REV 3:2 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) So wake up from the dead and strengthen what’s left and was about to die, because your actions have been inadequate in God’s sight.

Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, orange:accusative/object, pink:genitive/possessor, red:negative.
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 Becoming waking and strengthen the remainder that is about to die, for I have not found your works completed before my God.

UST Be careful! You are at risk of losing your devotion for me completely. Renew the devotion that you still have left. You have not yet done all that God knows you should have done.

BLB Be watching, and strengthen the things that remain, which are about to die; for I have not found your works having been completed in the sight of My God.

AICNT Be alert and strengthen the remaining things which {are about to die};[fn] for I have not found your works complete in the sight of [my][fn] God.

3:2, are about to die: Later manuscripts read “you were about to discard.” BYZ

3:2, my: Absent from some manuscripts. Syriac(Philoxeniana) TR

OEB Be on the watch, and strengthen what still survives, though once it was all but dead; for I have not found your life perfect in the eyes of my God.

WEBBE Wake up and strengthen the things that remain, which you were about to throw away,[fn] for I have found no works of yours perfected before my God.

3:2 NU & TR read “which were about to die” instead of “which you were about to throw away”.

WMBB (Same as above including footnotes)

NET Wake up then, and strengthen what remains that was about to die, because I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of my God.

LSV be watching, and strengthen the rest of the things that are about to die, for I have not found your works fulfilled before God.

FBV Wake up, and try to revive what is left that's about to die! For I have discovered that from the perspective of my God, nothing you've done has been finished.

TCNT Be watchful and [fn]strengthen what remains, which [fn]yoʋ were about to throw away, for I have not found yoʋr works to be complete in the sight of [fn]my God.

3:2 strengthen 𝔐^C,K+ [41.4%] • 𝔐^A TR [31.4%] ¦ keep 𝔐^K− HF [22.3%]

3:2 yoʋ were about to throw away 𝔐^K+ [24.7%] • 𝔐^A−,K− [23.3%] • 𝔐^C PCK [15.5%] ¦ was about to die 𝔐^A+ CT [18.7%] • 𝔐^A− ANT [7.8%] ¦ is about to die TR [1.8%]

3:2 my 𝔐^A−,C,K [80.9%] ¦ — 𝔐^A+ TR [19.1%]

T4T Become aware of your spiritual need as though you were awaking from sleep [MET], and strengthen yourself spiritually, because you are so useless that you are like someone who is about to die [MET]. You must do this because I know that my God considers that nothing that you do is satisfactory.

LEB Be on the alert and strengthen the remaining things that are about to die, for I have not found your works completed before my God.

BBE Be on the watch, and make strong the rest of the things which are near to death; because as judged by me your works have not come up to God's measure.

Moff Wake up, rally what is still left to you, though it is on the very point of death; for I find nothing you have done is complete in the eyes of my God.

Wymth Rouse yourself and keep awake, and strengthen those things which remain but have well-nigh perished; for I have found no doings of yours free from imperfection in the sight of My God.

ASV Be thou watchful, and establish the things that remain, which were ready to die: for I have found no works of thine perfected before my God.

DRA Be watchful and strengthen the things that remain, which are ready to die. For I find not thy works full before my God.

YLT become watching, and strengthen the rest of the things that are about to die, for I have not found thy works fulfilled before God.

Drby Be watchful, and strengthen the things that remain, which are about to die, for I have not found thy works complete before my [fn]God.

3.2 Elohim

RV Be thou watchful, and stablish the things that remain, which were ready to die: for I have found no works of thine fulfilled before my God.
(Be thou/you watchful, and establish the things that remain, which were ready to die: for I have found no works of thine/your fulfilled before my God. )

SLT Be watching, and make firm the remaining things, which are about to die: For I have not found thy works perfected before God.

Wbstr Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God.

KJB-1769 Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God.
( Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy/your works perfect before God. )

KJB-1611 Be watchfull, and strengthen the things which remaine, that are ready to die: for I haue not found thy works perfect before God.
(Be watchfull, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy/your works perfect before God.)

Bshps Be awake, and strength the thynges which remayne, that are redie to dye: For I haue not founde thy workes perfect before God.
(Be awake, and strength the things which remain, that are ready to dye: For I have not found thy/your works perfect before God.)

Gnva Be awake, and strengthen the things which remaine, that are readie to die: for I haue not found thy workes perfite before God.
(Be awake, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy/your works perfite before God. )

Cvdl Be awake, and strength the thinges which remayne, that are redy to dye. For I haue not founde thy workes perfecte before God.
(Be awake, and strength the things which remain, that are ready to die. For I have not found thy/your works perfecte before God.)

TNT Be awake and strength the thynges which remayne that are redy to dye. For I have not founde thy workes perfaycte before god.
(Be awake and strength the things which remain that are ready to die. For I have not found thy/your works perfaycte before god. )

Wycl Be thou wakynge, and conferme thou othere thingis, that weren to diynge; for Y fynde not thi werkis fulle bifore my God.
(Be thou/you waking, and confirm thou/you other things, that were to dying; for I find not thy/your works full before my God.)

