Devine Scripture

Revelation 22:15

What does Revelation 22:15 mean?

A plain-English look at Revelation 22:15 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Revelation 22:15 means

Those outside are described as “dogs” and as sorcerers, fornicators, murderers, idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices a lie. The list represents unrepentant patterns that contradict God’s holiness and harm others. “Dogs” was a term for the impure and shameless, signaling exclusion for moral corruption and false teaching. The emphasis is not on social outcasts but on those who cling to defilement. Their place is outside because their hearts and deeds are alien to the city’s holiness. Revelation makes clear that the new creation is a pure place for a purified people; persistent rebellion has no share within its gates.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

Without are the dogs, and the sorcerers, and the fornicators, and the murderers, and the idolaters, and every one that loveth and maketh a lie.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

Without are the dogs, and the sorcerers, and the fornicators, and the murderers, and the idolaters, and every one that loveth and maketh a lie.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

Outside are the dogs, and those who make use of evil powers, those who make themselves unclean, and the takers of life, and those who give worship to images, and everyone whose delight is in what is false.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

and without <FI>are<Fi> the dogs, and the sorcerers, and the whoremongers, and the murderers, and the idolaters, and every one who is loving and is doing a lie.

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

Without are dogs and sorcerers and unchaste and murderers and servers of idols and every one that loveth and maketh a lie.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

Without [are] the dogs, and the sorcerers, and the fornicators, and the murderers, and the idolaters, and every one that loves and makes a lie.

Context

Immediately following the blessing on those with washed robes, this verse presents the contrasting fate of the unclean and unrepentant. The stark division heightens the urgency of the preceding exhortations. Next, in verse 16, Jesus speaks again, identifying Himself and the audience (“the churches”) and declaring His messianic titles. The movement shifts from destinies to the identity of the One issuing the call and the scope of those addressed.

v.14Blessed are they that wash their robes, that they may have the right to come to the tree of life, and may enter in by the gates into the city.

v.15This passage

v.16I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things for the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, the bright, the morning star.

Cross references

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

  • Colossians 3:6

    for which things’ sake cometh the wrath of God upon the sons of disobedience:

  • Isaiah 9:15

    The elder and the honorable man, he is the head; and the prophet that teacheth lies, he is the tail.

  • Acts 13:6

    And when they had gone through the whole island unto Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Bar-Jesus;

  • Galatians 5:19

    Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these: fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,

  • Revelation 9:20

    And the rest of mankind, who were not killed with these plagues, repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship demons, and the idols of gold, and of silver, and of brass, and of stone, and of wood; which can neither see, nor hear, nor walk:

  • Revelation 18:23

    and the light of a lamp shall shine no more at all in thee; and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee: for thy merchants were the princes of the earth; for with thy sorcery were all the nations deceived.

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