evangelists on earth (vv. 1–8) and 2) their converts in heaven (vv. 9–17).

evangelists on earth (vv. 1–8) and 2) their converts in heaven (vv. 9–17).

THE SEALED OF ISRAEL

1After these things I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, on the sea, or on any tree. 2Then I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God. And he cried with a loud voice to the four angels to whom it was granted to harm the earth and the sea, 3saying, "Do not harm the earth, the sea, or the trees till we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads." 4And I heard the number of those who were sealed. One hundred and forty-four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel were sealed:

7:1–17 Chapter 7 forms a parenthesis between the sixth seal (6:12–17) and the seventh seal (8:1) and answers the question posed at the end of chapter 6. Two distinct groups will survive the divine fury: 1) 144,000 Jewish evangelists on earth (vv. 1–8) and 2) their converts in heaven (vv. 9–17).

7:4 One hundred and forty-four thousand. A missionary corps of redeemed Jews who are instrumental in the salvation of many Jews and Gentiles during the Tribulation (vv. 9–17). They will be the firstfruits of a new redeemed Israel (v. 4; Zech. 12:10). Finally, Israel will be the witness nation she refused to be in the Old Testament (Rom. 11:25–27). all the tribes of the children of Israel. By sovereign election, God will seal 12,000 from each of the 12 tribes, promising His protection while they accomplish their mission.

5of the tribe of Judah twelve thousand were sealed;a

of the tribe of Reuben twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Gad twelve thousand were sealed; 6of the tribe of Asher twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Naphtali twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Manassehtwelve thousand were sealed; 7of the tribe of Simeon twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Levi twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Issachar twelve thousand were sealed; 8of the tribe of Zebulun twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Joseph twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Benjamin twelve thousand were sealed.

A MULTITUDE FROM THE GREAT TRIBULATION

9After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in

their hands, 10and crying out with a loud voice, saying, "Salvation belongs to

our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!" 11All the angels stood around the throne and the elders and the four living creatures, and fell on their

faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12saying:

"Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom, Thanksgiving and honor and power and might, Be to our God forever and ever. Amen."

13Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, "Who are these arrayed in white robes, and where did they come from?"

14And I said to him, "Sir,a you know." So he said to me, "These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in

His temple. And He who sits on the throne will dwell among them. 16They shall neither hunger anymore nor thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any

heat; 17for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters.a And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."

DAY 17: Who make up the "great multitude" of Revelation 7:9?

While the tribulation period will be a time of judgment, it will also be a time of unprecedented redemption (v. 14; 6:9–11; 20:4; Is. 11:10; Matt. 24:14). This is noted in v. 9 with the "great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb."

John is told that "These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation" (v. 14). These people didn't go with the raptured church, since they were not yet saved. During the 7-year period, they will be saved, martyred, and enter heaven. Though it is a time of unparalleled judgment, it is also a time of unparalleled grace in salvation (Matt. 24:12–14). "And washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb" (Rev. 7:14). Salvation's cleansing is in relationship to the atoning sacrifice of Christ (1:5; 5:9; Rom. 3:24, 25; 5:9).

"Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple" (v. 15). This refers to the heavenly throne of God. During the Millennium, there will also be a temple on earth—a special holy place where God dwells in a partially restored, but still fallen universe (see Ezek. 40–48). In the final, eternal state with its new heavens and earth, there is no temple; God Himself, who will fill all, will be its temple (21:22). "And He who sits on the throne will dwell among them." The preferred reading is that He "will spread His tent over them." God's presence will become their canopy of shelter to protect them from all the terrors of a fallen world and the indescribable horrors they have experienced on the earth during the time of tribulation.

Return to December 17 Readings

Revelation 8

December 18

R EVELATION 8:1–13

SEVENTH SEAL: PRELUDE TO THE SEVEN TRUMPETS

1When He opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. 2And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and to them were given seven trumpets. 3Then another angel, having a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. 4And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, ascended before God from the angel's hand. 5Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and threw it to the earth. And there were noises, thunderings, lightnings, and an earthquake.

6So the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound.

FIRST TRUMPET: VEGETATION STRUCK

7The first angel sounded: And hail and fire followed, mingled with blood, and they were thrown to the earth.a And a third of the trees were burned up, and all green grass was burned up.

SECOND TRUMPET: THE SEAS STRUCK

8Then the second angel sounded: And something like a great mountain burning with fire was thrown into the sea, and a third of the sea became blood. 9And a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed.

THIRD TRUMPET: THE WATERS STRUCK

10Then the third angel sounded: And a great star fell from heaven, burning

like a torch, and it fell on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water. 11The name of the star is Wormwood. A third of the waters became wormwood, and many men died from the water, because it was made bitter.

FOURTH TRUMPET: THE HEAVENS STRUCK

12Then the fourth angel sounded: And a third of the sun was struck, a third of the moon, and a third of the stars, so that a third of them were darkened. A third of the day did not shine, and likewise the night.

13And I looked, and I heard an angela flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, "Woe, woe, woe to the inhabitants of the earth, because of the remaining blasts of the trumpet of the three angels who are about to sound!"

DAY 18: Why did Jonah run from his mission to Nineveh?

Jonah, though a prophet of Israel, is not remembered for his ministry in Israel, which could explain why the Pharisees erringly claimed in Jesus' day that no prophet had come from Galilee (John 7:52). Rather, the book relates the account of his call to preach repentance to Nineveh and his refusal to go. Nineveh, the capital of Assyria and infamous for its cruelty, was a historical nemesis of Israel and Judah. The focus of this book is on that Gentile city, which was founded by Nimrod, great-grandson of Noah (Gen. 10:6–12). Perhaps the largest city in the ancient world (1:2; 3:2, 3; 4:11), it was nevertheless destroyed about 150 years

after the repentance of the generation in the time of Jonah's visit (612

B.C.), as Nahum prophesied (Nah. 1:1ff.).

Israel's political distaste for Assyria, coupled with a sense of spiritual superiority as the recipient of God's covenant blessing, produced a recalcitrant attitude in Jonah toward God's request for missionary service. Jonah was sent to Nineveh in part to shame Israel by the fact that a pagan city repented at the preaching of a stranger, whereas Israel would not repent though preached to by many prophets. He was soon to learn that God's love and mercy extends to all of His creatures ( 4:2 , 10 , 11 ), not just His covenant people ( Gen. 9:27 ; 12:3 ; Lev. 19:33 , 34 ; 1 Sam. 2:10 ; Is. 2:2 ; Joel 2:28–32 ).

Return to December 18 Readings

Revelation 9

December 19

R EVELATION 9:1–21

FIFTH TRUMPET: THE LOCUSTS FROM THE BOTTOMLESS PIT

1Then the fifth angel sounded: And I saw a star fallen from heaven to the earth.

To him was given the key to the bottomless pit. 2And he opened the bottomless pit, and smoke arose out of the pit like the smoke of a great furnace. So the sun

and the air were darkened because of the smoke of the pit. 3Then out of the smoke locusts came upon the earth. And to them was given power, as the

scorpions of the earth have power. 4They were commanded not to harm the grass of the earth, or any green thing, or any tree, but only those men who do not

have the seal of God on their foreheads. 5And they were not given authority to kill them, but to torment them for five months. Their torment was like the torment

of a scorpion when it strikes a man. 6In those days men will seek death and will not find it; they will desire to die, and death will flee from them.

9:3 locusts. A grasshopperlike insect that descends in swarms so thick they can obscure the sun and strip bare all vegetation. In the 1950s a locust swarm devoured every growing thing for several hundred thousand square miles in the Middle East. These are not normal locusts, however, but specially prepared ones that are merely the outward form of demons, who, like locusts, will bring swarming desolation (Joel 2:1–5). "Like" appears 9 times in John's description. He finds it difficult to describe what he sees in a way the reader can understand. scorpions. An arachnid that inhabits warm, dry regions and has an erect tail

tipped with a venomous stinger. A scorpion's victim often rolls on the ground in agony, foams at the mouth, and grinds his teeth in pain. The demons in locust form are able to inflict the physical and perhaps, spiritual pain like the scorpion (v. 5).

7The shape of the locusts was like horses prepared for battle. On their heads

were crowns of something like gold, and their faces were like the faces of men. 8They had hair like women's hair, and their teeth were like lions' teeth. 9And they had breastplates like breastplates of iron, and the sound of their wings was like the sound of chariots with many horses running into battle. 10They had tails like scorpions, and there were stings in their tails. Their power was to hurt men five months. 11And they had as king over them the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in Hebrew is Abaddon, but in Greek he has the name Apollyon.

9:11 Abaddon,…Apollyon. Although locusts normally have no king ( Prov. 30:27 ), these demonic creatures do. His name in both Hebrew and Greek means "destroyer." There is a hierarchy of power among the demons, just as among the holy angels. Apparently, "the angel of the bottomless pit" is one of Satan's most trusted leaders or possibly Satan himself.

12One woe is past. Behold, still two more woes are coming after these things.

SIXTH TRUMPET: THE ANGELS FROM THE EUPHRATES

13Then the sixth angel sounded: And I heard a voice from the four horns of the

golden altar which is before God, 14saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet,

"Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates." 15So the four angels, who had been prepared for the hour and day and month and

year, were released to kill a third of mankind. 16Now the number of the army

of the horsemen was two hundred million; I heard the number of them. 17And thus I saw the horses in the vision: those who sat on them had breastplates of fiery red, hyacinth blue, and sulfur yellow; and the heads of the horses were like the heads of lions; and out of their mouths came fire, smoke, and brimstone. 18By these three plagues a third of mankind was killed—by the fire

and the smoke and the brimstone which came out of their mouths. 19For their

powera is in their mouth and in their tails; for their tails are like serpents, having heads; and with them they do harm.

20But the rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands, that they should not worship demons, and idols of gold, silver, brass, stone, and wood, which can neither see nor hear nor walk. 21And they did not repent of their murders or their sorceriesa or their sexual immorality or their thefts.

DAY 19: Who was the prophet Micah, and what was his message?

The first verse establishes Micah as the author. Beyond that, little is known about him. His parentage is not given, but his name suggests a godly heritage. He traces his roots to the town of Moresheth (1:1, 14), located in the foothills of Judah, approximately 25 miles southwest of Jerusalem, on the border of Judah and Philistia, near Gath. From a productive agricultural area, he was like Amos, a country resident removed from the national politics and religion, yet chosen by God (3:8) to deliver a message of judgment to the princes and people of Jerusalem.

Primarily, Micah proclaimed a message of judgment to a people persistently pursuing evil. Similar to other prophets (Hos. 4:1; Amos 3:1), Micah presented his message in lawsuit/courtroom terminology (1:2; 6:1, 2). The prophecy is arranged in 3 oracles or cycles, each beginning with the admonition to "hear" (1:2; 3:1; 6:1). Within each oracle, he moves from doom to hope-doom because they have broken God's law given at Sinai; hope because of God's unchanging covenant with their forefathers (7:20). One-third of the book targets the sins of his people; another third looks at the punishment of God to come; and another third promises hope for the faithful after the judgment. Thus, the theme of the

inevitability of divine judgment for sin is coupled together with God's immutable commitment to His covenant promises. The combination of God's 1) absolute consistency in judging sin and 2) unbending commitment to His covenant through the remnant of His people provides the hearers with a clear disclosure of the character of the Sovereign of the universe. Through divine intervention, He will bring about both judgment on sinners and blessing on those who repent.

Return to December 19 Readings

Revelation 10

December 20

R EVELATION 10:1–11

THE MIGHTY ANGEL WITH THE LITTLE BOOK

1I saw still another mighty angel coming down from heaven, clothed with a cloud. And a rainbow was on his head, his face was like the sun, and his feet like pillars of fire. 2He had a little book open in his hand. And he set his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land, 3and cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roars. When he cried out, seven thunders uttered their voices. 4Now when the seven thunders uttered their voices,a I was about to write; but I heard a voice from heaven saying to me,b "Seal up the things which the seven thunders uttered, and do not write them."

10:1 another mighty angel. Many commentators understand this to be Jesus Christ. But the Greek word translated "another" means one of the same kind, i.e., a created being. This is not one of the 7 angels responsible for sounding the trumpets (8:2), but one of the highest ranking in heaven, filled with splendor, greatness, and strength (5:2; 8:3; 18:1). rainbow. Perhaps God included this to remind John that, even in judgment, He will always remember His Noahic Covenant and protect His own. feet like pillars of fire. This angel's feet and legs indicate the firm resolve with which he will execute the Day of the Lord.

5The angel whom I saw standing on the sea and on the land raised up his

handa to heaven 6and swore by Him who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and the things that are in it, the earth and the things that are in it, and the

sea and the things that are in it, that there should be delay no longer, 7but in the days of the sounding of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, the mystery of God would be finished, as He declared to His servants the prophets.

JOHN EATS THE LITTLE BOOK

8Then the voice which I heard from heaven spoke to me again and said, "Go, take the little book which is open in the hand of the angel who stands on the sea and on the earth."

9So I went to the angel and said to him, "Give me the little book." And he said to me, "Take and eat it; and it will make your stomach bitter, but it will be as sweet as honey in your mouth."

10Then I took the little book out of the angel's hand and ate it, and it was as sweet as honey in my mouth. But when I had eaten it, my stomach became bitter. 11And hea said to me, "You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, tongues, and kings."

DAY 20: Is the Bethlehem of Micah 5:2–4 the birthplace of Christ?

"But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall come forth to Me the One to be Ruler in Israel" (v. 2). This town south of Jerusalem was the birthplace of David and later Jesus Christ (1 Sam. 16; Matt. 2:5; Luke 2:4–7). The name "Bethlehem" means "house of bread" because the area was a grain-producing region in Old Testament times. The name "Ephrathah" ("fruitful") differentiates it from the Galilean town by the same name. The town, known for her many vineyards and olive orchards, was small in size but not in honor. "Whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting." This speaks of eternal God's incarnation in the Person of Jesus Christ. It points to His millennial reign as King of kings (Is. 9:6).

"Therefore He shall give them up, until the time that she who is in labor has given birth" (v. 3). A reference to the interval between Messiah's rejection at His First Advent and His Second Advent, during the times of the Gentiles when Israel rejects Christ and is under the domination of enemies. Regathering of the "remnant of His brethren" did not occur at the First Advent but is slated for the Second Advent (Is. 10:20–22; 11:11–16). Nor can "return" speak of Gentiles, since it cannot be said that they "returned" to the Lord. Rather, the context of

5:3, 4 is millennial and cannot be made to fit the First Advent. Thus, "she who is in labor" must denote the nation of Israel (Rev. 12:1–6).

Verse 4 clearly depicts the millennial rule of Christ, sitting upon the throne of David (Is. 6:1–3).

Return to December 20 Readings

Revelation 11

December 21

R EVELATION 11:1–19

THE TWO WITNESSES

1Then I was given a reed like a measuring rod. And the angel stood,a saying, "Rise and measure the temple of God, the altar, and those who worship there. 2But leave out the court which is outside the temple, and do not measure it, for it has been given to the Gentiles. And they will tread the holy city underfoot for forty-two months. 3And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth."

4These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands standing before the

Goda of the earth. 5And if anyone wants to harm them, fire proceeds from their mouth and devours their enemies. And if anyone wants to harm them, he must

be killed in this manner. 6These have power to shut heaven, so that no rain falls in the days of their prophecy; and they have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to strike the earth with all plagues, as often as they desire.

THE WITNESSES KILLED

7When they finish their testimony, the beast that ascends out of the bottomless

pit will make war against them, overcome them, and kill them. 8And their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city which spiritually is called Sodom and

Egypt, where also oura Lord was crucified. 9Then those from the peoples, tribes, tongues, and nations will see their dead bodies three-and-a-half days, and not

allowa their dead bodies to be put into graves. 10And those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them, make merry, and send gifts to one another, because these two prophets tormented those who dwell on the earth.

11:7 the beast. The first of 36 references to this person in Revelation, who is none other than the Antichrist (see chap. 13). That he will ascend out of the bottomless pit indicates that his power is satanic. kill them. Their ministry completed, God will withdraw the two witnesses' supernatural protection. The beast will then be able to accomplish what many had died trying to do.

THE WITNESSES RESURRECTED

11Now after the three-and-a-half days the breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and great fear fell on those who saw them. 12And theya heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, "Come up here." And they ascended to heaven in a cloud, and their enemies saw them. 13In the same hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell. In the earthquake seven thousand people were killed, and the rest were afraid and gave glory to the God of heaven.

11:13 earthquake. God punctuates the ascension of His prophets with a shattering earthquake. The destruction and loss of life may be primarily among the leaders of the Antichrist's forces. the rest. This refers to the Jews still living, who will not yet have come to faith in Christ. gave glory to the God of heaven. A genuine experience of the salvation of Jews (Luke 17:18, 19), in contrast to those who blaspheme and refuse to glorify God (16:9). This makes a key fulfillment of Zechariah's prophecy (12:10; 13:1) and Paul's (Rom. 11:25–27).

14The second woe is past. Behold, the third woe is coming quickly.

SEVENTH TRUMPET: THE KINGDOM PROCLAIMED

15Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, "The kingdomsa of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!" 16And the twenty-four elders who sat before God on their thrones fell on their faces and worshiped God, 17saying:

"We give You thanks, O Lord God Almighty,

The One who is and who was and who is to come,a Because You have taken Your great power and reigned. 18The nations were angry, and Your wrath has come, And the time of the dead, that they should be judged, And that You should reward Your servants the prophets and the saints, And those who fear Your name, small and great, And should destroy those who destroy the earth."

19Then the temple of God was opened in heaven, and the ark of His covenanta was seen in His temple. And there were lightnings, noises, thunderings, an earthquake, and great hail.

DAY 21: Who are the "two witnesses" of Revelation 11?

In v. 3, John is told that "I will give power to my two witnesses." These individuals are granted special power and authority by God to preach a message of judgment and salvation during the second half of the Tribulation. The Old Testament required 2 or more witnesses to confirm testimony (Deut. 17:6; 19:15; Matt. 18:16; John 8:17; Heb. 10:28), and these 2 prophets will be the culmination of God's testimony to Israel: a message of judgment from God and of His gracious offer of the gospel to all who will repent and believe. "They will prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days," which is 42 months or 3 1/2 years, "clothed in sackcloth." Coarse, rough cloth made from goat or camel hair. Wearing garments made from it expressed penitence, humility, and mourning. The witnesses are mourning because of the wretched wickedness of the world, God's judgment on it, and the desecration of the temple and the holy city by the Antichrist.

The imagery in v. 4 is drawn from Zechariah 3, 4. Zechariah's vision had both a near fulfillment (the rebuilding of the temple by Joshua and Zerubbabel) and a far future fulfillment (the 2 witnesses, whose ministry points toward Israel's final restoration in the Millennium). "Two olive trees and the two lampstands." Olive oil was commonly used in lamps; together the olive trees and lampstands symbolize the light of spiritual revival. The 2 witnesses' preaching will spark a revival, just as Joshua's and Zerubbabel's did in Israel after the Babylonian captivity.

While it is impossible to be dogmatic about the identity of these 2 witnesses, several observations from vv. 5, 6 suggest they might be Moses and Elijah: 1) like Moses, they strike the earth with plagues, and like Elijah, they have the power to keep it from raining; 2) Jewish tradition expected both Moses ( Deut. 18:15–18 ) and Elijah ( Mal. 4:5 , 6 ) to return in the future ( John 1:21 ); 3) both Moses and Elijah were present at the Transfiguration, the preview of Christ's Second Coming; 4) both Moses and Elijah used supernatural means to provoke repentance; 5) Elijah was taken up alive into heaven, and God buried Moses' body where it would never be found; and 6) the length of the drought the 2 witnesses bring (3 1/2 years) is the same as that brought by Elijah (James 5:17).

Return to December 21 Readings

Revelation 12

December 22

R EVELATION 12:1–17

THE WOMAN, THE CHILD, AND THE DRAGON

1Now a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a garland of twelve stars. 2Then being with child, she cried out in labor and in pain to give birth.

3And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great, fiery red dragon having

seven heads and ten horns, and seven diadems on his heads. 4His tail drew a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was ready to give birth, to devour her Child as soon as it

was born. 5She bore a male Child who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron.

And her Child was caught up to God and His throne. 6Then the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, that they should feed her there one thousand two hundred and sixty days.

12:3 great, fiery red dragon. The woman's mortal enemy is Satan, who appears as a dragon 13 times in this book (v. 9; 20:2). Red speaks of bloodshed (John 8:44). seven heads and ten horns, and seven diadems. Figurative language depicting Satan's domination of 7 past worldly kingdoms and 10 future kingdoms (Dan. 7:7, 20, 24). Satan has and will rule the world until the seventh trumpet blows (11:15). He has inflicted relentless pain on Israel (Dan. 8:24), desiring to kill the woman before she could bring forth the child that would destroy him.

SATAN THROWN OUT OF HEAVEN

7And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon;

and the dragon and his angels fought, 8but they did not prevail, nor was a

place found for thema in heaven any longer. 9So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

12:9 dragon was cast…to the earth. Satan and his demons were cast out of heaven at the time of their original rebellion, but still have access to it (Job 1:6; 2:1). That access will then be denied, and they will be forever barred from heaven. Devil and Satan. "Devil" comes from a Greek verb meaning "to slander" or "to falsely accuse." He is a malignant liar (John 8:44; 1 John 3:8). His accusations against believers (v. 10) are unsuccessful because of Christ our Advocate (1 John 2:1). Satan, meaning "adversary" or "enemy," appears especially in Job and the Gospels. deceives the whole world. As he has throughout human history, Satan will deceive people during the Tribulation (13:14; 20:3; John 8:44). After his temporary release from the bottomless pit at the end of the Millennium, he will briefly resume his deceitful ways (20:8, 10).

10Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, "Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down. 11And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and

by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death. 12Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time."

THE WOMAN PERSECUTED

13Now when the dragon saw that he had been cast to the earth, he persecuted

the woman who gave birth to the male Child. 14But the woman was given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness to her place, where she is nourished for a time and times and half a time, from the presence of the

serpent. 15So the serpent spewed water out of his mouth like a flood after the

woman, that he might cause her to be carried away by the flood. 16But the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed up the flood

which the dragon had spewed out of his mouth. 17And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who

keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.a

DAY 22: Who was the prophet Nahum, and how was his message related to the prophet Jonah?

The significance of the writing prophets was not their personal lives; it was their message. Thus, background information about the prophet from within the prophecy is rare. Occasionally one of the historical books will shed additional light. In the case of Nahum, nothing is provided except that he was an Elkoshite (1:1), referring either to his birthplace or his place of ministry. Attempts to identify the location of Elkosh have been unsuccessful. Suggestions include Al Qosh, situated in northern Iraq (thus Nahum would have been a descendant of the exiles taken to Assyria in 722 B.C.), Capernaum ("town of Nahum"), or a location in southern Judah (1:15). His birthplace or locale is not significant to the interpretation of the book.

Nahum forms a sequel to the Book of Jonah, who prophesied over a century earlier. Jonah recounts the remission of God's promised judgment toward Nineveh, while Nahum depicts the later execution of God's judgment. Nineveh was proud of her invulnerable city, with her walls reaching 100 feet high and with a moat 150 feet wide and 60 feet deep. But Nahum established the fact that the sovereign God (1:2–5) would bring vengeance upon those who violated His

law (1:8, 14; 3:5–7). The same God had a retributive judgment against evil which is also redemptive, bestowing His loving kindnesses upon the faithful (1:7, 12, 13, 15; 2:2). The prophecy brought comfort to Judah and all who feared the cruel Assyrians. Nahum said Nineveh would end "with an overflowing flood" (1:8); and it happened when the Tigris River overflowed to destroy enough of the walls to let the Babylonians through. Nahum also predicted that the city would be hidden (3:11). After its destruction in 612

B.C., the site was not rediscovered until 1842 A.D.

