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Revelation 2:23

King James Version (KJV)

“In our prayers we talk to God, in our Bible study God talks to us, and we had better let God do most of the talking.”
— D.L. Moody

Scripture focus

And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.

Revelation 2:23 — KJV

Commentary

Commentary on Revelation 2:23

Theological / Devotional

Children. The fornication of this Jezebel was habitual and of long standing, for she had children. Figuratively, this should probably be understood in the sense that she had won committed adherents. Judgment was to descend not only upon the mother but also upon the offspring, who were contaminated by her evil character. Compare the destruction of the children of Ahab (2 Kings 10:7).

Death. John may have in mind the LXX of Eze. 33:27, where the significant passage reads “And those in the caves I will kill with death.” Instead of “death” the Hebrew reads “pestilence,” or “plague.” Possibly this is the meaning of “death” in John’s passage.

Reins. That is, the kidneys, which anciently were thought to be the seat of the will and the affections (cf. on Ps. 7:9.)

Hearts. That is, minds, meaning the intellect. Christ penetrates both the thoughts and the emotions. Christ’s judgment is just because He sees and takes into consideration the secrets of the heart. See Ps. 7:9; Jer. 11:20; see on 1 Sam. 16:7.

By SdaBc