What Does Revelation 22:20 Mean?
The one who bears witness to these things says, Yes, I come swiftly. Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.
Key words are shown with the Hebrew or Greek and what each word meant.
Selah Decoded Version The Selah Decoded Version renders what the Hebrew and Greek words meant to the people who first heard them.
King James wording
King James Version
He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.THE KEY
The promise “I come” and the reply “come” are forms of the same Greek verb: the promised arrival is answered in its own words.
THE MEANING
The testimony reaches you as a promise: “I come quickly.” Its final words give that promise a reply: “Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.” Confidence in the coming and the longing for it stand together in the verse.
THE ROOT
ἔρχου
erchou
GROWS FROM
ἐρχ-
erch-
to come or arrive
The promise ἔρχομαι (erchomai, “I come/am coming”) and the closing plea ἔρχου (erchou, “come!”) are forms of the same verb. The reply does not change the subject: it turns the promised arrival into a direct call.
ALSO GROWS
erchomai: I come; I am coming
ἔρχομαι
This is the verb in the promise “I come quickly.”
erchou: Come!
ἔρχου
This is the same verb in the closing plea to Jesus.
erchomenos: coming; the one who comes
ἐρχόμενος
This participle carries the same root into the idea of a person on the way.
אָמֵן
’āmēn
GROWS FROM
אמן
ʾ-m-n
to be firm, reliable, or steady
The Greek ἀμήν (amēn, “Amen”) preserves the Hebrew אָמֵן (’āmēn, “firm; so be it”). Here, that firm assent is followed by a direct request for the promised coming.
ALSO GROWS
’āman: to be firm or reliable
אָמַן
The root’s sense of firmness gives Amen its force as a dependable assent.
’emunah: firmness, steadiness; trust
אֱמוּנָה
This branch links the closing Amen with trust as leaning one’s full weight on what is said.
’āmēn: truly; so be it
אָמֵן
This is the spoken assent that stands before the plea, “Even so, come.”
ταχύ
tachy
GROWS FROM
ταχ-
tach-
swift movement or speed
“swiftly” in this verse is tachy. The word ταχύ (tachy, “quickly”) belongs to the family of swiftness and speed. It gives the promised coming a sense of urgency, which the closing plea answers directly.
ALSO GROWS
tachys: swift, quick
ταχύς
This adjective shares the root’s sense of swiftness with “quickly.”
tachos: speed, swiftness
τάχος
This noun makes explicit the speed carried by the verse’s adverb.
tacheōs: swiftly, quickly
ταχέως
This related adverb expresses the same quality of rapid movement.
THE PATTERN
Scripture speaks of God’s arrival both as a promise and as something the reader may ask for.
Look, Lord LORD comes with a strong hand, and his arm rules for him. Look, his wages are with him, and his work goes before him.Let your governance come. Let your will be done on the ground, as it is in heaven.And the Breath and the bride say, Come. And let the one who hears say, Come. And let the one who thirsts come. Let whoever wills take the waters of life as a gift.THE THREAD
And the Breath and the bride say, Come. And let the one who hears say, Come. And let the one who thirsts come. Let whoever wills take the waters of life as a gift.Revelation 22:17 repeats ἔρχου (erchou, “come!”), the same Greek form that closes this verse. The promise ἔρχομαι (erchomai, “I come/am coming”) and the answering ἔρχου (erchou, “come!”) share one verb, placing promise and response in the same word-family.
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