Paragraph 22:12–13
22:12–16
There are several ways to interpret who spoke these verses:
(1) 22:12–16 are the words of Jesus. For example, the God’s Word says:
12 “I’m coming soon! I will bring my reward with me to pay all people based on what they have done. 13 I am the A and the Z, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.
14 “Blessed are those who wash their robes so that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city. 15 Outside are dogs, sorcerers, sexual sinners, murderers, idolaters, and all who lie in what they say and what they do.
16 “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give this testimony to you for the churches. I am the root and descendant of David. I am the bright morning star.”
(2) 22:12,13 are the words of someone, probably Jesus ; 22:14,15 are the words of John ; and 22:16 are the words of Jesus. For example, the English Standard Version says:
12 “Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay everyone for what he has done. 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.”
14 Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates. 15 Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and the sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.
16 “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.”
(3) 22:12–15 are the words of the angel, and 22:16 are the words of Jesus. For example, the New Jerusalem Bible says:
…holy. 12 Look, I am coming soon, and my reward is with me, to repay everyone as their deeds deserve. 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. 14 Blessed are those who will have washed their robes clean, so that they will have the right to feed on the tree of life and can come through the gates into the city. 15 Others must stay outside: dogs, fortune–tellers, and the sexually immoral, murderers, idolaters, and everyone of false speech and false life.’
16 I, Jesus, have sent my angel to attest these things to you for the sake of the churches. I am the sprig from the root of David and the bright star of the morning.
It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), because there is no sign in the Greek that the speaker changes in 22:14 (interpretation 2), and 22:12–13 are more appropriate coming from Jesus than from the angel (22:9–11).
22:12a
Behold: This word means “look.” The word emphasizes or calls attention to the words that follow. It is not a command to look at something. See how you translated this word in 22:7.
I am coming soon: This clause refers to Jesus coming back to his people on earth. The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as soon can also mean “without delay” or “quickly.” See how you translated this clause in 22:7.
22:12b
My reward is with Me: This clause indicates that Jesus is ready to give a reward. For example:
I will bring my reward with me (New Century Version)
My reward: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as reward refers to both benefits and punishment. If possible, use a word that refers to both. In some languages two words are needed to refer to both benefits and punishment. For example:
My reward and my punishment
In some languages it is necessary or more natural to translate the noun reward as a verb or verbs. For example:
I will reward and I will punish
22:12c
to give to each one according to what he has done: This clause indicates that Jesus will both reward good deeds and punish bad deeds. Other ways to translate this clause are:
I will give to each person as his deeds deserve
-or-
I will repay all people according to what they have done
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