“This is the solemn pronouncement of³ the one who has a firm grasp on⁴ the seven stars in his right hand⁵—the one who walks among the seven golden⁶ lampstands:

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Footnotes

1 For location see ; ; ; .
2 The phrase “the following” after “write” is supplied to clarify that what follows is the content of what is to be written.
3 Grk “These things says [the One] …” The expression τάδε λέγει (tade legei) occurs eight times in the NT, seven of which are in Rev 2–3. “The pronoun is used to add solemnity to the prophetic utterance that follows.… In classical drama, it was used to introduce a new actor to the scene (Smyth, Greek Grammar, 307 [§1241]). But the τάδε λέγει formula in the NT derives from the OT, where it was used to introduce a prophetic utterance (, ὅδε, 1)” ( ). Thus, the translation “this is the solemn pronouncement of” for τάδε λέγει is very much in keeping with the OT connotations of this expression. The expression This is the solemn pronouncement of reflects an OT idiom. The has the same Greek phrase (τάδε λέγει, tade legei) about 350 times, with nearly 320 of them having “the Lord” (Heb יהוה, Yahweh) as subject. That the author of Revelation would use such an expression seven times with the risen Christ as the speaker may well imply something of Christ’s sovereignty and deity. Cf. also Acts 21:11 in which the Holy Spirit is the speaker of this expression.
4 Grk “holds,” but the term (i.e., κρατῶν, kratōn) with an accusative object, along with the context, argues for a sense of firmness. (Cf. .)
5 On seven stars in his right hand see 1:16.
6 Grk “lampstands of gold” with the genitive τῶν χρυσῶν (tōn chrusōn) translated as an attributive genitive.

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

“To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: ‘The words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks among the seven golden lampstands.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

“To the angel of the church in Ephesus write:

These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

“Write to the angel of the church in Ephesus: Thus says the one who holds the seven stars in his right hand and who walks among the seven golden lampstands:

NLTNew Living Translation

“Write this letter to the angel of the church in Ephesus. This is the message from the one who holds the seven stars in his right hand, the one who walks among the seven gold lampstands:

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

“To the angel of the church in Ephesus write:

“This is what the one who holds the seven stars in his right hand says, the one who walks in the midst of the seven gold lampstands:

KJV 1900King James Version

Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks;

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