Revelation 3:20
“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.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Context
This invitation closes Christ's letter to the lukewarm church in Laodicea, turning a stern rebuke into a gracious call to renewed fellowship.
What Does Revelation 3:20 Mean?
Revelation 3:20 is Christ's tender invitation to fellowship, picturing Him knocking at the door and waiting for anyone who will respond. Following His sharp rebuke of the complacent Laodicean church, this verse shows that His warning was rooted in love. He does not force His way in; He knocks and calls, leaving the response to the hearer.
The image of sharing a meal -- "I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me" -- speaks of warm, personal closeness. In the ancient world, eating together signified friendship, acceptance, and intimacy. Christ offers not merely forgiveness but companionship, the daily nearness of a shared table. The phrase "if any man hear my voice, and open the door" highlights genuine human response: Christ initiates and invites, and the hearer is called to recognize His voice and open to Him. Though spoken first to a drifting church, the verse has rightly comforted countless individuals, for its promise extends to "any man" who answers. It pictures the Lord's persistent, patient pursuit of those He loves, and the joy that comes when someone welcomes Him in.
In the Original Language
"Knock" is "krouo" (κρούω), to knock at a door. "Sup" is "deipneo" (δειπνέω), to dine or share the main evening meal, an image of intimate fellowship.
Cross References
“Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.”
- John 14:23
“Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them.”
- Luke 12:37
“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:”
- John 10:27
Application
This verse assures every person that Christ patiently seeks fellowship with them and invites them to recognize His voice and welcome Him in.