The Meaning of Revelation 22:3 Explained

Revelation 22:3

KJV: And 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:

YLT: and any curse there shall not be any more, and the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him,

Darby: And no curse shall be any more; and the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him,

ASV: And there shall be no curse any more: and the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be therein: and his servants shall serve him;

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And  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: 

What does Revelation 22:3 Mean?

Verse Meaning

There will no longer be a curse because the tree of life will heal (redeem?) the nations. The curse in view is probably the curse that God pronounced on the old creation at the Fall (cf. Zechariah 14:11; Malachi 4:6). God will have intimate fellowship with His people because this curse has now been lifted. Evidently believers (His bond-servants in the new creation; cf. Revelation 1:1) will occupy themselves serving God and the Lamb in the new earth. The Greek word for "serve" (latreuo) suggests priestly service in view of its other uses in this book (cf. Revelation 1:6; Revelation 5:10; Revelation 20:6). "His" and "Him" present God and the Lamb as essentially one being.

Context Summary

Revelation 22:1-9 - "the River Of Water Of Life"
The first five verses of this chapter obviously belong to the preceding one, from which they should not be severed. The ever-flowing river of life proves that the whole life of the blessed depends on the life of God, resident in the enthroned Lamb and communicated through the Holy Spirit. In Eden there was one tree of life; in the New Jerusalem there is a grove with perennial fruit, not protected by a flaming sword, but standing freely in the main thoroughfare, that all who will may take. Observe the threefold description of the saints-they serve, they behold, and they resemble Revelation 22:3-4. No night with its shadow; no rest is needed in the delightful service; no artificial, but un-derived and original light; no cessation of regnant power, for they shall reign forever and ever.
When the visions end, John is assured of the reality and truth of all that he has heard and seen. It appears that the Master Himself broke in with the assurance of His speedy advent; and who shall say that that assurance has failed, when we measure the flight of time with the years of the right hand of the Most High? We should remember also that the fall of Jerusalem and the sack of Jerusalem marked stages in the Advent. [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 22:3

There shall be no curse any more [παν κατατεμα ουκ εσται ετι]
No other example of κατατεμα — katathema has been found outside of the Didache XVI. 5, though the verb κατατεματιζω — katathematizō occurs in Matthew 26:74, meaning to curse, while we have ανατεματιζω — anathematizō in Mark 14:71 in the same sense. It may be a syncopated form of κατανατεμα — katanathema The usual ανατεμα — anathema (curse) occurs in 1 Corinthians 16:22; Galatians 1:8; Romans 9:3. For παν — pan with ουκουδεν — ouk =λατρευσουσιν αυτωι — ouden see Revelation 21:27. [source]
Shall do him service [λατρευω]
Future active of αυτωι — latreuō linear idea, “shall keep on serving.” See Revelation 7:15 for present active indicative of this same verb with the dative autōi as here, picturing the worship of God in heaven. See Revelation 22:1 for “the throne of God and of the Lamb.” [source]
Shall serve [λατρεύσουσιν]
See on Luke 1:74. Rev., do Him service. The word originally means to serve for hire. In the New Testament, of the worship or service of God in the use of the rites intended for His worship. It came to be used by the Jews in a very special sense, to denote the service rendered to Jehovah by the Israelites as His peculiar people. See Romans 9:4; Acts 26:7; Hebrews 9:1, Hebrews 9:6. Hence the significant application of the term to Christian service by Paul in Philemon 3:3. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Revelation 22:3

