Devine Scripture

Revelation 2:4

What does Revelation 2:4 mean?

A plain-English look at Revelation 2:4 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Revelation 2:4 means

Despite their many strengths, Jesus charges Ephesus with a grave failure: they have left their first love. Once their devotion to Christ burned bright; now it has cooled. Orthodoxy and endurance remain, but the warm, simple affection that once delighted in Him and overflowed to others has faded. This is not a minor flaw; love is the heart of Christian obedience. A busy church can drift from the love that birthed its zeal. Christ’s words are not to shame but to awaken. He names the loss clearly so they can truly recover it, for no amount of correct practice or courageous stance can substitute for love’s primacy.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

But I have this against thee, that thou didst leave thy first love.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

But I have this against thee, that thou didst leave thy first love.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

But I have this against you, that you are turned away from your first love.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

`But I have against thee: That thy first love thou didst leave!

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

But I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first charity.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

but I have against thee, that thou hast left thy first love.

Context

Following praise (verses 2–3), this rebuke is the turning point of the Ephesian letter. It frames everything that follows: the remedy (verse 5), the affirmation of their hatred for Nicolaitan deeds (verse 6), and the promise to overcomers (verse 7). Understanding this verse is essential—the coming call to remember, repent, and return aims at restoring love as the animating center. The sequence shows Christ’s pastoral method: diagnosis, prescription, and motivation, all under His sovereign oversight introduced in verse 1.

v.3and thou hast patience and didst bear for my name’s sake, and hast not grown weary.

v.4This passage

v.5Remember therefore whence thou art fallen, and repent and do the first works; or else I come to thee, and will move thy candlestick out of its place, except thou repent.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Revelation 2:20

    But I have this against thee, that thou sufferest the woman Jezebel, who calleth herself a prophetess; and she teacheth and seduceth my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed to idols.

  • 1 Thessalonians 4:9

    But concerning love of the brethren ye have no need that one write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another;

  • Revelation 3:14

    And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God:

  • Philippians 1:9

    And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and all discernment;

  • Hebrews 6:10

    for God is not unrighteous to forget your work and the love which ye showed toward his name, in that ye ministered unto the saints, and still do minister.

  • Philippians 3:13

    Brethren, I count not myself yet to have laid hold: but one thing I do, forgetting the things which are behind, and stretching forward to the things which are before,

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