Return to December 22 Readings

Revelation 13

December 23

R EVELATION 13:1–18

THE BEAST FROM THE SEA

1Then Ia stood on the sand of the sea. And I saw a beast rising up out of the sea,

having seven heads and ten horns,b and on his horns ten crowns, and on his

heads a blasphemous name. 2Now the beast which I saw was like a leopard, his feet were like the feet of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. The

dragon gave him his power, his throne, and great authority. 3And I saw one of his heads as if it had been mortally wounded, and his deadly wound was healed.

And all the world marveled and followed the beast. 4So they worshiped the dragon who gave authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, "Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?"

3:3 his deadly wound was healed. This statement could refer to one of the kingdoms that was destroyed and revived (i.e., the Roman Empire). But more likely it refers to a fake death and resurrection enacted by the Antichrist, as part of his lying deception (vv. 12, 14; 17:8, 11; 2 Thess. 2:9). world marveled. People in the world will be astounded and fascinated when Antichrist appears to rise from the dead. His charisma, brilliance, and attractive but deluding powers will cause the world to follow him unquestioningly (v. 14; 2 Thess. 2:8–12).

5And he was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and

he was given authority to continuea for forty-two months. 6Then he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, His tabernacle, and those who dwell in heaven. 7It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given him over every tribe,a tongue, and nation. 8All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

9If anyone has an ear, let him hear. 10He who leads into captivity shall go into captivity; he who kills with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.

THE BEAST FROM THE EARTH

11Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon. 12And he exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence, and causes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. 13He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men. 14And he deceives thosea who dwell on the earth by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived. 15He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed. 16He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, 17and that no one may buy or sell except

one who has the mark ora the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

18Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man: His number is 666.

13:18 His number is 666. This is the essential number of a man. The number 6 falls one short of God's perfect number, 7, and thus represents human imperfection. Antichrist, the most powerful human the world will ever know, will still be a man, i.e., a 6. The ultimate in human and demonic power is a 6, not perfect, as God is. The 3-fold repetition of the number is intended to reiterate and underscore man's identity. When Antichrist is finally revealed, there will be some way to identify him with this basic number of a man, or his name may have the numerical equivalent of 666. (In many languages, including Hebrew, Greek, and Latin, letters have numerical equivalents.) Because this text reveals very little about the meaning of 666, it is unwise to speculate beyond what is said.

DAY 23: Who was Habakkuk, and where did his questions for God take him?

As with many of the Minor Prophets, nothing is known about the prophet except that which can be inferred from the book. In the case of Habakkuk, internal information is virtually nonexistent, making conclusions about his identity and life conjectural. His simple introduction as "the prophet Habakkuk" may imply that he needed no introduction since he was a wellknown prophet of his day. It is certain that he was a contemporary of Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, and Zephaniah.

The opening verses reveal a historical situation similar to the days of Amos and Micah. Justice had essentially disappeared from the land. Violence and wickedness were pervasive, existing unchecked. In the midst of these dark days, the prophet cried out for divine intervention (1:2–4). God's response, that He was sending the Chaldeans to judge Judah (1:5–11), creates an even greater theological dilemma for Habakkuk: Why didn't God purge His people and restore their righteousness? How could God use the Chaldeans to judge a people more righteous than they (1:12–2:1)? God's answer that He would judge the Chaldeans, also (2:2–20), did not fully satisfy the prophet's theological quandary; in fact, it only intensified it. In Habakkuk's mind, the issue crying for resolution is no longer God's righteous response toward evil (or lack thereof), but the vindication of God's character and covenant with His people (1:13). Like Job, the prophet argued with God; and through that experience, he achieved a deeper understanding of God's sovereign character and a firmer faith in Him (Job 42:5, 6; Is. 55:8, 9). Ultimately, Habakkuk realized that God was not to be worshiped merely because of the temporal blessings He bestowed, but for His own sake (3:17–19).

Return to December 23 Readings

Revelation 14

December 24

R EVELATION 14:1–20

THE LAMB AND THE 144,000

1Then I looked, and behold, aa Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one

hundred and forty-four thousand, havingb His Father's name written on their

foreheads. 2And I heard a voice from heaven, like the voice of many waters, and like the voice of loud thunder. And I heard the sound of harpists playing their harps. 3They sang as it were a new song before the throne, before the four living creatures, and the elders; and no one could learn that song except the hundred and forty-four thousand who were redeemed from the earth. 4These are the ones who were not defiled with women, for they are virgins. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These were redeemeda from among

men, being firstfruits to God and to the Lamb. 5And in their mouth was found no

deceit,a for they are without fault before the throne of God.b

THE PROCLAMATIONS OF THREE ANGELS

6Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth—to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people— 7saying with a loud voice, "Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water."

8And another angel followed, saying, "Babylona is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she has made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication."

14:8 Babylon is fallen. Lack of response to the first angel's message causes a second angel to pronounce this judgment. Babylon refers to the entire worldwide political, economic, and religious kingdom of Antichrist. The original city of Babylon was the birthplace of idolatry where the residents built the Tower of Babel, a monument to rebelliousness and false religion. Such idolatry was subsequently spread when God confounded man's language and scattered them around the world (Gen. 11:1–9). wine of the wrath of her fornication. This pictures Babylon causing the world to become intoxicated with her pleasures and enter an orgy of rebellion, hatred, and idolatry toward God. Fornication is spiritual prostitution to Antichrist's false system, which will fall for such iniquity.

9Then a third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, "If anyone worships

the beast and his image, and receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand, 10he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out full strength into the cup of His indignation. He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. 11And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever; and they have no rest day or night, who worship the beast and his image, and whoever

receives the mark of his name."

14:19 winepress. This vivid imagery signifies a horrendous slaughter or bloodbath (Is. 63:2, 3; Lam. 1:15; Joel 3:13). Here it refers to the slaughter of all the enemies of God who are still alive, facing the destruction at Armageddon, the final battle against God's enemies, staged on the Plain of Esdraelon. The bloody imagery comes from the fresh juice of stomped grapes splattering and running down a trough from the upper vat to the lower vat of a stone winepress.

12Here is the patience of the saints; here are thosea who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.

13Then I heard a voice from heaven saying to me,a "Write: 'Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.' "

"Yes," says the Spirit, "that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them."

REAPING THE EARTH'S HARVEST

14Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and on the cloud sat One like the Son of Man, having on His head a golden crown, and in His hand a sharp sickle. 15And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to Him who sat on the cloud, "Thrust in Your sickle and reap, for the time has come for Youa to reap, for the harvest of the earth is ripe." 16So He who sat on the cloud thrust in His sickle on the earth, and the earth was reaped.

REAPING THE GRAPES OF WRATH

17Then another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle.

18And another angel came out from the altar, who had power over fire, and he cried with a loud cry to him who had the sharp sickle, saying, "Thrust in your sharp sickle and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth, for her grapes are

fully ripe." 19So the angel thrust his sickle into the earth and gathered the vine of

the earth, and threw it into the great winepress of the wrath of God. 20And the winepress was trampled outside the city, and blood came out of the winepress, up to the horses' bridles, for one thousand six hundred furlongs.

DAY 24: What is known about Zephaniah, and what was his message for Judah?

Little is known about the author, Zephaniah. Three other Old Testament individuals share his name. He traces his genealogy back 4 generations to King Hezekiah (ca. 715–686 B.C.), standing alone among the prophets descended from royal blood (1:1). Royal genealogy would have given him the ear of Judah's king, Josiah, during whose reign he preached.

The prophet himself dates his message during the reign of Josiah (640– 609 B.C.). The moral and spiritual conditions detailed in the book (1:4–6; 3:1– 7) seem to place the prophecy prior to Josiah's reforms, when Judah was still languishing in idolatry and wickedness. It was in 628 B.C. that Josiah tore down all the altars to Baal, burned the bones of false prophets, and broke the carved idols ( 2 Chr. 34:3–7 ); and in 622 B.C., the Book of the Law was found ( 2 Chr. 34:8–35:19 ). Consequently, Zephaniah most likely prophesied from 635 to 625 B.C. and was a contemporary of Jeremiah. Zephaniah's message on the Day of the Lord warned Judah that the final days were near, through divine judgment at the hands of Nebuchadnezzar, ca. 605– 586 B.C. (1:4–13). Yet, it also looks beyond to the far fulfillment in the judgments of Daniel's 70th week (1:18; 3:8). The expression "Day of the Lord"

is employed by the author more often than by any other Old Testament writer and is described as a day that is near (1:7), and as a day of wrath, trouble, distress, devastation, desolation, darkness, gloominess, clouds, thick darkness, trumpet, and alarm (1:15, 16, 18). Yet even within these oracles of divine wrath, the prophet exhorted the people to seek the Lord, offering a shelter in the midst of judgment (2:3) and proclaiming the promise of eventual salvation for His believing remnant (2:7; 3:9–20).

Return to December 24 Readings

Revelation 15

December 25

R EVELATION 15:1–8

PRELUDE TO THE BOWL JUDGMENTS

1Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous: seven angels having the seven last plagues, for in them the wrath of God is complete.

2And I saw something like a sea of glass mingled with fire, and those who have

the victory over the beast, over his image and over his marka and over the

number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, having harps of God. 3They sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying:

15:3 song of Moses. Sung by the people of Israel immediately after their passage through the Red Sea and their deliverance from the Egyptian armies (Ex. 15:1–21; Deut. 32:1–43), this was a song of victory and deliverance that the redeemed who overcome Antichrist and his system will readily identify with. song of the Lamb. See 5:8–14. These two songs celebrate two great redemptive events: 1) deliverance of Israel by God from Egypt through Moses and 2) deliverance of sinners by God from sin through Christ. Great and marvelous are Your works. This statement from the song of the Lamb extols God's powerful works in creation as He providentially upholds the universe ( Ps. 139:14 ). Almighty. God is omnipotent ( Amos 4:13 ). King of the saints. God is sovereign over the redeemed of every nation (Jer. 10:7).

"Great and marvelous are Your works, Lord God Almighty! Just and true are Your ways, O King of the saints!a

4Who shall not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your name? For You alone are holy. For all nations shall come and worship before You, For Your judgments have been manifested."

5After these things I looked, and behold,a the temple of the tabernacle of

the testimony in heaven was opened. 6And out of the temple came the seven angels having the seven plagues, clothed in pure bright linen, and having their chests girded with golden bands. 7Then one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God who lives forever and ever. 8The temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from His power, and no one was able to enter the temple till the seven plagues of the seven angels were completed.

DAY 25: What is the primary message of the Book of Haggai?

In 538 B.C., as a result of the proclamation of Cyrus the Persian (Ezra 1:1–4), Israel was allowed to return from Babylon to her homeland under the civil leadership of Zerubbabel and the spiritual guidance of Joshua the high priest (Ezra 3:2). About 50,000 Jews returned. In 536 B.C., they began to rebuild the temple (Ezra 3:1–4:5); but opposition from neighbors and indifference by the Jews caused the work to be abandoned (Ezra 4:1–24). Sixteen years later Haggai and Zechariah were commissioned by the Lord to stir up the people to 1) not only rebuild the temple, but also to 2) reorder their spiritual priorities ( Ezra 5:1– 6:22 ). As a result, the temple was completed 4 years later (ca. 516 B.C. ; Ezra 6:15 ). The primary theme is the rebuilding of God's temple, which had been lying in ruins since its destruction by Nebuchadnezzar in 586 B.C. By means of 5 messages from the Lord, Haggai exhorted the people to renew their efforts to build the house of the Lord. He motivated them by noting that the drought and crop failures were caused by misplaced spiritual priorities (1:9–11).

But to Haggai, the rebuilding of the temple was not an end in itself. The temple represented God's dwelling place, His manifest presence with His chosen people. The destruction of the temple by Nebuchadnezzar followed the departure of God's dwelling glory (Ezek. 8–11). To the prophet, the rebuilding of the temple invited the return of God's presence to their midst. Using the historical situation as a springboard, Haggai reveled in the supreme glory of the ultimate messianic temple yet to come (2:7), encouraging them with the promise of even greater peace (2:9), prosperity (2:19), divine rulership (2:21, 22), and national blessing (2:23) during the Millennium.

Return to December 25 Readings

Revelation 16

December 26

R EVELATION 16:1–21

1Then I heard a loud voice from the temple saying to the seven angels, "Go

and pour out the bowlsa of the wrath of God on the earth."

FIRST BOWL: LOATHSOME SORES

2So the first went and poured out his bowl upon the earth, and a foul and loathsome sore came upon the men who had the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image.

SECOND BOWL: THE SEA TURNS TO BLOOD

3Then the second angel poured out his bowl on the sea, and it became blood as of a dead man; and every living creature in the sea died.

THIRD BOWL: THE WATERS TURN TO BLOOD

4Then the third angel poured out his bowl on the rivers and springs of water,

and they became blood. 5And I heard the angel of the waters saying:

16:5 who is and who was and who is to be. This phrase expresses God's eternality (1:4, 8; 4:8; 11:17). Verse 6 says that the eternal God will judge justly because they have killed the believers and preachers of the gospel ( 6:9–11 ; 7:9– 17 ; 11:18 ; 17:6 ; 18:20 ). This slaughter will have no parallel in history ( Matt. 24:21 ) and neither will the vengeance of God ( Rom. 12:19–21 ).

"You are righteous, O Lord,a

The One who is and who was and who is to be,b Because You have judged these things. 6For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, And You have given them blood to drink. Fora it is their just due."

7And I heard another froma the altar saying, "Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are Your judgments."

FOURTH BOWL: MEN ARE SCORCHED

8Then the fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and power was

given to him to scorch men with fire. 9And men were scorched with great heat, and they blasphemed the name of God who has power over these plagues; and they did not repent and give Him glory.

FIFTH BOWL: DARKNESS AND PAIN

10Then the fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and his kingdom became full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues because of the pain. 11They blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and did not repent of their deeds.

SIXTH BOWL: EUPHRATES DRIED UP

12Then the sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up, so that the way of the kings from the east might be prepared. 13And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs coming out of the mouth of the dragon, out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. 14For they are spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the earth anda of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.

15"Behold, I am coming as a thief. Blessed is he who watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame."

16And they gathered them together to the place called in Hebrew,

Armageddon.a

16:16 Armageddon. The Hebrew name for Mt. Megiddo, 60 miles north of Jerusalem. The battle will rage on the nearby plains, site of Barak's victory over the Canaanites (Judg. 4) and Gideon's victory over the Midianites (Judg. 7). Napoleon called this valley the greatest battlefield he had ever seen. But the Battle of Armageddon will not be limited to the Megiddo plains it will encompass the length of Palestine.

SEVENTH BOWL: THE EARTH UTTERLY SHAKEN

17Then the seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and a loud voice came

out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, "It is done!" 18And there were noises and thunderings and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such a

mighty and great earthquake as had not occurred since men were on the earth. 19Now the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell. And great Babylon was remembered before God, to give her the cup of the wine of

the fierceness of His wrath. 20Then every island fled away, and the mountains were

not found. 21And great hail from heaven fell upon men, each

hailstone about the weight of a talent. Men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail, since that plague was exceedingly great.

DAY 26: What was Zechariah's relationship to Haggai?

Like Jeremiah and Ezekiel, Zechariah was also a priest (Neh. 12:12–16). According to tradition, he was a member of the Great Synagogue, a council of 120 originated by Nehemiah and presided over by Ezra. This council later developed into the ruling elders of the nation, called the Sanhedrin. He was born in Babylon and joined his grandfather, Iddo, in the group of exiles who first returned to Jerusalem under the leadership of Zerubbabel and Joshua the high priest (Neh. 12:4). Because he is occasionally mentioned as the son of his grandfather (Ezra 5:1; 6:14; Neh. 12:16), it is thought that his father, Berechiah, died at an early age before he could succeed his father into the priesthood.

Zechariah joined Haggai in rousing the people from their indifference, challenging them to resume the building of the temple. Haggai's primary purpose was to rebuild the temple. His preaching has a tone of rebuke for the people's indifference, sin, and lack of trust in God. He was used to start the revival, while Zechariah was used to keep it going strong with a more positive emphasis, calling the people to repentance and reassuring them regarding future blessings. Zechariah sought to encourage the people to build the temple in view of the promise that someday the Messiah would come to inhabit it. The people were not just building for the present, but with the future hope of the Messiah in mind. He encouraged the people, still downtrodden by the Gentile powers ( 1:8– 12 ), with the reality that the Lord remembers His covenant promises to them and that He would restore and bless them. Thus the name of the book (which means "The LORD remembers") contains in seed form the theme of the prophecy.

Return to December 26 Readings

Revelation 17

December 27

R EVELATION 17:1–18

THE SCARLET WOMAN AND THE SCARLET BEAST

1Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and talked with me, saying to me,a "Come, I will show you the judgment of the great harlot who sits on many waters, 2with whom the kings of the earth committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth were made drunk with the wine of her fornication."

3So he carried me away in the Spirit into the wilderness. And I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast which was full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. 4The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls, having in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the filthiness of her fornication.a 5And on her forehead a name was written:

17:5 forehead. It was customary for Roman prostitutes to wear a headband with their name on it (Jer. 3:3), parading their wretchedness for all to see. The harlot's forehead is emblazoned with a 3-fold title descriptive of the world's final false religious system. MYSTERY. A New Testament mystery is truth once hidden, but in the New Testament revealed. Spiritual Babylon's true identity is yet to be revealed. Thus, the precise details of how it will be manifested in the world are not yet known. BABYLON THE GREAT. This Babylon is distinct from the historical, geographical city of Babylon (which still

existed in John's day). The details of John's vision cannot be applied to any historical city (14:8). MOTHER OF HARLOTS. All false religion stems ultimately from Babel or Babylon (Gen. 11).

MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT,

THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS

AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS

OF THE EARTH. 6I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. And when I saw her, I marveled with great amazement.

THE MEANING OF THE WOMAN AND THE BEAST

7But the angel said to me, "Why did you marvel? I will tell you the mystery of the woman and of the beast that carries her, which has the seven heads and

the ten horns. 8The beast that you saw was, and is not, and will ascend out of the bottomless pit and go to perdition. And those who dwell on the earth will marvel, whose names are not written in the Book of Life from the foundation of

the world, when they see the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.a

9"Here is the mind which has wisdom: The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sits. 10There are also seven kings. Five have fallen, one is, and the other has not yet come. And when he comes, he must continue a short time. 11The beast that was, and is not, is himself also the eighth, and is of the seven, and is going to perdition.

12"The ten horns which you saw are ten kings who have received no kingdom as yet, but they receive authority for one hour as kings with the beast. 13These are of one mind, and they will give their power and authority to the beast. 14These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and those who are with Him are called, chosen, and faithful."

15Then he said to me, "The waters which you saw, where the harlot sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations, and tongues. 16And the ten horns which you saw ona the beast, these will hate the harlot, make her desolate and naked, eat her flesh and burn her with fire. 17For God has put it into their hearts to fulfill His purpose, to be of one mind, and to give their kingdom to the beast, until the words of God are fulfilled. 18And the woman whom you saw is that great city which reigns over the kings of the earth."

DAY 27: What is God's word to inspire Zerubbabel to act on His promise?

Zechariah 4:6 states: "This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel." The purpose of the vision was to encourage Zerubbabel to complete the temple rebuilding, to assure him of divine enablement for that venture and the endless supply for the future glory of the Messiah's kingdom and temple. The lampstand pictured Israel fully supplied by God to be His light then and in the future. It must be noted that the church has temporarily taken this role presently (Eph. 5:8, 9; Rev. 1:12, 13, 20), until Israel's salvation and restoration to covenant blessing and usefulness.

"'Not by might…power, but by My Spirit.'" Neither human might, wealth, or physical stamina would be sufficient to complete the work. Only an abundant supply of the power of the Holy Spirit, pictured by the "bowl" (v. 2), would enable him to carry out the task and enable Israel in the Messiah's kingdom to be a light again to the world by the operation of the Spirit (Ezek. 36:24).

"'Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain'" (v. 7). Because the outcome is guaranteed (vv. 6, 9), any mountainlike opposition will be leveled by God to become like a flat surface. No obstacle will be able to stop the completion of the temple in Zerubbabel's time or in the final kingdom of the Messiah (Ezek. 40–48). "'He shall bring forth the capstone.'" The final stone of the building will be put into place, signifying its completion. "'With shouts of "Grace, grace to it!"'" This blessing signifying shouts of joy and thanksgiving came to pass (Ezra 3:11–13) over the completion of the temple. Contrast this attitude with that of the people seeing the unfinished temple (Hag. 2:3).

Return to December 27 Readings

Revelation 18

December 28

R EVELATION 18:1–24

THE FALL OF BABYLON THE GREAT

1After these things I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth was illuminated with his glory. 2And he cried mightilya with a loud voice, saying, "Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and has become a dwelling place of demons, a prison for every foul spirit, and a cage for every unclean and hated bird! 3For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth have become rich through the abundance of her luxury."

4And I heard another voice from heaven saying, "Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues. 5For her sins have reacheda to heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities. 6Render to her just as she rendered to you,a and repay her double

according to her works; in the cup which she has mixed, mix double for her. 7In the measure that she glorified herself and lived luxuriously, in the same measure give her torment and sorrow; for she says in her heart, 'I sit as queen, and am no widow, and will not see sorrow.' 8Therefore her plagues will come in one day—death and mourning and famine. And she will be utterly burned with fire, for strong is the Lord God who judgesa her.

THE WORLD MOURNS BABYLON'S FALL

9"The kings of the earth who committed fornication and lived luxuriously with her will weep and lament for her, when they see the smoke of her burning, 10standing at a distance for fear of her torment, saying, 'Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! For in one hour your judgment has come.'

11"And the merchants of the earth will weep and mourn over her, for no one

buys their merchandise anymore: 12merchandise of gold and silver, precious stones and pearls, fine linen and purple, silk and scarlet, every kind of citron wood, every kind of object of ivory, every kind of object of most precious wood, bronze, iron, and marble; 13and cinnamon and incense, fragrant oil and frankincense, wine and oil, fine flour and wheat, cattle and sheep, horses and chariots, and bodies and souls of men. 14The fruit that your soul longed for has gone from you, and all the things which are rich and splendid have gone from you,a and you shall find them no more at all. 15The merchants of these things, who became rich by her, will stand at a distance for fear of her torment, weeping and wailing, 16and saying, 'Alas, alas, that great city that was clothed in fine linen, purple, and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls! 17For in one hour such great riches came to nothing.' Every shipmaster, all who travel by ship, sailors, and as many as trade on the sea, stood at a distance 18and cried out when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, 'What is like this great city?'

19"They threw dust on their heads and cried out, weeping and wailing, and saying, 'Alas, alas, that great city, in which all who had ships on the sea became rich by her wealth! For in one hour she is made desolate.'

20"Rejoice over her, O heaven, and you holy apostlesa and prophets, for God has avenged you on her!"

FINALITY OF BABYLON'S FALL

21Then a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone and threw it into the sea, saying, "Thus with violence the great city Babylon shall be thrown down, and

shall not be found anymore. 22The sound of harpists, musicians, flutists, and trumpeters shall not be heard in you anymore. No craftsman of any craft shall be found in you anymore, and the sound of a millstone shall not be heard in you

anymore. 23The light of a lamp shall not shine in you anymore, and the voice of bridegroom and bride shall not be heard in you anymore. For your merchants

were the great men of the earth, for by your sorcery all the nations were deceived. 24And in her was found the blood of prophets and saints, and of all who were slain on the earth."

