Word Studies¶
G4972 — sphragizo (to seal) — CRITICAL ARC WORD¶
Original: σφραγίζω Transliteration: sphragizo Pronunciation: sfrag-id'-zo Part of Speech: Verb Definition: To stamp with a signet or private mark for security or preservation; to close up, seal; to attest, confirm
Translations (25 occurrences, 12 unique translations)¶
| Translation | Count | % |
|---|---|---|
| sealed | 14 | 56.0% |
| sealing | 1 | 4.0% |
| have sealed | 1 | 4.0% |
| Seal up | 1 | 4.0% |
| Seal | 1 | 4.0% |
| set a seal | 1 | 4.0% |
| (other forms) | 5 | 20.0% |
Key Verses in the Sealed/Unsealed Arc¶
- Dan 12:4 (LXX) — sphragizo used to translate chatham: "seal the book" (stage 1: sealed by command)
- Rev 5:1 — "sealed with seven seals" (katasphragizo, intensive form; stage 2: in God's hand, sealed)
- Rev 7:3-8 — "sealed the servants of our God" (protective sealing, 14x occurrences)
- Rev 10:4 — "Seal up those things which the seven thunders uttered" (the only SEALED content in Revelation's unsealing program)
- Rev 20:3 — "sealed [the abyss] over him" (Satan bound)
- Rev 22:10 — "Seal NOT [me sphragises]" — Aorist Active Subjunctive 2nd singular with negative particle me = PROHIBITIVE SUBJUNCTIVE (stage 5: commanded open)
The Five-Stage Arc¶
- Sealed by command — Dan 8:26 (satham), Dan 12:4 (chatham/sphragizo LXX)
- In God's hand, sealed — Rev 5:1 (katasphragizo, intensified)
- Being opened by the Lamb — Rev 6-8 (progressive unsealing)
- Standing open — Rev 10:2 (eneogmenon, perfect participle = permanently open state)
- Commanded open — Rev 22:10 (me sphragises, prohibitive subjunctive = "do NOT seal")
Other NT Uses (non-arc)¶
- JHN 3:33 — "hath set to his seal that God is true" (attestation)
- JHN 6:27 — "him hath God the Father sealed" (Christ sealed by God)
- ROM 4:11 — circumcision as "a seal of the righteousness of the faith"
- ROM 15:28 — "have sealed to them this fruit"
- 2CO 1:22 — "hath also sealed us" (believer's sealing)
- EPH 1:13 — "ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise"
- EPH 4:30 — "whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption"
G2696 — katasphragizo (to seal thoroughly) — HAPAX LEGOMENON¶
Original: κατασφραγίζω Transliteration: katasphragizo Pronunciation: kat-as-frag-id'-zo Part of Speech: Verb Definition: From kata (down/intensifier) + sphragizo; to seal closely, seal thoroughly BLB Count: 1 (hapax in NT)
The Single Occurrence¶
- Rev 5:1 — "sealed with seven seals" (katesphragismenon)
- The kata- prefix intensifies the sealing: this is MAXIMUM sealing
- LXX also references Job 9:7 with this word
- The intensive form emphasizes that ONLY the Lamb is worthy to break this super-seal
H2856 — chatham (to seal, close up)¶
Original: חָתַם Transliteration: chatham Pronunciation: khaw-tham' Part of Speech: Verb Definition: A primitive root; to close up; especially to seal — make an end, mark, seal (up), stop BLB Count: 27
Translations (25 occurrences, 16 unique translations)¶
| Translation | Count | % |
|---|---|---|
| and sealed | 6 | 24.0% |
| and seal | 3 | 12.0% |
| sealed up | 2 | 8.0% |
| seal | 2 | 8.0% |
| (other forms) | 12 | 48.0% |
Key Daniel Occurrences (Hebrew Parsing)¶
- Dan 12:4 — chatham (Qal Imperative 2ms): "seal the book" — DIRECT COMMAND to Daniel
- Paired with satham (also Qal Imperative 2ms): "shut up the words AND seal the book"
- Temporal limit: "'ad 'et qets" (until the time of the end)
- Dan 12:9 — "the words are closed up and sealed (chatham) till the time of the end"
- Here chatham is used in a passive participial sense
- Dan 9:24 — "to seal up (chatham) the vision and prophecy" — the 70 weeks sealing
The Hebrew-Greek Connection¶
- Dan 12:4 chatham = Qal Imperative "seal!" (command)
- Rev 22:10 me sphragises = Prohibitive Subjunctive "do not seal!" (counter-command)
- The deliberate reversal: what Daniel was commanded TO seal, John is commanded NOT TO seal
G5598 — Omega (the letter)¶
Original: Ω (mega) Transliteration: O (omega) Part of Speech: Indeclinable noun Definition: The last letter of the Greek alphabet; figuratively, the finality
All 4 NT Occurrences¶
| Reference | Context |
|---|---|
| Rev 1:8 | "I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord" |
| Rev 1:11 | "I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last" |
| Rev 21:6 | "I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end" |
| Rev 22:13 | "I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last" |
Note: The Expansion Pattern¶
- Rev 1:8: Alpha/Omega + beginning/ending + "which is, was, is to come, the Almighty"
- Rev 1:11: Alpha/Omega + first/last (KJV; some MSS omit)
- Rev 21:6: Alpha/Omega + beginning/end
- Rev 22:13: Alpha/Omega + first/last + beginning/end — THREEFOLD FULLNESS
G1 — Alpha (the letter)¶
Original: Α (alpha) Transliteration: A Part of Speech: Indeclinable noun Definition: Of Hebrew origin; the first letter of the alphabet; figuratively, priority
All 4 NT Occurrences¶
Identical to Omega above — always paired as "Alpha and Omega"
OT Source Texts (ISA uses "First and Last")¶
- ISA 41:4 — "I the LORD, the first, and with the last; I am he"
- ISA 44:6 — "I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God"
- ISA 48:12 — "I am he; I am the first, I also am the last"
Christological Significance¶
The Alpha-Omega title is a DIVINE self-designation. In Isaiah, "first and last" is exclusively YHWH's claim to uniqueness as the one true God. When Christ uses this title in Revelation, he claims deity on the basis of OT YHWH-language.