Romans 1:25 Worshipped and served [ἐσεβάσθησαν καὶ ἐλάτρευσαν]
The former of worship generally; the latter of worship through special rites or sacrifices. On the latter verb, see on Revelation 22:3. [source]
Romans 9:4 The service [ἡ λατρεία]
See on John 16:2; see on Luke 1:74; see on Revelation 22:3; see on Philemon 3:3. Here the sum total of the Levitical services instituted by the law. [source]
Philippians 3:3 Worship God in the spirit [πνεύματι Θεῷ λατρεύοντες]
The correct reading is θεοῦ ofGod. Render, as Rev., worship by the Spirit of God. Worship. See on Revelation 22:3. Paul uses the Jews' word which denoted their own service of Jehovah as His peculiar people. Compare Acts 26:7. A Jew would be scandalized by the application of this term to Christian worship. [source]
Hebrews 9:1 Ordinances of divine service [δικαιώματα λατρείας]
For δικαίωμα ordinancesee on Romans 5:16. For λατρεία servicesee on Luke 1:74; see on Revelation 22:3; see on Philemon 3:3; see on 2 Timothy 1:3. The meaning is ordinances directed to or adapted for divine service. [source]
1 Peter 1:4 Incorruptible, undefiled, and that fadeth not away []
Note Peter's characteristic multiplication of epithets. Incorruptible ( ἄφθαρτον )From ἀ , not, and φθείρω , to destroy or corrupt. Undefiled ( ἀμίαντον )From ἀ , not, and μιαίνω , to defile, though the verb means especially to defile by staining, as with color; while μολύνω , also translated defile (1 Corinthians 8:7), is to besmirch, as with mire. We might render unstained, though the word is not used with any conscious reference to its etymology. That fadeth not away ( ἀμάραντον ) Used by Peter only, and but once. From ἀ , not, and μαραίνομαι , to wither. The loveliness of the heavenly inheritance is described as exempt from the blight which attaches to earthly bloom. As between ἄφθαρτον , incorruptible, and ἀμάραντον , unwitheringthe former emphasizes the indestructibility of substance, and the latter of grace, and beauty. The latter adjective appears in the familiar botanical name amaranth. It will be observed that all of these three epithets are compounded with the negative particle ἀ , not. Archbishop Trench aptly remarks that “it is a remarkable testimony to the reign of sin, and therefore of imperfection, of decay, of death throughout this whole fallen world, that as often as we desire to set forth the glory, purity, and perfection of that other, higher world toward which we strive, we are almost inevitably compelled to do this by the aid of negatives; by the denying to that higher order of things the leading features and characteristics of this.” Compare Revelation 21:1, Revelation 21:4, Revelation 21:22, Revelation 21:23, Revelation 21:27; Revelation 22:3, Revelation 22:5. [source]
Revelation 20:6 Priests of God and of Christ [ιερεις του τεου και του Χριστου]
As in Revelation 1:6; Revelation 5:10; Revelation 22:3, Revelation 22:5.Shall reign with him (βασιλευσουσιν μετ αυτου — basileusousin met' autou). As promised in the same passages. The servants of God are to be priests with Christ and to reign with him (Matthew 19:28). In Revelation 5:10 επι της γης — epi tēs gēs (upon earth) occurs, but this item does not appear here. “No hint is given as to where this service is to be rendered and this royalty to be exercised” (Swete). [source]
Revelation 22:1 A river of water of life [ποταμον υδατος ζωης]
For υδωρ ζωης — hudōr zōēs (water of life) see Revelation 7:17; Revelation 21:6; Revelation 22:17; John 4:14. There was a river in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 2:10). The metaphor of river reappears in Zechariah 14:8; Ezekiel 47:9, and the fountain of life in Joel 3:18; Jeremiah 2:13; Proverbs 10:11; Proverbs 13:14; Proverbs 14:27; Proverbs 16:22; Psalm 36:10.Bright as crystal (λαμπρον ως κρυσταλλον — lampron hōs krustallon). See Revelation 4:6 for κρυσταλλον — krustallon and Revelation 15:6; Revelation 19:8; Revelation 22:16 for λαμπρον — lampron “Sparkling like rock crystal” (Swete), shimmering like mountain water over the rocks.Proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb Cf. Ezekiel 47:1; Zechariah 14:8. Already in Revelation 3:21 Christ is pictured as sharing the Father‘s throne as in Hebrews 1:3. See also Revelation 22:3. This phrase has no bearing on the doctrine of the Procession of the Holy Spirit. [source]
Revelation 22:1 Proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb [εκπορευομενον εκ του τρονου του τεου και του αρνιου]
Cf. Ezekiel 47:1; Zechariah 14:8. Already in Revelation 3:21 Christ is pictured as sharing the Father‘s throne as in Hebrews 1:3. See also Revelation 22:3. This phrase has no bearing on the doctrine of the Procession of the Holy Spirit. [source]
Revelation 3:21 Sat down [εκατισα]
“I took my seat” (Hebrews 1:3) where Christ is now (Revelation 22:3; Colossians 3:1). Cf. 1 John 5:4; Revelation 2:27. Each of these seven messages begins alike and ends alike. Each is the message of the Christ and of the Holy Spirit to the angel of the church. Each has a special message suited to the actual condition of each church. In each case the individual who overcomes has a promise of blessing. Christ the Shepherd knows his sheep and lays bare the particular peril in each case. [source]
Revelation 7:3 Upon their foreheads [επι των μετωπων]
From Ezekiel 9:4. Old word For “the servants of God” (tous doulous tou theou) who are to be thus marked linked with angels in the service of God see Revelation 1:1; Revelation 2:20; Revelation 19:2, Revelation 19:5; Revelation 22:3, Revelation 22:6. [source]
Revelation 3:21 To sit [κατισαι]
First aorist active infinitive of κατιζω — kathizō This promise grows out of the prophecy that the saints will share in the Messiah‘s rule, made to the twelve (Matthew 19:28; Luke 22:29.), repeated by Paul (1 Corinthians 6:2.), enlarged in Revelation 22:1-5 (to last forever, 2 Timothy 2:11.). James and John took this hope and promise literally (Mark 10:40) not metaphorically.As I also overcame (ως καγω ενικησα — hōs kagō enikēsa). First aorist active indicative of νικαω — nikaō looking back on the victory as over in the past. In John 16:33 before the Cross Jesus says Εγω νενικηκα τον κοσμον — Egō nenikēka ton kosmon (perfect active), emphasizing the abiding effect of the victory.Sat down “I took my seat” (Hebrews 1:3) where Christ is now (Revelation 22:3; Colossians 3:1). Cf. 1 John 5:4; Revelation 2:27. Each of these seven messages begins alike and ends alike. Each is the message of the Christ and of the Holy Spirit to the angel of the church. Each has a special message suited to the actual condition of each church. In each case the individual who overcomes has a promise of blessing. Christ the Shepherd knows his sheep and lays bare the particular peril in each case. [source]
Revelation 6:17 The great day [η ημερα η μεγαλη]
The phrase occurs in the O.T. prophets (Joel 2:11, Joel 2:31; Zephaniah 1:14. Cf. Judges 1:6) and is here combined with “of their wrath” (της οργης αυτων — tēs orgēs autōn) as in Zephaniah 1:15, Zephaniah 1:18; Zephaniah 2:3; Romans 2:5. “Their” (αυτων — autōn) means the wrath of God and of the Lamb put here on an equality as in Revelation 1:17., Revelation 22:3, Revelation 22:13; 1 Thessalonians 3:11; 2 Thessalonians 2:16. Beckwith holds that this language about the great day having come “is the mistaken cry of men in terror caused by the portents which are bursting upon them.” There is something, to be sure, to be said for this view which denies that John commits himself to the position that this is the end of the ages. [source]
Revelation 7:3 Till we shall have sealed [αχρι σπραγισωμεν]
Temporal clause of indefinite action for the future with αχρι — achri (sometimes αχρις ου — achris hou or αχρις ου αν — achris hou an) and the aorist subjunctive as in Revelation 15:8; Revelation 20:3, Revelation 20:5 or the future indicative (Revelation 17:7), usually with the notion of ascent (up to) rather than extent like μεχρι — mechri (modal) sometimes occurs, but it is not necessary. But there is no futurum exactum idea in the aorist subjunctive, simply “till we seal,” not “till we shall have sealed.”Upon their foreheads (επι των μετωπων — epi tōn metōpōn). From Ezekiel 9:4. Old word (μετα ωπς — metaτους δουλους του τεου — ōps after the eye, above the eye, the space above or between the eyes), in N.T. only in the Apocalypse (Revelation 7:3; Revelation 9:4; Revelation 13:16; Revelation 14:1, Revelation 14:9; Revelation 17:5; Revelation 20:4; Revelation 22:4). For “the servants of God” (tous doulous tou theou) who are to be thus marked linked with angels in the service of God see Revelation 1:1; Revelation 2:20; Revelation 19:2, Revelation 19:5; Revelation 22:3, Revelation 22:6. [source]

