Revelation 3:20
Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
Study Note
Study Note
The image of Christ standing at the door and knocking — 'if anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with them, and they with me' — is among the most intimate invitations in the entire New Testament. Notably, the letter is addressed to the church in Laodicea — Christ stands at the door of a Christian community, not of unbelievers, suggesting the verse is about renewal and restored intimacy rather than initial conversion. Holman Hunt's 1851 painting 'The Light of the World,' depicting Christ knocking at a door with no outside handle, popularized this verse globally across traditions. Table fellowship (eating together) in the ancient world carried profound covenantal connotations, making the invitation both social and theologically substantive.
Other Translations
Behold, I stand at the door and knock: if any man hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
lo, I have stood at the door, and I knock; if any one may hear my voice, and may open the door, I will come in unto him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
See, I am waiting at the door and giving the sign; if my voice comes to any man's ears and he makes the door open, I will come in to him, and will take food with him and he with me.
Cross References
I sleep, but my heart waketh: it is the voice of my beloved that knocketh, saying, Open to me, my …
My beloved put in his hand by the hole of the door, and my bowels were moved for him.
So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.
And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when …
Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he …
And will not rather say unto him, Make ready wherewith I may sup, and gird thyself, and serve me, till …
He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall …
Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will …
And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And …