The Meaning of Revelation 21:7 Explained

Revelation 21:7

KJV: He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.

YLT: he who is overcoming shall inherit all things, and I will be to him -- a God, and he shall be to me -- the son,

Darby: He that overcomes shall inherit these things, and I will be to him God, and he shall be to me son.

ASV: He that overcometh shall inherit these things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

He that overcometh  shall inherit  all things;  and  I will be  his  God,  and  he  shall be  my  son. 

What does Revelation 21:7 Mean?

Verse Meaning

The overcomer (i.e, every believer) will inherit these things (i.e, the blessings of the new creation mentioned). This promise completes and summarizes the other seven promises to overcomers in chapters2,3. Inheriting emphasizes the privilege of obtaining something because of the work of another in contrast to one"s own work.
"The phrase "I will be his God and he will be My son" is defined elsewhere as a statement of special honor, not of regeneration. The Davidic Covenant promised to David"s Song of Solomon ,, Song of Solomon , "I will be a Father to him and he will be a son to Me" ( 2 Samuel 7:14). The intent of the phrase was to signify a special, intimate relationship. [1]
Paul used the two Greek words huioi, "sons," and tekna, "children," synonymously, but John distinguished their two meanings whenever he used them: mature sons and simply children.

Context Summary

Revelation 21:1-8 - "a New Heaven And A New Earth"
Here is a vision of the new creation. This is the "restitution of all things" to which Peter refers in Acts 3:21, and the deliverance of creation from the bondage of corruption which Paul anticipates in Romans 8:21. No words can portray in positive description what that universe will be, and even the inspired writer has to confine himself to negatives. All he does is to name various elements of terror and dread, saying: This shall not be there, nor that, nor the other, all of which are the fell brood of human sin. The one great positive blessing will be that which was given to Israel in type, but then will be the perpetual experience of the human family. Compare Revelation 21:3 and Exodus 25:8. Let us see to it that here and now the Lord Jesus is the Alpha and Omega, the A and Z of our life. If so, we may even in this mortal life begin to experience the life of the redeemed. We may now inherit all these things, and know the intimacy of Revelation 21:7. But we must overcome. Note that the fearful, that is, the cowardly, who draw back in the face of opposition, are classed with the abominable and murderers. [source]

Chapter Summary: Revelation 21

1  A new heaven and a new earth
10  The heavenly Jerusalem, with a full description thereof
23  She needs no sun, the glory of God being her light
24  The kings of the earth bring their riches unto her

Greek Commentary for Revelation 21:7

He that overcometh [ο νικων]
Recalls the promises at the close of each of the Seven Letters in chapters 2 and 3. [source]
Shall inherit [κληρονομησει]
Future active of κληρονομεω — klēronomeō word with great history (Mark 10:17; 1 Peter 1:4; Galatians 4:7; Romans 8:17), here interpreted for the benefit of these who share in Christ‘s victory.I will be his God (Εσομαι αυτωι τεος — Esomai autōi theos). Repeated Old Testament promise (first to Abraham, Genesis 17:7.). Cf. Revelation 21:3.He shall be my son Made first of Solomon (2 Samuel 7:14) and applied to David later in Psalm 89:26. [source]
I will be his God [Εσομαι αυτωι τεος]
Repeated Old Testament promise (first to Abraham, Genesis 17:7.). Cf. Revelation 21:3. [source]
He shall be my son [αυτος εσται μοι υιος]
Made first of Solomon (2 Samuel 7:14) and applied to David later in Psalm 89:26. [source]
All things [πάντα]
The correct reading is ταῦτα thesethings. So Rev. [source]
His God [αὐτῷ Θεὸς]
Lit., God unto him. [source]
My Son [μοι ὁ υἱός]
Lit., the Son to me. See on John 1:12. This is the only place in John's writings where υἱός sonis used of the relation of man to God. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Revelation 21:7