G5035 — tachy (quickly)¶
Original: ταχύ Transliteration: tachy Pronunciation: takh-oo' Part of Speech: Adverb (neuter singular of tachys used adverbially) Definition: Shortly, without delay, soon, quickly
Translations (11 occurrences)¶
| Translation | Count | % |
|---|---|---|
| quickly | 10 | 90.9% |
| lightly | 1 | 9.1% |
All Revelation Occurrences (Functional Categories)¶
| Reference | Speaker | Context | Function |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rev 2:5 | Christ | "I will come unto thee quickly" | WARNING (to Ephesus) |
| Rev 2:16 | Christ | "I will come unto thee quickly" | WARNING (to Pergamos) |
| Rev 3:11 | Christ | "Behold, I come quickly" | ENCOURAGEMENT (to Philadelphia) |
| Rev 11:14 | Narrator | "the third woe cometh quickly" | NARRATIVE TRANSITION |
| Rev 22:7 | Christ | "Behold, I come quickly" | BEATITUDE (6th) — plain statement |
| Rev 22:12 | Christ | "behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me" | REWARD announcement |
| Rev 22:20 | Christ | "Surely I come quickly" | EMPHATIC (with Nai = "Yes/Surely") |
The Triple "I Come Quickly" in the Epilogue¶
- 22:7 — Plain statement + beatitude: "blessed is he that keepeth"
- 22:12 — With reward: "my reward is with me, to give every man"
- 22:20 — Emphatic affirmation: "Nai, erchomai tachy" + John's response: "Amen, come Lord Jesus"
G5034 — tachos (swiftness, speed)¶
Original: τάχος Transliteration: tachos Pronunciation: takh'-os Part of Speech: Neuter noun Definition: A brief space of time; speed, swiftness
Translations (8 occurrences)¶
| Translation | Count | % |
|---|---|---|
| shortly | 4 | 50.0% |
| quickly | 3 | 37.5% |
| speedily | 1 | 12.5% |
The "en tachei" Inclusio (TM015)¶
- Rev 1:1 — "ha dei genesthai en tachei" ("things which must shortly come to pass")
- Rev 22:6 — "ha dei genesthai en tachei" ("things which must shortly be done")
- These are word-for-word identical, forming a verbal inclusio framing the entire book
- Note: "en tachei" uses the dative of tachos, meaning "in speed" = "shortly/quickly"
- This phrase derives from LXX Daniel 2:28 ("ha dei genesthai"), with Revelation ADDING "en tachei"
G3408 — misthos (reward, wages)¶
Original: μισθός Transliteration: misthos Pronunciation: mis-thos' Part of Speech: Masculine noun Definition: Pay for service; reward, wages; recompense
Translations (26 occurrences)¶
| Translation | Count | % |
|---|---|---|
| reward | 19 | 73.1% |
| hire | 2 | 7.7% |
| a reward | 2 | 7.7% |
| (other forms) | 3 | 11.5% |
Key Verses (where translated "reward")¶
- Mat 5:12 — "great is your reward in heaven"
- Mat 5:46 — "what reward have ye?"
