Revelation 22:18 Meaning and Explanation
“For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →God's words are to be received as they are, neither added to nor tampered with, because they are precious and true.
The Context of Revelation 22:18
Among the closing words of the entire Bible, John gives a solemn charge to everyone who hears his book read aloud, guarding the message he has been given against anyone who would alter it.
What Does Revelation 22:18 Mean?
As John brings his book to a close, he places a guard over it. He testifies to everyone who hears the prophecy read that no one is to add to these words. In a time when books were copied by hand and read aloud to gathered listeners, this was a real and present danger: a careless scribe or a clever teacher could bend the message. John treats the words as something holy, to be passed on faithfully and received as they are. The warning measures how much these words are worth.
Behind the seriousness is love. God speaks to be understood, and He guards His word because through it we come to know Christ, who is Himself the Word made flesh (John 1:14). To leave the message whole is to keep clear the road that leads to Him. The same care that fences the words also keeps the gift inside them safe, so that what reaches us is the true voice of the God who wants to be known.
Revelation 22:18 in the Original Language
martureo (μαρτυρέω), 'testify' -- to bear solemn witness, to declare something as true under oath.
How to Apply Revelation 22:18 Today
This verse invites us to handle God's word with reverence, receiving it as it is given rather than reshaping it to our liking. The care that guards the words is love, because through them we meet Christ Himself. What is kept whole keeps the way to Him clear.
Frequently Asked Questions About Revelation 22:18
What does Revelation 22:18 mean?
God's words are to be received as they are, neither added to nor tampered with, because they are precious and true.
What is the context of Revelation 22:18?
Among the closing words of the entire Bible, John gives a solemn charge to everyone who hears his book read aloud, guarding the message he has been given against anyone who would alter it.
How can I apply Revelation 22:18 today?
This verse invites us to handle God's word with reverence, receiving it as it is given rather than reshaping it to our liking. The care that guards the words is love, because through them we meet Christ Himself. What is kept whole keeps the way to Him clear.