Revelation 22:14

Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and may enter the city by its gates.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The Lord Jesus speaks (22:16) as the final word of the entire book, addressing every reader of the canon. It is the last beat before the doxology, set directly between his self-identification as Alpha and Omega (22:13) and the list of those excluded (22:15).

The words — πλύνω (plunō, "to wash") is the same verb used of the great multitude in Revelation 7:14, where the mechanism is specified: "in the blood of the Lamb." The garment is a στολή (stolē), a formal robe, not ordinary clothing.

The thread — The washing of robes in 7:14 supplies the missing "how" behind this verse's bare command. The exclusion list in 22:15 and the gatekeeping language of 21:27 frame the same boundary from the outside. The tree of life recalls Genesis 2:9 and 3:22, where access was severed.

Why it lands — The verse states a condition, not a sentiment: robes must be washed, and the only mechanism Revelation gives is the blood of the Lamb (7:14). The alternative is named in the very next verse — standing outside the gates.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Greek words

King James Version

Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.

Cross-references

Revelation 21:27 But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who practices an abomination or a lie, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.
1 John 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome,
1 John 3:23 And this is His commandment: that we should believe in the name of His Son, Jesus Christ, and we should love one another just as He commanded us.
Revelation 22:7 “Behold, I am coming soon. Blessed is the one who keeps the words of prophecy in this book.”
1 John 3:3 And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as Christ is pure.
Revelation 2:7 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who overcomes, I will grant the right to eat from the tree of life in the Paradise of God.
John 14:15 If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.
1 Corinthians 7:19 Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing. Keeping God’s commandments is what counts.
John 15:10 If you keep My commandments, you will remain in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and remain in His love.
John 14:21 Whoever has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me. The one who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and reveal Myself to him.”