Revelation of John 22:17
A plain-spoken deep dive on this verse. Read the chapter →
The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” Let the one who hears say, “Come!” And let the one who is thirsty come, and the one who desires the water of life drink freely.
Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
Reply of the spiritual Church and John to Christ's words (Rev 22:7, Rev 22:12, Rev 22:16). the Spirit--in the churches and in the prophets. the bride--not here called "wife," as that title applies to her only when the full number constituting the Church shall have been completed. The invitation, "Come," only holds good while the Church is still but an affianced Bride, and not the actually wedded wife. However, "Come" may rather be the prayer of the Spirit in the Church and in believers in reply to Christ's "I come quickly," crying, Even so, "Come" (Rev 22:7, Rev 22:12); Rev 22:20 confirms this view. The whole question of your salvation hinges on this, that you be able to hear with joy Christ's announcement, "I come," and to reply, "Come" [BENGEL]. Come to fully glorify Thy Bride. let him that heareth--that is, let him that heareth the Spirit and Bride saying to the Lord Jesus, "Come," join the Bride as a true believer, become part of her, and so say with her to Jesus, "Come." On "heareth" means "obeyeth"; for until one has obeyed the Gospel call, he cannot pray to Jesus "Come"; so "hear" is used, Rev 1:3; Joh 10:16. Let him that hears and obeys Jesus' voice (Rev 22:16; Rev 1:3) join in praying "Come." Compare Rev 6:1, Rev 6:10; see on Rev 6:1. In the other view, which makes "Come" an invitation to sinners, this clause urges those who themselves hear savingly the invitation to address the same to others, as did Andrew and Philip after they themselves had heard and obeyed Jesus' invitation, "Come." let him that is athirst come--As the Bride, the Church, prays to Jesus, "Come," so she urges all whosoever thirst for participation in the full manifestation of redemption-glory at His coming to us, to COME in the meantime and drink of the living waters, which are the earnest o…
Open source ↗In this chapter we have, I. A further description of the heavenly state of the church (Rev 22:1-5). II. A confirmation of this and all the other visions of this book (Rev 22:6-19). III. The conclusion (Rev 22:20, Rev 22:21).
Open source ↗22:17 Come is a repeated invitation and a confession (see 22:20). • the bride: The Lamb’s wife (see 21:9) is the church, the people of God. • The thirsty can drink freely from God’s provision (see 21:6; 22:1; Ps 42:1; Isa 55:1; John 4:10-14).
Open source ↗Cross-references
Other passages the community most often connects to this one. Tap to read.
But whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a fount of water springing up to eternal life.”
And He told me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give freely from the spring of the water of life.
On the last and greatest day of the feast, Jesus stood up and called out in a loud voice, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink.
With joy you will draw water from the springs of salvation,
Jesus answered, “If you knew the gift of God and who is asking you for a drink, you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.”
Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!
Then the angel showed me a river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb
Come, O house of Jacob, let us walk in the light of the LORD.
And many peoples will come and say: “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us His ways so that we may walk in His paths.” For the law will go forth from Zion, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.