Devine Scripture

Revelation 22:8

What does Revelation 22:8 mean?

A plain-English look at Revelation 22:8 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Revelation 22:8 means

John testifies personally that he heard and saw these things. His candid admission that he fell down to worship before the angel’s feet shows both the overwhelming glory of the revelation and John’s humility in recording his own fault. It authenticates the account: this is an eyewitness overwhelmed by holiness. It also warns that even the most spiritual among us can misdirect awe. The grandeur of God’s message does not make its messenger divine. John’s posture must be corrected so that the church learns to respond to Revelation with reverence toward God, not with veneration of instruments He uses.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And I John am he that heard and saw these things. And when I heard and saw, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel that showed me these things.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And I John am he that heard and saw these things. And when I heard and saw, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel that showed me these things.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And I, John, am he who saw these things and to whose ears they came. And when I had seen and given ear, I went down on my face to give worship at the feet of the angel who made these things clear to me.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

And I, John, am he who is seeing these things and hearing, and when I heard and beheld, I fell down to bow before the feet of the messenger who is shewing me these things;

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And I, John, who have heard and seen these things. And, after I had heard and seen, I fell down to adore before the feet of the angel who shewed me the things.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And I, John, [was] he who heard and saw these things. And when I heard and saw, I fell down to do homage before the feet of the angel who shewed me these things.

Context

After Jesus’ promise and blessing, the narrative pauses to show John’s reaction. The impulse to worship the angel reveals the intensity of the vision. This sets up the angel’s corrective word in verse 9, which re-centers worship on God alone and identifies the angel as a fellow servant. From there, verse 10 will broaden the exhortation to keep the book open and urgent, framing the entire prophecy as a message for immediate obedience.

v.7And behold, I come quickly. Blessed is he that keepeth the words of the prophecy of this book.

v.8This passage

v.9And he saith unto me, See thou do it not: I am a fellow-servant with thee and with thy brethren the prophets, and with them that keep the words of this book: worship God.

Cross references

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

  • Revelation 1:1

    The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show unto his servants, even the things which must shortly come to pass: and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John;

  • Revelation 19:10

    And I fell down before his feet to worship him. And he saith unto me, See thou do it not: I am a fellow-servant with thee and with thy brethren that hold the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.

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