Text -- Revelation 2:25-29 (NET)

2:25 However, hold on to what you have until I come. 2:26 And to the one who conquers and who continues in my deeds until the end, I will give him authority over the nations– 2:27 he will rule them with an iron rod and like clay jars he will break them to pieces, 2:28 just as I have received the right to rule from my Father– and I will give him the morning star. 2:29 The one who has an ear had better hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’

Commentary -- Verse Notes / Footnotes

NET Notes: Rev 2:26

¹ tn Or “who is victorious”; traditionally, “who overcomes.”

² tn Grk “keeps.” In a context that speaks of “holding on to what you have,” the idea here is one of continued faithful behavior (BDAG 1002 s.v. τηρέω 3 has “ὁ τηρῶν τὰ ἔργα μου the one who takes my deeds to heart Rv 2:26”).

³ tn Or “over the Gentiles” (the same Greek word may be translated “Gentiles” or “nations”).

NET Notes: Rev 2:27

¹ tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.

² tn Grk “will shepherd.”

³ tn Or “scepter.” The Greek term ῥάβδος (rJabdo") can mean either “rod” or “scepter.”

⁴ sn A quotation from Ps 2:9 (with the line introducing the quotation containing a partial allusion to Ps 2:8). See also Rev 12:5, 19:15.

NET Notes: Rev 2:28

¹ tn What has been received is not specified in the Greek text, but must be supplied from the context. In the light of the two immediately preceding verses about rulership or dominion, it seems that the implied direct object of δώσω (dwsw) is “the right to rule” (i.e., ἔχειν ἐξουσίαν ποιμάνειν, ecein exousian poimanein), although many modern translations supply the word “authority” here (so NAB, NRSV, NLT).

² tn On this expression BDAG 892 s.v. πρωϊνός states, “early, belonging to the morning ὁ ἀστὴρ ὁ πρ. the morning star, Venus Rv 2:28; 22:16.”