Luth Sei wacker und stärke das andere, das sterben will; denn ich habe deine Werke nicht völlig erfunden vor GOtt.
(Be wacker and strengthen the other/different, the die will; because/than I have your work not fully invented before/in_front_of God.)

ClVg Esto vigilans, et confirma cetera, quæ moritura erant. Non enim invenio opera tua plena coram Deo meo.[fn]
(Esto vigilans, and confirma cetera, which he_diesa they_were. Not/No because I_foundo works your full before to_God mine. )

3.2 Esto vigilans. Ideo vigila, quia licet sis mente immotus, vel in mente laudabilis, non es tamen perfectus, nisi cæteros excites, et non est satis Christum confiteri, nisi etiam opera feceris. Non enim invenio opera tua plena. Dum es sine charitate, vel pro laude, vel quia committis criminale.

3.2 Esto vigilans. Therefore/For_that_reason vigila, because although you_are mind immotus, or in/into/on mind praiseworthy, not/no you_are nevertheless perfect, except the_rest excites, and not/no it_is enough Christ/Messiah to_confess, except also works you_did. Not/No because I_foundo works your full. While you_are without with_love, or for praise, or because committis criminale.

UGNT γίνου γρηγορῶν, καὶ στήρισον τὰ λοιπὰ, ἃ ἔμελλον ἀποθανεῖν; οὐ γὰρ εὕρηκά σου τὰ ἔργα, πεπληρωμένα ἐνώπιον τοῦ Θεοῦ μου.
(ginou graʸgorōn, kai staʸrison ta loipa, ha emellon apothanein; ou gar heuraʸka sou ta erga, peplaʸrōmena enōpion tou Theou mou.)

SBL-GNT γίνου γρηγορῶν, καὶ στήρισον τὰ λοιπὰ ἃ ⸂ἔμελλον ἀποθανεῖν⸃, οὐ γὰρ εὕρηκά σου ⸀τὰ ἔργα πεπληρωμένα ἐνώπιον τοῦ θεοῦ μου·
(ginou graʸgorōn, kai staʸrison ta loipa ha ⸂emellon apothanein⸃, ou gar heuraʸka sou ⸀ta erga peplaʸrōmena enōpion tou theou mou;)

RP-GNT Γίνου γρηγορῶν, καὶ στήρισον τὰ λοιπὰ ἃ ἔμελλες ἀποβάλλειν· οὐ γὰρ εὕρηκά σου τὰ ἔργα πεπληρωμένα ἐνώπιον τοῦ θεοῦ μου.
(Ginou graʸgorōn, kai staʸrison ta loipa ha emelles apoballein; ou gar heuraʸka sou ta erga peplaʸrōmena enōpion tou theou mou.)

TC-GNT Γίνου γρηγορῶν, καὶ [fn]στήρισον τὰ λοιπὰ ἃ [fn]ἔμελλες ἀποβάλλειν· οὐ γὰρ εὕρηκά σου [fn]τὰ ἔργα πεπληρωμένα ἐνώπιον τοῦ Θεοῦ [fn]μου.
(Ginou graʸgorōn, kai staʸrison ta loipa ha emelles apoballein; ou gar heuraʸka sou ta erga peplaʸrōmena enōpion tou Theou mou. )

3:2 στηρισον 𝔐^C,K+ [41.4%] ¦ στηριξον 𝔐^A TR [31.4%] ¦ τηρησον 𝔐^K− HF [22.3%]

3:2 εμελλες αποβαλλειν 𝔐^K+ [24.7%] ¦ ημελλες αποβαλλειν 𝔐^A−,K− [23.3%] ¦ εμελλον αποθανειν 𝔐^A+ CT [18.7%] ¦ εμελλες αποβαλειν 𝔐^C PCK [15.5%] ¦ εμελλον αποθνησκειν 𝔐^A− ANT [7.8%] ¦ μελλει αποθανειν TR [1.8%]

3:2 τα 𝔐^A,C,K [95.5%] ¦ — WH [1.8%]

3:2 μου 𝔐^A−,C,K [80.9%] ¦ — 𝔐^A+ TR [19.1%]

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

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 3:1–6: Jesus spoke to the church at Sardis

In this section, Jesus spoke to the people who believed in him at Sardis. He said that although people thought that the believers in Sardis trusted and obeyed him well, this was not true. He told them they must begin to truly trust and obey him again. He encouraged the believers who still completely trusted and obeyed him. Lastly, he gave a promise to any believer who persevered in his faith.

Other examples of headings for this section are:

The Message to Sardis (GNT)

Jesus gave a message for the church at Sardis

Advice to the group of believers at Sardis

Translate this heading as you did for the other messages to the churches (for example, Section 2:18–29).

3:2a

Wake up and strengthen what remains, which was about to die;

Awake and strengthen what you still have before it dies completely,
Open your eyes and mind/heart! Strengthen the little faith/life in me that you have left. It has almost ceased to exist.

Wake up: This is a figure of speech by which Jesus commanded the believers at Sardis to begin following/obeying him well. He compares this change to waking up from sleep and being alert. He wanted them to understand the danger they were in.