18:24 blood of prophets and saints. The religious and commercial/political systems embodied in Babylon will commit unspeakable atrocities against God's people (6:10; 11:7; 13:7, 15; 17:6; 19:2). God will avenge that slaughter of His people (19:2).

DAY 28: If Zechariah 9:9 refers to the First Advent of Christ, how does v. 10 relate to that?

"Behold, your King is coming to you;…riding on a donkey" (v. 9). Unlike Alexander the Great, this King comes riding on a donkey (Jer. 17:25). This was fulfilled at Christ's Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem ( Matt. 21:1–5 ; John 12:12– 16 ). The Jews should have been looking for someone from the line of David ( 2 Sam. 7 ; 1 Chr. 17 ). Four elements in this verse describe the Messiah's character: 1) He is King; 2) He is just; 3) He brings salvation; and 4) He is humble.

Zechariah moves to the Second Advent of Christ and the establishment of His universal kingdom in v. 10. "His dominion shall be 'from sea to sea.'" Not characterized by bloodshed, the Messiah's rule will be a kingdom of peace in which weapons of warfare will be destroyed or converted to peaceful uses ( Is. 2:4 ; 9:5–7 ; 11:1–10 ; Mic. 5:2 , 10–15 ), and peace spreads from the Euphrates River (the terminus of civilization) to the world.

The two advents of Christ are here compressed as though they were one as in Isaiah 61:1–3 (Luke 4:16, 21). Verse 9 refers to His First Coming and v. 10 is His Second. Old Testament prophets didn't see the great time period between the two comings. The church age was a "mystery" hidden from them (Eph. 3:1–9; Col. 1:27).

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Revelation 19

December 29

R EVELATION 19:1–21

HEAVEN EXULTS OVER BABYLON

1After these things I hearda a loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying,

"Alleluia! Salvation and glory and honor and power belong to the Lordb our God! 2For true and righteous are His judgments, because He has judged the great harlot who corrupted the earth with her fornication; and He has avenged on her the blood of His servants shed by her." 3Again they said, "Alleluia! Her smoke

rises up forever and ever!" 4And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who sat on the throne, saying, "Amen! Alleluia!" 5Then a voice came from the throne, saying, "Praise our God, all you

His servants and those who fear Him, botha small and great!"

6And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, "Alleluia! For thea Lord God Omnipotent reigns! 7Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready." 8And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.

9Then he said to me, "Write: 'Blessed are those who are called to the marriage

supper of the Lamb!' " And he said to me, "These are the true sayings of God." 10And I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, "See that you do not do that! I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren who have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy."

CHRIST ON A WHITE HORSE

11Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. 12His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He hada a name written that no one knew except Himself. 13He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. 14And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean,a followed Him on white horses. 15Now out of His mouth goes a sharpa sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. 16And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written:

19:11 heaven opened. The One who ascended to heaven (Acts 1:9–11) and had been seated at the Father's right hand (Heb. 8:1; 10:12; 1 Pet. 3:22) will return to take back the earth from the usurper and establish His kingdom ( 5:1– 10 ). The nature of this event shows how it differs from the Rapture. At the Rapture, Christ meets His own in the air in this event, He comes with them to earth. At the Rapture, there is no judgment in this event, it is all judgment. This event is preceded by blackness the darkened sun, moon gone out, stars fallen, smoke then lightning and blinding glory as Jesus comes. Such details are not included in Rapture passages (John 14:1–3; 1 Thess. 4:13–18). white horse. In the Roman triumphal processions, the victorious general rode his white war horse up the Via Sacra to the temple of Jupiter on the Capitoline Hill. Jesus' First Coming was in humiliation on a colt (Zech. 9:9). John's vision portrays Him as the conqueror on His warhorse, coming to destroy the wicked, to overthrow the Antichrist, to defeat Satan, and to take control of the earth (2 Cor. 2:14). Faithful and True. True to His word, Jesus will return to earth ( Matt. 24:27– 31 ). makes war. This startling statement, appearing only here and 2:16 , vividly portrays the holy wrath of God against sinners (Ps. 7:11). God's patience will be exhausted with sinful, rebellious mankind.

KING OF KINGS AND

LORD OF LORDS.

THE BEAST AND HIS ARMIES DEFEATED

17Then I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the birds that fly in the midst of heaven, "Come and gather together for the

supper of the great God,a 18that you may eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and of those who sit on

them, and the flesh of all people, freea and slave, both small and great."

19And I saw the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army. 20Then the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who worked signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone. 21And the rest were killed with the sword which proceeded from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse. And all the birds were filled with their flesh.

19:20 beast was captured, and…the false prophet. In an instant, the world's armies are without their leaders. The beast is Antichrist (13:1–4); the false prophet is his religious cohort (13:11–17). cast alive. The bodies of the beast and the false prophet will be transformed, and they will be banished directly to the lake of fire (Dan. 7:11) the first of countless millions of unregenerate men (20:15) and fallen angels (Matt. 25:41) to arrive in that dreadful place. That these two still appear there 1,000 years later (20:10) refutes the false doctrine of annihilationism. lake of fire. The final hell, the place of eternal punishment for all unrepentant rebels, angelic or human (20:10, 15).

DAY 29: What is the "marriage of the Lamb" in Revelation 19:7–9 about?

Hebrew weddings consisted of 3 phases: 1) betrothal (often when the couple were children); 2) presentation (the festivities, often lasting several days, that preceded the ceremony); and 3) the ceremony (the exchanging of vows). The church was betrothed to Christ by His sovereign choice in eternity past ( Eph. 1:4 ; Heb. 13:20 ) and will be presented to Him at the Rapture ( John 14:1–3 ; 1 Thess. 4:13–18 ). The final supper will signify the end of the ceremony. This symbolic meal will take place at the establishment of the millennial kingdom and last throughout that 1,000-year period (21:2). While the term "bride" often refers to the church, and does so here (2 Cor. 11:2; Eph. 5:22–24), it ultimately expands to include all the redeemed of all ages.

"And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen,…the righteous acts of the saints" (v. 8). Not Christ's imputed righteousness granted to believers at salvation, but the practical results of that righteousness in believers' lives, i.e., the outward manifestation of inward virtue.

"'Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!" (v. 9). This is not the bride (the church) but the guests. The bride doesn't get invited; she invites. These are those saved before Pentecost, all the faithful believers saved by grace through faith up to the birth of the church (Acts 2:1ff.). Though they are not the bride, they still are glorified and reign with Christ in the millennial kingdom. It is really differing imagery rather than differing reality. The guests also will include tribulation saints and believers alive in earthly bodies in the kingdom. The church is the bride, pure and faithful—never a harlot, like Israel was (see Hos. 2). So the church is the bride during the presentation feast in heaven, then comes to earth for the celebration of the final meal (the Millennium). After that event, the new order comes and the marriage is consummated (21:1, 2).

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Revelation 20

December 30

R EVELATION 20:1–15

SATAN BOUND 1,000 YEARS

1Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key to the

bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. 2He laid hold of the dragon, that

serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; 3and he cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal on him, so that he should deceive the nations no more till the thousand years were finished. But after these things he must be released for a little while.

THE SAINTS REIGN WITH CHRIST 1,000 YEARS

4And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for aa thousand years. 5But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. 6Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.

20:5 first resurrection. Scripture teaches 2 kinds of resurrections: the "resurrection of life" and "the resurrection of condemnation" ( John 5:29 ; Dan. 12:2 ; Acts 24:15 ). The first kind of resurrection is described as "the resurrection of the just" (Luke 14:14), the resurrection of "those who are Christ's at His coming" (1 Cor. 15:23), and the "better resurrection" (Heb. 11:35). It includes only the redeemed of the church age (1 Thess. 4:13–18), the Old Testament (Dan. 12:2), and the Tribulation (v. 4). They will enter the kingdom in resurrection bodies, along with believers who survived the Tribulation. The second kind of resurrection, then, will be the resurrection of the unconverted who will receive their final bodies suited for torment in hell.

SATANIC REBELLION CRUSHED

7Now when the thousand years have expired, Satan will be released from his

prison 8and will go out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle, whose number is as the sand of the sea. 9They went up on the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city. And fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them. 10The devil, who deceived them,

was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone wherea the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

THE GREAT WHITE THRONE JUDGMENT

11Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. 12And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God,a and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. 13The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. 14Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.a 15And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.

20:12 standing before God. In a judicial sense, as guilty, condemned prisoners before the bar of divine justice. There are no living sinners left in the destroyed universe since all sinners were killed and all believers glorified. books. These books record every thought, word, and deed of sinful men all recorded by divine omniscience. They will provide the evidence for eternal condemnation. Book of Life. It contains the names of all the redeemed (Dan. 12:1). judged according to their works. Their thoughts (Luke 8:17; Rom. 2:16), words (Matt. 12:37), and actions (Matt. 16:27) will be compared to God's perfect, holy standard (Matt. 5:48; 1 Pet. 1:15, 16) and will be found wanting (Rom. 3:23). This also implies that there are degrees of punishment in hell (Matt. 10:14, 15; 11:22; Mark 12:38–40; Luke 12:47, 48; Heb. 10:29).

DAY 30: What is the Millennium?

In Revelation 20:2, Satan is bound for "a thousand years." This is the first of 6 references to the length of the millennial kingdom (vv. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7). There are 3 main views of the duration and nature of this period: 1) Premillennialism sees this as a literal 1,000-year period during which Jesus Christ, in fulfillment of numerous Old Testament prophecies (e.g., 2 Sam. 7:12–16; Ps. 2; Is. 11:6–12; 24:23 ; Hos. 3:4 , 5 ; Joel 3:9–21 ; Amos 9:8–15 ; Mic. 4:1–8 ; Zeph. 3:14–20 ; Zech. 14:1–11 ; Matt. 24:29–31 , 36–44 ), reigns on the earth. Using the same general principles of interpretation for both prophetic and nonprophetic passages leads most naturally to Premillennialism. Another strong argument supporting this view is that so many biblical prophecies have already been literally fulfilled, suggesting that future prophecies will likewise be fulfilled literally.

Postmillennialism understands the reference to a 1,000-year period as only symbolic of a golden age of righteousness and spiritual prosperity. It will be ushered in by the spread of the gospel during the present church age and brought to completion when Christ returns. According to this view, references to Christ's reign on earth primarily describe His spiritual reign in the hearts of believers in the church.

Amillennialism understands the 1,000 years to be merely symbolic of a long period of time. This view interprets Old Testament prophecies of a Millennium as being fulfilled spiritually now in the church (either on earth or in heaven) or as references to the eternal state. Using the same literal, historical, grammatical principles of interpretation so as to determine the normal sense of language, one is left with the inescapable conclusion that Christ will return and reign in a real kingdom on earth for 1,000 years. There is nothing in the text to render the conclusion that "a thousand years" is symbolic.

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Revelation 21

December 31

R EVELATION 21:1–22:21

ALL THINGS MADE NEW

1Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first

earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. 2Then I, John,a saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. 4And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away."

21:2 New Jerusalem. This is the capital city of heaven, a place of perfect holiness. It is seen "coming down out of heaven," indicating it already existed; but it descends into the new heavens and new earth from its place on high. This is the city where the saints will live (John 14:1–3). bride. An important New Testament metaphor for the church (Matt. 25:1–13; Eph. 5:25–27). John's imagery here extends from the third part of the Jewish wedding, the ceremony. Believers (the bride) in the New Jerusalem come to meet Christ (the bridegroom) in the final ceremony of redemptive history (19:7). The whole city, occupied by all the saints, is called the bride, so that all saints must be finally included in the bride imagery and bridal blessing. God has brought home a bride for His beloved Son. All the saints live with Christ in the Father's house (a promise made before the church began; John 14:2).

5Then He who sat on the throne said, "Behold, I make all things new." And

He said to me,a "Write, for these words are true and faithful."

6And He said to me, "It is done!a I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning

and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who

thirsts. 7He who overcomes shall inherit all things,a and I will be his God and

he shall be My son. 8But the cowardly, unbelieving,a abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death."

THE NEW JERUSALEM

9Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls filled with the seven last plagues came to mea and talked with me, saying, "Come, I will show you

the bride, the Lamb's wife."b 10And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great

and high mountain, and showed me the great city, the holya Jerusalem,

descending out of heaven from God, 11having the glory of God. Her light was

like a most precious stone, like a jasper stone, clear as crystal. 12Also she had a great and high wall with twelve gates, and twelve angels at the gates, and names written on them, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel: 13three gates on the east, three gates on the north, three gates on the south, and three gates on the west.

14Now the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the

namesa of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. 15And he who talked with me had a

gold reed to measure the city, its gates, and its wall. 16The city is laid out as a square; its length is as great as its breadth. And he measured the city with the reed: twelve thousand furlongs. Its length, breadth, and height are equal. 17Then he measured its wall: one hundred and forty-four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of an angel. 18The construction of its wall was of

jasper; and the city was pure gold, like clear glass. 19The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with all kinds of precious stones: the first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald, 20the fifth sardonyx, the sixth sardius, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth

topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst. 21The twelve gates were twelve pearls: each individual gate was of one pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.

THE GLORY OF THE NEW JERUSALEM

22But I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its

temple. 23The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it,a for the

gloryb of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light. 24And the nations of those

who are saveda shall walk in its light, and the kings of the earth bring their glory

and honor into it.b 25Its gates shall not be shut at all by day (there shall be no

night there). 26And they shall bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it.a

27But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causesa an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb's Book of Life.

Revelation 22

THE RIVER OF LIFE

1And he showed me a purea river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. 2In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. 3And there shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him. 4They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads. 5There shall be no night there: They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. And they shall reign forever and ever.

THE TIME IS NEAR

6Then he said to me, "These words are faithful and true." And the Lord God of the holya prophets sent His angel to show His servants the things which must shortly take place.

7"Behold, I am coming quickly! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book."

8Now I, John, saw and hearda these things. And when I heard and saw, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel who showed me these things.

9Then he said to me, "See that you do not do that. Fora I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren the prophets, and of those who keep the words of this book. Worship God." 10And he said to me, "Do not seal the

words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is at hand. 11He who is unjust, let him be unjust still; he who is filthy, let him be filthy still; he who is righteous, let him be righteousa still; he who is holy, let him be holy still."

JESUS TESTIFIES TO THE CHURCHES

12"And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work. 13I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last."a

14Blessed are those who do His commandments,a that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city. 15Buta

outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie.

16"I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star."

17And the Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.

WARNING

18Fora I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will addb to him the plagues that are written in this book; 19and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take awaya his part from the Bookb of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

I AM COMING QUICKLY

20He who testifies to these things says, "Surely I am coming quickly." Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus! 21The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.a Amen.

DAY 31: What is the Book of Malachi about?

Only 50,000 exiles had returned to Judah from Babylon (538–536 B.C.). The temple had been rebuilt under the leadership of Zerubbabel (516 B.C.) and the sacrificial system renewed. Ezra had returned in 458 B.C., followed by Nehemiah in 445 B.C. After being back in the land of Palestine for only a century, the ritual of the Jews' religious routine led to hard-heartedness toward God's great love for them and to widespread departure from His law by both people and priest. Malachi rebuked and condemned these abuses, forcefully indicting the people and calling them to repentance. When Nehemiah returned from Persia the second time (ca. 424 B.C.), he vigorously rebuked them for these abuses in the temple and priesthood, for the violation of the Sabbath rest, and for the unlawful divorce of their Jewish wives so they could marry Gentile women (Neh. 13).

As over two millennia of Old Testament history since Abraham concluded, none of the glorious promises of the Abrahamic, Davidic, and New Covenants had been fulfilled in their ultimate sense. Although there had been a few high points in Israel's history, e.g., Joshua, David, and Josiah, the Jews had seemingly lost all opportunity to receive God's favor. Less than 100 years after returning from captivity, they had already sunk to a depth of sin that exceeded the former iniquities which brought on the Assyrian and Babylonian deportations. Beyond this, the long-anticipated Messiah had not arrived and did not seem to be in sight.

So, Malachi wrote the capstone prophecy of the Old Testament in which he delivered God's message of judgment on Israel for their continuing sin and God's promise that one day in the future, when the Jews would repent, the Messiah would be revealed and God's covenant promises would be fulfilled.

There were over 400 years of divine silence, with only Malachi's words ringing condemnation in their ears, before another prophet arrived with a message from God. That was John the Baptist preaching, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!" (Matt. 3:2). Messiah had come.

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Words in italic type have been added for clarity. They are not found in the original Hebrew or Aramaic.

Syriac reads all the wild animals of.

Hebrew toledoth, literally generations

Or Tigris

Samaritan Pentateuch, Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate add "Let us go out to the field."

Following Masoretic Text and Targum; Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate read Not so.

Greek Enos

Hebrew Qenan

Septuagint, Syriac, Targum, and Vulgate read abide.

Following Masoretic Text and Targum; Vulgate reads GOD; Septuagint reads LORD GOD.

Septuagint and Vulgate omit of the spirit.

Compare Genesis 1:28

Literally seed

Spelled Diphath in 1 Chronicles 1:6

Spelled Rodanim in Samaritan Pentateuch and 1 Chronicles 1:7

Or Phut

Called Meshech in Septuagint and 1 Chronicles 1:17

Following Masoretic Text, Vulgate, and Targum; Septuagint reads Arphaxad begot Cainan, and Cainan begot Salah (compare Luke 3:35 , 36 ).

Spelled Ebal in 1 Chronicles 1:22

Hebrew Alon Moreh

Hebrew Negev

Literally my soul

Hebrew Negev

Literally seed, and so throughout the book

Hebrew Alon Mamre

Hebrew goyim

Hebrew goyim

Hebrew Alon Mamre

Literally Well of the One Who Lives and Sees Me

Hebrew Alon Mamre

Literally the manner of women had ceased to be with Sarah

Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate read they.

Literally it is a covering of the eyes for you

Literally Well of the Oath or Well of the Seven

Or young man

Hebrew YHWH Yireh

Spelled Rebecca in Romans 9:10

Literally seed

Masoretic Text reads Hadad.

Literally Hairy

Literally Supplanter

Literally Red

Literally Quarrel

Literally Enmity

Literally Spaciousness

Literally Oath or Seven

Literally Well of the Oath or Well of the Seven

Literally House of God

Literally See, a Son

Literally Heard

Literally Attached

Literally Praise

Literally Judge

Literally My Wrestling

Following Qere, Syriac, and Targum; Kethib, Septuagint, and Vulgate read in fortune.

Literally Troop or Fortune

Literally Happy

Literally Wages

Literally Dwelling

Literally He Will Add

Literally, in Aramaic, Heap of Witness

Literally, in Hebrew, Heap of Witness

Literally Watch

Literally Double Camp

Literally Prince with God

Literally Face of God

Same as Peniel, verse 30

Literally Booths

Literally God, the God of Israel

Literally God of the House of God

Literally Terebinth of Weeping

Literally Son of My Sorrow

Literally Son of the Right Hand

Literally Town of Arba

Spelled Zephi in 1 Chronicles 1:36

Samaritan Pentateuch omits Chief Korah.

Spelled Homam in 1 Chronicles 1:39

Spelled Alian in 1 Chronicles 1:40

Spelled Shephi in 1 Chronicles 1:40

Following Masoretic Text and Vulgate (hot springs); Septuagint reads Jamin; Targum reads mighty men; Talmud interprets as mules.

Hebrew Dishan

Spelled Hamran in 1 Chronicles 1:41

Spelled Jaakan in 1 Chronicles 1:42

Spelled Hadad in Samaritan Pentateuch, Syriac, and 1 Chronicles 1:50

Spelled Pai in 1 Chronicles 1:50

Spelled Aliah in 1 Chronicles 1:51

Masoretic Text reads Medanites.

Literally Breach or Breakthrough

Literally his hand

Literally Making Forgetful

Literally Fruitfulness

Literally all that was in them

Spelled Nemuel in 1 Chronicles 4:24

Called Jarib in 1 Chronicles 4:24

Called Zerah in 1 Chronicles 4:24

Spelled Puah in 1 Chronicles 7:1

Same as Jashub in Numbers 26:24 and 1 Chronicles 7:1

Spelled Zephon in Samaritan Pentateuch, Septuagint, and Numbers 26:15

Called Ozni in Numbers 26:16

Spelled Arod in Numbers 26:17

Called Hupham in Numbers 26:39

Called Shuham in Numbers 26:42

Spelled Jahziel in 1 Chronicles 7:13

Spelled Shallum in 1 Chronicles 7:13

Following Masoretic Text and Targum; Samaritan Pentateuch, Septuagint, and Vulgate read made the people virtual slaves.

Literally Mourning of Egypt

Literally who came from the loins of

Dead Sea Scrolls and Septuagint read seventy-five (compare Acts 7:14).

Samaritan Pentateuch, Septuagint, and Targum add to the Hebrews.

Literally Drawn Out

Literally Stranger There

That is, the Nile

Literally his

Hebrew YHWH, traditionally Jehovah

Spelled Nemuel in Numbers 26:12

Literally set a ransom (compare Exodus 9:4 and 11:7) a Samaritan Pentateuch and Septuagint read Egypt and Canaan.

a Genesis 50:25

Samaritan Pentateuch, Septuagint, and Syriac read bound.

Literally Bitter

Literally What? (compare Exodus 16:15) a Literally Tempted

Literally Contention

Hebrew YHWH Nissi

Compare Exodus 2:22

Literally My God Is Help

Following Masoretic Text and Septuagint; Syriac, Targum, and Vulgate read offered.

Septuagint reads all the people.

Hebrew YHWH, usually translated Lord

Hebrew Nahar, the Euphrates

That is, an ornamented vest

Literally the Lights and the Perfections (compare Leviticus 8:8) a Compare Numbers 4:15 and Haggai 2:11–13

Compare Numbers 4:15 and Haggai 2:11–13

Or woven garments

a Genesis 13:15 and 22:17

Literally Ten Words

Or woven garments

Or woven garments

Or woven garments

Compare Numbers 4:15 and Haggai 2:11–13

Compare Numbers 4:15 and Haggai 2:11–13

The Most Holy Place when capitalized

Following Masoretic Text, Septuagint, and Vulgate; Samaritan Pentateuch, Syriac, and Targum read swarming thing (compare 5:2).

Literally the Lights and the Perfections (compare Exodus 28:30) a The Most Holy Place when capitalized

Hebrew saraath, disfiguring skin diseases, including leprosy, and so in verses 2–46 and 14:2–32

A mold, fungus, or similar infestation, and so in verses 47–59

Decomposition by mildew, mold, dry rot, etc., and so in verses 34–53

That is, the Most Holy Place

Literally he

Spelled Reuel in 2:14

Spelled Deuel in 1:14 and 7:42

Samaritan Pentateuch and Septuagint read Me.

Some manuscripts of the Septuagint read three.

Literally the continual bread

Literally hand

Literally hand

Literally hand

Spelled Reuel in 2:14

Septuagint reads Raguel (compare Exodus 2:18).

Literally Burning

Targum and Vulgate read did not cease.

Literally Graves of Craving

Septuagint and Vulgate read Oshea.

Septuagint and Vulgate read Oshea.

Literally Cluster

Hebrew nephilim

a Exodus 3:8

a Exodus 34:6 , 7

Compare Exodus 12:49

Literally impurity

Literally Contention

Literally Utter Destruction

Ancient unknown places; Vulgate reads What He did in the Red Sea.

Hebrew Jeshimon

That is, the Euphrates

Or the people of Amau

Or dust cloud

Following Masoretic Text, Targum, and Vulgate; Syriac reads call; Septuagint reads go and ask God.

