Revelation 22:17
And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.
Study Note
Study Note
The penultimate chapter of canonical Scripture ends with a fourfold invitation — 'Spirit and bride say, Come'; 'he who hears say, Come'; 'let him who is thirsty come'; 'whoever will, let him take the water of life freely' — a liturgical crescendo of eschatological welcome. The 'water of life freely' (dōrean) echoes Isaiah 55:1 ('without money and without price') and Revelation 21:6, embedding the final invitation in the Isaianic new creation vision. The verse functions both as a description of the Spirit's ongoing work in history through the church (the bride) and as an eschatological longing for the parousia. Its liturgical structure suggests it may reflect early Christian worship practice, with the community responding to the Spirit's testimony about Christ.
Other Translations
And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And he that heareth, let him say, Come. And he that is athirst, let him come: he that will, let him take the water of life freely.
And the Spirit and the Bride say, Come; and he who is hearing--let him say, Come; and he who is thirsting--let him come; and he who is willing--let him take the water of life freely.
And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him who gives ear, say, Come. And let him who is in need come; and let everyone desiring it take of the water of life freely.
Cross References
Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant …
Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and …
O that thou hadst hearkened to my commandments! then had thy peace been as a river, and thy righteousness as …
Come ye near unto me, hear ye this; I have not spoken in secret from the beginning; from the time …
Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.
O house of Jacob, come ye, and let us walk in the light of the Lord.
And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, …
They shall ask the way to Zion with their faces thitherward, saying, Come, and let us join ourselves to the …
And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, and …
Thus saith the Lord of hosts; In those days it shall come to pass, that ten men shall take hold …