Bible Strands
Revelation 3:4
But you do have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their garments, and because they are worthy, they will walk with Me in white.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The risen Christ speaks to the church in Sardis, a congregation He has judged spiritually dead (v.1), and here singles out a small remnant within that dead body.
The words — ὀνόματα (onomata) is the Greek word the BSB renders "people," but it literally means "names," a deliberate choice that links directly to v.5's promise that He will not blot their names from the Book of Life.
The thread — The white garments and the name in the Book of Life carry forward into Revelation 3:5, and the vision of the innumerable multitude in white at Revelation 7:9 shows what that remnant becomes.
Why it lands — The test is negative: not having soiled, not having compromised. It asks the reader to measure themselves by what they have refused, not by what they have accomplished.
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
Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy.
Cross-references
- Revelation 3:5 Like them, he who overcomes will be dressed in white. And I will never blot out his name from the Book of Life, but I will confess his name before My Father and His angels.
- Revelation 7:9 After this I looked and saw a multitude too large to count, from every nation and tribe and people and tongue, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and holding palm branches in their hands.
- Ecclesiastes 9:8 Let your garments always be white, and never spare the oil for your head.
- Revelation 6:11 Then each of them was given a white robe and told to rest a little while longer until the full number of their fellow servants, their brothers, were killed, just as they had been killed.
- Revelation 7:13 Then one of the elders addressed me: “These in white robes,” he asked, “who are they, and where have they come from?”
- Revelation 3:18 I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, white garments so that you may be clothed and your shameful nakedness not exposed, and salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see.
- Revelation 4:4 Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and on these thrones sat twenty-four elders dressed in white, with golden crowns on their heads.
- Revelation 19:14 The armies of heaven, dressed in fine linen, white and pure, follow Him on white horses.
- Revelation 19:8 She was given clothing of fine linen, bright and pure.” For the fine linen she wears is the righteous acts of the saints.
- Jude 1:23 save others by snatching them from the fire; and to still others show mercy tempered with fear, hating even the clothing stained by the flesh.