Revelation 22:19

KJV

And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and [from] the things which are written in this book.

KJV (with Strong's)

And {G2532} if {G1437} any man {G5100} shall take away {G851} from {G575} the words {G3056} of the book {G976} of this {G5129} prophecy {G4394}, God {G2316} shall take away {G851} his {G846} part {G3313} out of {G575} the book {G976} of life {G2222}, and {G2532} out of {G1537} the holy {G40} city {G4172}, and {G2532} from the things which are written {G1125} in {G1722} this {G5026} book {G975}.

Complete Jewish Bible

And if anyone takes anything away from the words in the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the Tree of Life and the holy city, as described in this book.

Berean Standard Bible

And if anyone takes away from the words of this book of prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and the holy city, which are described in this book.

American Standard Version

and if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the tree of life, and out of the holy city, which are written in this book.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Revelation 22:19 delivers a profound and solemn warning against altering the divine words of the Book of this prophecy. It declares that if anyone dares to diminish or remove any part of its sacred message, God Himself will remove their name from the Book of Life, exclude them from the holy city, and deny them the blessings promised within the book. This serves as a powerful final admonition, underscoring the absolute authority, integrity, and eternal significance of God's revealed word, particularly as it culminates in the eschatological truths of Revelation.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse stands as the second part of a dual warning, immediately following [Revelation 22:18](/revelation/22-18 "Revelation 22:18 - Warning Against Adding to Prophecy"), which cautions against adding to the words of this prophecy. Together, these two verses form a powerful concluding anathema, safeguarding the integrity of the entire prophetic message revealed to John. They are strategically placed at the very end of the Bible's final book, serving as a divine seal upon the entire canon of Scripture, emphasizing its completeness and inviolability. The preceding verses in [Revelation 22](/revelation/22 "Revelation 22 - The River of Life and the New Jerusalem") describe the glorious realities of the New Jerusalem and the eternal state, making the warning about losing one's part in these blessings all the more poignant.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Warnings against altering sacred texts or legal documents were common in the ancient Near East, often appearing in treaties, covenants, and law codes to ensure their preservation and authority. Such curses invoked divine judgment upon those who would dare to modify the established decrees. While this practice was widespread, the warning in [Revelation 22:19](/revelation/22-19 "Revelation 22:19 - Warning Against Taking Away from Prophecy") carries unique spiritual weight. It is not merely a human legal convention but a divine decree from the ultimate Lawgiver, God Himself. This warning specifically applies to the "book of this prophecy," highlighting the unique and final nature of God's revelation concerning His redemptive plan and future events as detailed in the [Book of Revelation](/revelation/1 "The Revelation of Jesus Christ").
* **Key Themes:** The primary theme is the **absolute integrity and divine authority of God's Word**. This verse underscores that God's revelation is complete, perfect, and not subject to human editing, dismissal, or revision. Any attempt to "take away" from it is presented as an act of profound defiance against God Himself. A second key theme is the **solemn warning against alteration**, serving as a powerful deterrent against diminishing, ignoring, or removing any part of the prophecy's content or essential meaning. Finally, the verse highlights the **severe divine judgment** for such an offense, with the consequences being eternal and dire: forfeiture of one's part "out of the book of life," exclusion from "the holy city," and loss of "the things which are written in this book." This emphasizes the eternal stakes involved in how humanity treats God's inspired word, particularly concerning the ultimate destiny of those whose names are recorded in the [Book of Life](/revelation/20-15 "Revelation 20:15 - The Book of Life and Final Judgment") and who are destined for the [New Jerusalem](/revelation/21-2 "Revelation 21:2 - The New Jerusalem").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **take away (Greek, _aphairéō'_):** From G851, meaning "to remove (literally or figuratively)." In this context, it signifies more than just physical removal of text. It implies diminishing, invalidating, subtracting from, or denying the essential meaning or content of the prophecy. This could include discrediting warnings, minimizing the importance of the book's teachings, or rejecting its prophetic claims.
* **words (Greek, _lógos'_):** From G3056, meaning "something said (including the thought)." Here, it refers to the specific divine utterances, messages, and revelations contained within the Book of Revelation. The use of _lógos_ emphasizes the authoritative, rational, and complete nature of these divine communications, making any alteration a direct affront to God's articulated truth.
* **prophecy (Greek, _prophēteía'_):** From G4394, meaning "prediction (scriptural or other)." This term specifically identifies the Book of Revelation as a divinely inspired foretelling of future events, God's ultimate plan for humanity, and the consummation of all things. It underscores the book's unique function as a revelation from God, making its integrity paramount.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy":** This opening clause presents a conditional warning. It addresses anyone who would dare to subtract from, invalidate, or diminish the specific divine message contained within the Book of Revelation. The act of "taking away" implies a deliberate attempt to undermine the authority or content of God's revealed truth.
* **"God shall take away his part out of the book of life":** This is the first and most severe consequence. The "book of life" is the divine register of those who have been granted eternal salvation through faith in Christ. To have one's "part" (G3313, _méros_, meaning a division or share) taken away signifies the forfeiture of eternal life and salvation, leading to eternal condemnation.
* **"and out of the holy city":** The second consequence is exclusion from the "holy city," which refers to the New Jerusalem, the eternal dwelling place of God and His redeemed people. This signifies eternal separation from God's glorious presence and the blessed fellowship of the saints, a loss of the ultimate inheritance promised to believers.
* **"and [from] the things which are written in this book.":** This final consequence is a comprehensive summation of the previous two, reinforcing the complete loss of all the blessings, promises, and eternal inheritance described within the very book that was defiled. It underscores the totality of the forfeiture for those who presume to tamper with God's final prophetic word.