John 1:12 Sons [τέκνα]
Rev., more correctly, children. Son is υἱός . Τέκνον , child ( τίκτω , to bring forth ), denotes a relation based on community of nature, while υἱός , Son, may indicate only adoption and heirship. See Galatians 4:7. Except in Revelation 21:7, which is a quotation, John never uses υἱός to describe the relation of Christians to God, since he regards their position not as a result of adoption, but of a new life. Paul, on the other hand, regards the relation from the legal standpoint, as adoption, imparting a new dignity and relation (Romans 8:15; Galatians 4:5, Galatians 4:6). See also James 1:18; 1 Peter 1:3, 1 Peter 1:23, where the point of view is John's rather than Paul's. Τέκνον , indicating the relationship of man to God, occurs in John 1:12; John 11:52; 1 John 3:1, 1 John 3:2, 1 John 3:10; 1 John 5:2, and always in the plural. [source]
John 1:12 As many as received him [οσοι ελαβον αυτον]
Effective aorist active indicative of λαμβανω — lambanō “as many as did receive him,” in contrast with οι ιδιοι — hoi idioi just before, exceptional action on the part of the disciples and other believers. To them Dative case explanatory of the relative clause preceding, an anacoluthon common in John 27 times as against 21 in the Synoptists. This is a common Aramaic idiom and is urged by Burney (Aramaic Origin, etc., p. 64) for his theory of an Aramaic original of the Fourth Gospel. The right In John 5:27 εδωκεν — edōken (first aorist active indicative of διδωμι — didōmi) εχουσιαν — exousian means authority but includes power Here it is more the notion of privilege or right. To become Second aorist middle of γινομαι — ginomai to become what they were not before. Children of God In the full spiritual sense, not as mere offspring of God true of all men (Acts 17:28). Paul‘s phrase υιοι τεου — huioi theou (Galatians 3:26) for believers, used also by Jesus of the pure in heart (Matthew 5:9), does not occur in John‘s Gospel (but in Revelation 21:7). It is possible that John prefers τα τεκνα του τεου — ta tekna tou theou for the spiritual children of God whether Jew or Gentile (John 11:52) because of the community of nature But one cannot follow Westcott in insisting on “adoption” as Paul‘s reason for the use of υιοι — huioi since Jesus uses υιοι τεου — huioi theou in Matthew 5:9. Clearly the idea of regeneration is involved here as in John 3:3. Even to them that believe No “even” in the Greek, merely explanatory apposition with αυτοις — autois dative case of the articular present active participle of πιστευω — pisteuō On his name Bernard notes πιστευω εις — pisteuō eis 35 times in John, to put trust in or on. See also John 2:23 and John 3:36 for πιστευω εις το ονομα αυτου — pisteuō eis to onoma autou This common use of ονομα — onoma for the person is an Aramaism, but it occurs also in the vernacular papyri and εις το ονομα — eis to onoma is particularly common in the payment of debts (Moulton and Milligan‘s Vocabulary). See Acts 1:15 for ονοματα — onomata for persons. [source]
Hebrews 1:5 Unto which [Τινι]
“To which individual angel.” As a class angels are called sons of God (Elohim) (Psalm 29:1), but no single angel is called God‘s Son like the Messiah in Psalm 2:7. Dods takes “have I begotten thee” This quotation is from 2 Samuel 7:14. Note the use of εις — eis in the predicate with the sense of “as” like the Hebrew (lxx idiom), not preserved in the English. See Matthew 19:5; Luke 2:34. Like Old English “to” or “for.” See 2 Corinthians 6:18; Revelation 21:7 for the same passage applied to relation between God and Christians while here it is treated as Messianic. [source]
1 John 2:13 Have overcome [νενικήκατε]
Compare John 16:33. The image is characteristic of Revelation and First Epistle. See Revelation 2:7, Revelation 2:11, Revelation 2:17, Revelation 2:26; Revelation 12:11; Revelation 21:7; 1 John 2:14; 1 John 4:4; 1 John 5:4, 1 John 5:5. [source]
Revelation 2:7 The spirit [το πνευμα]
The Holy Spirit as in Revelation 14:13; Revelation 22:17. Both Christ and the Holy Spirit deliver this message. “The Spirit of Christ in the prophet is the interpreter of Christ‘s voice” (Swete).To him that overcometh (τωι νικωντι — tōi nikōnti). Dative of the present (continuous victory) active articular participle of νικαω — nikaō a common Johannine verb (John 16:33; 1 John 2:13; 1 John 4:4; 1 John 5:4.; Revelation 2:7, Revelation 2:11, Revelation 2:17, Revelation 2:26; Revelation 3:5, Revelation 3:12, Revelation 3:21; Revelation 5:5; Revelation 12:11; Revelation 15:2; Revelation 17:14; Revelation 21:7). Faith is dominant in Paul, victory in John, faith is victory (1 John 5:4). So in each promise to these churches.I will give Future active of διδωμι — didōmi as in Revelation 2:10, Revelation 2:17, Revelation 2:23, Revelation 2:26, Revelation 2:28; Revelation 3:8, Revelation 3:21; Revelation 6:4; Revelation 11:3; Revelation 21:6.To eat (παγειν — phagein). Second aorist active infinitive of εστιω — esthiō the tree of life (εκ του χυλου της ζωης — ek tou xulou tēs zōēs). Note εκ — ek with the ablative with παγειν — phagein like our “eat of” (from or part of). From Genesis 2:9; Genesis 3:22. Again in Revelation 22:2, Revelation 22:14 as here for immortality. This tree is now in the Garden of God. For the water of life see Revelation 21:6; Revelation 22:17 (Cf. John 4:10, John 4:13.).Which The χυλον — xulon (tree).In the Paradise of God (εν τωι παραδεισωι του τεου — en tōi paradeisōi tou theou). Persian word, for which see Luke 23:43; 2 Corinthians 12:4. The abode of God and the home of the redeemed with Christ, not a mere intermediate state. It was originally a garden of delight and finally heaven itself (Trench), as here. [source]
Revelation 2:7 To him that overcometh [τωι νικωντι]
Dative of the present (continuous victory) active articular participle of νικαω — nikaō a common Johannine verb (John 16:33; 1 John 2:13; 1 John 4:4; 1 John 5:4.; Revelation 2:7, Revelation 2:11, Revelation 2:17, Revelation 2:26; Revelation 3:5, Revelation 3:12, Revelation 3:21; Revelation 5:5; Revelation 12:11; Revelation 15:2; Revelation 17:14; Revelation 21:7). Faith is dominant in Paul, victory in John, faith is victory (1 John 5:4). So in each promise to these churches. [source]

