The Meaning of Revelation 22:15 Explained

Revelation 22:15

KJV: For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.

YLT: and without are the dogs, and the sorcerers, and the whoremongers, and the murderers, and the idolaters, and every one who is loving and is doing a lie.

Darby: Without are the dogs, and the sorcerers, and the fornicators, and the murderers, and the idolaters, and every one that loves and makes a lie.

ASV: Without are the dogs, and the sorcerers, and the fornicators, and the murderers, and the idolaters, and every one that loveth and maketh a lie.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

For  without  [are] dogs,  and  sorcerers,  and  whoremongers,  and  murderers,  and  idolaters,  and  whosoever  loveth  and  maketh  a lie. 

What does Revelation 22:15 Mean?

Verse Meaning

The opposite of the blessings described in Revelation 22:14 is exclusion from the New Jerusalem, namely, eternity in the lake of fire ( Revelation 20:15; Revelation 21:8). Jesus described the people who will not enter the city by the works that mark their lives of unbelief. "Dogs" is a metaphor for the morally impure (cf. Deuteronomy 23:18; 2 Kings 8:13; Psalm 22:16; Psalm 22:20; Isaiah 56:10; Matthew 7:6; Matthew 15:26; Mark 7:27; Philippians 3:2-3). In John"s day many dogs were wild, aggressive scavengers. [1] Their fate should warn believers not to fall into apostasy and its associated vices. [2] The other types of individuals named here appear in other lists of wicked unbelievers (cf. Revelation 21:8).

Context Summary

Revelation 22:10-21 - "come, Lord Jesus"
Still, four times repeated, implies the crystallization and permanence of character. The rewards mentioned here are for the faithful service of Christ's stewards, as in Matthew 25:21. For the fourth time, He who began the book and closes it, uses of Himself the divine monogram of Alpha and Omega, Revelation 1:8; Revelation 1:11; Revelation 21:6. In the Authorized Version the way to the tree of life was opened to those who kept the commandments, but it is very comforting to read in the Revised Version that this blessed privilege is for those "who wash their robes." Notice the combination of various titles in Christ: David's Lord and David's Son; the Morning Star and the Sun of Heaven's Day; the Coming One, for whose quick return the whole creation waits; and the Water of Life, of which whosoever will may drink. The appeal of Revelation 22:17 is to our Lord, asking Him to make haste to come, and it is answered in Revelation 22:20. But who shall tell whether that cry may not, sooner than we think, be answered by a spiritual transformation of the things seen and temporal, so that without a break, in the twinkling of an eye, the veil of matter may be rent, and the whole imminent glory of the unseen and eternal swim into view! Let us be on the alert [source]

Chapter Summary: Revelation 22

1  The river of the water of life
2  The tree of life
5  The light of the city of God is himself
7  Jesus Is Coming
9  The angel will not be worshipped
18  Nothing may be added to the word of God, nor taken away

