-21 "Galatians 5:19-21 - Works of the Flesh")
* [Ephesians 5:5](/ephesians/5-5 "Ephesians 5:5 - No Inheritance for the Impure")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Revelation 22:15 serves as a profound and sobering warning, compelling us to seriously examine our own hearts and lives. It is not merely a list of sins to avoid, but a description of character traits that are fundamentally incompatible with God's holy nature. This verse calls us to introspection: Do we harbor any of these attitudes or practices in our lives? Are we truly striving for purity, truth, and devotion to God, or are we comfortable with compromises that align us with the "outside"? The passage reminds us that God's grace, while boundless, is not a license for continued sin but a powerful impetus for transformation. It challenges us to actively turn away from all forms of idolatry, immorality, and deception, and to cultivate a love for truth and righteousness. Our ultimate hope lies in Christ's cleansing power, which enables us to "wash our robes" and enter the city, but this washing implies a genuine turning from the very things listed here. This verse encourages a life of vigilant self-examination and ongoing repentance, ensuring that our daily walk reflects the character of the God we claim to serve, preparing us for His eternal presence.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the list of excluded individuals in Revelation 22:15 challenge my understanding of God's holiness and justice?**
* **In what subtle ways might "loving and making a lie" manifest in my own life or in the culture around me, and how can I actively pursue truth?**
* **Considering the severity of exclusion, what does this verse teach me about the importance of repentance and genuine transformation in my walk with Christ?**

### FAQ

**What does "dogs" mean in this context?**

Answer: In Revelation 22:15, "dogs" (Greek: *kýōn*) is not referring to literal animals. Instead, it's a metaphorical and derogatory term used in ancient cultures to describe morally impure, contemptible, or aggressive individuals. Historically, dogs were often scavengers and considered unclean. Spiritually, the term refers to those who are outside the covenant community, characterized by a lack of moral restraint, spiritual defilement, and hostility towards God's holy standards. It can encompass those who engage in vile practices, particularly those associated with paganism or sexual perversion, as seen in other biblical contexts like [Deuteronomy 23:18](/deuteronomy/23-18 "Deuteronomy 23:18 - No Prostitute's Earnings in the Temple") and [Philippians 3:2](/philippians/3-2 "Philippians 3:2 - Beware of Dogs").

**Why are "sorcerers" listed, and what does that imply?**

Answer: "Sorcerers" (Greek: *phármakos*) refers to those who practice magic, witchcraft, or occult arts. The Greek root *pharmakon* can refer to drugs or potions, indicating that such practices often involved the use of substances for spiritual manipulation, divination, or harmful spells. This implies a turning away from God's sovereign power and seeking knowledge or control through illicit spiritual means, often involving demonic influence. Throughout Scripture, such practices are condemned as an abomination to God, as they represent a direct affront to His authority and a dangerous alliance with forces opposed to Him (e.g., [Exodus 22:18](/exodus/22-18 "Exodus 22:18 - Do Not Permit a Sorceress to Live") or [Galatians 5:19-21](/galatians/5-19-21 "Galatians 5:19-21 - Works of the Flesh")). Their exclusion underscores God's absolute intolerance for any form of spiritual rebellion or reliance on powers other than Himself.

**What is the significance of "whosoever loveth and maketh a lie" being the final exclusion?**

Answer: The phrase "whosoever loveth and maketh a lie" is highly significant because it broadens the scope beyond specific acts to encompass a fundamental character trait and disposition. It's not just about telling an occasional lie, but about a deep-seated affection for falsehood ("loveth") and an active practice of creating or perpetuating deception ("maketh"). This is antithetical to the very nature of God, who is truth (e.g., [John 14:6](/john/14-6 "John 14:6 - Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life")). The devil is explicitly called the "father of lies" in [John 8:44](/john/8-44 "John 8:44 - The Devil, Father of Lies"). Therefore, those who love and make a lie align themselves with the kingdom of darkness, demonstrating a heart that rejects divine truth and embraces deception, making them utterly incompatible with the New Jerusalem, where only truth and purity reside.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Revelation 22:15, with its stark list of those excluded from the New Jerusalem, finds its ultimate Christ-centered fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus, who is the sole means of entrance into God's holy presence. The very sins listed—moral impurity, idolatry, murder, and deception—are precisely what Christ came to redeem humanity from. He is the [Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"), offering purification from the defilement that would otherwise exclude us. Through His atoning sacrifice, Christ provides the "washing of robes" mentioned in [Revelation 22:14](/revelation/22-14 "Revelation 22:14 - Blessing for the Obedient"), cleansing us from all unrighteousness and making us fit for God's presence. He is the [Truth](/john/14-6 "John 14:6 - Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life") who exposes and conquers all lies, calling His followers to walk in integrity and light. Furthermore, Jesus is the [Good Shepherd](/john/10-9 "John 10:9 - Jesus, the Gate") who is the "gate" by which His sheep enter into eternal life, providing the only legitimate access to the Father. Thus, while the verse warns of exclusion for those who persist in sin, it implicitly points to Christ as the one who transforms the "dogs," "sorcerers," "whoremongers," "murderers," "idolaters," and "liars" into redeemed saints, granting them full citizenship in the New Jerusalem through faith and repentance, thereby fulfilling God's redemptive purpose to bring a people into His holy dwelling.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Revelation 21:8

But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

Galatians 5:19

Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are [these]; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,

Galatians 5:21

Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told [you] in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

Philippians 3:2

Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision.

1 Corinthians 6:9

¶ Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,

1 Corinthians 6:10

Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.

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.