REV 3:15 Parallel Verse View

Note: This view shows ‘verses’ which are not natural language units and hence sometimes only part of a sentence will be visible—click on any Bible version abbreviation down the left-hand side to see the verse in more of its context. Normally the OET discourages the reading of individual ‘verses’, but this view is only designed as a tool for doing comparisons of different translations—the older translations are further down the page (so you can read up from the bottom to trace the English translation history). The OET segments on this page are still very early looks into the unfinished texts of the Open English Translation of the Bible—please double-check these texts in advance before using in public.

Text critical issues=small word differences Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

OET (OET-RV) “I’m aware of what you’ve been doing and that you’re neither hot nor cold. (You’d benefit[fn] if you were hot or cold.)

3:15 TC: Some manuscripts don’t have this parenthesised sentence at all, and some later manuscripts have ‘I wish’ instead of ‘You’d benefit’.

Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, orange:accusative/object, pink:genitive/possessor.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

ULT “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were cold or hot!

UST “I am aware of what you are doing. You have not abandoned your faith, but you do not love me very much. I would rather have you commit yourselves for me or even against me!

BLB I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you would be cold or hot.

AICNT “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. [I wish that you were cold or hot.][fn]

3:15, I wish that you were cold or hot: Absent from some manuscripts. A(02)

OEB I know your life; I know that you are neither cold nor hot. If only you were either cold or hot!

WEBBE “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were cold or hot.

WMBB (Same as above)

NET ‘I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either cold or hot!

LSV I have known your works, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish you were cold or hot.

FBV I know what you have accomplished—you're neither hot nor cold. I wish you were hot or cold!

TCNT I know yoʋr works; yoʋ are neither cold nor hot. If only yoʋ were cold or hot!

T4T I know everything that you have done: You neither deny that you trust in me nor love/obey me zealously/wholeheartedly. You are like water that is neither cold nor hot. I wish that you were either cold or hot!

LEB ‘I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were cold or hot!

BBE I have knowledge of your works, that you are not cold or warm: it would be better if you were cold or warm.

Moff I know your doings, you are neither cold nor hot--would you were either cold or hot!

Wymth I know your doings—you are neither cold nor hot; I would that you were cold or hot!

ASV I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.

DRA I know thy works, that thou art neither cold, nor hot. I would thou wert cold, or hot.

YLT I have known thy works, that neither cold art thou nor hot; I would thou wert cold or hot.

Drby I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot; I would thou wert cold or hot.

RV I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.
(I know thy/your works, that thou/you art neither cold nor hot: I would thou/you were cold or hot. )

SLT I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor boiling: I would thou shouldest be cold or boiling.

Wbstr I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.

KJB-1769 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.
( I know thy/your works, that thou/you art neither cold nor hot: I would thou/you were cold or hot. )

KJB-1611 I know thy workes, that thou art neither cold nor hot, I would thou wert cold or hot.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from punctuation)

Bshps I knowe thy workes, that thou arte neither colde nor hotte: I woulde thou were colde or hotte.
(I know thy/your works, that thou/you art neither cold nor hotte: I would thou/you were cold or hotte.)

Gnva I knowe thy woorkes, that thou art neither colde nor hote: I woulde thou werest colde or hote.
(I know thy/your works, that thou/you art neither cold nor hote: I would thou/you werest/were cold or hote. )

Cvdl I knowe thy workes, yt thou art nether colde nor hot: I wolde thou were colde or hote.
(I know thy/your works, it thou/you art neither cold nor hot: I would thou/you were cold or hote.)

TNT I knowe thy workes that thou arte nether colde nor hot: I wolde thou were colde or hotte.
(I know thy/your works that thou/you art neither cold nor hot: I would thou/you were cold or hotte. )

Wycl I woot thi werkis, for nether thou art cold, nether thou art hoot; Y wolde that thou were could, ethir hoot;
(I know thy/your works, for neither thou/you art cold, neither thou/you art hoot; I would that thou/you were could, either hoot;)

Luth Ich weiß deine Werke, daß du weder kalt noch warm bist. Ach, daß du kalt oder warm wärest!
(I white your work, that you(sg) neither kalt still warm are. Oh_dear, that you(sg) kalt or warm werest!)

ClVg Scio opera tua: quia neque frigidus es, neque calidus: utinam frigidus esses, aut calidus:[fn]
(Scio works your: because nor frigidus you_are, nor calidus: utinam frigidus esses, or calidus: )

3.15 Neque frigidus es, neque calidus, quia neque omnino fidem ignoras, neque aperte negas acceptam. Utinam frigidus. Non optat eum frigidum simpliciter, sed talem de quo major spes habeatur.

3.15 Neither frigidus you_are, nor calidus, because nor completely faith ignoras, nor openly negas acceptam. Utinam frigidus. Not/No wishes him frigidum simply, but such_a_one from/about where major/greater hope haveur.

UGNT οἶδά σου τὰ ἔργα, ὅτι οὔτε ψυχρὸς εἶ οὔτε ζεστός. ὄφελον ψυχρὸς ἦς ἢ ζεστός.
(oida sou ta erga, hoti oute psuⱪros ei oute zestos. ofelon psuⱪros aʸs aʸ zestos.)