In some languages the expression Wake up is not used in that way. If that is true in your language, you may want to:

Explain the meaning in your translation. For example:
Wake up and see/realize that your faith is dead.
Use another saying that warns someone about a danger. For example:
Look out!
Pay attention! You may then want to tell the literal words in a footnote. For example:
Literally: “Wake up!”
Translate literally and explain its meaning in a footnote. Some example footnotes are:
This command indicates that the believers in Sardis needed to become aware that they were not following/obeying Jesus well. They needed to realize that they were in danger because of that.
This command indicates that these believers needed to realize they were following/obeying Jesus poorly.

strengthen what remains, which was about to die: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as what remains is “the remaining (things).” It probably refers to all the good ways that believers are supposed behave in regard to their faith. They should have love, faith, service, and perseverance. The believers in Sardis did not love very much or believe very much or serve very much or persevere very much.

The phrase was about to die indicates that their small amount of love, faith, service, and perseverance was becoming even less. The command to strengthen indicates that they should increase their love, faith, service, and perseverance. Other ways to translate this whole clause are:

strengthen what you still have before it dies completely (GNT)

Strengthen what little remains, for even what is left is almost dead. (NLT)

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

Explain what this refers to in your translation. For example:
strengthen your weak faith that is left which is close to ceasing-to-exist.Kankanaey Back Translation on TW.
Your faith is growing small and about to end, so make it big/full
Speak of people strengthening themselves. For example:
Make yourselves stronger before what you have left dies completely. (NCV)
You have only a little strength left, and it is almost gone. So try to become stronger. (CEV)
Use words different from strengthen or die. For example:
your faith is small and getting smaller, so make it big
your way of doing good deeds is like a fire about to go out, so help each other make the way good again

3:2b

for I have found your deeds incomplete in the sight of My God.

because I have not found that your actions have been complete before my God.
For I have found that you have not fulfilled what my God wants you to do.

for: This word introduces a reason for the warning in 3:2a.

I have found your deeds incomplete: There are two ways to interpret the Greek clause that the BSB translates as I have found your deeds incomplete:

It refers to the believers not finishing the deeds that God or Jesus had given them to do. For example:
I have found that what you are doing has not been completed (GW) (BSB, NIV, NASB, NABRE, GW, CEV, NET, REB, NCV, ESV)
It refers to the believers not doing the deeds well. For example:
I find that what you have done is not yet perfect (GNT) (RSV, GNT, NJB, NLT)The KJV uses the word “perfect,” but at the time of the KJV (the year 1611) the word “perfect” also had the sense of “complete” as in option (1).

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), because the Greek word refers to something which is full or complete rather than the quality of something which is perfect.Beale (page 274) calls them “incomplete works.” Other ways to translate interpretation (1) are:

I have not found any work of yours brought to completion (REB)

I have found that what you are doing is less than what my God wants. (NCV)

in the sight of My God: This phrase is more literally “before My God.” It means “as God thinks about it” or “according to God.” Other ways to translate this phrase are:

before God (KJV)

by God’s measure

3:2a–b

(reordered) I see that what you are doing is not adequate/sufficient by God’s measure, therefore awake and strengthen what you still have before it dies completely.

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

γίνου γρηγορῶν

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Γίνου γρηγορῶν καί στήρισον τά λοιπά ἅ ἔμελλον ἀποθανεῖν οὒ γάρ εὕρηκα σοῦ ἔργα πεπληρωμένα ἐνώπιον τοῦ Θεοῦ μού)

Jesus is speaking as if the believers in Sardis were asleep and needed to wake up. He means that they are complacent and need to become concerned about their spiritual state. If it would be clearer in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [Become concerned about your spiritual state]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

στήρισον τὰ λοιπὰ, ἃ ἔμελλον ἀποθανεῖν

strengthen (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Γίνου γρηγορῶν καί στήρισον τά λοιπά ἅ ἔμελλον ἀποθανεῖν οὒ γάρ εὕρηκα σοῦ ἔργα πεπληρωμένα ἐνώπιον τοῦ Θεοῦ μού)

When Jesus says that there are some remaining things in Sardis that are about to die, as in the previous verse, he is speaking of the absence of spiritual vibrancy as if it were literally death. If it would be clearer in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [strengthen the few things about you that are still spiritually vibrant]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

οὐ γὰρ εὕρηκά σου τὰ ἔργα, πεπληρωμένα

If your language does not use this passive form, you could express the idea in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: [I have not found that you have completed your works]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

ἐνώπιον τοῦ Θεοῦ μου

before the God (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Γίνου γρηγορῶν καί στήρισον τά λοιπά ἅ ἔμελλον ἀποθανεῖν οὒ γάρ εὕρηκα σοῦ ἔργα πεπληρωμένα ἐνώπιον τοῦ Θεοῦ μού)

Here the expression before my God means “in front of my God,” that is, “where my God can see them.” Sight, in turn, represents attention, perspective, and judgment. Alternate translation: [from my God’s perspective]

Parallel REV 3:2

Section 3:1–6: Jesus spoke to the church at Sardis

3:2a

3:2b

3:2a–b