Revelation 3:16
“So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.”
King James Version (KJV)
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This verse is part of Christ's letter to the wealthy, self-satisfied church in Laodicea, the only one of the seven churches that receives no commendation.
What Does Revelation 3:16 Mean?
Revelation 3:16 is Christ's sharp warning against spiritual complacency, declaring that lukewarm faith is something He will reject. The image of being "neither cold nor hot" would have struck the people of Laodicea vividly: their city was known for water that arrived lukewarm and unpleasant, unlike the refreshing cold springs or the soothing hot waters of nearby regions. Lukewarm water serves no purpose and is spit out.
Christ uses this picture to confront a church that had grown self-satisfied. Their problem was not open hostility but indifference -- a faith that had cooled into mere routine while imagining itself secure. The strong words "I will spue thee out of my mouth" express how distasteful half-hearted devotion is to the Lord. Yet this stern warning is itself an act of love, for the very next verses call them to repent and open the door to Christ. The verse challenges every believer to examine whether their devotion has settled into lukewarm comfort. God desires wholehearted love, not a faith that drifts along on past reputation. The warning is meant not to crush but to awaken, stirring a complacent heart back to genuine fervor.
In the Original Language
"Lukewarm" is "chliaros" (χλιαρός), tepid, neither hot nor cold. "Spue" is "emeo" (ἐμέω), to vomit or spit out, conveying strong rejection.
Cross References
“Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:”
- Revelation 3:17
“As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.”
- Revelation 3:19
“Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;”
- Romans 12:11
Application
This verse calls believers to examine whether their faith has grown complacent and to return to wholehearted, fervent devotion to Christ.