#### Literary Devices
Revelation 22:19 employs several potent literary devices to convey its solemn warning. The use of **Legal Language** is prominent, echoing ancient covenant curses and legal decrees that pronounced severe penalties for altering sacred documents or established laws. This gives the warning an air of divine jurisprudence, emphasizing God as the ultimate Lawgiver and Judge. **Hyperbole** is also evident in the extreme nature of the punishment—eternal damnation and exclusion from God's presence—which serves to underscore the gravity of the offense. While the immediate context is the Book of Revelation, the placement of this warning at the end of the biblical canon lends it a **Symbolic** weight, often interpreted as a final divine seal on the entirety of Scripture, safeguarding its integrity. The consequences themselves—the "book of life" and the "holy city"—are powerful **Symbols** of eternal salvation and divine fellowship, making the threat of their forfeiture profoundly impactful.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Revelation 22:19 profoundly reinforces the doctrine of the **sufficiency and integrity of Scripture**. It asserts that God's revealed word, particularly this final prophecy, is complete and requires no human modification. To diminish it is to challenge God's perfect revelation of Himself and His plans. This warning highlights the absolute authority of God's Word and the grave consequences of treating it lightly or presumptuously. It underscores that salvation and eternal destiny are inextricably linked to a reverent acceptance of divine truth, emphasizing that the path to eternal life is found in God's unadulterated revelation.

* [Deuteronomy 4:2](/deuteronomy/4-2 "Deuteronomy 4:2 - Do Not Add or Subtract")
* [Proverbs 30:6](/proverbs/30-6 "Proverbs 30:6 - Do Not Add to His Words")
* [Matthew 5:18](/matthew/5-18 "Matthew 5:18 - Jesus on the Law's Fulfillment")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
This final warning in Revelation serves as an enduring call for all believers to approach God's Word with profound reverence, humility, and unwavering commitment to its truth. It challenges us to recognize that the Bible is not merely a collection of human writings but the divinely inspired, authoritative, and sufficient revelation of God's will and plan for humanity. We are called to diligently study, accurately interpret, and faithfully apply its teachings, resisting any temptation to diminish, dismiss, or distort its message to suit our own preferences or cultural trends. The eternal consequences outlined in this verse underscore the immense value God places on His Word and, by extension, on our eternal destiny. Our commitment to the integrity of Scripture is not just an academic exercise but a matter of life and death, impacting our relationship with God and our eternal inheritance in the New Jerusalem.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the solemn warning of Revelation 22:19 impact your personal approach to studying and interpreting Scripture?**
* **In what ways might people "take away" from the words of God's prophecy in contemporary society, even without literally removing verses?**
* **What does this verse teach us about the preciousness of our "part out of the book of life" and the "holy city"?**
* **How can we cultivate a deeper reverence for God's complete and sufficient Word in our lives and in our communities?**

### FAQ
**Does this warning apply only to the Book of Revelation, or to the entire Bible?**

Answer: While the immediate context of [Revelation 22:19](/revelation/22-19 "Revelation 22:19 - Warning Against Taking Away from Prophecy") specifically refers to "the words of the book of this prophecy," its placement as the final warning in the last book of the Christian canon has led many theologians to understand it as a comprehensive divine seal on the entire Bible. This interpretation is supported by similar warnings found throughout Scripture, such as in [Deuteronomy 4:2](/deuteronomy/4-2 "Deuteronomy 4:2 - Do Not Add or Subtract") and [Proverbs 30:6](/proverbs/30-6 "Proverbs 30:6 - Do Not Add to His Words"), which forbid adding to or taking away from God's commands. Therefore, while directly addressing Revelation, its spirit is widely understood to extend to the complete, divinely inspired Word of God.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Revelation 22:19, a stern warning against tampering with God's prophetic word, finds its ultimate Christ-centered fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. He is the living Word of God, the full and final revelation of the Father, in whom "all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge" are hidden ([Colossians 2:3](/colossians/2-3 "Colossians 2:3 - Christ, in whom are hidden all treasures")). To "take away from the words of this prophecy" is, in essence, to diminish the very truth and reality that Christ embodies and reveals. Jesus Himself declared that not "one jot or one tittle will by any means pass from the law till all is fulfilled" ([Matthew 5:18](/matthew/5-18 "Matthew 5:18 - Jesus on the Law's Fulfillment")), underscoring the absolute integrity of God's revealed will. Furthermore, the consequences of this warning—loss of one's part in the Book of Life and exclusion from the holy city—are directly linked to Christ. It is only through faith in Him, the "Lamb slain from the foundation of the world" ([Revelation 13:8](/revelation/13-8 "Revelation 13:8 - The Lamb Slain")), that names are written in the [Book of Life](/revelation/3-5 "Revelation 3:5 - Names Not Blotted Out"). He is the one who opens the way to the [New Jerusalem](/revelation/21-23-27 "Revelation 21:23-27 - No Temple, No Sun, but God's Glory"), for He is its light and its glory. Thus, to reject or diminish God's word is to reject Christ, the very source of life and access to the eternal city, confirming that salvation and eternal blessedness are found solely in Him and His complete revelation.

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

Deuteronomy 4:2

Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish [ought] from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.

Luke 11:52

Woe unto you, lawyers! for ye have taken away the key of knowledge: ye entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye hindered.

Revelation 22:2

In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, [was there] the tree of life, which bare twelve [manner of] fruits, [and] yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree [were] for the healing of the nations.

Revelation 1:3

¶ Blessed [is] he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time [is] at hand.

Psalms 69:28

Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, and not be written with the righteous.

Revelation 21:22

And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.

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.