Devine Scripture

Revelation 22:12

What does Revelation 22:12 mean?

A plain-English look at Revelation 22:12 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Revelation 22:12 means

Jesus again promises, “I come quickly,” and adds that His reward is with Him to render to each according to his work. This affirms personal accountability before the returning Lord. Salvation is by grace, but works reveal what we are and will be the measure for reward or loss. The Judge brings with Him both the blessing of vindication and the certainty of righteous recompense. The promise motivates steadfast obedience and comforts the oppressed who await justice. The fact that the reward is “with” Him underscores that all judgment and reward are bound up in His person; His coming itself is the great gift, and with it comes the settling of all accounts.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

Behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to render to each man according as his work is.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

Behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to render to each man according as his work is.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

See, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give to every man the outcome of his works.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

And lo, I come quickly, and my reward <FI>is<Fi> with me, to render to each as his work shall be;

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

Behold, I come quickly: and my reward is with me, to render to every, man according to his works.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

Behold, I come quickly, and my reward with me, to render to every one as his work shall be.

Context

This comes right after the warning about fixed moral paths. The assurance of recompense explains why staying holy matters. Verse 13 will immediately assert Jesus’ divine titles—Alpha and Omega, first and last, beginning and end—rooting His authority to judge and reward in His eternal identity. That in turn will lead to a blessing on those who are cleansed and a description of those who remain outside.

v.11He that is unrighteous, let him do unrighteousness still: and he that is filthy, let him be made filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him do righteousness still: and he that is holy, let him be made holy still.

v.12This passage

v.13I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.

Cross references

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

  • Isaiah 3:10

    Say ye of the righteous, that it shall be well with him; for they shall eat the fruit of their doings.

  • 1 Corinthians 3:8

    Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: but each shall receive his own reward according to his own labor.

  • Romans 14:12

    So then each one of us shall give account of himself to God.

  • Romans 2:6

    who will render to every man according to his works:

  • Matthew 16:27

    For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then shall he render unto every man according to his deeds.

  • 1 Corinthians 9:17

    For if I do this of mine own will, I have a reward: but if not of mine own will, I have a stewardship intrusted to me.

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