- Mat 6:1,2,5,16 — "ye have no reward" / "they have their reward"
- Mat 10:41-42 — "shall receive a prophet's reward"
- 1Co 3:8 — "every man shall receive his own reward"
- Rev 11:18 — "shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets"
- Rev 22:12 — "my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be"
OT Parallel: H6468 pe'ullah (wages, reward)¶
- ISA 40:10 — "his reward [pe'ullah] is with him, and his work before him"
- ISA 62:11 — "his reward [pe'ullah] is with him, and his work before him"
- Rev 22:12 quotes/alludes to both Isaiah passages
- The Greek misthos corresponds to Hebrew pe'ullah in this reward-with-coming motif
H6468 — pe'ullah (work, wages, reward)¶
Original: פְּעֻלָּה Transliteration: pe'ullah Pronunciation: peh-ool-law' Part of Speech: Feminine noun Definition: Feminine passive participle of pa'al; work, wages, reward
Translations (16 occurrences)¶
| Translation | Count | % |
|---|---|---|
| work | 2 | 12.5% |
| and his work | 2 | 12.5% |
| the reward | 1 | 6.2% |
| the wages | 1 | 6.2% |
| (other forms) | 10 | 62.5% |
Key Occurrences¶
- ISA 40:10 — "his reward is with him, and his work [pe'ullah] before him"
- ISA 49:4 — "my work is with my God"
- ISA 62:11 — "his reward is with him, and his work [pe'ullah] before him"
- JER 31:16 — "thy work shall be rewarded"
- These ISA passages are the direct OT source for Rev 22:12's "my reward is with me"
G4394 — propheteia (prophecy)¶
Original: προφητεία Transliteration: propheteia Pronunciation: prof-ay-ti'-ah Part of Speech: Feminine noun Definition: Prediction; prophecy (scriptural or other)
Translations (19 occurrences)¶
| Translation | Count | % |
|---|---|---|
| prophecy | 11 | 57.9% |
| prophesying | 2 | 10.5% |
| (other forms) | 6 | 31.6% |
All Revelation Occurrences¶
| Reference | Text |
|---|---|
| Rev 1:3 | "the words of this prophecy" |
| Rev 11:6 | "in the days of their prophecy" |
| Rev 19:10 | "the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy" |
| Rev 22:7 | "the sayings of the prophecy of this book" |
| Rev 22:10 | "the sayings of the prophecy of this book" |
| Rev 22:18 | "the words of the prophecy of this book" |
| Rev 22:19 | "the book of this prophecy" |
Observation¶
The word propheteia appears 4 times in the epilogue alone (22:7, 10, 18, 19) and once in the prologue (1:3). This creates a dense "prophecy" inclusio: the book self-identifies as PROPHECY at both ends. The phrase "the prophecy of this book" (tes propheteias tou bibliou toutou) appears identically at 22:7, 22:10, and 22:18 — a triple self-designation.
G4973 — sphragis (a seal, signet) — Related Noun¶
Original: σφραγίς Transliteration: sphragis Part of Speech: Feminine noun Definition: A seal, signet ring; the impression of a seal
Key Revelation Occurrences¶
- Rev 5:1,2,5,9 — the seals on the scroll
- Rev 6:1,3,5,7,9,12 — the opening of the six seals
- Rev 7:2 — "the seal of the living God"
- Rev 8:1 — opening of the seventh seal
- The noun form tracks the seal-breaking process across Rev 5-8
Additional Word Study Notes¶
G4151 — pneuma (Spirit) in Rev 22:17¶
In Rev 22:17, "the Spirit" (to Pneuma) is paired with "the bride" (he nymphe) as joint speakers of the invitation "Come" (Erchou). This is the Holy Spirit's direct voice in the invitation call, coupling with the church (bride) to extend the water-of-life offer.
G3565 — nymphe (bride) in Rev 22:17¶
The bride (nymphe) appears in Rev 18:23; 21:2,9; 22:17. In 21:2,9 the bride is identified as "the holy city, new Jerusalem." In 22:17 the bride joins with the Spirit to issue the final invitation. The bride-identity includes both the city and the people who compose it.
G1849 — exousia (right, authority) in Rev 22:14 (N1904)¶
In the N1904 text, Rev 22:14 reads "that their right/authority (exousia) may be over the tree of life." The exousia is not earned merit but granted authority — the same word used for Christ's authority (Mat 28:18) now given to the commandment-keepers.
The Textual Variant in Rev 22:14 (Critical)¶
- N1904 (Nestle/Critical Text): "Blessed are those washing (plunontes) their robes (stolas)"
- G4150 pluno (to wash) + G4749 stole (robe) + G3586 xylon (tree) + G1849 exousia (authority) + G1525 eiserchomai (enter)
- TR (Textus Receptus/KJV): "Blessed are they that do (poiountes) his commandments (entolas)"
- G4160 poieo (to do) + G1785 entole (commandment)
- The variant changes the focus: TR emphasizes obedience to commandments; N1904 emphasizes purification through washing robes
- Both readings converge on the same outcome: access to the tree of life and entry into the city
- The "washing robes" reading connects to Rev 7:14 ("washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb")