What Does Revelation 2:15 Mean in the King James?

So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.

Revelation 2:15 · KJV

The analysis reads the King James wording.

King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.

THE KEY

The teaching is not merely present in the assembly; people are holding it fast, and the verse names that teaching as hated.

THE MEANING

An assembly can contain people who firmly hold a teaching that the speaker hates. Their grip and the judgment of that teaching stand together in the same sentence; its presence does not conceal the verdict.

WHAT THIS UNDOES

The presence of a teaching inside the assembly does not make it acceptable: this verse names a teaching held there and calls it hated.

THE ROOT

κρατοῦντας

kratountas

GROWS FROM

⁨κρατ-⁩ (krat-), the stem of ⁨κρατέω⁩ (krateō, “to hold firmly”)

Strength or force expressed as grasping, holding fast, or having power over.

“hold” in this verse is kratountas. The Greek verb carries the sense of a firm grip, so this is more than a teaching briefly passing through the assembly: people are retaining it. The root itself does not approve what is held; the object of the grip gives the sentence its sharp judgment.

ALSO GROWS

kratos: strength, might, dominion

κράτος

This related noun makes the force within “hold” audible: the teaching is being maintained, not merely noticed.

krataioō: to strengthen, make strong

κραταιόω

This related verb uses the same stem for strength made firm, illuminating the force carried by the act of holding.

THE PATTERN

A teaching’s presence and influence within a community do not exempt it from discernment.

But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.

Revelation 2:6 · KJVThe same named group appears, and the verse makes clear that what is found among the assembly can still be rejected.

Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?

1 Corinthians 5:6 · KJVWhat is allowed to remain within a community can affect the whole, so its presence is not a measure of its acceptability.

And the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee, saying, Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them;

Deuteronomy 13:2 · KJVEven a persuasive sign can accompany a teaching that leads toward a false allegiance; its presence and power do not settle its truth.

THE THREAD

I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan’s seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth.

Revelation 2:13 · KJV

“Thou holdest fast” uses the same Greek verb ⁨κρατέω⁩ (krateō, “to hold firmly”) as “hold” in this verse. The same community can hold fast the name and have people hold a teaching; the root describes the grip, while what is held reveals its significance.

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