Greek Commentary for Revelation 22:15

Without [εχω]
Outside the holy city, with which compare Revelation 21:8, Revelation 21:27. Dustierdieck supplies an imperative: “Out, ye dogs.” [source]
The dogs [οι κυνες]
Not literal dogs, but the morally impure (Deuteronomy 23:18; 2 Kings 8:13; Psalm 22:17, Psalm 22:21; Matthew 7:6; Mark 7:27; Philemon 3:3). Dogs in the Oriental cities are the scavengers and excite unspeakable contempt.The sorcerers (οι παρμακοι — hoi pharmakoi). As in Revelation 21:8, where are listed “the fornicators and the murderers and the idolaters,” all “outside” the holy city here as there “in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, the second death.” Both are pictures (symbolic language) of hell, the eternal absence from fellowship with God. Another time Jesus spoke of “the outer darkness” (εις το σκοτος το εχωτερον — eis to skotos to exōteron Matthew 8:12; Matthew 22:13; Matthew 25:30), outside of lighted house, as the abode of the damned. Another symbol is the worm that dies not (Mark 9:48).Every one that loveth and maketh a lie An interpretation of πασιν τοις πσευδεσιν — pāsin tois pseudesin (all liars) of Revelation 21:8 and of ποιων πσευδος — poiōn pseudos (doing a lie) of Revelation 21:27. Satan is the father of lying (John 8:44) and Satan‘s home is a congenial place for those who love and practise lying (2 Thessalonians 2:12). See 1 John 1:6 for not doing the truth and see also Romans 1:25; Ephesians 4:25. [source]
The sorcerers [οι παρμακοι]
As in Revelation 21:8, where are listed “the fornicators and the murderers and the idolaters,” all “outside” the holy city here as there “in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, the second death.” Both are pictures (symbolic language) of hell, the eternal absence from fellowship with God. Another time Jesus spoke of “the outer darkness” (εις το σκοτος το εχωτερον — eis to skotos to exōteron Matthew 8:12; Matthew 22:13; Matthew 25:30), outside of lighted house, as the abode of the damned. Another symbol is the worm that dies not (Mark 9:48). [source]
Every one that loveth and maketh a lie [πας πιλων και ποιων πσευδος]
An interpretation of πασιν τοις πσευδεσιν — pāsin tois pseudesin (all liars) of Revelation 21:8 and of ποιων πσευδος — poiōn pseudos (doing a lie) of Revelation 21:27. Satan is the father of lying (John 8:44) and Satan‘s home is a congenial place for those who love and practise lying (2 Thessalonians 2:12). See 1 John 1:6 for not doing the truth and see also Romans 1:25; Ephesians 4:25. [source]
Dogs [οἱ κύνες]
The A.V. omits the article “the dogs.” Compare Philemon 3:2. This was the term of reproach with which the Judaizers stigmatized the Gentiles as impure. In the Mosaic law the word is used to denounce the moral profligacies of heathen worship (Deuteronomy 23:18). Compare Matthew 15:26. Here the word is used of those whose moral impurity excludes them from the New Jerusalem. “As a term of reproach, the word on the lips of a Jew, signified chiefly impurity; of a Greek, impudence. The herds of dogs which prowl about Eastern cities, without a home and without an owner, feeding on the refuse and filth of the streets, quarreling among themselves, and attacking the passer-by, explain both applications of the image” (Lightfoot, on Philemon 3:2). [source]
Sorcerers []
See on Revelation 9:21, and compare Revelation 21:8. [source]
Whoremongers [πόρνοι]
Rev., better, fornicators. [source]
Maketh [ποιῶν]
Or doeth. Compare doeth the truth, John 3:21; 1 John 1:6. See on John 3:21. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Revelation 22:15

