“This is the solemn pronouncement of²⁷ the Holy One, the True One, who holds the key of David, who opens doors²⁸ no one can shut, and shuts doors²⁹ no one can open: ^3:8‘I know your deeds. (Look! I have put³⁰ in front of you an open door that no one can shut.)³¹ I know³² that you have little strength,³³ but³⁴ you have obeyed³⁵ my word and have not denied my name.

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Footnotes

25 Here καί (kai) has not been translated due to differences between Greek and English style.
26 The phrase “the following” after “write” is supplied to clarify that what follows is the content of what is to be written.
27 Grk “These things says [the One] …” See the note on the phrase “this is the solemn pronouncement of” in . The expression This is the solemn pronouncement of reflects an OT idiom. See the note on this phrase in .
28 The word “door” is not in the Greek text but has been supplied in the translation. Direct objects were often omitted in Greek when clear from the context. Since the following verse does contain the word “door” (θύραν, thuran), that word has been supplied as the direct object here.
29 See the note on the word “door” earlier in this verse.
30 Grk “I have given.”
31 Grk “to shut it,” but English would leave the direct object understood in this case. The entire statement is parenthetical, interrupting the construction found in other letters to the churches in 3:1 and 3:15, “I know your deeds, that …” where an enumeration of the deeds follows.
32 This translation is based on connecting the ὅτι (hoti) clause with the οἶδα (oida) at the beginning of the verse, giving the content of what is known (see also 3:1, 3:15 for parallels). Because of the intervening clause that is virtually parenthetical (see the note on the word “shut” earlier in this verse), the words “I know that” from the beginning of the verse had to be repeated to make this connection clear for the English reader. However, the ὅτι could be understood as introducing a causal subordinate clause instead and thus translated, “because you have.”
33 Or “little power.”
34 Here καί (kai) has been translated as “but” to indicate the contrast present in this context.
35 Grk “and having kept.” The participle ἐτήρησας (etērēsas) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style. For the translation of τηρέω (tēreō) as “obey” see L&N 36.19. This is the same word that is used in 3:10 (there translated “kept”) where there is a play on words.

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

“And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: ‘The words of the holy one, the true one, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one opens.

“ ‘I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

“To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write:

These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open. I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

“Write to the angel of the church in Philadelphia: Thus says the Holy One, the true one, the one who has the key of David, who opens and no one will close, and who closes and no one opens: I know your works. Look, I have placed before you an open door that no one can close because you have but little power; yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.

NLTNew Living Translation

“Write this letter to the angel of the church in Philadelphia.

This is the message from the one who is holy and true,

the one who has the key of David.

What he opens, no one can close;

and what he closes, no one can open:

“I know all the things you do, and I have opened a door for you that no one can close. You have little strength, yet you obeyed my word and did not deny me.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

“And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write:

“This is what the holy one, the true one, the one who has the key of David, the one who opens and no one can shut, and who shuts and no one can open, says: ‘I know your works (behold, I have put before you an opened door that no one is able to shut) that you have a little strength, and have kept my word, and did not deny my name.

KJV 1900King James Version

And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth; I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.

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