Greek Meaning of "Book" in Revelation 22:19
Revelation 22:19 warns against altering the words of the "book of this prophecy." The New American Standard Bible translates the verse as: "and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his part from the tree of life and from the holy city, which are written in this book" [1]. The American Standard Version similarly reads: "and if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the tree of life, and out of the holy city, which are written in this book" [2].
The Greek term for "book" in Revelation 22:19 is biblion (βιβλίον), which refers to a scroll or a written document [5]. This aligns with the broader understanding of "book" in Scripture, which often refers to a "writing" or "volume," originally written on materials like skins, linen, or papyrus [4]. The book of Revelation itself is introduced as an apokalupsis (ἀποκάλυψις), meaning "revelation," indicating its visionary and prophetic nature [3, 9]. John is instructed to record what he sees because Revelation is an instructive message for the churches [7].
The warning in Revelation 22:19 is against diminishing the prophecy contained within this specific book. John Gill interprets "taking away from the words of the book" as denying its authority, preventing its reading, or wilfully perverting its meaning [6]. The consequence for such an action is severe: God will remove the individual's "part from the tree of life" and "from the holy city" [1, 2]. This "book of prophecy" is distinct from the "book of life," which Gill understands as referring to eternal election [6].
Some textual variations exist regarding the precise wording of Revelation 22:19. While the King James Version includes "book" in the phrase "book of life," several ancient manuscripts (A, B, Aleph, Vulgate, Syriac, and Coptic) omit "book" in that specific phrase, reading instead "take away his part from the tree of life" [8]. These same manuscripts also omit the conjunction "and" before "from the things," which would then make "the holy city and the tree of life" the things written in the book [8]. Regardless of these minor textual differences, the core message remains a strong admonition against altering the prophetic message of Revelation. The book is intended to be openly read and understood, not sealed or concealed [10].
Sources
- Revelation “Revelation 22:19 (NASB) — and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his part from the tree of life and from the holy city, which are written in this book.”
- Revelation of John “Revelation of John 22:19 (ASV) — and if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the tree of life, and out of the holy city, which are written in this book.”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Apocalypse — The Greek name of the Book of Revelation (q.v.).”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Book — This word has a comprehensive meaning in Scripture. In the Old Testament it is the rendering of the Hebrew word sepher, which properly means a "writing," and then a "volume" (Ex. 17:14; Deut. 28:58; 29:20; Job 19:23) or "roll of a book" (Jer. 36:2, 4). Books were originally written on skins, on linen or cotton cloth, and on Egyptian papyrus, whence our word "paper." The leaves of the book were generally written in columns, designated by a Hebrew word properly meaning "doors" and "valves" (Jer. 36:23, R.V., marg. "columns"). Among the Hebrews books were general”
- Revelation (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Revelation 10:2: he had--Greek, "Having." in his hand--in his left hand: as in Rev 10:5 (see on Rev 10:5), he lifts up his right hand to heaven. a little book--a roll little in comparison with the "book" (Rev 5:1) which contained the whole vast scheme of God's purposes, not to be fully read till the final consummation. This other, a less book, contained only a portion which John was now to make his own (Rev 10:9, Rev 10:11), and then to use in prophesying to others. The New Testament begins with the word "book" (Greek, "biblus"), of which "the little book" (Gre”
- Revelation (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Revelation 22:19: And if any man shall take away from the prophecy of this book,.... As he may be said to do, who denies the authority of this book, which has been done by some, and which the Holy Ghost foresaw; or takes it away from, or denies the reading of it to the people, as the Papists do with respect to the whole Scripture; and who wilfully pervert the sense of it, and will not have the things in it, relating to antichrist, to belong to him. God shall take away his part out of the book of life; by which is meant eternal election, which is the meaning of the phrase throughou”
- Revelation (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Revelation 1:20: 1:20 John is to record what he sees because Revelation is an instructive word for the churches. • The angels (or messengers; Greek angelos) of the seven churches could be (1) the guardian angels of these churches (cp. Matt 18:10; Acts 12:15); (2) the leading officials of the churches (cp. Matt 11:10, where “messenger” is angelos); or (3) a personification of the ethos of the church. The best understanding is probably a combination of 1 and 3.”
- Revelation (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Revelation 22:19: book--None of our manuscripts read this. A, B, Aleph, Vulgate, Syriac, and Coptic read, "(take away his part, that is, portion) from the tree of life," that is, shall deprive him of participation in the tree of life. and from the things--so Vulgate. But A, B, Aleph, Syriac, Coptic, and ANDREAS omit "and"; then "which are written in this book" will refer to "the holy city and the tree of life." As in the beginning of this book (Rev 1:3) a blessing was promised to the devout, obedient student of it, so now at its close a curse is denounced against”
- Revelation (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Revelation 1:1: 1:1-11 Revelation opens with a three-part introduction, including a prologue (1:1-3), a letter introduction (1:4-8), and a historical introduction (1:9-11). 1:1 The word revelation (Greek apokalupsis) introduces the book’s visionary nature as apocalyptic writing (see Revelation Book Introduction, “Apocalyptic Writing”). God communicates his inspired message through mysterious symbols, numbers, and word pictures. • from (or of) Jesus Christ: He is both the source and the main subject of the book. • the events that must soon take place: Cp. 3:11; 22:6-7; Luke 18:”
- Revelation (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Revelation 22:10: And he saith unto me,.... Not the angel, but Christ, as is manifest from Rev 22:12. This clause is left out in the Ethiopic version. Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book; as the orders are, when things are intended not to be published, but concealed, at least as yet, because of the distance of the accomplishment of them, which was not the case here; see Rev 10:4. Christ would have the things John saw and heard, written, and made public, sent in an open book, unsealed, to the churches, that they might be seen and read of all; that so the afflictions a”