Acts 15:20 That they abstain from [του απεχεσται]
The genitive of the articular infinitive of purpose, present middle (direct) of απεχω — apechō old verb, to hold oneself back from. The best old MSS. do not have απο — apo but the ablative is clear enough in what follows. James agrees with Peter in his support of Paul and Barnabas in their contention for Gentile freedom from the Mosaic ceremonial law. The restrictions named by James affect the moral code that applies to all (idolatry, fornication, murder). Idolatry, fornication and murder were the outstanding sins of paganism then and now (Revelation 22:15). Harnack argues ably against the genuineness of the word πνικτου — pniktou (strangled) which is absent from D Irenaeus, Tertullian, Cyprian. It is a nice point, though the best MSS. have it in accord with Leviticus 17:10-16. The problem is whether the words were added because “blood” was understood as not “murder,” but a reference to the Mosaic regulation or whether it was omitted to remove the ceremonial aspect and make it all moral and ethical. The Western text omits the word also in Acts 15:29. But with the word retained here and in Acts 15:29 the solution of James is not a compromise, though there is a wise concession to Jewish feeling. Pollutions of idols (αλισγηματων — alisgēmatōn). From αλισγεω — alisgeō only in the lxx and this substantive nowhere else. The word refers to idolatrous practices (pollutions) and things sacrificed to idols (ειδωλυτων — eidōluthōn) in Acts 15:29, not to sacrificial meat sold in the market (1 Corinthians 10:27), a matter not referred to here. Cf. Leviticus 17:1-9. All the four items in the position of James (accepting πνικτου — pniktou) are mentioned in Leviticus 17, 18. [source]
1 Corinthians 5:10 Idolaters [εἰδωλολάτραις]
Only twice outside of Paul's writings: Revelation 21:8; Revelation 22:15. This is the earliest known instance of the use of the word. For the collocation of the covetous and idolaters, compare Colossians 3:15; Ephesians 5:5. New-Testament usage does not confine the term to the worship of images, but extends it to the soul's devotion to any object which usurps the place of God. [source]
Philippians 3:2 Dogs []
Rev., correctly, the dogs, referring to a well-known party - the Judaizers. These were nominally Christians who accepted Jesus as the Messiah, but as the Savior of Israel only. They insisted that Christ's kingdom could be entered only through the gate of Judaism. Only circumcised converts were fully accepted by God. They appeared quite early in the history of the Church, and are those referred to in Acts 15:1. Paul was the object of their special hatred and abuse. They challenged his birth, his authority, and his motives. “'Paul must be destroyed,' was as truly their watchword as the cry for the destruction of Carthage had been of old to the Roman senator” (Stanley, “Sermons and Lectures on the Apostolic Age”). These are referred to in Phlippians 1:16; and the whole passage in the present chapter, from Phlippians 3:3to Phlippians 3:11, is worthy of study, being full of incidental hints lurking in single words, and not always apparent in our versions; hints which, while they illustrate the main point of the discussion, are also aimed at the assertions of the Judaizers. Dogs was a term of reproach among both Greeks and Jews. Homer uses it of both women and men, implying shamelessness in the one, and recklessness in the other. Thus Helen: “Brother-in-law of me, a mischief devising dog” (“Iliad,” vi., 344). Teucer of Hector: “I cannot hit this raging dog” (“Iliad,” viii., 298). Dr. Thomson says of the dogs in oriental towns: “They lie about the streets in such numbers as to render it difficult and often dangerous to pick one's way over and amongst them - a lean, hungry, and sinister brood. They have no owners, but upon some principle known only to themselves, they combine into gangs, each of which assumes jurisdiction over a particular street; and they attack with the utmost ferocity all canine intruders into their territory. In those contests, and especially during the night, they keep up an incessant barking and howling, such as is rarely heard in any European city. The imprecations of David upon his enemies derive their significance, therefore, from this reference to one of the most odious of oriental annoyances” (“Land and Book,” Central palestine and Phoenicia, 593). See Psalm 59:6; Psalm 22:16. Being unclean animals, dogs were used to denote what was unholy or profane. So Matthew 7:6; Revelation 22:15. The Israelites are forbidden in Deuteronomy to bring the price of a dog into the house of God for any vow: Deuteronomy 23:18. The Gentiles of the Christian era were denominated “dogs” by the Jews, see Matthew 15:26. Paul here retorts upon them their own epithet. [source]
