Revelation 3:16

So because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to vomit you out of My mouth!

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — The speaker addresses the Laodicean church immediately after noting their deeds in verse 15 and before confronting their self-assessment in verse 17.

The words — χλιαρὸς (chliaros) denotes the condition of being lukewarm, explicitly contrasted with ζεστὸς (zestos) through the οὔτε...οὔτε (oute...oute) construction to mark a strict "neither...nor" boundary.

The thread — The pattern of divine response to spiritual failure extends to Revelation 2:5, Zechariah 11:8 declares God's impatience with a rebellious flock, and Jeremiah 14:19 records a communal question regarding perceived divine rejection.

Why it lands — The text states that a state of spiritual neutrality provokes a decisive act of removal, requiring an honest assessment of one's actual condition rather than self-inflated claims.

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

οὕτωςhoutōsSo ὅτιhotibecause χλιαρὸςchliaroslukewarm εἶeiyou are καὶkaiand οὔτεouteneither ζεστὸςzestoshot οὔτεoutenor ψυχρός,psuchroscold,μέλλωmellōI am about σεseyou ἐμέσαιemesaito spit ἐκekout of τοῦtouthe στόματόςstomatosmouth μου,mouof Mine,

King James Version

So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.

Cross-references

Revelation 2:5 Therefore, keep in mind how far you have fallen. Repent and perform the deeds you did at first. But if you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.
Zechariah 11:8 And in one month I dismissed three shepherds. My soul grew impatient with the flock, and their souls also detested me.
Jeremiah 14:19 Have You rejected Judah completely? Do You despise Zion? Why have You stricken us so that we are beyond healing? We hoped for peace, but no good has come, and for the time of healing, but there was only terror.
Jeremiah 15:1 Then the LORD said to me: “Even if Moses and Samuel should stand before Me, My heart would not go out to this people. Send them from My presence, and let them go!