Hebrew Jeshimon

a Genesis 49:9

Hebrew Sheth (compare Jeremiah 48:45) a Hebrew Kittim

Literally he or that one

Hebrew Shittim

Spelled Jemuel in Genesis 46:10 and Exodus 6:15

Called Jarib in 1 Chronicles 4:24

Called Zohar in Genesis 46:10

Called Ziphion in Genesis 46:16

Called Ezbon in Genesis 46:16

Spelled Arodi in Samaritan Pentateuch, Syriac, and Genesis 46:16

Hebrew Puvah (compare Genesis 46:13 and 1 Chronicles 7:1); Samaritan Pentateuch, Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate read Puah.

Samaritan Pentateuch, Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate read Puaites.

Called Abiezer in Joshua 17:2

Called Bered in 1 Chronicles 7:20

Masoretic Text reads Shephupham, spelled Shephuphan in 1 Chronicles 8:5.

Called Huppim in Genesis 46:21

Called Addar in 1 Chronicles 8:3

Called Hushim in Genesis 46:23

Spelled Jahziel in 1 Chronicles 7:13

Literally Towns of Jair

Many Hebrew manuscripts, Samaritan Pentateuch, Syriac, Targum, and Vulgate read from Pi Hahiroth (compare verse 7).

Same as Ije Abarim, verse 44

Hebrew Abel Shittim

Hebrew arabah

One manuscript of the Septuagint, also Targum and Vulgate, read Red Sea.

Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate read and (compare Joshua 12:4).

Hebrew arabah

Hebrew rephaim

Hebrew rephaim

Hebrew rephaim

Hebrew rephaim

Literally Towns of Jair

Syriac reads Sirion (compare 3:9).

a Exodus 3:8

Or The Lord is our God, the Lord alone (that is, the only one)

Hebrew Asherim, Canaanite deities

a Exodus 3:8

Following Masoretic Text and Targum; Samaritan Pentateuch, Septuagint, and Vulgate read He.

That is, the Mediterranean

Or addax

Following Masoretic Text and Targum; Samaritan Pentateuch, Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate read lest he make his brother's heart faint.

Hebrew Aram Naharaim

Hebrew qedeshah, feminine of qadesh (see note b)

Hebrew qadesh, that is, one practicing sodomy and prostitution in religious rituals a Septuagint reads my.

Or Aramean

a Exodus 3:8

a Exodus 3:8

a Exodus 3:8

Literally her eye shall be evil toward

Or stubbornness

A Dead Sea Scroll fragment adds And let all the gods (angels) worship Him (compare Septuagint and Hebrews 1:6).

Hebrew Hoshea (compare Numbers 13:8, 16) a Genesis 49:26

That is, the Mediterranean

Hebrew Shittim

Hebrew Shittim

Following Kethib; Qere, some Hebrew manuscripts and editions, Septuagint, Syriac, Targum, and Vulgate read they.

Hebrew Gibeath Haaraloth

a Exodus 3:8

Literally Rolling

Called Zimri in 1 Chronicles 2:6

Literally Trouble

a Deuteronomy 27:5 , 6

Following Masoretic Text and most authorities; many Hebrew manuscripts, some manuscripts of the Septuagint, and some manuscripts of the Targum read it.

Hebrew Negev, and so throughout this book

Hebrew Misrephoth Maim

Hebrew tel, a heap of successive city ruins

Hebrew arabah

Or Giblites

Hebrew Misrephoth Maim

Literally Giants

Or Lahmam

Septuagint reads Bethel (that is, Luz).

Or Naaran (compare 1 Chronicles 7:28) a Called Jeezer in Numbers 26:30

Literally Giants

Or Beth Arabah (compare 15:6 and 18:22) a Following Masoretic Text, Targum, and Vulgate; a few Hebrew manuscripts read Abdon (compare 21:30 and 1 Chronicles 6:74).

Following Septuagint and Vulgate (compare 1 Chronicles 6:78, 79); Masoretic Text, Bomberg, and Targum omit verses 36 and 37.

Literally thousands

Literally thousands

Literally thousands

Septuagint adds and half the tribe of Manasseh.

Hebrew Nahar, the Euphrates, and so in verses 3, 14, and 15

Hebrew Negev, and so throughout this book

Septuagint and Vulgate read he urged her.

Spelled Shaalabbin in Joshua 19:42

Septuagint, Targum, and Vulgate read enemies to you.

Literally Weeping

Canaanite goddesses

Name or symbol for Canaanite goddesses

Literally his

Literally at his feet

Following Septuagint, Syriac, Targum, and Vulgate; Masoretic Text reads And my princes in Issachar.

Literally at his feet

Or at ease

Or Angel

Hebrew adoni, used of man

Hebrew Adonai, used of God

Hebrew YHWH Shalom

Hebrew Asherah, a Canaanite goddess

Literally Let Baal Plead

Hebrew Beth Shittah

Literally hand

Following Masoretic Text and Targum; Dead Sea Scrolls read they; Septuagint reads I.

Hebrew Meonenim

Literally Towns of Jair (compare Numbers 32:41 and Deuteronomy 3:14) a Some Septuagint manuscripts read Midianites.

Literally Plain of Vineyards

Literally Camp of Dan (compare 18:12) a Following Masoretic Text, Targum, and Vulgate; Septuagint and Syriac read fourth.

Literally Jawbone Height

Literally Jawbone (compare verse 14) b Literally Spring of the Caller

Following Masoretic Text, Targum, and Vulgate; Septuagint reads he began to be weak.

Hebrew teraphim

Following Masoretic Text, Targum, and Vulgate; Septuagint reads with Syria.

Literally Camp of Dan

Septuagint and Vulgate read Moses.

Literally sons of Belial

Literally his

Literally with her bones

Literally sons of Belial

Or Bethel

Or Bethel

Literally they

Septuagint reads the rest.

Or Bethel

Literally Pleasant

Literally Bitter

Or Spread the corner of your garment over your maidservant

Many Hebrew manuscripts, Syriac, and Vulgate read she; Masoretic Text, Septuagint, and Targum read he.

Hebrew peloni almoni; literally so and so

Following many Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint, Syriac, Targum, and Vulgate; Masoretic Text reads he.

Literally raise up

Probably his civic office

Hebrew Salmah

Spelled Eliel in 1 Chronicles 6:34

Spelled Toah in 1 Chronicles 6:34

Hebrew heykal, palace or temple

Literally daughter of Belial

Literally Heard by God

Following Masoretic Text, Targum, and Vulgate; Dead Sea Scrolls, Septuagint, and Syriac read your.

Dead Sea Scrolls, Septuagint, and Syriac read a three-year-old bull.

That is, strength

Literally sons of Belial

Following Masoretic Text, Targum, and Vulgate; Dead Sea Scrolls and Septuagint omit the rest of this verse.

Hebrew heykal, palace or temple

Following Masoretic Text, Targum, and Vulgate; Septuagint adds and he arose in the morning.

Following Masoretic Text and Targum; Septuagint and Vulgate add And it came to pass in those days that the Philistines gathered themselves together to fight; Septuagint adds further against Israel.

Following Masoretic Text and Vulgate; Septuagint reads beside the gate watching the road.

Literally Inglorious

a A Philistine idol

Following Septuagint, Syriac, Targum, and Vulgate; Masoretic Text reads Dagon.

Probably bubonic plague. Septuagint and Vulgate add here And in the midst of their land rats sprang up, and there was a great death panic in the city.

Or He struck seventy men of the people and fifty oxen of a man

Canaanite goddesses

Canaanite goddesses

Literally Stone of Help

Septuagint reads cattle.

Literally tribes

Following Masoretic Text and Targum; Septuagint omits He spoke with Saul on the top of the house; Septuagint and Vulgate add And he prepared a bed for Saul on the top of the house, and he slept.

Following Masoretic Text, Targum, and Vulgate; Septuagint reads His people Israel; and you shall rule the people of the Lord; Septuagint and Vulgate add And you shall deliver His people from the hands of their enemies all around them. And this shall be a sign to you, that God has anointed you to be a prince.

Literally thousands

Following Masoretic Text, Targum, and Vulgate; Septuagint adds and the Egyptians afflicted them.

Canaanite goddesses

Syriac reads Deborah; Targum reads Gideon.

Septuagint and Syriac read Barak; Targum reads Simson.

Syriac reads Simson.

The Hebrew is difficult (compare 2 Samuel 5:4; 2 Kings 14:2; see also 2 Samuel 2:10; Acts 13:21).

Following Masoretic Text, Septuagint, Targum, and Vulgate; Syriac and some manuscripts of the Septuagint read three.

Following Masoretic Text and Targum; Septuagint and Vulgate add And the rest of the people went up after Saul to meet the people who fought against them, going from Gilgal to Gibeah in the hill of Benjamin.

About two-thirds shekel weight

Literally half the area plowed by a yoke (of oxen in a day)

Following Masoretic Text, Targum, and Vulgate; Septuagint reads ephod.

Following Masoretic Text, Targum, and Vulgate; Septuagint reads ephod.

Following Masoretic Text and Targum; Septuagint and Vulgate read Why do You not answer Your servant today? If the injustice is with me or Jonathan my son, O Lord God of Israel, give proof; and if You say it is with Your people Israel, give holiness.

Septuagint and Vulgate read prospered.

Called Abinadab in 1 Chronicles 8:33 and 9:39

Septuagint reads For God does not see as man sees; Targum reads It is not by the appearance of a man; Vulgate reads Nor do I judge according to the looks of a man.

Following Septuagint and Vulgate; Masoretic Text reads turn around; Targum and Syriac read turn away.

Following Masoretic Text, Syriac, Targum, and Vulgate; Septuagint reads Gath.

Compare 1 Samuel 10:12

Following Masoretic Text, Syriac, Targum, and Vulgate; Septuagint reads he sat across from Jonathan.

Compare 1 Samuel 18:7

Or in Horesh

Literally thousands

Hebrew Sela Hammahlekoth

Following Masoretic Text, Syriac, Targum, and Vulgate; Septuagint reads Maon.

Literally son of Belial

Literally Fool

Spelled Paltiel in 2 Samuel 3:15

Or Gezrites

Hebrew elohim

Or him, that is, David

Compare 1 Samuel 18:7

Following Masoretic Text, Targum, and Vulgate; Septuagint adds and go to the place which I have selected for you there; and set no bothersome word in your heart, for you are good before me. And rise on your way.

Literally men of Belial

Or Borashan

Spelled Beth Shean in Joshua 17:11 and elsewhere a Called Esh-Baal in 1 Chronicles 8:33 and 9:39

Hebrew Helkath Hazzurim

Spelled Palti in 1 Samuel 25:44

Following many Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint, Syriac, and Targum; Masoretic Text reads he.

That is, Ishbosheth

Called Merib-Baal in 1 Chronicles 8:34 and 9:40

Compare 1 Chronicles 11:6

Literally The Landfill

Spelled Shimea in 1 Chronicles 3:5

Spelled Elishama in 1 Chronicles 3:6

Literally Master of Breakthroughs

Following Masoretic Text, Targum, and Vulgate; Septuagint reads Gibeon.

Septuagint, Targum, and Vulgate omit by the Name; many Hebrew manuscripts and Syriac read there.

Septuagint adds with the ark.

Literally Outburst Against Uzzah

That is, a royal dynasty

Septuagint reads Me.

Targum and Syriac read O Lord God.

Or seven thousand (compare 1 Chronicles 18:4) a Spelled Tibhath in 1 Chronicles 18:8

Spelled Tou in 1 Chronicles 18:9

Spelled Hadoram in 1 Chronicles 18:10

Septuagint, Syriac, and some Hebrew manuscripts read Edom.

Septuagint, Syriac, and some Hebrew manuscripts read Edomites (compare 1 Chronicles 18:12).

Spelled Shavsha in 1 Chronicles 18:16

Septuagint reads David's table.

Hebrew Hadarezer

That is, the Euphrates

Hebrew Hadarezer

Same as Jerubbaal (Gideon), Judges 6:32ff

A few Hebrew manuscripts and Syriac read GOD.

Following Kethib, Septuagint, and Vulgate; Qere, a few Hebrew manuscripts, Syriac, and Targum read she.

Qere, some Hebrew manuscripts, Syriac, and Targum read she.

Literally Beloved of the Lord

Septuagint adds And the watchman went and told the king, and said, 'I see men from the way of Horonaim, from the regions of the mountains."

Following Masoretic Text, Syriac, and Vulgate; Septuagint reads the spirit of the king; Targum reads the soul of King David.

Following Masoretic Text and Targum; Septuagint and Vulgate read ceased to pursue after.

Many Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate read came.

Septuagint manuscripts, Syriac, and Josephus read four.

Following Kethib, Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate; Qere reads my eyes; Targum reads tears of my eyes.

Spelled Jether in 1 Chronicles 2:17 and elsewhere b Following Masoretic Text, some manuscripts of the Septuagint, and Targum; some manuscripts of the Septuagint read Ishmaelite (compare 1 Chronicles 2:17); Vulgate reads of Jezrael.

The ancient versions read 'Protect the young man Absalom for me!'

Masoretic Text reads Chimhan.

Literally man of Belial

Literally him

a Or Merab (compare 1 Samuel 18:19 and 25:44; 2 Samuel 3:14 and 6:23) a Spelled Beth Shean in Joshua 17:11 and elsewhere a Spelled Sippai in 1 Chronicles 20:4

Spelled Jair in 1 Chronicles 20:5

Spelled Shammah in 1 Samuel 16:9 and elsewhere a Compare Psalm 18

Following Masoretic Text, Septuagint, and Targum; Syriac and Vulgate read hills (compare Psalm 18:7).

Following Masoretic Text and Septuagint; many Hebrew manuscripts, Syriac, and Vulgate read He flew (compare Psalm 18:10); Targum reads He spoke with power.

Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate read the cleanness of my hands in His sight (compare Psalm 18:24); Targum reads my cleanness before His word.

Dead Sea Scrolls, Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate read It is God who arms me with strength (compare Psalm 18:32); Targum reads It is God who sustains me with strength.

Following Qere, Septuagint, Syriac, Targum, and Vulgate (compare Psalm 18:32); Kethib reads His.

Following Qere, Septuagint, Syriac, Targum, and Vulgate (compare Psalm 18:33); Kethib reads His.

Following Septuagint, Targum, and Vulgate (compare Psalm 18:45); Masoretic Text reads gird themselves.

Literally One Who Sits in the Seat (compare 1 Chronicles 11:11) b Following Masoretic Text and Targum; Septuagint and Vulgate read the three.

Spelled Dodai in 1 Chronicles 27:4

Following Masoretic Text, Septuagint, and Vulgate; some Hebrew manuscripts and Syriac read thirty; Targum reads the mighty men.

Spelled Hezro in 1 Chronicles 11:37

Following Masoretic Text, Syriac, Targum, and Vulgate; Septuagint reads three (compare 1 Chronicles 21:12).

Or Angel

Spelled Ornan in 1 Chronicles 21:15

That is, a royal dynasty

Literally Son of Hur

Literally Son of Deker

Literally Son of Hesed

Literally Son of Abinadab

Literally Son of Geber

That is, the Euphrates

That is, the Euphrates

Following Masoretic Text and most other authorities; some manuscripts of the Septuagint read four (compare 2 Chronicles 9:25).

Literally them

Following Masoretic Text, Targum, and Vulgate; Septuagint and Syriac read twenty thousand.

Following Masoretic Text, Targum, and Vulgate; Septuagint reads three thousand six hundred.

Literally house, and so frequently throughout this book

Following Masoretic Text, Targum, and Vulgate; Septuagint reads fortieth.

Hebrew heykal; here the main room of the temple, elsewhere called the holy place (compare Exodus 26:33 and Ezekiel 41:1) b Literally it

Hebrew debir; here the inner room of the temple, elsewhere called the Most Holy Place (compare verse 16) a Following Masoretic Text and Vulgate; Septuagint reads upper story; Targum reads ground story.

Literally house

Literally floor, that is, of the upper level

Hebrew Hiram (compare 2 Chronicles 2:13 , 14 ) a Or three thousand (compare 2 Chronicles 4:5 ) a Hebrew Hiram (compare 2

Chronicles 2:13 , 14 ) a Hebrew Hiram (compare 2 Chronicles 2:13 , 14 ) a Literally house , and so in verses 18–20

Literally Good for Nothing

Literally The Landfill

a Literally he (compare 2 Chronicles 8:11) a Hebrew Eloth (compare 2 Kings 14:22) a Or algum (compare 2 Chronicles 9:10, 11) a

Literally ships of Tarshish, deep-sea vessels

Or peacocks

Following Septuagint, Syriac, Targum, and Vulgate (compare 2 Chronicles 9:25); Masoretic Text reads led.

Literally by their hands

Following Masoretic Text and Targum; Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate read he has.

Literally scorpions

Literally scorpions

Literally a house

Septuagint, Syriac, Targum, and Vulgate read showed him.

Literally houses

That is, the Euphrates

Hebrew Asherim, Canaanite deities

Hebrew qadesh, that is, one practicing sodomy and prostitution in religious rituals a Spelled Abijah in 2 Chronicles 12:16ff

Following Masoretic Text, Septuagint, Targum, and Vulgate; some Hebrew manuscripts and Syriac read Abijam.

Hebrew qedeshim, that is, those practicing sodomy and prostitution in religious rituals a A Canaanite goddess

Hebrew Asherah, a Canaanite goddess

Compare Joshua 6:26

A Canaanite goddess

a Genesis 32:28

Or Angel

Or Angel

Following Masoretic Text and Septuagint; some Hebrew manuscripts, Syriac, Targum, and Vulgate read plot of ground (compare 2 Kings 9:36 ).

Or him

Syriac and Targum read they washed his armor.

Hebrew qadesh, that is, one practicing sodomy and prostitution in religious rituals a Or ships of Tarshish

Or Angel

Or Angel

The son of Ahab king of Israel (compare 3:1) a Following Kethib, Septuagint, and Vulgate; Qere, Syriac, and Targum read Amanah.

Spelled Jehoram in verse 16

Literally The Garden House

a 1 Kings 21:23

Following Masoretic Text, Syriac, and Targum; Septuagint reads Samaria; Vulgate reads city.

Or The Shearing House

Literally house, and so elsewhere in this chapter

That is, the Law (compare Exodus 25:16, 21 and Deuteronomy 31:9) a Spelled Joash in 11:2ff

Compare Leviticus 27:2ff

Spelled Jehoash in 12:1ff

Literally The Landfill

Called Zabad in 2 Chronicles 24:26

Called Shimrith in 2 Chronicles 24:26

Spelled Jehoash in 12:1ff

Hebrew Asherah, a Canaanite goddess

Spelled Joash in verse 9

Spelled Joash in verses 12–14, 25

a Deuteronomy 24:16

Spelled Joash in 13:12ff and 2 Chronicles 25:17ff

Called Uzziah in 2 Chronicles 26:1ff, Isaiah 6:1, and elsewhere a 2 Kings 10:30

Called Azariah in 14:21ff and 15:1ff

That is, Tiglath-Pileser III (compare verse 29) a Spelled Jerushah in 2 Chronicles 27:1

Some ancient authorities read Syrians.

Hebrew Asherim, Canaanite deities

Called Abijah in 2 Chronicles 29:1ff

Hebrew Asherah, a Canaanite goddess

Literally Bronze Thing

A title, probably Commander in Chief

b A title, probably Chief Officer

A title, probably Chief of Staff or Governor

Literally Judean

Following many Hebrew manuscripts and ancient versions (compare Isaiah 37:32); Masoretic Text omits of hosts.

Or Angel

Spelled Merodach-Baladan in Isaiah 39:1

Following many Hebrew manuscripts, Syriac, and Targum; Masoretic Text omits all.

Hebrew Asherah, a Canaanite goddess

The gods of the Assyrians

A Canaanite goddess

Abdon the son of Micah in 2 Chronicles 34:20

A Canaanite goddess

The gods of the Assyrians

Hebrew Asherah, a Canaanite goddess

Hebrew qedeshim, that is, those practicing sodomy and prostitution in religious rituals a Kethib reads Sons.

Following Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate; Masoretic Text and Targum omit the LORD.

a 1 Kings 8:29

That is, Jehoahaz

Literally his

Literally he

Or Arabah, that is, the Jordan Valley

Spelled Jezaniah in Jeremiah 40:8

Literally Man of Marduk

Hebrew Qenan

Following Masoretic Text and Vulgate; Septuagint adds the sons of Noah.

Spelled Riphath in Genesis 10:3

Spelled Tarshish in Genesis 10:4

Spelled Dodanim in Genesis 10:4

Spelled Sabtah in Genesis 10:7

Spelled Raamah in Genesis 10:7

Spelled Mash in Genesis 10:23

Literally Division

Spelled Obal in Genesis 10:28

Spelled Hadar in Genesis 25:15

Spelled Zepho in Genesis 36:11

Compare Genesis 36:12

Spelled Alvan in Genesis 36:23

Spelled Shepho in Genesis 36:23

Spelled Hemdan in Genesis 36:26

Spelled Akan in Genesis 36:27

Spelled Hadar in Genesis 36:39

Spelled Pau in Genesis 36:39

Spelled Alvah in Genesis 36:40

Spelled Achan in Joshua 7:1 and elsewhere a Spelled Caleb in 2:18, 42

Spelled Salmon in Ruth 4:21 and Luke 3:32

Spelled Shammah in 1 Samuel 16:9 and elsewhere a Compare 2 Samuel 17:25

Spelled Ephrathah elsewhere

Same as the Manahethites, verse 54

Called Chileab in 2 Samuel 3:3

Spelled Shammua in 14:4 and 2 Samuel 5:14

Spelled Bathsheba in 2 Samuel 11:3

Called Eliam in 2 Samuel 11:3

Spelled Elishua in 14:5 and 2 Samuel 5:15

Spelled Elpelet in 14:5

Spelled Beeliada in 14:7

Spelled Abijam in 1 Kings 15:1

Spelled Jehoram in 2 Kings 1:17 and 8:16

Spelled Jehoash in 2 Kings 12:1

Called Uzziah in Isaiah 6:1

Called Jehoahaz in 2 Kings 23:31

Compare 2 Kings 24:17

Also called Coniah in Jeremiah 22:24 and Jehoiachin in 2 Kings 24:8

Or Jeconiah the captive were

Literally He Will Cause Pain

Septuagint and Vulgate add and Meonothai.

Literally Valley of Craftsmen

Literally she

Or His Judean wife

Literally Plants

Literally Hedges

Called Jachin in Genesis 46:10

Called Zohar in Genesis 46:10

Or Baalath Beer (compare Joshua 19:8) a Hebrew Tilgath-Pilneser

Hebrew Tilgath-Pilneser

Hebrew Gershom (alternate spelling of Gershon, as in verses 1, 17, 20, 43, 62, and 71) a Compare verse 35

Spelled Zuph in verse 35 and 1 Samuel 1:1

Compare verse 34

Compare verse 34

Following Septuagint, Syriac, and Arabic (compare verse 33 and 1 Samuel 8:2) b Hebrew Vasheni

Spelled Elihu in 1 Samuel 1:1

Spelled Tohu in 1 Samuel 1:1

Spelled Holon in Joshua 21:15

Spelled Ain in Joshua 21:16

Spelled Almon in Joshua 21:18

Hebrew Rimmono, alternate spelling of Rimmon; see 4:32

Spelled Puvah in Genesis 46:13

Called Hupham in Numbers 26:39

Spelled Jahzeel in Genesis 46:24

Spelled Shillem in Genesis 46:24

The son of Gilead (compare Numbers 26:30, 31) a Compare verse 12

Literally the second

Compare Numbers 26:30–33

Literally In Tragedy

Hebrew Non

Many Hebrew manuscripts, Bomberg, Septuagint, Targum, and Vulgate read Gazza.