Revelation 21:8 Fornicators [πορνοις]
Again all too common always, then and now (1 Corinthians 5:10; 1 Timothy 1:9.). These two crimes often go together.Sorcerers (παρμακοις — pharmakois). Old word, in N.T. only here and Revelation 22:15. Closely connected with idolatry and magic (Revelation 9:21; Revelation 13:13.).Idolaters See 1 Corinthians 5:10.; 1 Corinthians 10:7; Ephesians 5:5; Revelation 22:15. With a powerful grip on men‘s lives then and now.All liars (πασι τοις πσευδεσιν — pasi tois pseudesin). Repeated in Revelation 22:15 and stigmatized often (Revelation 2:2; Revelation 3:9; Revelation 14:5; Revelation 21:8, Revelation 21:27; Revelation 22:15). Not a “light” sin. [source]
Revelation 21:8 Sorcerers [παρμακοις]
Old word, in N.T. only here and Revelation 22:15. Closely connected with idolatry and magic (Revelation 9:21; Revelation 13:13.). [source]
Revelation 21:8 Idolaters [ειδωλολατραις]
See 1 Corinthians 5:10.; 1 Corinthians 10:7; Ephesians 5:5; Revelation 22:15. With a powerful grip on men‘s lives then and now.All liars (πασι τοις πσευδεσιν — pasi tois pseudesin). Repeated in Revelation 22:15 and stigmatized often (Revelation 2:2; Revelation 3:9; Revelation 14:5; Revelation 21:8, Revelation 21:27; Revelation 22:15). Not a “light” sin. [source]
Revelation 21:8 All liars [πασι τοις πσευδεσιν]
Repeated in Revelation 22:15 and stigmatized often (Revelation 2:2; Revelation 3:9; Revelation 14:5; Revelation 21:8, Revelation 21:27; Revelation 22:15). Not a “light” sin. [source]
Revelation 21:8 For the fearful [τοις δειλοις]
Old word (from δειδω — deidō to fear) for the cowardly, who recanted under persecution, in N.T. only here, Matthew 8:26; Mark 4:40.Unbelieving (απιστοις — apistois). “Faithless,” “untrustworthy,” in contrast with Christ “ο πιστος — ho pistos ” (Revelation 1:5). Cf. Revelation 2:10, Revelation 2:13; Revelation 3:14; Revelation 17:14. Disloyalty is close kin to cowardice.Abominable Perfect passive participle of βδελυσσω — bdelussō old verb, in N.T. only here and Romans 2:22, common in lxx, to pollute (Exod 5:21). Those who have become defiled by the impurities of emperor-worship (Revelation 7:4.; Revelation 21:27; Romans 2:22; Titus 1:16).Murderers (πονευσιν — phoneusin). As a matter of course and all too common always (Mark 7:21; Romans 1:29; Revelation 9:21).Fornicators Again all too common always, then and now (1 Corinthians 5:10; 1 Timothy 1:9.). These two crimes often go together.Sorcerers (παρμακοις — pharmakois). Old word, in N.T. only here and Revelation 22:15. Closely connected with idolatry and magic (Revelation 9:21; Revelation 13:13.).Idolaters See 1 Corinthians 5:10.; 1 Corinthians 10:7; Ephesians 5:5; Revelation 22:15. With a powerful grip on men‘s lives then and now.All liars (πασι τοις πσευδεσιν — pasi tois pseudesin). Repeated in Revelation 22:15 and stigmatized often (Revelation 2:2; Revelation 3:9; Revelation 14:5; Revelation 21:8, Revelation 21:27; Revelation 22:15). Not a “light” sin. [source]
Revelation 21:8 Abominable [εβδελυγμενοις]
Perfect passive participle of βδελυσσω — bdelussō old verb, in N.T. only here and Romans 2:22, common in lxx, to pollute (Exod 5:21). Those who have become defiled by the impurities of emperor-worship (Revelation 7:4.; Revelation 21:27; Romans 2:22; Titus 1:16).Murderers (πονευσιν — phoneusin). As a matter of course and all too common always (Mark 7:21; Romans 1:29; Revelation 9:21).Fornicators Again all too common always, then and now (1 Corinthians 5:10; 1 Timothy 1:9.). These two crimes often go together.Sorcerers (παρμακοις — pharmakois). Old word, in N.T. only here and Revelation 22:15. Closely connected with idolatry and magic (Revelation 9:21; Revelation 13:13.).Idolaters See 1 Corinthians 5:10.; 1 Corinthians 10:7; Ephesians 5:5; Revelation 22:15. With a powerful grip on men‘s lives then and now.All liars (πασι τοις πσευδεσιν — pasi tois pseudesin). Repeated in Revelation 22:15 and stigmatized often (Revelation 2:2; Revelation 3:9; Revelation 14:5; Revelation 21:8, Revelation 21:27; Revelation 22:15). Not a “light” sin. [source]