What do the individual words in Revelation 22:3 mean?

And any curse not there will be any longer the throne - of God of the Lamb in it will be the servants of Him will serve Him
Καὶ πᾶν κατάθεμα οὐκ ἔσται ἔτι θρόνος τοῦ Θεοῦ τοῦ Ἀρνίου ἐν αὐτῇ ἔσται οἱ δοῦλοι αὐτοῦ λατρεύσουσιν αὐτῷ

πᾶν  any 
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Neuter Singular
Root: πᾶς  
Sense: individually.
κατάθεμα  curse 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Neuter Singular
Root: κατάθεμα 
Sense: curse.
ἔσται  there  will  be 
Parse: Verb, Future Indicative Middle, 3rd Person Singular
Root: εἰμί  
Sense: to be, to exist, to happen, to be present.
ἔτι  any  longer 
Parse: Adverb
Root: ἔτι  
Sense: yet, still.
θρόνος  throne 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: θρόνος  
Sense: a throne seat.
τοῦ  - 
Parse: Article, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
Θεοῦ  of  God 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root: θεός  
Sense: a god or goddess, a general name of deities or divinities.
τοῦ  of  the 
Parse: Article, Genitive Neuter Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
Ἀρνίου  Lamb 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Neuter Singular
Root: ἀρνίον  
Sense: .
ἔσται  will  be 
Parse: Verb, Future Indicative Middle, 3rd Person Singular
Root: εἰμί  
Sense: to be, to exist, to happen, to be present.
δοῦλοι  servants 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: δοῦλοσ1 
Sense: a slave, bondman, man of servile condition.
αὐτοῦ  of  Him 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Root: αὐτός  
Sense: himself, herself, themselves, itself.
λατρεύσουσιν  will  serve 
Parse: Verb, Future Indicative Active, 3rd Person Plural
Root: λατρεύω  
Sense: to serve for hire.