Or Birzavith or Birzoth

Spelled Shemer in verse 34

Spelled Helem in verse 35

Spelled Jether in verse 38

Spelled Ahiram in Numbers 26:38

Called Ard in Numbers 26:40

Spelled Shimeam in 9:38

Also the son of Gibeon (compare 9:36, 39) b Called Jishui in 1 Samuel 14:49

Called Ishbosheth in 2 Samuel 2:8 and elsewhere a Called Mephibosheth in 2 Samuel 4:4

Spelled Jarah in 9:42

Spelled Rephaiah in 9:43

Called Zecher in 8:31

Spelled Shimeah in 8:32

Spelled Tarea in 8:35

Following Arabic, Syriac, Targum, and Vulgate (compare 8:35); Masoretic Text and Septuagint omit and Ahaz.

Spelled Jehoaddah in 8:36

Spelled Raphah in 8:37

Literally The Landfill

Following Qere; Kethib, Septuagint, and Vulgate read the thirty (compare 2 Samuel 23:8).

Following Masoretic Text, Septuagint, and Vulgate; Syriac reads thirty.

Spelled Harodite in 2 Samuel 23:25

Called Paltite in 2 Samuel 23:26

Spelled Heleb in 2 Samuel 23:29 and Heldai in 1 Chronicles 27:15

Spelled Ittai in 2 Samuel 23:29

Spelled Hiddai in 2 Samuel 23:30

Spelled Abi-Albon in 2 Samuel 23:31

Spelled Barhumite in 2 Samuel 23:31

Spelled Beerothite in 2 Samuel 23:37

Called Baale Judah in 2 Samuel 6:2

Called Nachon in 2 Samuel 6:6

Literally Outburst Against Uzza

Spelled Shimea in 3:5

Spelled Elishama in 3:6

Spelled Eliphelet in 3:6

Spelled Eliada in 3:8

Literally Master of Breakthroughs

Following Masoretic Text and Vulgate; Septuagint omits Ben.

Compare verses 8–22 with Psalm 105:1–15

Compare verses 23–33 with Psalm 96:1–13

Compare verse 34 with Psalm 106:1

Compare verses 35, 36 with Psalm 106:47, 48

That is, a royal dynasty

Hebrew Hadarezer, and so throughout chapters 18 and 19

Or seven hundred (compare 2 Samuel 8:4) a Spelled Betah in 2 Samuel 8:8

Spelled Toi in 2 Samuel 8:9, 10

Spelled Joram in 2 Samuel 8:10

Or Syrians (compare 2 Samuel 8:13) a Spelled Seraiah in 2 Samuel 8:17

Hebrew Aram Naharaim

Spelled Zoba in 2 Samuel 10:6

That is, the Euphrates

Spelled Shobach in 2 Samuel 10:16

Or seven hundred (compare 2 Samuel 10:18) b Or horsemen (compare 2 Samuel 10:18) a Septuagint reads cut them.

Spelled Saph in 2 Samuel 21:18

Spelled Jaare-Oregim in 2 Samuel 21:19

Spelled Shimeah in 2 Samuel 21:21 and Shammah in 1 Samuel 16:9

Or seven (compare 2 Samuel 24:13) b Or Angel, and so elsewhere in this chapter

Or He

Or Your

Spelled Araunah in 2 Samuel 24:16

Literally Peaceful

Spelled Libni in Exodus 6:17

Septuagint and Vulgate read Zizah (compare verse 11).

Hebrew Gershom (compare 6:16) a Spelled Shubael in 24:20

Septuagint and Vulgate read Aphses.

Masoretic Text reads Jehezkel.

Spelled Shebuel in 23:16

Spelled Shelomith in 23:18

Supplied from 23:19 (following some Hebrew manuscripts and Septuagint manuscripts) b Supplied from 23:19 (following

some Hebrew manuscripts and Septuagint manuscripts) a Spelled Jesharelah in verse 14

Spelled Jizri in verse 11

Shimei, appearing in one Hebrew and several Septuagint manuscripts, completes the total of six sons (compare verse 17).

Spelled Azarel in verse 18

Spelled Shubael in verse 20

Spelled Jeremoth in verse 22

That is, to increase his power or influence

Spelled Zeri in verse 3

Spelled Asharelah in verse 2

Spelled Uzziel in verse 4

Spelled Shebuel in verse 4

Spelled Jerimoth in verse 4

Hebrew asuppim

Hebrew asuppim

Probably a court or colonnade extending west of the temple

Hebrew Dodai, usually spelled Dodo (compare 2 Samuel 23:9) a Spelled Shammoth in 11:27 and Shammah in 2 Samuel 23:11

Spelled Heled in 11:30 and Heleb in 2 Samuel 23:29

Literally palace

Possibly the same as Jehieli (compare 26:21, 22) a Literally palace

Some authorities read it was there.

Literally by their hands

Hebrew Huram (compare 1 Kings 5:1) a Hebrew Huram (compare 1 Kings 5:1) a Spelled Hiram in 1 Kings 7:13

Literally father (compare 1 Kings 7:13, 14) a Literally He, following Masoretic Text and Vulgate; Septuagint reads the LORD; Targum reads the Angel of the LORD.

Spelled Araunah in 2 Samuel 24:16ff

The main room of the temple; elsewhere called the holy place (compare 1 Kings 6:3) b Following Masoretic Text, Septuagint, and Vulgate; Arabic, some manuscripts of the Septuagint, and Syriac omit one hundred and.

Literally house

Literally house

Or eighteen (compare 1 Kings 7:15; 2 Kings 25:17; and Jeremiah 52:21) a Or two thousand (compare 1 Kings 7:26) a Literally father

Spelled Zaretan in 1 Kings 7:46

Literally house

Compare Psalm 106:1

Literally house, and so in verses 8–10

Literally he (compare 1 Kings 8:22) a Literally house

Compare Psalm 132:8–10

Literally house

Compare Psalm 106:1

Compare Psalm 106:1

That is, the Shihor (compare 1 Chronicles 13:5) a Hebrew Huram (compare 2 Chronicles 2:3) a Following Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate; Masoretic Text reads as far as.

Hebrew Eloth (compare 2 Kings 14:22) a Or almug (compare 1 Kings 10:11, 12) a Or almug (compare 1 Kings 10:11, 12) a Or

three minas (compare 1 Kings 10:17) a Hebrew Huram (compare 1 Kings 10:22) b Literally ships of Tarshish (deep-sea vessels)

Or peacocks

That is, the Euphrates

Literally scorpions

Following many Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate (compare verse 10 and 1 Kings 12:14); Masoretic Text reads I.

Literally scorpions

Literally after them

Literally daughter, but in the broader sense of granddaughter (compare 2 Chronicles 13:2) a Spelled Abijam in 1 Kings 14:31

Spelled Maachah in 11:20, 21 and 1 Kings 15:2

Or Ephron

Following Masoretic Text and Septuagint; Syriac and Vulgate read Azariah the son of Oded (compare verse 1).

A Canaanite deity

Septuagint reads Lord God.

Or him

Septuagint and Vulgate read for the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

Following Masoretic Text and Vulgate; Septuagint reads Meunites (compare 26:7).

Following Masoretic Text, Septuagint, and Vulgate; some Hebrew manuscripts and Old Latin read Edom.

Compare Psalm 106:1

A few Hebrew manuscripts, Old Latin, and Vulgate read garments; Septuagint reads armor.

Literally Blessing

Elsewhere called Ahaziah (compare 2 Chronicles 22:1) a Or twenty-two (compare 2 Kings 8:26) a Also spelled Joram (compare verses 5

and 7; 2 Kings 8:28; and elsewhere) a Some Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint, Syriac, Vulgate, and 2 Kings 8:29 read Ahaziah.

Spelled Jehosheba in 2 Kings 11:2

That is, the Law (compare Exodus 25:16, 21; 31:18) a Literally house

Septuagint and Vulgate read son (compare verses 20–22).

Or Jozachar (compare 2 Kings 12:21) b Or Shomer (compare 2 Kings 12:21) a Deuteronomy 24:16

Spelled Jehoash in 2 Kings 14:8ff

Called Azariah in 2 Kings 14:21ff

Hebrew Eloth

Several Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint, Syriac, Targum, and Arabic read fear.

Literally chief fathers

Spelled Jerusha in 2 Kings 15:33

Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate read king (compare verse 20).

Hebrew Tilgath-Pilneser

Spelled Abi in 2 Kings 18:2

That is, the first month (compare Leviticus 23:5); literally at that time a That is, the temple

Literally mighty men

Following Masoretic Text and Vulgate; Arabic, Septuagint, and Syriac read king.

Literally The Landfill

Literally Judean

Septuagint reads gave them rest; Vulgate reads gave them treasures.

Following Septuagint and Vulgate; Arabic and Syriac omit folds for flocks; Masoretic Text reads flocks for sheepfolds.

Literally brought it straight (compare 2 Kings 20:20) a The gods of the Assyrians

That is, nose hooks (compare 2 Kings 19:28) a Literally words

Septuagint reads the seers.

Literally swords

Literally house

Achbor the son of Michaiah in 2 Kings 22:12

Spelled Tikvah in 2 Kings 22:14

Spelled Harhas in 2 Kings 22:14

Masoretic Text reads Joahaz.

Literally his

Masoretic Text reads Joahaz.

Some Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint, Syriac, and 2 Kings 24:8 read eighteen.

Literally his (compare 2 Kings 24:17) a Compare this chapter with Nehemiah 7:6–73.

Spelled Mispereth in Nehemiah 7:7

Spelled Nehum in Nehemiah 7:7

Spelled Binnui in Nehemiah 7:15

Called Hariph in Nehemiah 7:24

Called Gibeon in Nehemiah 7:25

Called Beth Azmaveth in Nehemiah 7:28

Called Kirjath Jearim in Nehemiah 7:29

Spelled Hodevah in Nehemiah 7:43

Spelled Sia in Nehemiah 7:47

Spelled Nephishesim in Nehemiah 7:52

Spelled Bazlith in Nehemiah 7:54

Spelled Perida in Nehemiah 7:57

Spelled Amon in Nehemiah 7:59

Spelled Addon in Nehemiah 7:61

Literally seed

Or Hakkoz

Hebrew Tirshatha

Spelled Jehozadak in 1 Chronicles 6:14

Spelled Jehozadak in 1 Chronicles 6:14

Or Hodaviah (compare Ezr 2:40) a Following Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate; Masoretic Text reads they stationed the priests.

Compare Psalm 136:1

The original language of Ezra 4:8 through 6:18 is Aramaic.

Literally Then

Or Susa

That is, the Euphrates

Literally and now

Literally and now

Literally and now

Spelled Jehozadak in 1 Chronicles 6:14

That is, the Euphrates

Literally house of the scrolls

Probably Ecbatana, the ancient capital of Media

The original language of Ezra 7:12–26 is Aramaic.

Literally and now

Following Masoretic Text and Vulgate; Septuagint reads the sons of Zatho, Shechaniah.

Following Masoretic Text and Vulgate; Septuagint reads the sons of Banni, Shelomith.

Following Vulgate; Masoretic Text reads to Iddo his brother; Septuagint reads to their brethren.

Spelled Jehozadak in 1 Chronicles 6:14

Or Jeremoth

Or Cheluhi, or Cheluhu

Or Jaasu

Or Jaddu

Or Susa

Literally Him

Literally His

a Leviticus 26:33

a Deuteronomy 30:2–5

That is, the Euphrates, and so elsewhere in this book

Literally house

Literally servant, and so elsewhere in this book

Hebrew Hammeah, also at 12:39

Literally On his hand

Or Hakkoz

Literally necks

Literally throne

Literally the son

Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate read tomb.

Following Masoretic Text and Vulgate; some Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint, and Syriac read Binnui (compare verse 24).

A few Hebrew manuscripts, Syriac, and Vulgate read Zaccai.

Or Hakkoz

Literally Inspection or Recruiting

Literally them

Literally my lap

Following Masoretic Text; Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate read I.

Hebrew Gashmu

Compare verses 6–72 with Ezra 2:1–70

Spelled Mispar in Ezra 2:2

Spelled Bani in Ezra 2:10

Called Jorah in Ezra 2:18

Called Gibbar in Ezra 2:20

Called Azmaveth in Ezra 2:24

Spelled Hodaviah in Ezra 2:40

Spelled Siaha in Ezra 2:44

Masoretic Text reads Lebanah.

Masoretic Text reads Hogabah.

Or Shalmai, or Shamlai

Spelled Nephusim in Ezra 2:50

Spelled Bazluth in Ezra 2:52

Spelled Peruda in Ezra 2:55

Spelled Ami in Ezra 2:57

Spelled Addan in Ezra 2:59

Or Hakkoz

Hebrew Tirshatha

Hebrew Tirshatha

Hebrew Tirshatha

Literally earth on them

Following Masoretic Text and Vulgate; Septuagint reads in Egypt.

Compare Deuteronomy 29:5

Literally corners

Following Masoretic Text and Vulgate; Septuagint omits The land of.

a Leviticus 18:5

Or Hassenuah

Or the son of Haggedolim

Or Michah

Literally at the king's hand

Or Ginnethon (compare verse 16 ) a Or Malluch (compare verse 2 ) b Or Shechaniah (compare verse 3 ) a Or Rehum (compare verse

3 ) b Or Meremoth (compare verse 3 ) a Or Mijamin (compare verse 5 ) b Or Maadiah (compare verse 5 ) a Or Sallu (compare verse 7 ) a Spelled Jehozadak in 1 Chronicles 6:14

Or Mijamin (compare verse 5) a Generally identified with Xerxes I (485–464 B.C.)

Or Susa, and so throughout this book

Hebrew Hege

Literally Who

Same as Jehoiachin, 2 Kings 24:6 and elsewhere a Septuagint adds to destroy the people of Mordecai in one day; Vulgate adds the nation of the Jews should be destroyed.

Following Masoretic Text and Vulgate; Septuagint reads and the lot fell on the fourteenth of the month.

Septuagint adds the text of the letter here.

Septuagint adds a prayer of Mordecai here.

Septuagint adds many extra details in verses 1 and 2.

Literally sons of the swift horses

Septuagint adds the text of the letter here.

Literally it

Literally it

Literally she or it

Literally his

Literally seed. Septuagint and Vulgate add a dream of Mordecai here; Vulgate adds six more chapters.

Literally blessed, but used here in the evil sense, and so in verse 11 and 2:5, 9

Literally the Adversary, and so throughout this book

Literally Sheba (compare 6:19) a Septuagint omits across.

Septuagint, Syriac, Targum, and Vulgate read be joined.

Literally my bread

Septuagint reads They shall not be taken from evil men; Vulgate reads And the armed man shall take him by violence.

Septuagint reads The might shall draw them off; Vulgate reads And the thirsty shall drink up their riches.

Literally my bones

Following Masoretic Text, Targum, and Vulgate; Septuagint and Jewish tradition read to You.

Literally will not be

Hebrew rahab

Or disaster

Literally priests, but not in a technical sense

Literally heart

Literally inscribe a print

Literally He

Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate read him.

Literally plaster over

Septuagint reads a secret thing.

Literally kidneys

Vulgate reads giant.

Literally horn

Following some Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate; Masoretic Text and Targum read all of them.

Literally before the outside, meaning distinguished, famous

A Jewish tradition reads make yourselves strange to me.

Literally belly

Or Sheol

Literally his

Septuagint and Vulgate read bowels; Syriac reads sides; Targum reads breasts.

Vulgate omits the tent.

Septuagint and Syriac read us.

Septuagint reads substance.

The ancient versions suggest defense; Hebrew reads gold as in verse 24.

Following Masoretic Text, Targum, and Vulgate; Septuagint and Syriac read His.

Or Sheol

Literally his

Following Masoretic Text and Vulgate; Septuagint and Syriac read spider (compare 8:14); Targum reads decay.

Following Masoretic Text and Targum; Septuagint and Syriac read But shall not add (that is, do it again); Vulgate reads But take away nothing.

Literally sons of pride, figurative of the great lions

Literally it

Masoretic Text reads wrath; ancient versions and some Hebrew manuscripts read cream (compare 20:17).

Following Masoretic Text, Syriac, and Targum; Septuagint and Vulgate read His.

Literally her (compare verse 16) a Literally loins

Literally light

Following Septuagint, Syriac, Targum, and Vulgate; Masoretic Text reads road.

Literally its strength

Vulgate reads till Job had spoken.

Literally Days, that is, years

Or Men of many years

Literally as your mouth

Or my (Kethib)

Or my (Kethib)

Masoretic Text reads as one without knowledge.

Hebrew qedeshim, that is, those practicing sodomy and prostitution in religious rituals a Literally the world of the earth

Literally Constellations

Literally inward parts

Literally pangs, figurative of offspring

Or a mane

A large animal, exact identity unknown

A large sea creature, exact identity unknown

Or bargain over him

Literally keep silent about

Or purify themselves

Literally Job's captivity, that is, what was captured from Job

Following Masoretic Text and Targum; Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate read rule (compare Revelation 2:27).

Septuagint and Vulgate read Embrace discipline; Targum reads Receive instruction.

Septuagint reads the Lord.

Many Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint, Targum, and Vulgate read made wonderful.

Hebrew nehiloth

Hebrew sheminith

Hebrew Shiggaion

Following Masoretic Text, Targum, and Vulgate; Septuagint reads O Lord my God.

Hebrew Al Gittith

Hebrew Elohim, God; Septuagint, Syriac, Targum, and Jewish tradition translate as angels.

Hebrew Muth Labben

Hebrew Higgaion

Or The upright beholds His countenance

Hebrew sheminith

Following Masoretic Text, Targum, and Vulgate; a few Hebrew manuscripts and Septuagint omit Hailstones and coals of fire.

Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate read sound; Targum reads business.

Hebrew Aijeleth Hashahar

Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate read hoped; Targum reads praised.

Following some Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint, Syriac, Vulgate; Masoretic Text reads Like a lion.

Following Masoretic Text, Septuagint, and Targum; Arabic, Syriac, and Vulgate read Him.

Following Septuagint, Syriac, Targum, and Vulgate; Masoretic Text reads return.

Or he

Or he

Following Masoretic Text and Targum; Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate read the strength of His people.

Following Qere and Targum; Kethib, Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate read from those who descend to the pit.

Or His holiness

Hebrew Maschil

Septuagint, Targum, and Vulgate read in a vessel.

Or Angel

Or Angel

Following Masoretic Text, Septuagint, and Targum; Syriac and Vulgate read I passed by.

Hebrew Maschil

Following Masoretic Text and Vulgate; some Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint, Syriac, and Targum read I see the face of God.

Following Masoretic Text and Targum; a few Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate read The help of my countenance, my God.

Following Masoretic Text and Targum; a few Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate put my God at the end of verse 5 .

Hebrew Maschil

Following Masoretic Text and Targum; Septuagint and Vulgate read and my God.

Following Masoretic Text and Targum; Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate read Who commands.

Hebrew Shoshannim

Hebrew Maschil

Following Masoretic Text and Syriac; Septuagint and Vulgate read Forever.

Septuagint, Syriac, Targum, and Vulgate read Their graves shall be their houses forever.

Following Masoretic Text and Targum; Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate read understand (compare verse 20).

Septuagint, Syriac, Targum, and Vulgate read ran.

Septuagint, Targum, and Vulgate read in Your words.

Hebrew Maschil

Hebrew Maschil

Hebrew neginoth

Hebrew Maschil

Hebrew neginoth

Hebrew Maschil

Hebrew Jonath Elem Rechokim

Hebrew Al Tashcheth

Hebrew Al Tashcheth

Hebrew Al Tashcheth

Following Masoretic Text and Syriac; some Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint, Targum, and Vulgate read my Strength.

Following Qere; some Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint, and Vulgate read My God, His mercy; Kethib, some Hebrew manuscripts and Targum read O God, my mercy; Syriac reads O God, Your mercy.

Following Septuagint and Vulgate; Masoretic Text, Syriac, and Targum read spend the night.

Hebrew Shushan Eduth

Compare verses 5–12 with 108:6–13

Hebrew neginah

Hebrew neginoth

Masoretic Text reads deserts; Targum reads heavens (compare verse 34 and Isaiah 19:1).

Septuagint, Syriac, Targum, and Vulgate read you may dip your foot.

Septuagint, Syriac, Targum, and Vulgate read Command, O God.

Hebrew Shoshannim

Following Masoretic Text, Septuagint, Targum, and Vulgate; some Hebrew manuscripts and Syriac read be appalled (compare 40:15).

Following Masoretic Text and Targum; Septuagint and Vulgate read They shall continue.

Targum reads face bulges; Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate read iniquity bulges.

Hebrew Maschil

Hebrew Al Tashcheth

Hebrew neginoth

That is, Jerusalem

Hebrew Maschil

Hebrew Shoshannim

Hebrew Eduth

That is, the Mediterranean

That is, the Euphrates

Hebrew Al Gittith

Hebrew elohim, mighty ones; that is, the judges

Hebrew elohim, mighty ones; that is, the judges

Hebrew Al Gittith

Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate read The God of gods shall be seen.

Hebrew Maschil

Hebrew Maschil

Following many Hebrew manuscripts; Masoretic Text, Septuagint, Targum, and Vulgate read holy ones.

Septuagint, Targum, and Vulgate read refuge.

That is, one who catches birds in a trap or snare

Or Meribah

Or Massah

Or His holiness

Following Kethib, Septuagint, and Vulgate; Qere, many Hebrew manuscripts, and Targum read we are His.

Compare Job 7:10

Or rock hyrax (compare Leviticus 11:5)

Septuagint, Syriac, Targum, and Vulgate read those who do.

Or Meribah

Compare verses 6–13 with 60:5–12

Hebrew satan

Following Masoretic Text and Targum; Septuagint and Vulgate read be cast out.

Compare Exodus 15:2

Following Masoretic Text, Septuagint, and Vulgate; Targum reads Your words.

That is, persons who catch birds in a trap or snare

Hebrew Jaar

Vulgate and Symmachus read cover.

Following Masoretic Text and Targum; Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate read You are fearfully wonderful.

Septuagint and Vulgate read They take your cities in vain.

Hebrew Maschil

Septuagint and Vulgate read To You I flee.

Following Masoretic Text, Septuagint, and Vulgate; Syriac and Targum read the peoples (compare 18:47).

Following Masoretic Text and Targum; Dead Sea Scrolls, Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate read They.

Literally on the words of Your wondrous works

Following Masoretic Text and Targum; Dead Sea Scrolls, Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate add The Lord is faithful in all His words, And holy in all His works.

Or the grave

Septuagint, Syriac, and Targum read top of the walls; Vulgate reads the head of multitudes.

Or make smooth or straight

Literally navel, figurative of the body

Literally drink or refreshment

Literally light

Or Sheol

That is, one who catches birds in a trap or snare

Literally it

Literally a man's wife, that is, of another

Septuagint, Syriac, and Targum read as a dog to bonds; Vulgate reads as a lamb … to bonds.

Or Sheol

Masoretic Text, Syriac, Targum, and Vulgate read righteousness; Septuagint, Bomberg, and some manuscripts and editions read earth.

A Jewish tradition reads one brought up.

Or Sheol

Literally heart

Or make smooth or straight

Literally hand to hand

Literally A wife of valor

Literally heart

Literally what is swept away

Literally from above himself

Literally talk of the lips

Literally short of spirit

Or Sheol

Hebrew Abaddon

Or vegetables

Or Sheol

Literally fat

Literally hand to hand

Or sacrificial meals

Or makes medicine even better

Literally from the bosom

A Jewish tradition reads wounds.

Following Greek manuscripts, Syriac, Targum, and Vulgate; Masoretic Text reads may come to ruin.

Literally despises, figurative of recklessness or carelessness

Literally to put him to death; a Jewish tradition reads on his crying.

Septuagint and Syriac read bosom; Targum and Vulgate read armpit.

Literally fear or terror which is produced by the king's wrath a Literally evil, evil

Literally the rooms of the belly

Literally the rooms of the belly

Or lamp

Septuagint reads Pursue vanity on the snares of death; Vulgate reads Is vain and foolish, and shall stumble on the snares of death; Targum reads They shall be destroyed, and they shall fall who seek death.

Literally drag them away

Or The way of a man is perverse and strange

Literally in the bosom

Qere and Septuagint read understands.

Literally one who has an evil eye

Or Sheol

Septuagint and Vulgate read Do not deceive.

The Hebrew is difficult; ancient and modern translators differ greatly.

Compare 19:24

Or Sheol

Hebrew Abaddon

Literally soul

Literally spirit

Or prophetic vision

Literally hears the adjuration

Or Sheol

Or hyraxes

Or lizard

Exact identity unknown

A Jewish tradition reads a king against whom there is no uprising.

Literally sons of passing away

a Verses 10 through 31 are an alphabetic acrostic in Hebrew (compare Psalm 119).

Literally a wife of valor, in the sense of all forms of excellence

Or Absurdity, Frustration, Futility, Nonsense; and so throughout this book a Exact meaning unknown

Following Masoretic Text, Targum, and Vulgate; some Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint, and Syriac read without Him.

Septuagint, Syriac, Targum, and Vulgate read Who knows whether the spirit … goes upward, and whether … goes downward to the earth?

Literally voice

Some Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint, and Vulgate read praised.

Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate read good and bad.

Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate read bulwarks.

Targum and Vulgate omit putrefy.

Or spirit

Following Qere and Targum; Kethib reads removed; Septuagint and Vulgate read broken.

Literally masters of the assemblies

A young woman from the town of Shulam or Shunem (compare 6:13). The speaker and audience are identified according to the number, gender, and person of the Hebrew words. Occasionally the identity is not certain.

Masculine singular, that is, the Beloved

Masculine singular, that is, the Beloved

Feminine singular, that is, the Shulamite

Masculine singular, that is, the Beloved

Masculine singular, that is, the Beloved

Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate read wanders.

Feminine singular, that is, the Shulamite

Literally Separation

A portable enclosed chair

Hebrew Ammi Nadib

Hebrew Mahanaim

Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate read lips and teeth.

Or Sheol

Literally A flame of Yah (a poetic form of YHWH, the Lord)

Some ancient versions read the oppressed.

Following Masoretic Text, Septuagint, and Vulgate; some Hebrew manuscripts and Targum read you.

Literally hand

Literally A Remnant Shall Return

Literally God-With-Us

That is, the Euphrates

Literally Speed the Spoil, Hasten the Booty

That is, the Euphrates

Literally God-With-Us

Hebrew Immanuel

Following Qere and Targum; Kethib and Vulgate read not increased joy; Septuagint reads Most of the people You brought down in Your joy.

Following Bomberg; Masoretic Text and Dead Sea Scrolls read YHWH (the Lord).

Following Masoretic Text, Targum, and Vulgate; Septuagint and Syriac read Listen to her, O Anathoth.

Following Masoretic Text and Vulgate; Septuagint, Syriac, and Targum read dry up.

That is, the Euphrates

a Exodus 15:2

Or insolent

Literally Day Star

Hebrew bayith, literally house

Following Masoretic Text, Targum, and Vulgate; Septuagint and Syriac read loins.

Or The Third Eglath, an unknown city (compare Jeremiah 48:34) a Following Masoretic Text and Targum; Dead Sea Scrolls and Vulgate read Dibon; Septuagint reads Rimon.

Following Masoretic Text and Targum; Dead Sea Scrolls and Vulgate read Dibon; Septuagint reads Rimon.

Following Masoretic Text and Vulgate; Septuagint reads It shall be forsaken forever; Targum reads Its cities shall be forsaken and desolate.

Hebrew Asherim, Canaanite deities

Septuagint reads Hivites; Targum reads laid waste; Vulgate reads as the plows.

Septuagint reads Amorites; Targum reads in ruins; Vulgate reads corn.

Following Dead Sea Scrolls, Septuagint, and Vulgate; Masoretic Text omits From; Targum reads To.

That is, the Nile

That is, ancient Memphis

Compare Isaiah 9:14–16

a Some Hebrew manuscripts, Arabic, Dead Sea Scrolls, Targum, and Vulgate read Sun; Septuagint reads Asedek (literally Righteousness).

Or the Commander in Chief

Dead Sea Scrolls read Then the observer cried.

Septuagint omits he will pull you down; Syriac, Targum, and Vulgate read I will pull you down.

Hebrew Kittim, western lands, especially Cyprus

Following Masoretic Text and Vulgate; Septuagint and Targum read Passing over the water; Dead Sea Scrolls read Your messengers passing over the sea.

That is, the Nile

That is, the Nile

Or Rock of Ages

Following Masoretic Text and Vulgate; Syriac and Targum read their dead bodies; Septuagint reads those in the tombs.

Following Masoretic Text (Kittel's Biblia Hebraica), Bomberg, and Vulgate; Masoretic Text (Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia), some Hebrew manuscripts, and Septuagint read delight; Targum reads choice vineyard.

Hebrew Asherim, Canaanite deities

That is, the Euphrates

That is, Jerusalem

Literally Rahab Sits Idle

Septuagint omits their; Syriac, Targum, and Vulgate read our.

Following Masoretic Text and Vulgate; Dead Sea Scrolls read witnesses; Septuagint omits cities; Targum reads They have been removed from their cities.

A title, probably Chief of Staff or Governor

Literally Judean

Or Angel

Hebrew YAH, YAH

Following some Hebrew manuscripts; Masoretic Text and Vulgate read rest; Septuagint omits among the inhabitants of the world; Targum reads land.

Following Bomberg; Masoretic Text and Dead Sea Scrolls read Lord.

Following Masoretic Text and Vulgate; Dead Sea Scrolls and Targum read And shall I say to Him; Septuagint omits first half of this verse.

Spelled Berodach-Baladan in 2 Kings 20:12

Following Masoretic Text, Targum, and Vulgate; Septuagint omits in the desert.

Following Masoretic Text and Targum; Dead Sea Scrolls, Septuagint, and Vulgate read I.

Following Masoretic Text, Septuagint, and Vulgate; Dead Sea Scrolls read waters of the sea; Targum reads waters of the world.

Following Masoretic Text and Vulgate; Dead Sea Scrolls, Syriac, and Targum read nothing; Septuagint omits the first line.

Dead Sea Scrolls and Septuagint read mountains; Targum reads I will trample down the walls; Vulgate reads I will humble the great ones of the earth.

The Hebrew verb is singular.

Qere, Dead Sea Scrolls, and Septuagint read is gathered to Him; Kethib reads is not gathered.

Dead Sea Scrolls, Septuagint, Targum, and Vulgate read builders.

Following Masoretic Text and Targum; Dead Sea Scrolls, Syriac, and Vulgate read the mighty; Septuagint reads unjustly.

Literally your soul

Dead Sea Scrolls read Mock; Septuagint reads Marvel and wail; Targum reads Boast themselves; Vulgate reads Treat them unjustly.

Or startle

Literally he or He

Following Masoretic Text, Targum, and Vulgate; Dead Sea Scrolls and Septuagint read From the labor of His soul He shall see light.

Literally him

Literally hand, a euphemism

Literally My Delight Is in Her

Literally Married

Literally Troop or Fortune, a pagan deity

Literally Number or Destiny, a pagan deity

Following Masoretic Text and Targum; Septuagint reads Put (compare Jeremiah 46:9).

Hebrew Kittim, western lands, especially Cyprus

In the northern Arabian desert, representative of the eastern cultures

That is, Memphis in ancient Egypt

That is, the Euphrates

a Psalm 135:7

a Exodus 3:8

Or thicket

Literally shepherds or pastors

Hebrew Perath

Following Masoretic Text and Vulgate; Septuagint, Syriac, and Targum read cause you to serve (compare 17:4).

Hebrew Asherim, Canaanite deities

Qere and Targum read see.

Following Septuagint, Syriac, Targum, and Vulgate; Masoretic Text reads look them in.

Literally Fear on Every Side

Hebrew Nebuchadrezzar, and so elsewhere

Or Babylonians

Also called Jehoahaz

Also called Jeconiah and Jehoiachin

Hebrew YHWH Tsidkenu

Septuagint, Targum, and Vulgate read 'You are the burden.'

A code word for Babylon (compare 51:41) a Literally house

Compare Micah 3:12

Following Masoretic Text, Targum, and Vulgate; some Hebrew manuscripts, Arabic, and Syriac read Zedekiah (compare 27:3, 12; 28:1).

Septuagint omits verse 1.

Following Masoretic Text, Targum, and Vulgate; Septuagint and Syriac read and I turned away from them.

Literally mouth to mouth

a Exodus 3:8

Compare Isaiah 22:10

Compare 2 Kings 23:14

Compare 23:5, 6

Literally mouth to mouth

Literally from Jeremiah's mouth

Literally from my mouth

Literally with his mouth

Hebrew Hammelech

Literally from Jeremiah's mouth

Literally from Jeremiah's mouth

Same as Jehucal (compare 37:3) a Compare 21:9

Hebrew Hammelech

a A title, probably Chief Officer; also verse 13

A title, probably Troop Commander; also verse 13

Or the Arabah, that is, the Jordan Valley

Spelled Jaazaniah in 2 Kings 25:23

Following Masoretic Text and Targum; Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate read He.

Literally House of the Sun, ancient On; later called Heliopolis

That is, ancient Memphis

Literally from Jeremiah's mouth

That is, ancient Memphis

That is, ancient Memphis

A sun god

That is, ancient Thebes

Hebrew Misgab

A city of Moab

Following Masoretic Text, Targum, and Vulgate; Septuagint reads Proclaim it in Zoar.

Or Aroer, a city of Moab

The Hebrew uses masculine and feminine pronouns interchangeably in this chapter.

Following Dead Sea Scrolls, Septuagint, and Vulgate; Masoretic Text reads He.

Or The Third Eglath, an unknown city (compare Isaiah 15:5) a Hebrew Malcam, literally their king, a god of the

Ammonites; also called Molech (compare verse 3) a Compare Obadiah 5, 6

Compare Obadiah 3, 4

Or thicket

Compare Amos 1:4

A Babylonian god; sometimes spelled Marduk

Following some Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint, and Syriac; Masoretic Text, Targum, and Vulgate read a warrior who makes childless.

Qere, some Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint, and Targum add to her.

Following Masoretic Text and Targum; Septuagint and Vulgate read The time of your punishment.

Following Masoretic Text, Targum, and Vulgate; Syriac reads sword; Septuagint omits A drought is.

Or thicket

A code word for Chaldea (Babylonia); may be translated The Midst of Those Who Rise Up Against Me a Psalm 135:7

A code word for Babylon (compare Jeremiah 25:26) a Or the Arabah, that is, the Jordan Valley

Or Awil-Marduk

Vulgate reads her Sabbaths.

Septuagint and Vulgate read moved or removed.

Following Masoretic Text and Targum; Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate read watched over.

Vulgate reads a span long.

Literally kidneys

Septuagint reads put to death.

A Jewish tradition reads sorrow of.

Or nobles

Targum reads anger.

Literally necks

Following Masoretic Text, Septuagint, and Vulgate; Syriac and Targum read a vision.

Or Babylonians, and so elsewhere in this book

Literally living creature; Septuagint and Vulgate read spirit of life; Targum reads creatures.

Literally living creature; Septuagint and Vulgate read spirit of life; Targum reads creatures.

Following Septuagint, Targum, and Vulgate; Masoretic Text reads living creature.

Following Masoretic Text, Septuagint, Targum, and Vulgate; many Hebrew manuscripts and Syriac read but have done (compare 11:12).

Septuagint, Syriac, Targum, and Vulgate read you.

Literally house

Literally house, also in verses 4 and 18

Literally they

Literally they

Literally they

Literally you

Or Babylon, and so elsewhere in this book

Literally over all the joints of My hands; Vulgate reads under every elbow; Septuagint and Targum read on all elbows of the hands.

Following Septuagint, Syriac, Targum, and Vulgate; Masoretic Text reads were agitated with Me.

Vulgate reads you saw; Septuagint reads he saw; Targum reads as was revealed to Me.

Following Masoretic Text, Septuagint, Targum, and Vulgate; many Hebrew manuscripts and Syriac read Edom.

Following Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate; Masoretic Text and Targum read one.

Following Masoretic Text and Vulgate; many Hebrew manuscripts and Syriac read choice men; Targum reads mighty men; Septuagint omits All his fugitives.

Following Masoretic Text, Targum, and Vulgate; Septuagint reads iniquity (compare verse 8).

Septuagint reads He stood in insolence; Targum reads He destroyed its palaces; Vulgate reads He learned to make widows.

Literally blood, following Masoretic Text, Syriac, and Vulgate; Septuagint reads like a flower on a pomegranate tree; Targum reads in your likeness.

a Exodus 3:8

a Leviticus 18:5

a Leviticus 18:5

a Exodus 3:8

a Leviticus 18:5

Literally High Place

Hebrew Negev

Following Masoretic Text, Syriac, and Vulgate; Septuagint reads showered upon.

Following Masoretic Text and Vulgate; Septuagint reads princes; Targum reads scribes.

Literally Her Own Tabernacle

Literally My Tabernacle Is in Her

Septuagint, Syriac, Targum, and Vulgate read I.

Hebrew Nebuchadrezzar, and so elsewhere in this book

Hebrew Kittim, western lands, especially Cyprus

Hebrew Lud

Hebrew Put

That is, the Nile

Following Masoretic Text, Septuagint, and Vulgate; some Hebrew manuscripts and Targum read buried.

Following Masoretic Text and Vulgate; Septuagint and Syriac read hand.

Or tower

Hebrew Put

Hebrew Lud

That is, ancient Memphis

That is, ancient Thebes

That is, ancient Pelusium

That is, ancient On (Heliopolis)

Spelled Tahpanhes in Jeremiah 43:7 and elsewhere b Following many Hebrew manuscripts, Bomberg, Septuagint, Syriac, Targum, and Vulgate; Masoretic Text reads refrained.

Hebrew armon

Targum, Vulgate, and Aquila read chief prince of (also verse 3).

Hebrew Cush

Hebrew Put

Targum, Vulgate and Aquila read chief prince of.

Literally The Multitude of Gog

Literally those who pass through

Literally house, and so elsewhere in this book

Following Septuagint; Masoretic Text and Vulgate read eastern.

Hebrew heykal, here the main room of the temple, sometimes called the holy place (compare Exodus 26:33) a Literally house, here the Most Holy Place

Compare 40:5

Some Hebrew manuscripts and Vulgate read He.

Following Masoretic Text, Targum, and Vulgate; Septuagint reads a possession, cities of dwelling.

Hebrew Negev

Hebrew Negev

Hebrew YHWH Shammah

Hebrew Melzar, also in verse 16

Literally talked with them

The original language of Daniel 2:4b through 7:28 is Aramaic.

Literally of the sons of the captivity

Or sides

Or baked clay, and so in verses 34, 35, and 42

That is, the king's court

Or a son of the gods

Or angel

Possibly seven years, and so in verses 23, 25, and 32

Literally days

Literally untying knots, and so in verse 16

Literally of the sons of the captivity

Literally palm

Literally a mina (50 shekels) from the verb "to number"

Literally a shekel from the verb "to weigh"

Literally and half-shekels from the verb "to divide"

Aramaic Paras, consonant with Peres

Literally of the sons of the captivity

Exact meaning unknown

Literally the head (or chief) of the words

Or judgment

Representing their kingdoms (compare verse 23) a Literally wear out

Literally the word

Literally evening-mornings

Literally king, representing his kingdom (compare 7:17, 23) a Literally hand

Literally hand

Literally sevens, and so throughout the chapter

Following Qere, Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate; Kethib and Theodotion read To seal up.

Or open square

Or moat

Or and of great conflict

Hebrew Hiddekel

Theodotion and Vulgate read the son; Septuagint reads a hand.

Literally arm

Literally arm

Or molded images

Or robbers, literally sons of breakage

Literally arms

Literally hand

Or bring equitable terms

Literally arms

Hebrew Kittim, western lands, especially Cyprus

Literally arms

Or gods

Literally No-Mercy

Or That I may forgive them at all

Literally Not-My-People

Hebrew lo-ammi (compare verse 9) a Hebrew Ammi (compare 1:9, 10) b Hebrew Ruhamah (compare 1:6) a Hebrew Ishi

Hebrew Baali

Literally God Will Sow

Hebrew lo-ruhamah

Hebrew lo-ammi

Literally friend or husband

Following Masoretic Text, Septuagint, and Vulgate; scribal tradition, Syriac, and Targum read They will change.

Following Masoretic Text, Septuagint, Syriac, Targum, and Vulgate; scribal tradition reads My glory.

Compare Deuteronomy 23:18

Hebrew is difficult; a Jewish tradition reads Her rulers shamefully love, 'Give!'

Or like Adam

Following Masoretic Text and Vulgate; Syriac and Targum read Their anger; Septuagint reads Ephraim.

Following Masoretic Text and Targum; Vulgate reads thought upon; Septuagint reads slashed themselves for (compare 1 Kings 18:28 ).

Following Masoretic Text, Syriac, and Targum; Septuagint omits They rebel against Me; Vulgate reads They departed from Me.

Or upward

Hebrew shophar, ram's horn

Or begin to diminish

Or oracle

Or palaces

That is, one who catches birds in a trap or snare

Literally calves

So read many Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint, and Vulgate; Masoretic Text reads unruliness.

Or in their two habitations

Following Masoretic Text and Vulgate; Septuagint reads Just as I called them; Targum interprets as I sent prophets to a thousand of them.

Following Masoretic Text, Targum, and Vulgate; Septuagint reads from My face.

Some Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate read My arms.

Literally cords of a man

Literally jaws

Or upward

Or I will not enter a city

Or holy ones

Compare Genesis 32:28

Or those who offer human sacrifice

Literally it or he destroyed you

Literally in your help

Septuagint, Syriac, Targum, and Vulgate read Where is your king?

Or Sheol

Septuagint reads where is your punishment?

Or Sheol

Septuagint reads where is your sting?

Septuagint reads shall be disfigured

Literally bull calves; Septuagint reads fruit.

Literally remembrance

Exact identity of these locusts is unknown.

Septuagint and Vulgate read are made desolate.

Septuagint, Targum, and Vulgate read gather blackness.

Literally his own highway

That is, they are not halted by losses

Or the teacher of righteousness

Compare 1:4

Literally Shebaites (compare Isaiah 60:6 and Ezekiel 27:22) a Compare 2 Kings 3:4

Or trample on

Following Masoretic Text; Septuagint reads Assyria.

The Hebrew is uncertain.

Literally their lords or their masters

Or years (compare Deuteronomy 14:28) a Or His

A pagan deity

Septuagint and Vulgate read tabernacle of Moloch.

A pagan deity

Literally bones

Literally Nothing

Literally Horns, symbol of strength

Compare 2 Kings 3:4

Or trample on (compare 2:7) a That is, the Nile; some Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint, Syriac, Targum, and Vulgate read River; Masoretic Text reads the light.

Or Ashima, a Syrian goddess

Or Sheol

That is, the Nile

Literally booth, figure of a deposed dynasty

Septuagint reads mankind.

Or wound, or plot

Literally On the day he became a foreigner

Hebrew Negev

Hebrew Negev

Or deliverers

Literally from upon them

Exact meaning unknown

Hebrew kikayon, exact identity unknown

Literally House of Dust

Literally Going Out

Literally was sick

Literally Possession of Gath

Literally Lie

Literally Inheritance

Literally one casting a surveyor's line

Literally to these

Vulgate reads He shall not take shame.

Hebrew Bozrah

Literally them

Literally house

Compare Isaiah 2:2–4

Hebrew Asherim, Canaanite deities

Or obeyed

Hebrew Shittim (compare Numbers 25:1; Joshua 2:1; 3:1) a Or Emptiness or Humiliation

Targum and Vulgate read You shall take hold.

Following Masoretic Text, Targum, and Vulgate; Septuagint reads of nations.

Or the boundary shall be extended

Literally he, collective of the captives

Hebrew arey mazor, possibly cities of Egypt

Hebrew mazor, possibly Egypt

That is, the Euphrates

Literally him, collective for the captives

Literally their

Or oracle

Targum reads burns.

Vulgate reads He who destroys.

Literally the cypresses are shaken; Septuagint and Syriac read the horses rush about; Vulgate reads the drivers are stupefied.

Hebrew Huzzab

Compare Joel 2:6

Literally her

That is, ancient Thebes; Targum and Vulgate read populous Alexandria.

Literally rivers, that is, the Nile and the surrounding canals

Septuagint reads her.

Or oracle

Literally spirit or wind

Or Sheol

Syriac and Vulgate read thick clay.

Literally those who bite you

Literally for what satisfies fire, that is, for what is of no lasting value a Literally Attaching or Joining

Dead Sea Scrolls and Septuagint read And reel!; Syriac and Vulgate read And fall fast asleep!

Exact meaning unknown

Literally rods or tribes (compare verse 14) a Hebrew YHWH Adonai

Figurative of idols

Hebrew chemarim

Or Malcam, an Ammonite god, also called Molech (compare Leviticus 18:21) a Literally set apart, consecrated

Compare 1 Samuel 5:5

Literally Mortar, a market district of Jerusalem

Literally on their lees, that is, settled like the dregs of wine

Or shameless

Literally excavations, either underground huts or cisterns

Septuagint and Syriac read for witness; Targum reads for the day of My revelation for judgment; Vulgate reads for the day of My resurrection that is to come.

Some Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint, and Bomberg read see; Masoretic Text and Vulgate read fear.

Literally house, and so in verse 8

Literally house, and so in verses 7 and 9

Or the desire of all nations

Literally these

Literally house

Literally into the hands of

Hebrew ephah, a measuring container, and so elsewhere

Literally stone

That is, Babylon

Following Masoretic Text, Targum, and Vulgate; Syriac reads for Heldai (compare verse 10); Septuagint reads for the patient ones.

Literally they (compare verse 5) b Or Sar-Ezer

Hebrew Bethel

Hebrew Negev

Literally his

Or oracle

a Psalm 72:8

Or His

Or His

That is, spring rain

Hebrew teraphim

Or despot

That is, the Nile

Or floodplain, thicket

Following Masoretic Text, Targum, and Vulgate; Septuagint reads for the Canaanites.

Or Grace, and so in verse 10

Or Unity, and so in verse 14

Following Masoretic Text, Targum, and Vulgate; Septuagint reads the Canaanites.

Or oracle

Hebrew Megiddon

Or hands

Or you; Septuagint, Targum, and Vulgate read Him.

Compare Deuteronomy 6:4

Literally She

Or on every pot … shall be (engraved) "HOLINESS TO THE LORD OF HOSTS"

Or oracle

Following Bomberg; Masoretic Text reads LORD.

Or true instruction

Talmud and Vulgate read teacher and student.

Literally special treasure

Words in italic type have been added for clarity. They are not found in the original Greek.

NU-Text reads Asaph.

NU-Text reads Amos.

a Isaiah 7:14 . Words in oblique type in the New Testament are quoted from the Old Testament.

NU-Text reads a Son.

a Micah 5:2

a Hosea 11:1

a Jeremiah 31:15

a Isaiah 40:3

M-Text omits and fire.

Or he

a Deuteronomy 8:3

a Psalm 91:11 , 12

a Deuteronomy 6:16

M-Text reads Get behind Me.

b Deuteronomy 6:13

a Isaiah 9:1 , 2

a Exodus 20:13 ; Deuteronomy 5:17

NU-Text omits without a cause.

NU-Text and M-Text omit to those of old.

b Exodus 20:14 ; Deuteronomy 5:18

Or fornication

a Exodus 21:24 ; Leviticus 24:20; Deuteronomy 19:21

Compare Leviticus 19:18

NU-Text omits three clauses from this verse, leaving, "But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you."

M-Text reads friends.

NU-Text reads Gentiles.

NU-Text omits openly.

NU-Text omits openly.

NU-Text omits For Yours through Amen.

NU-Text and M-Text omit openly.

NU-Text and M-Text read How … !

NU-Text and M-Text read Him.

a Isaiah 53:4

NU-Text reads Gadarenes.

NU-Text reads send us.

NU-Text reads were afraid.

a Hosea 6:6

NU-Text omits to repentance.

NU-Text brackets often as disputed.

NU-Text omits among the people.

NU-Text and M-Text read harassed.

NU-Text omits Lebbaeus, whose surname was.

NU-Text reads Cananaean.

NU-Text reads raise the dead, cleanse the lepers; M-Text omits raise the dead.

NU-Text and M-Text read Beelzebul.

a Micah 7:6

NU-Text reads by for two of.

a Malachi 3:1

NU-Text reads works.

NU-Text reads will you be exalted to heaven? No, you will be.

a Hosea 6:6

NU-Text and M-Text omit even.

NU-Text brackets multitudes as disputed.

a Isaiah 42:1–4

NU-Text omits blind and.

NU-Text and M-Text read Beelzebul.

NU-Text and M-Text omit of his heart.

NU-Text and M-Text read would.

b Isaiah 6:9 , 10

Greek sata, approximately two pecks in all

a Psalm 78:2

NU-Text omits Jesus said to them.

NU-Text omits Lord.

Or for

NU-Text reads Joseph.

NU-Text reads many furlongs away from the land.

NU-Text brackets that and boisterous as disputed.

NU-Text omits came and.

NU-Text reads came to land at.

a Exodus 20:12 ; Deuteronomy 5:16

b Exodus 21:17

NU-Text omits or mother.

NU-Text reads word.

NU-Text omits draw near to Me with their mouth, And.

a Isaiah 29:13

NU-Text reads Magadan.

NU-Text omits Hypocrites.

NU-Text omits the prophet.

NU-Text reads you have no bread.

Or will have been bound … will have been loosed

NU-Text reads I will.

NU-Text omits first.

Literally moonstruck

NU-Text reads little faith.

NU-Text omits this verse.

NU-Text reads gathering together.

NU-Text reads Capharnaum (here and elsewhere).

Greek stater, the exact amount to pay the temple tax (didrachma) for two a NU-Text omits this verse.

a Deuteronomy 19:15

NU-Text and M-Text read Again, assuredly, I say.

NU-Text omits at his feet.

NU-Text and M-Text omit all.

NU-Text omits his trespasses.

NU-Text reads created.

b Genesis 1:27 ; 5:2

a Genesis 2:24

Or fornication

NU-Text omits Good.

NU-Text reads Why do you ask Me about what is good?

NU-Text reads There is One who is good.

a Exodus 20:12–16 ; Deuteronomy 5:16–20

b Leviticus 19:18

NU-Text omits from my youth.

NU-Text omits or wife.

NU-Text omits idle.

NU-Text omits the last clause of this verse.

NU-Text omits the last sentence of this verse.

NU-Text omits and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with.

NU-Text omits and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with.

M-Text reads Bethsphage.

NU-Text omits All.

a Zechariah 9:9

NU-Text reads and He sat.

a Psalm 118:26

NU-Text omits of God.

a Isaiah 56:7

b Jeremiah 7:11

a Psalm 8:2

a Psalm 118:22 , 23

NU-Text omits take him away, and.

NU-Text omits of God.

a Exodus 3:6 , 15

a Deuteronomy 6:5

a Leviticus 19:18

a Psalm 110:1

NU-Text omits to observe.

NU-Text omits the Christ.

NU-Text omits this verse.

NU-Text reads sanctified.

M-Text reads dwelt.

M-Text reads unrighteousness.

a Psalm 118:26

NU-Text omits all.

NU-Text omits pestilences.

a Daniel 11:31 ; 12:11

Or He

NU-Text adds nor the Son.

NU-Text reads day.

NU-Text omits his coming.

NU-Text omits is coming.

NU-Text omits the rest of this verse.

NU-Text omits holy.

NU-Text and M-Text omit Him.

NU-Text omits the scribes.

M-Text reads gave thanks for.

NU-Text omits new.

a Zechariah 13:7

NU-Text reads if this may not pass away unless.

M-Text reads die.

NU-Text omits the elders.

NU-Text puts a comma after but found none, does not capitalize Even, and omits they found none.

NU-Text omits false witnesses.

NU-Text omits Pontius.

a Jeremiah 32:6–9

NU-Text reads Jesus Barabbas.

NU-Text omits just.

NU-Text omits sour.

NU-Text and M-Text omit the rest of this verse.

b Psalm 22:18

M-Text reads with the scribes, the Pharisees, and the elders.

NU-Text reads He is the King of Israel!

NU-Text and M-Text read we will believe in Him.

a Psalm 22:1

NU-Text reads Joseph.

NU-Text omits by night.

NU-Text omits from the door.

NU-Text omits the first clause of this verse.

M-Text omits therefore.

NU-Text omits Amen.

NU-Text reads Isaiah the prophet.

b Malachi 3:1

a Isaiah 40:3

NU-Text reads out of.

NU-Text omits of the kingdom.

NU-Text reads What is this? A new doctrine with authority.

NU-Text omits Immediately.

NU-Text reads of the.

NU-Text omits to repentance.

NU-Text omits as whole as the other.

NU-Text adds whom He also named apostles.

NU-Text omits to heal sicknesses and.

NU-Text reads and He appointed the twelve: Simon, … .

NU-Text and M-Text add and Your sisters.

NU-Text and M-Text omit of the air.

NU-Text and M-Text omit to them.

a Isaiah 6:9 , 10

NU-Text reads Have you still no faith?

NU-Text reads Gerasenes.

NU-Text adds anymore.

NU-Text reads And He gave.

NU-Text reads whatever place.

NU-Text omits the rest of this verse.

NU-Text and M-Text omit or.

NU-Text and M-Text read they.

NU-Text reads something to eat and omits the rest of this verse.

NU-Text and M-Text omit about.

NU-Text omits when and they found fault.

a Isaiah 29:13

NU-Text omits the rest of this verse.

a Exodus 20:12 ; Deuteronomy 5:16

b Exodus 21:17

NU-Text omits this verse.

NU-Text ends quotation with eliminated, setting off the final clause as Mark's comment that Jesus has declared all foods clean.

NU-Text omits and Sidon.

NU-Text and M-Text read they.

NU-Text omits still.

NU-Text reads "Do not even go into the town."

a NU-Text reads " 'If You can!' All things… ."

NU-Text omits and fasting.

M-Text reads against you is on your side.

NU-Text omits this verse.

NU-Text omits the last clause of verse 45 and all of verse 46.

a Isaiah 66:24

NU-Text omits the rest of this verse.

a Genesis 1:27 ; 5:2

a Genesis 2:24

a Exodus 20:12–16 ; Deuteronomy 5:16–20

NU-Text omits for those who trust in riches.

NU-Text omits or wife.

M-Text reads Bethsphage.

NU-Text and M-Text read a.

a Psalm 118:26

NU-Text omits in the name of the Lord.

a Isaiah 56:7

b Jeremiah 7:11

NU-Text omits this verse.

NU-Text omits and at him they threw stones.

a Psalm 118:22 , 23

a Exodus 3:6 , 15

NU-Text reads seeing.

a Deuteronomy 6:4 , 5

NU-Text omits this sentence.

a Leviticus 19:18

NU-Text omits with all the soul.

a Psalm 110:1

Greek lepta, very small copper coins worth a fraction of a penny

NU-Text omits and troubles.

NU-Text and M-Text read will stand.

NU-Text omits or premeditate.

a Daniel 11:31 ; 12:11

NU-Text omits spoken of by Daniel the prophet.

Or He

NU-Text omits this sentence.

NU-Text omits eat.

NU-Text omits new.

NU-Text omits because of Me this night.

b Zechariah 13:7

NU-Text reads received Him with slaps.

NU-Text omits and your speech shows it.

NU-Text reads of which they accuse You.

NU-Text reads going up.

a Isaiah 53:12

NU-Text omits this verse.

M-Text reads believe Him.

a Psalm 22:1

NU-Text reads that He thus breathed His last.

NU-Text and M-Text omit quickly.

NU-Text reads and in their hands they will.

Verses 9–20 are bracketed in NU-Text as not original. They are lacking in Codex Sinaiticus and Codex Vaticanus, although nearly all other manuscripts of Mark contain them.

Or are most surely believed

a Malachi 4:5 , 6

NU-Text omits blessed are you among women.

NU-Text omits when she saw him.

NU-Text reads shall visit.

NU-Text omits wife.

NU-Text omits behold.

NU-Text reads toward men of goodwill.

NU-Text omits widely.

NU-Text reads for His circumcision.

a Exodus 13:2 , 12, 15

a Leviticus 12:8

NU-Text reads And His father and mother.

NU-Text reads a widow until she was eighty-four.

NU-Text reads to God.

NU-Text omits in spirit.

NU-Text reads And His parents.

NU-Text and M-Text read in the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas.

a Isaiah 40:3–5

NU-Text reads his brother's wife.

This and several other names in the genealogy are spelled somewhat differently in the NU-Text. Since the New King James Version uses the Old Testament spelling for persons mentioned in the New Testament, these variations, which come from the Greek, have not been footnoted.

NU-Text reads in.

a Deuteronomy 8:3

NU-Text omits but by every word of God.

NU-Text reads And taking Him up, he showed Him.

NU-Text omits Get behind Me, Satan.

NU-Text and M-Text omit For.

c Deuteronomy 6:13

a Psalm 91:11 , 12

a Deuteronomy 6:16

NU-Text omits to heal the brokenhearted.

a Isaiah 61:1 , 2

Here and elsewhere the NU-Text spelling is Capharnaum.

Greek Sarepta

NU-Text omits the Christ.

NU-Text reads Judea.

NU-Text reads present with Him to heal.

NU-Text reads But the Pharisees and their scribes.

NU-Text omits Why do, making the verse a statement.

NU-Text reads No one tears a piece from a new garment and puts it on an old one.

NU-Text omits and both are preserved.

NU-Text omits immediately.

NU-Text reads good.

NU-Text reads on a Sabbath.

M-Text reads to kill.

NU-Text and M-Text read to him.

NU-Text omits as whole as the other.

NU-Text and M-Text omit to you.

M-Text omits all.

NU-Text omits treasure of his heart.

NU-Text reads for it was well built.

NU-Text reads collapsed.

NU-Text omits who had been sick.

NU-Text reads the Lord.

a Malachi 3:1

NU-Text reads there is none greater than John.

NU-Text and M-Text omit And the Lord said.

NU-Text and M-Text read them.

a Isaiah 6:9

NU-Text reads Gerasenes.

NU-Text reads who had demons and for a long time wore no clothes.

NU-Text reads Gerasenes.

NU-Text omits and those with him.

NU-Text omits and You say, 'Who touched Me?'

NU-Text omits be of good cheer.

NU-Text adds anymore.

NU-Text adds with Him.

NU-Text and M-Text read Peter, John, and James.

NU-Text omits put them all outside.

M-Text omits daily.

NU-Text reads This is My Son, the Chosen One.

NU-Text reads you.

NU-Text reads your.

NU-Text omits just as Elijah did.

NU-Text omits the rest of this verse.

NU-Text omits the first sentence of this verse.

NU-Text reads seventy-two others.

NU-Text reads our feet.

NU-Text and M-Text omit But.

NU-Text reads will you be exalted to heaven? You will be thrust down to Hades!

NU-Text reads seventy-two.

NU-Text and M-Text omit rather.

M-Text reads And turning to the disciples He said, "All … .

a Deuteronomy 6:5

b Leviticus 19:18

NU-Text omits when he departed.

NU-Text reads the Lord's.

NU-Text reads the Lord.

NU-Text omits Our and in heaven.

NU-Text omits the rest of this verse.

NU-Text omits But deliver us from the evil one.

NU-Text omits the words from bread through for in the next sentence.

NU-Text and M-Text read Beelzebul.

NU-Text omits the prophet.

NU-Text omits scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites.

NU-Text reads And when He left there.

NU-Text omits and seeking and that they might accuse Him.

Greek assarion, a coin of very small value

NU-Text reads all covetousness.

NU-Text reads His kingdom, and these things.

NU-Text reads he would not have allowed.

NU-Text reads And if it bears fruit after that, well. But if not, you can cut it down.

NU-Text and M-Text read Hypocrites.

NU-Text omits large.

Greek sata, approximately two pecks in all

NU-Text reads In that very hour.

NU-Text and M-Text omit assuredly.

b Psalm 118:26

NU-Text adds or not.

NU-Text and M-Text read son.

M-Text reads dinner.

Greek drachma, a valuable coin often worn in a ten-piece garland by married women a NU-Text reads Quickly bring.

Greek batos, eight or nine gallons each (Old Testament bath) a Greek koros, ten or twelve bushels each (Old Testament kor) a NU-Text reads it fails.

NU-Text reads with what fell.

NU-Text omits against you.

M-Text omits to you.

NU-Text ends verse with commanded; M-Text omits him.

NU-Text reverses here and there.

NU-Text reverses here and there.

NU-Text and M-Text omit verse 36.

a Exodus 20:12–16 ; Deuteronomy 5:16–20

NU-Text reads our own.

NU-Text omits and saw him.

a The mina (Greek mna, Hebrew minah) was worth about three months' salary.

M-Text reads Bethsphage.

a Psalm 118:26

NU-Text reads those who were selling.

NU-Text reads shall be.

b Isaiah 56:7

c Jeremiah 7:11

NU-Text and M-Text omit then.

a Psalm 118:22

M-Text reads but they were afraid.

NU-Text omits Why do you test Me?

NU-Text ends verse 30 here.

NU-Text and M-Text read the seven also left no children.

a Exodus 3:6 , 15

a Psalm 110:1

NU-Text omits for God.

NU-Text omits Therefore.

NU-Text reads may have strength.

NU-Text omits twelve.

NU-Text adds from now on.

NU-Text omits And the Lord said.

a Isaiah 53:12

NU-Text brackets verses 43 and 44 as not in the original text.

NU-Text reads denied it.

NU-Text and M-Text read a rooster.

NU-Text adds today.

NU-Text reads And having blindfolded Him, they asked Him.

NU-Text omits also and Me or let Me go.

NU-Text reads our.

NU-Text omits of Galilee.

NU-Text reads for he sent Him back to us.

NU-Text omits verse 17.

NU-Text omits and of the chief priests.

NU-Text and M-Text omit to them.

a Hosea 10:8

NU-Text brackets the first sentence as a later addition.

NU-Text omits written and in letters of Greek, Latin, and Hebrew.

NU-Text reads Are You not the Christ?

NU-Text reads And he said, "Jesus, remember me.

NU-Text adds already.

NU-Text reads obscured.

a Psalm 31:5

NU-Text reads who was waiting.

NU-Text omits and certain other women with them.

NU-Text omits greatly.

NU-Text omits lying.

Literally sixty stadia

NU-Text reads as you walk? And they stood still, looking sad.

Some printed New Testaments omit this verse. It is found in nearly all Greek manuscripts.

NU-Text omits and some honeycomb.

NU-Text reads written, that the Christ should suffer and rise.

NU-Text omits of Jerusalem.

NU-Text omits praising and.

NU-Text omits Amen.

Or overcome

Or That was the true Light which, coming into the world, gives light to every man.

That is, His own things or domain

That is, His own people

NU-Text reads For.

NU-Text reads only begotten God.

a Isaiah 40:3

NU-Text and M-Text read Bethany.

NU-Text reads John.

NU-Text omits hereafter.

NU-Text and M-Text read will eat.

b Psalm 69:9

NU-Text and M-Text omit to them.

NU-Text omits who is in heaven.

NU-Text omits not perish but.

NU-Text omits the Christ.

NU-Text reads Bethzatha.

NU-Text omits waiting for the moving of the water at the end of verse 3, and all of verse 4.

NU-Text omits and sought to kill Him.

NU-Text omits to the disciples, and the disciples.

Literally twenty-five or thirty stadia

NU-Text omits that and which His disciples had entered.

a Exodus 16:4 ; Nehemiah 9:15; Psalm 78:24

a Isaiah 54:13

M-Text reads hears and has learned.

NU-Text omits in Me.

NU-Text reads true food and true drink.

NU-Text reads You are the Holy One of God.

That is, the ruling authorities

NU-Text omits yet.

NU-Text and M-Text read So Jesus.

NU-Text omits truly.

NU-Text and M-Text omit But.

NU-Text and M-Text omit to them.

NU-Text reads who believed.

NU-Text omits Holy.

NU-Text reads some.

NU-Text reads before.

NU-Text reads is to rise.

The words And everyone through sin no more (8:11) are bracketed by NU-Text as not original. They are present in over 900 manuscripts.

M-Text reads very early.

M-Text reads we found this woman.

M-Text reads in our law Moses commanded.

NU-Text and M-Text read to stone such.

M-Text adds about her.

NU-Text and M-Text omit as though He did not hear.

M-Text reads He looked up.

NU-Text and M-Text omit being convicted by their conscience.

NU-Text omits and saw no one but the woman; M-Text reads He saw her and said.

NU-Text and M-Text omit of yours.

NU-Text and M-Text add from now on.

NU-Text reads heard from.

NU-Text and M-Text read our.

NU-Text omits the rest of this verse.

NU-Text reads We.

NU-Text reads a beggar.

NU-Text reads "No, but he is like him."

NU-Text omits the pool of.

NU-Text reads Son of Man.

M-Text omits before Me.

NU-Text omits as I said to you.

a Psalm 82:6

NU-Text reads understand.

Literally fifteen stadia

NU-Text adds still.

NU-Text reads supposing that she was going to the tomb to weep there.

NU-Text omits from the place where the dead man was lying.

NU-Text reads you.

NU-Text omits who had been dead.

About one year's wages for a worker

NU-Text reads that she may keep.

a Psalm 118:26

a Zechariah 9:9

a Isaiah 53:1

a Isaiah 6:10

NU-Text reads because.

NU-Text reads keep them.

NU-Text reads And during supper.

NU-Text reads My bread.

b Psalm 41:9

NU-Text and M-Text add thus.

Literally dwellings

NU-Text adds a word which would cause the text to read either if it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? or if it were not so I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you.

NU-Text adds Me.

NU-Text reads you will keep.

NU-Text omits I said.

Or lifts up

NU-Text omits you will.

a Psalm 69:4

NU-Text and M-Text omit to you.

NU-Text reads their.

NU-Text and M-Text read He takes of Mine and will declare it to you.

NU-Text and M-Text omit will.

M-Text reads shall.

NU-Text and M-Text read keep them through Your name which You have given Me.

NU-Text omits in the world.

NU-Text reads in Your name which You gave Me. And I guarded them; (or it;).

NU-Text and M-Text omit will.

M-Text reads the other.

NU-Text reads where all the Jews meet.

NU-Text reads And they came up to Him and said.

NU-Text reads the law.

NU-Text omits and led Him away.

a Psalm 22:18

M-Text reads seeing.

a Exodus 12:46 ; Numbers 9:12; Psalm 34:20

a Zechariah 12:10

NU-Text adds in Hebrew.

NU-Text reads disciples, "I have seen the Lord," … .

NU-Text omits assembled.

NU-Text and M-Text omit Thomas.

NU-Text omits immediately.

NU-Text reads John.

NU-Text reads John.

NU-Text reads John.

NU-Text reads My witnesses.

NU-Text omits and supplication.

NU-Text reads brethren.

a Psalm 69:25

b Psalm 109:8

Greek episkopen, position of overseer

NU-Text reads together.

a Joel 2:28–32

NU-Text omits have taken.

a Psalm 16:8–11

NU-Text omits according to the flesh, He would raise up the Christ and completes the verse with He would seat one on his throne.

a Psalm 110:1

NU-Text omits gladly.

NU-Text omits to the church.

NU-Text and M-Text read Christ Jesus, who was ordained for you before.

a Deuteronomy 18:15 , 18, 19

NU-Text and M-Text read proclaimed.

a Genesis 22:18 ; 26:4; 28:14

a Psalm 118:22

NU-Text reads who through the Holy Spirit, by the mouth of our father, Your servant David.

a Psalm 2:1 , 2

NU-Text reads Joseph.

NU-Text and M-Text omit outside.

NU-Text omits the high priest.

NU-Text and M-Text omit saying.

NU-Text reads the name; M-Text reads the name of Jesus.

That is, Greek-speaking Jews

NU-Text reads grace.

NU-Text omits blasphemous.

a Genesis 12:1

a Genesis 15:14

b Exodus 3:12

Or seventy (compare Exodus 1:5) a Exodus 2:14

NU-Text omits of the Lord.

a Exodus 3:6 , 15

a Exodus 3:5 , 7, 8, 10

a Exodus 2:14

a Deuteronomy 18:15

NU-Text and M-Text omit Him you shall hear.

a Exodus 32:1 , 23

a Amos 5:25–27

a Isaiah 66:1 , 2

a Or a

a Isaiah 53:7 , 8

NU-Text and M-Text omit this verse. It is found in Western texts, including the Latin tradition.

NU-Text and M-Text omit the last sentence of verse 5 and begin verse 6 with But arise and go.

M-Text omits Jesus.

NU-Text reads Jesus.

NU-Text reads church … was edified.

NU-Text and M-Text omit the last sentence of this verse.

NU-Text and M-Text omit who had been sent to him from Cornelius.

NU-Text reads Four days ago to this hour, at the ninth hour.

NU-Text omits the last sentence of this verse.

NU-Text and M-Text add also.

NU-Text reads constantly (or earnestly).

NU-Text and M-Text read to.

NU-Text reads the whole island.

M-Text omits Israel.

a Psalm 89:20

b 1 Samuel 13:14

M-Text reads for Israel salvation.

a Psalm 2:7

a Isaiah 55:3

a Psalm 16:10

a Habakkuk 1:5

Or And when they went out of the synagogue of the Jews; NU-Text reads And when they went out, they begged.

a Isaiah 49:6

NU-Text and M-Text omit Christ.

a Amos 9:11 , 12

NU-Text (combining with verse 17) reads Says the Lord, who makes these things known from eternity (of old).

Or fornication

NU-Text and M-Text read Barsabbas.

NU-Text omits saying, "You must be circumcised and keep the law."

Or fornication

NU-Text reads to those who had sent them.

NU-Text and M-Text omit this verse.

NU-Text adds of Jesus.

NU-Text omits who were not persuaded; M-Text omits becoming envious.

NU-Text and M-Text add also.

NU-Text omits blood.

NU-Text reads Titius Justus.

NU-Text reads they all.

NU-Text omits I must through Jerusalem.

NU-Text reads I.

M-Text reads and they overpowered.

NU-Text reads both of them.

Greek Artemis

NU-Text reads she be deposed from her magnificence.

NU-Text reads our.

NU-Text and M-Text read we.

NU-Text reads But I do not count my life of any value or dear to myself.

M-Text reads of the Lord and God.

NU-Text and M-Text omit Yes.

NU-Text reads the disciples.

NU-Text omits who were Paul's companions.

NU-Text reads What then is to be done? They will certainly.

NU-Text omits that they should observe no such thing, except.

M-Text omits previously.

NU-Text omits and were afraid.

NU-Text omits to his death.

a Exodus 22:28

NU-Text omits last clause and reads what if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?

NU-Text omits tomorrow.

NU-Text reads there would be a plot against the man.

NU-Text ends the sentence here and omits the rest of verse 6, all of verse 7, and the first clause of verse 8.

NU-Text and M-Text read joined the attack.

NU-Text omits of the dead.

NU-Text and M-Text read say what wrongdoing they found.

NU-Text omits that he might release him.

NU-Text reads chief priests.

NU-Text omits to destruction, although it is implied.

NU-Text and M-Text omit now.

NU-Text reads Euraquilon.

NU-Text reads Cauda.

M-Text reads Syrtes.

That is, the ruling authorities

NU-Text reads your.

a Isaiah 6:9 , 10

NU-Text omits this verse.

NU-Text omits of Christ.

a Habakkuk 2:4

NU-Text omits sexual immorality.

NU-Text omits unforgiving.

a Psalm 62:12 ; Proverbs 24:12

NU-Text reads But if.

a Isaiah 52:5 ; Ezekiel 36:22

a Psalm 51:4

a Psalms 14:1–3 ; 53:1–3; Ecclesiastes 7:20

a Psalm 5:9

b Psalm 140:3

a Psalm 10:7

a Isaiah 59:7 , 8

a Psalm 36:1

NU-Text omits and on all.

Or Abraham our (fore)father according to the flesh has found?

a Genesis 15:6

a Psalm 32:1 , 2

a Genesis 17:5

a Genesis 15:5

a Genesis 15:6

Another ancient reading is, let us have peace.

a Exodus 20:17 ; Deuteronomy 5:21

NU-Text omits the rest of this verse.

NU-Text omits for us.

a Psalm 44:22

Or relatives

a Genesis 21:12

a Genesis 18:10 , 14

a Genesis 25:23

a Malachi 1:2 , 3

a Exodus 33:19

a Exodus 9:16

a Hosea 2:23

a Hosea 1:10

a Isaiah 10:22 , 23

NU-Text reads For the Lord will finish the work and cut it short upon the earth.

Literally, in Hebrew, Hosts

b Isaiah 1:9

NU-Text omits of righteousness.

NU-Text reads by works.

a Isaiah 8:14 ; 28:16

NU-Text reads them.

a Leviticus 18:5

a Deuteronomy 30:12

a Deuteronomy 30:13

a Deuteronomy 30:14

a Isaiah 28:16

a Joel 2:32

NU-Text omits preach the gospel of peace, Who.

b Isaiah 52:7 ; Nahum 1:15

a Isaiah 53:1

a Psalm 19:4

a Deuteronomy 32:21

a Isaiah 65:1

a Isaiah 65:2

a 1 Kings 19:10 , 14

a 1 Kings 19:18

NU-Text omits the rest of this verse.

a Deuteronomy 29:4 ; Isaiah 29:10

a Psalm 69:22 , 23

NU-Text adds of God.

Or delivered

a Isaiah 59:20 , 21

a Isaiah 40:13 ; Jeremiah 23:18

a Job 41:11

a Deuteronomy 32:35

a Proverbs 25:21 , 22

NU-Text omits "You shall not bear false witness."

b Exodus 20:13–15 , 17; Deuteronomy 5:17–19, 21

c Leviticus 19:18

NU-Text omits the rest of this sentence.

NU-Text omits and rose.

NU-Text reads of God.

a Isaiah 45:23

NU-Text reads this.

NU-Text omits or is offended or is made weak.

NU-Text reads The faith which you have-have.

M-Text puts Romans 16:25–27 here.

a Psalm 69:9

NU-Text and M-Text read you.

a 2 Samuel 22:50 ; Psalm 18:49

a Deuteronomy 32:43

a Psalm 117:1

a Isaiah 11:10

M-Text reads others.

a Isaiah 52:15

NU-Text omits I shall come to you (and joins Spain with the next sentence).

NU-Text omits of the gospel.

NU-Text reads Asia.

Or relative

NU-Text reads All the churches.

NU-Text and M-Text omit Jesus.

NU-Text omits this verse.

M-Text puts Romans 16:25–27 after Romans 14:23.

a Isaiah 29:14

NU-Text reads Gentiles.

a Jeremiah 9:24

NU-Text reads mystery.

NU-Text omits human.

a Isaiah 64:4

NU-Text omits Holy.

a Isaiah 40:13

a Job 5:13

a Psalm 94:11

Literally day

NU-Text omits named.

NU-Text omits Jesus.

NU-Text omits for us.

a Deuteronomy 17:7 ; 19:19; 22:21, 24; 24:7

That is, catamites

a Genesis 2:24

NU-Text ends the verse at body.

M-Text adds also.

Or virgin daughter

NU-Text reads his own virgin.

a Deuteronomy 25:4

NU-Text omits of Christ.

NU-Text adds though not being myself under the law.

NU-Text reads God's law.

NU-Text reads Christ's law.

NU-Text omits as.

a Exodus 32:6

NU-Text omits all.

NU-Text omits for me.

NU-Text omits for me.

a Psalm 24:1

NU-Text omits the rest of this verse.

b Psalm 24:1

M-Text omits to her.

NU-Text omits Take, eat.

NU-Text omits broken.

NU-Text and M-Text read the blood.

NU-Text omits in an unworthy manner.

NU-Text omits Lord's.

NU-Text and M-Text add when.

NU-Text reads one.

NU-Text omits into.

NU-Text reads greater.

NU-Text reads so I may boast.

NU-Text reads and.

a Isaiah 28:11 , 12

NU-Text omits And thus.

NU-Text omits your.

NU-Text reads if anyone does not recognize this, he is not recognized.

a Psalm 8:6

a Isaiah 22:13

NU-Text and M-Text omit of flesh.

a Genesis 2:7

NU-Text omits the Lord.

M-Text reads let us also bear.

a Isaiah 25:8

a Hosea 13:14

NU-Text reads O Death, where is your victory? O Death, where is your sting?

Greek anathema

Aramaic Maranatha

NU-Text reads shall.

M-Text reads your behalf.

NU-Text reads For indeed, what I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, I did it.

M-Text reads the rest.

Or spirit

a Psalm 116:10

a Isaiah 49:8

NU-Text reads we.

b Leviticus 26:12 ; Jeremiah 32:38; Ezekiel 37:27

a Isaiah 52:11 ; Ezekiel 20:34, 41

a 2 Samuel 7:14

NU-Text and M-Text omit that we would receive, thus changing text to urgency for the favor and fellowship … .

a Exodus 16:18

NU-Text reads has put.

NU-Text and M-Text omit and.

NU-Text reads this confidence.

a Psalm 112:9

NU-Text reads Now He who supplies … will supply … .

NU-Text reads even as we are.

NU-Text omits us.

a Jeremiah 9:24

NU-Text adds and purity.

NU-Text omits been.

NU-Text reads necessary, though not profitable, to boast.

NU-Text omits in boasting.

NU-Text reads You have been thinking for a long time … .

a Deuteronomy 19:15

NU-Text omits I write.

NU-Text reads we.

NU-Text reads Cephas.

NU-Text reads Cephas.

NU-Text reads how can you.

Some interpreters stop the quotation here.

NU-Text omits that you should not obey the truth.

NU-Text omits among you.

a Genesis 15:6

a Genesis 12:3 ; 18:18; 22:18; 26:4; 28:14

a Deuteronomy 27:26

a Habakkuk 2:4

a Leviticus 18:5

a Deuteronomy 21:23

a Genesis 12:7 ; 13:15; 24:7

NU-Text omits in Christ.

Or made

NU-Text reads through God and omits through Christ.

NU-Text reads Where.

NU-Text and M-Text omit the.

a Isaiah 54:1

a Genesis 21:10

NU-Text reads For freedom Christ has made us free; stand fast therefore.

a Leviticus 19:18

NU-Text omits adultery.

NU-Text omits murders.

Or by which (the cross)

NU-Text and M-Text omit both.

NU-Text reads which.

NU-Text and M-Text read hearts.

NU-Text and M-Text read stewardship (dispensation).

NU-Text omits through Jesus Christ.

NU-Text omits of our Lord Jesus Christ.

NU-Text omits you; M-Text reads us.

a Psalm 68:18

NU-Text omits first.

NU-Text omits the rest of.

a Zechariah 8:16

a Psalm 4:4

NU-Text reads For know this.

NU-Text reads light.

NU-Text reads Christ.

NU-Text omits the rest of this verse.

a Genesis 2:24

a Deuteronomy 5:16

NU-Text reads He who is both their Master and yours.

NU-Text reads rulers of this darkness.

Literally overseers

NU-Text reverses the contents of verses 16 and 17.

NU-Text and M-Text read But.

NU-Text reads of your salvation.

NU-Text and M-Text read who worship in the Spirit of God.

NU-Text omits rule and the rest of the verse.

NU-Text and M-Text read Yes.

NU-Text reads Him who.

NU-Text reads your spirit.

NU-Text omits and the Lord Jesus Christ.

NU-Text and M-Text add and growing.

NU-Text and M-Text omit through His blood.

M-Text reads who.

NU-Text omits both of the Father and.

NU-Text omits in it.

NU-Text omits of the sins.

NU-Text omits not.

NU-Text and M-Text omit Therefore.

NU-Text omits for.

NU-Text reads you may know our circumstances and he may.

NU-Text reads fully assured.

NU-Text reads concern.

NU-Text reads Nympha … her house.

NU-Text omits from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

NU-Text and M-Text omit even.

NU-Text and M-Text read implored.

NU-Text reads who also gives.

Or those who through Jesus sleep

NU-Text omits holy.

NU-Text and M-Text read have believed.

NU-Text reads the Lord.

NU-Text reads lawlessness.

NU-Text omits as God.

Or he

Or he

NU-Text and M-Text read they.

NU-Text reads to the only God.

NU-Text omits in Christ.

Literally overseer

NU-Text omits not greedy for money.

NU-Text reads Who.

NU-Text reads we labor and strive.

NU-Text omits in spirit.

NU-Text and M-Text omit good and.

NU-Text omits man or.

a Deuteronomy 25:4

b Luke 10:7

NU-Text and M-Text read constant friction.

NU-Text omits this sentence.

NU-Text omits and it is certain.

NU-Text and M-Text read Christ Jesus.

NU-Text omits of the Gentiles.

To me is from the Vulgate and a few Greek manuscripts.

NU-Text reads You must share.

NU-Text reads the Lord will give you.

NU-Text and M-Text read the Lord.

NU-Text omits therefore and reads and by for at.

NU-Text omits Jesus Christ.

NU-Text reads and Christ Jesus.

Literally overseer

NU-Text omits incorruptibility.

NU-Text and M-Text read us.

NU-Text reads to our sister Apphia.

NU-Text and M-Text read us.

NU-Text reads had.

M-Text reads thanksgiving.

NU-Text reads back to you in person, that is, my own heart.

NU-Text omits by Himself.

NU-Text omits our.

a Psalm 2:7

b 2 Samuel 7:14

a Deuteronomy 32:43 (Septuagint, Dead Sea Scrolls); Psalm 97:7

a Psalm 104:4

a Psalm 45:6 , 7

a Psalm 102:25–27

a Psalm 110:1

NU-Text and M-Text omit the rest of verse 7.

a Psalm 8:4–6

a Psalm 22:22

a 2 Samuel 22:3 ; Isaiah 8:17

b Isaiah 8:18

NU-Text omits firm to the end.

a Psalm 95:7–11

a Psalm 95:7 , 8

NU-Text and M-Text read profit them, since they were not united by faith with those who heeded it.

a Psalm 95:11

a Genesis 2:2

a Psalm 95:11

a Psalm 95:7 , 8

a Psalm 2:7

a Psalm 110:4

M-Text reads let us do.

Or and have fallen away

NU-Text omits labor of.

a Genesis 22:17

M-Text omits might.

NU-Text reads priests.

NU-Text reads it is testified.

b Psalm 110:4

NU-Text ends the quotation here.

b Psalm 110:4

a Exodus 25:40

NU-Text omits and their lawless deeds.

b Jeremiah 31:31–34

NU-Text reads that have come.

a Exodus 24:8

a Psalm 40:6–8

NU-Text and M-Text omit O God.

a Jeremiah 31:33

a Jeremiah 31:34

a Deuteronomy 32:35

NU-Text omits says the Lord.

c Deuteronomy 32:36

NU-Text reads the prisoners instead of me in my chains.

NU-Text omits in heaven.

Or that which

NU-Text reads My just one.

b Habakkuk 2:3 , 4

a Genesis 5:24

NU-Text omits she bore a child.

NU-Text and M-Text omit were assured of them.

a Genesis 21:12

NU-Text and M-Text read of.

NU-Text omits were tempted.

a Proverbs 3:11 , 12

NU-Text and M-Text read It is for discipline that you endure; God … .

NU-Text reads to that which.

NU-Text reads gloom.

NU-Text and M-Text omit the rest of this verse.

b Exodus 19:12 , 13

a Deuteronomy 9:19

NU-Text reads will shake.

b Haggai 2:6

M-Text omits may.

a Deuteronomy 31:6 , 8; Joshua 1:5

a Psalm 118:6

NU-Text and M-Text read away.

NU-Text and M-Text read us.

NU-Text reads Know this or This you know.

NU-Text omits among you.

a Leviticus 19:18

a Exodus 20:14 ; Deuteronomy 5:18

b Exodus 20:13 ; Deuteronomy 5:17

NU-Text omits your.

NU-Text omits my.

NU-Text reads useless.

a Genesis 15:6

NU-Text reads Now if.

NU-Text reads Neither can a salty spring produce fresh water.

NU-Text and M-Text omit Yet.

NU-Text omits Adulterers and.

a Proverbs 3:34

NU-Text adds and Judge.

NU-Text and M-Text read But who.

NU-Text reads a neighbor.

M-Text reads let us.

Literally, in Hebrew, Hosts

NU-Text omits as.

NU-Text and M-Text read judged.

M-Text reads hypocrisy.

NU-Text reads Therefore confess your sins.

NU-Text reads his soul.

M-Text reads known.

NU-Text and M-Text read you.

a Leviticus 11:44 , 45; 19:2; 20:7

NU-Text omits through the Spirit.

NU-Text omits forever.

NU-Text reads all its glory.

a Isaiah 40:6–8

NU-Text adds up to salvation.

a Isaiah 28:16

NU-Text reads to those who disbelieve.

b Psalm 118:22

a Isaiah 8:14

NU-Text reads you.

NU-Text and M-Text read you.

a Isaiah 53:9

Greek Episkopos

NU-Text reads humble.

a Psalm 34:12–16

a Isaiah 8:12

NU-Text reads Christ as Lord.

NU-Text and M-Text read you.

NU-Text and M-Text read when the longsuffering of God waited patiently.

NU-Text omits for us.

NU-Text reads time.

a Proverbs 10:12

NU-Text omits the rest of this verse.

NU-Text reads name.

a Proverbs 11:31

NU-Text adds according to God.

a Proverbs 3:34

NU-Text and M-Text omit because.

NU-Text reads But the God of all grace … will perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.

NU-Text and M-Text read you.

Or We also have the more sure prophetic word.

Or origin

NU-Text reads but men spoke from God.

M-Text reads will not.

NU-Text reads and mists.

NU-Text omits forever.

NU-Text reads are barely escaping.

a Proverbs 26:11

NU-Text and M-Text read commandment of the apostles of your Lord and Savior or commandment of your apostles of the Lord and Savior.

NU-Text reads you.

NU-Text reads laid bare (literally found).

NU-Text and M-Text read our.

NU-Text reads Beloved.

NU-Text omits from the beginning.

NU-Text omits the.

NU-Text reads you all know.

NU-Text reads you abide.

NU-Text reads if.

NU-Text adds And we are.

M-Text reads you.

NU-Text omits his brother.

NU-Text reads we shall know.

M-Text omits us.

NU-Text omits that and Christ has come in the flesh.

NU-Text omits Him.

NU-Text reads he cannot.

M-Text reads your.

NU-Text and M-Text omit the words from in heaven (verse 7) through on earth (verse 8). Only four or five very late manuscripts contain these words in Greek.

NU-Text reads God, that.

NU-Text omits the rest of this verse.

NU-Text reads him.

NU-Text and M-Text read us.

NU-Text reads you.

NU-Text reads you.

NU-Text reads goes ahead.

NU-Text reads the truth.

NU-Text adds especially.

NU-Text reads support.

NU-Text and M-Text omit but.

NU-Text reads beloved.

NU-Text omits God.

NU-Text and M-Text read along.

NU-Text reads who are doubting (or making distinctions).

NU-Text adds and on some have mercy with fear and omits with fear in first clause.

M-Text reads them.

NU-Text reads To the only God our Savior.

NU-Text omits Who … is wise and adds Through Jesus Christ our Lord.

NU-Text adds Before all time.

NU-Text reads loves us and freed; M-Text reads loves us and washed.

NU-Text and M-Text read a kingdom.

NU-Text and M-Text omit the Beginning and the End.

NU-Text and M-Text add God.

NU-Text and M-Text omit both.

NU-Text and M-Text omit I am through third and.

NU-Text and M-Text omit which are in Asia.

NU-Text and M-Text omit to me.

NU-Text and M-Text read Therefore, write.

NU-Text and M-Text omit which you saw.

NU-Text and M-Text read likewise for which thing I hate.

NU-Text and M-Text read faith, service.

NU-Text and M-Text read I have against you that you tolerate.

M-Text reads your wife Jezebel.

NU-Text and M-Text read and teaches and seduces.

NU-Text and M-Text read time to repent, and she does not want to repent of her sexual immorality.

NU-Text and M-Text read her.

NU-Text and M-Text omit and.

NU-Text and M-Text omit will.

a Psalm 2:9

NU-Text and M-Text read My God.

NU-Text and M-Text read Nevertheless you have a few names in Sardis.

a Isaiah 22:22

NU-Text and M-Text read which no one can shut.

NU-Text and M-Text omit Behold.

NU-Text and M-Text read in Laodicea.

NU-Text and M-Text read hot nor cold.

M-Text omits And He who sat there was (which makes the description in verse 3 modify the throne rather than God).

NU-Text and M-Text read robes, with crowns.

NU-Text and M-Text read voices, and thunderings.

M-Text omits the.

NU-Text and M-Text add something like.

M-Text has holy nine times.

NU-Text and M-Text read our Lord and God.

NU-Text and M-Text read existed.

NU-Text and M-Text omit and read.

NU-Text and M-Text omit to loose.

NU-Text and M-Text read I saw in the midst … a Lamb standing.

NU-Text and M-Text read them.

NU-Text reads a kingdom.

NU-Text and M-Text read they.

M-Text adds Amen.

NU-Text and M-Text omit twenty-four.

NU-Text and M-Text omit Him who lives forever and ever.

NU-Text and M-Text read seven seals.

NU-Text and M-Text omit and see.

Greek choinix; that is, approximately one quart

This was approximately one day's wage for a worker.

NU-Text and M-Text omit behold.

NU-Text and M-Text read the whole moon.

NU-Text and M-Text read the commanders, the rich men.

In NU-Text and M-Text were sealed is stated only in verses 5a and 8c; the words are understood in the remainder of the passage.

NU-Text and M-Text read My lord.

NU-Text and M-Text read to fountains of the waters of life.

NU-Text and M-Text add and a third of the earth was burned up.

NU-Text and M-Text read eagle.

NU-Text and M-Text read the power of the horses.

NU-Text and M-Text read drugs.

NU-Text and M-Text read sounded.

NU-Text and M-Text omit to me.

NU-Text and M-Text read right hand.

NU-Text and M-Text read they.

NU-Text and M-Text omit And the angel stood.

NU-Text and M-Text read Lord.

NU-Text and M-Text read their.

NU-Text and M-Text read nations see … and will not allow.

M-Text reads I.

NU-Text and M-Text read kingdom … has become.

NU-Text and M-Text omit and who is to come.

M-Text reads the covenant of the Lord.

M-Text reads him.

NU-Text and M-Text omit Christ.

NU-Text reads he.

NU-Text and M-Text read ten horns and seven heads.

M-Text reads make war.

NU-Text and M-Text add and people.

M-Text reads my own people.

NU-Text and M-Text omit or.

NU-Text and M-Text read the.

NU-Text and M-Text add His name and.

M-Text adds by Jesus.

NU-Text and M-Text read falsehood.

NU-Text and M-Text omit before the throne of God.

NU-Text reads Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, which has made; M-Text reads Babylon the great is fallen. She has made.

NU-Text and M-Text omit here are those.

NU-Text and M-Text omit to me.

NU-Text and M-Text omit for You.

NU-Text and M-Text omit over his mark.

NU-Text and M-Text read nations.

NU-Text and M-Text omit behold.

NU-Text and M-Text read seven bowls.

NU-Text and M-Text omit O Lord.

NU-Text and M-Text read who was, the Holy One.

NU-Text and M-Text omit For.

NU-Text and M-Text omit another from.

NU-Text and M-Text omit of the earth and.

M-Text reads Megiddo.

NU-Text and M-Text omit to me.

M-Text reads the filthiness of the fornication of the earth.

NU-Text and M-Text read and shall be present.

NU-Text and M-Text read saw, and the beast.

NU-Text and M-Text omit mightily.

NU-Text and M-Text read have been heaped up.

NU-Text and M-Text omit to you.

NU-Text and M-Text read has judged.

NU-Text and M-Text read been lost to you.

NU-Text and M-Text read saints and apostles.

NU-Text and M-Text add something like.

NU-Text and M-Text omit the Lord.

NU-Text and M-Text omit both.

NU-Text and M-Text read our.

M-Text adds names written, and.

NU-Text and M-Text read pure white linen.

M-Text adds two-edged.

NU-Text and M-Text read the great supper of God.

NU-Text and M-Text read both free.

M-Text reads the.

NU-Text and M-Text add also.

NU-Text and M-Text read the throne.

NU-Text and M-Text add the lake of fire.

NU-Text and M-Text omit John.

NU-Text and M-Text omit to me.

M-Text omits It is done.

M-Text reads overcomes, I shall give him these things.

M-Text adds and sinners.

NU-Text and M-Text omit to me.

M-Text reads I will show you the woman, the Lamb's bride.

NU-Text and M-Text omit the great and read the holy city, Jerusalem.

NU-Text and M-Text read twelve names.

NU-Text and M-Text omit in it.

M-Text reads the very glory.

NU-Text and M-Text omit of those who are saved.

M-Text reads the glory and honor of the nations to Him.

M-Text adds that they may enter in.

NU-Text and M-Text read anything profane, nor one who causes.

NU-Text and M-Text omit pure.

NU-Text and M-Text read spirits of the prophets.

NU-Text and M-Text read am the one who heard and saw.

NU-Text and M-Text omit For.

NU-Text and M-Text read do right.

NU-Text and M-Text read the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.

NU-Text reads wash their robes.

NU-Text and M-Text omit But.

NU-Text and M-Text omit For.

M-Text reads may God add.

M-Text reads may God take away.

NU-Text and M-Text read tree of life.

NU-Text reads with all; M-Text reads with all the saints.

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