Revelation 21:27 Anything unclean [παν κοινον]
Common use of παν — pān with negative like ουδεν — ouden and the use of κοινος — koinos for defiled or profane as in Mark 7:2; Acts 10:14, not just what is common to all (Titus 1:4).Or he that (και ο — kai ho). “And he that.”Maketh an abomination and a lie Like Babylon (Revelation 17:4 which see for βδελυγμα — bdelugma) and Revelation 21:8 for those in the lake of fire and brimstone, and Revelation 22:15 for “every one loving and doing a lie.” These recurrent glimpses of pagan life on earth and of hell in contrast to heaven in this picture raise the question already mentioned whether John is just running parallel pictures of heaven and hell after the judgment or whether, as Charles says: “The unclean and the abominable and the liars are still on earth, but, though the gates are open day and night, they cannot enter.” In apocalyptic writing literalism and chronology cannot be insisted on as in ordinary books. The series of panoramas continue to the end.But only they which are written (ει μη οι γεγραμμενοι — ei mē hoi gegrammenoi). “Except those written.” For “the book of life” see Revelation 3:5; Revelation 13:8; Revelation 20:15. Cf. Daniel 12:1. [source]
Revelation 21:27 Maketh an abomination and a lie [ποιων βδελυγμα και πσευδος]
Like Babylon (Revelation 17:4 which see for βδελυγμα — bdelugma) and Revelation 21:8 for those in the lake of fire and brimstone, and Revelation 22:15 for “every one loving and doing a lie.” These recurrent glimpses of pagan life on earth and of hell in contrast to heaven in this picture raise the question already mentioned whether John is just running parallel pictures of heaven and hell after the judgment or whether, as Charles says: “The unclean and the abominable and the liars are still on earth, but, though the gates are open day and night, they cannot enter.” In apocalyptic writing literalism and chronology cannot be insisted on as in ordinary books. The series of panoramas continue to the end.But only they which are written (ει μη οι γεγραμμενοι — ei mē hoi gegrammenoi). “Except those written.” For “the book of life” see Revelation 3:5; Revelation 13:8; Revelation 20:15. Cf. Daniel 12:1. [source]
Revelation 9:21 Of their murders [εκ των πονων αυτων]
Heads the list, but “sorceries” (εκ των παρμακων — ek tōn pharmakōn) comes next. Παρμακον — Pharmakon was originally enchantment, as also in Revelation 21:8, then drug. For παρμακια — pharmakia see Revelation 18:23; Galatians 5:20. The two other items are fornication (πορνειας — porneias) and thefts (κλεμματων — klemmatōn old word from κλεπτω — kleptō here alone in N.T.), all four characteristic of demonic worship and idolatry. See other lists of vices in Mark 7:21; Galatians 5:20; Revelation 21:8; Revelation 22:15. Our word “pharmacy” as applied to drugs and medicine has certainly come a long way out of a bad environment, but there is still a bad odour about “patent medicines.” [source]

What do the individual words in Revelation 22:15 mean?

Outside [are] the dogs and sorcerers sexually immoral murderers idolaters everyone loving practicing falsehood
ἔξω οἱ κύνες καὶ φάρμακοι πόρνοι φονεῖς εἰδωλολάτραι πᾶς φιλῶν ποιῶν ψεῦδος

ἔξω  Outside  [are] 
Parse: Adverb
Root: ἔξω  
Sense: without, out of doors.
κύνες  dogs 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: κύων  
Sense: a dog.
φάρμακοι  sorcerers 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: φάρμακος  
Sense: pertaining to magical arts.
πόρνοι  sexually  immoral 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: πόρνος  
Sense: a man who prostitutes his body to another’s lust for hire.
φονεῖς  murderers 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: φονεύς  
Sense: a murderer, a homicide.
εἰδωλολάτραι  idolaters 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: εἰδωλολάτρης  
Sense: a worshipper of false gods, a idolater.
πᾶς  everyone 
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: πᾶς  
Sense: individually.
φιλῶν  loving 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: φιλέω  
Sense: to love.
ποιῶν  practicing 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: ποιέω  
Sense: to make.
ψεῦδος  falsehood 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Neuter Singular
Root: ψεῦδος  
Sense: a lie.