What do the individual words in Revelation 21:7 mean?

The [one] overcoming will inherit all things and I will be his God he will be My son
νικῶν κληρονομήσει ταῦτα καὶ ἔσομαι αὐτῷ Θεὸς αὐτὸς ἔσται μοι υἱός

  The  [one] 
Parse: Article, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
νικῶν  overcoming 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: νικάω  
Sense: to conquer.
κληρονομήσει  will  inherit 
Parse: Verb, Future Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: κληρονομέω  
Sense: to receive a lot, receive by lot.
ταῦτα  all  things 
Parse: Demonstrative Pronoun, Accusative Neuter Plural
Root: οὗτος  
Sense: this.
ἔσομαι  I  will  be 
Parse: Verb, Future Indicative Middle, 1st Person Singular
Root: εἰμί  
Sense: to be, to exist, to happen, to be present.
αὐτῷ  his 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Dative Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Root: αὐτός  
Sense: himself, herself, themselves, itself.
Θεὸς  God 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: θεός  
Sense: a god or goddess, a general name of deities or divinities.
ἔσται  will  be 
Parse: Verb, Future Indicative Middle, 3rd Person Singular
Root: εἰμί  
Sense: to be, to exist, to happen, to be present.
μοι  My 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Dative 1st Person Singular
Root: ἐγώ  
Sense: I, me, my.
υἱός  son 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: υἱός  
Sense: a son.