SBL-GNT Οἶδά σου τὰ ἔργα, ὅτι οὔτε ψυχρὸς εἶ οὔτε ζεστός. ὄφελον ψυχρὸς ἦς ἢ ζεστός.
(Oida sou ta erga, hoti oute psuⱪros ei oute zestos. ofelon psuⱪros aʸs aʸ zestos.)

RP-GNT Οἶδά σου τὰ ἔργα, ὅτι οὔτε ψυχρὸς εἶ οὔτε ζεστός· ὄφελον ψυχρὸς ἦς ἢ ζεστός.
(Oida sou ta erga, hoti oute psuⱪros ei oute zestos; ofelon psuⱪros aʸs aʸ zestos.)

TC-GNT Οἶδά σου τὰ ἔργα, ὅτι οὔτε ψυχρὸς εἶ οὔτε ζεστός· [fn]ὄφελον ψυχρὸς ἦς ἢ ζεστός.
(Oida sou ta erga, hoti oute psuⱪros ei oute zestos; ofelon psuⱪros aʸs aʸ zestos. )

3:15 οφελον ψυχρος ης η ζεστος 𝔐^A,C,K [82.2%] ¦ οφελον ψυχρος ειης η ζεστος TR [2.7%] ¦ — MSS [8.7%]

Key for above GNTs: red:words differ (from our SR-GNT base).

SOTN SIL Open Translation Notes:

Section 3:14–22: Jesus spoke to the church at Laodicea

In this section, Jesus spoke to the people who believed in him at Laodicea. He knew that they believed in him but they were not serving him well. He warned them to stop being lazy and encouraged them to work properly for him. Lastly, he gave a promise to any believer who persevered in his faith.

Translate this section heading as you did for the other messages to the churches.

3:15a

I know your deeds;

I know your^(sing/plur) activities/actions,
I know the things/deeds that you have done.

I know your deeds: Here the Greek word that the BSB translates as deeds means “actions” or “activities.” You should translate this clause as you did in 3:8.

you: The Greek pronoun that the BSB translates as you is singular. It refers to the angel of the church as the representative of all the believers there.

In many languages it is more natural to use plural pronouns here. If that is true in your language, use plural forms in the following verses to refer to the believers directly. This is the same issue as in 3:8a.

3:15b

you are neither cold nor hot.

that your activities/actions cannot be compared to either cold water or to hot water.
Your deeds are not useful like hot water is, and neither are they useful like cold water is. You are useless!

you are neither cold nor hot: This is a metaphor. It is probably comparing the Laodiceans and their deeds to water. In their culture, hot water was useful for certain activities (such as bathing), and cold water was useful for other activities (such as drinking). But the believers in Laodicea were not like the hot water or the cold water. They were not useful for anything.Aune, Beale, Smalley, Johnson, and Osbourne support this interpretation of “cold,” “hot,” and “lukewarm.” Beale (page 303) says, “‘Neither cold nor hot” but “lukewarm” has traditionally be understood to be metaphorical of their lack of spiritual fervor and halfhearted commitment to Christ. One problem with this is that Christ’s desire that they be either ‘cold or hot’ implies that both extremes are positive. …But it is unlikely that Christ would commend that extreme of complete disloyalty.” Aune (page 257) says, “‘lukewarm’…is a metaphor for barrenness or ineffectiveness.”

In some languages it is necessary to make the implied comparison with water explicit. It may also be necessary or more natural to translate this metaphor as a simile. For example:

you are neither like hot water nor like cold water

In some languages a literal translation would not indicate the correct meaning. If that is true in your language, you may want to:

Explain the meaning in your translation. For example:
you are neither useful like hot water nor useful like cold water
Translate literally and explain its meaning in a footnote. An example footnote is:
The phrase “neither cold nor hot” uses the metaphor of hot and cold water. Hot water is useful for certain activities, and cold water, for other activities. But the believers in Laodicea were not like the hot water nor the cold water. They were not useful for anything, because their faith bore no fruit (3:17).

3:15c

How I wish you were one or the other!

It would be better if/that you were either like hot water or like cold water!
I wish you were useful to me in one way or another!

How I wish you were one or the other: This clause refers to the believers being neither cold nor hot as in the metaphor above. In other words, Jesus wished they would act in some useful manner. Other ways to translate this clause are:

Would that you were cold or hot! (RSV)

I wish that you were hot or cold! (NCV)

I wish that you served me in some useful way!

If only your deeds were as useful as hot water or as useful as cold water.

How I wish: The Greek word that the BSB translates as How I wish introduces an unfulfilled wish. Jesus wanted the believers in Laodicea to be like hot water or cold water, but they were not like either. Other ways to translate this clause are:

It would be better that

I wish (NIV)

If only

one or the other: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as one or the other is literally “cold or hot.” In some languages it is more natural to translate the Greek literally. Use the order that is natural in your language. For example:

cold or hot (RSV)

hot or cold (NCV)

Parallel REV 3:15

Section 3:14–22: Jesus spoke to the church at Laodicea

3:15a

3:15b

3:15c