Revelation 3:7 Meaning and Explanation
“And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Christ addresses the faithful church in Philadelphia as the holy and true One who holds the key of David and alone opens and shuts.
What Does Revelation 3:7 Mean?
This sixth letter opens with one of the richest self-descriptions in the book. The key of David recalls Isaiah's promise of a faithful steward who opens and shuts with unchallenged authority. Holy and true, Christ presents Himself as the one whose word is sure.
To hold the key is to hold authority over entrance, over doors no one else can move. What He opens stands open; what He shuts stays shut. For a small and pressed church, this is profound comfort: their access to God and to His promises does not depend on human permission but on the Lord who governs every door. The same hand that secures the way also guards it. Where Christ has opened, no power on earth can finally close the way home.
Revelation 3:7 in the Original Language
hagios (ἅγιος), 'holy' -- set apart, utterly pure, belonging wholly to God.
Frequently Asked Questions About Revelation 3:7
What does Revelation 3:7 mean?
Christ addresses the faithful church in Philadelphia as the holy and true One who holds the key of David and alone opens and shuts.