Revelation 3:7
And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;
Study Note
Study Note
The letter to Philadelphia addresses 'the words of the holy one, the true one, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one opens' — the divine authority attributed to Christ combines Isaiah 22:22 (the key of the house of David given to Eliakim) with the absolute finality of Christ's judicial authority. The key of David in Isaiah originally represented administrative authority over the royal household; applied to Christ it becomes the authority to grant or deny access to the messianic kingdom. Philadelphia's 'open door' (verse 8) stands within this context: Christ has set before the community an opportunity for mission or access to divine presence that no human opposition can close. The Philadelphian church is one of only two (with Smyrna) to receive no rebuke in Revelation's seven letters — a community characterized by faithfulness under persecution.
Other Translations
And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth and none shall shut, and that shutteth and none openeth:
`And to the messenger of the assembly in Philadelphia write: These things saith he who is holy, he who is true, he who is having the key of David, he who is opening and no one doth shut, and he shutteth and no one doth open!
And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia say: These things says he who is holy, he who is true, he who has the key of David, opening the door so that it may be shut by no one, and shutting it so that it may be open to no one.
Cross References
And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts: the whole earth is full …
And the key of the house of David will I lay upon his shoulder; so he shall open, and none …
Get you out of the way, turn aside out of the path, cause the Holy One of Israel to cease …
Fear not, thou worm Jacob, and ye men of Israel; I will help thee, saith the Lord, and thy redeemer, …
Thou shalt fan them, and the wind shall carry them away, and the whirlwind shall scatter them: and thou shalt …
That they may see, and know, and consider, and understand together, that the hand of the Lord hath done this, …
As for our redeemer, the Lord of hosts is his name, the Holy One of Israel.
Thus saith the Lord, thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; I am the Lord thy God which teacheth thee …
Thus saith the Lord, the Redeemer of Israel, and his Holy One, to him whom man despiseth, to him whom …
For thy Maker is thine husband; the Lord of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of …