Revelation 3:9-11

3:9 Listen! ¹  I am going to make those people from the synagogue ²  of Satan – who say they are Jews yet ³  are not, but are lying – Look, I will make ⁴  them come and bow down ⁵  at your feet and acknowledge ⁶  that I have loved you. 3:10 Because you have kept ⁷  my admonition ⁸  to endure steadfastly, ⁹  I will also keep you from the hour of testing that is about to come on the whole world to test those who live on the earth. 3:11 I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have so that no one can take away ¹⁰  your crown. ¹¹ 

¹ tn Grk “behold” (L&N 91.13).

² sn See the note on synagogue in 2:9.

³ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “yet” to indicate the contrast between what these people claimed and what they were.

⁴ tn The verb here is ποιέω (poiew), but in this context it has virtually the same meaning as δίδωμι (didwmi) used at the beginning of the verse. Stylistic variation like this is typical of Johannine literature.

⁵ tn The verb here is προσκυνήσουσιν (proskunhsousin), normally used to refer to worship.

⁶ tn Or “and know,” “and recognize.”

⁷ tn Or “obey.” For the translation of τηρέω (threw) as “obey” see L&N 36.19. In the Greek there is a wordplay: “because you have kept my word…I will keep you,” though the meaning of τηρέω is different each time.

⁸ tn The Greek term λόγον (logon) is understood here in the sense of admonition or encouragement.

⁹ tn Or “to persevere.” Here ὑπομονῆς (Jupomonhs) has been translated as a genitive of reference/respect related to τὸν λόγον (ton logon).

¹⁰ tn On the verb λάβῃ (labh) here BDAG 583 s.v. λαμβάνω 2 states, “to take away, remove…with or without the use of force τὰ ἀργύρια take away the silver coins (fr. the temple) Mt 27:6. τὰς ἀσθενείας diseases 8:17. τὸν στέφανον Rv 3:11.”

¹¹ sn Your crown refers to a wreath consisting either of foliage or of precious metals formed to resemble foliage and worn as a symbol of honor, victory, or as a badge of high office – ‘wreath, crown’ (L&N 6.192).