Which is the correct reading of Revelation 22:14, “Blessed are they who keep His commandments,” or “Blessed are they who wash their robes”?
Revelation 22:14 reads differently in the Greek Textus Receptus of the Apostolic Scriptures, than it does in the critical Greek texts used today for most English Bible versions. In the KJV, Revelation 22:14 reads as follows:
“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” (Revelation 22:14, KJV).
In modern English Bibles, using critical Greek texts, the verse reads slightly differently:
“Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter by the gates into the city” (Revelation 22:14, NASU).
The difference is obviously that the Textus Receptus includes the phrase, “Blessed are they that do his commandments,” versus “Blessed are those who wash their robes.” Some may claim foul play with the Scriptures, and that texts have been deliberately altered to support a particular doctrinal bias. However, the reading “Blessed are those who wash their robes” is older. Bruce Metzger notes in his work A Textual Commentary on the Greek New Testament how the change happened rather innocently, because in ancient times the Greek Scriptures were copied with one person reading the text out loud, and multiple scribes copying it. This inevitably led to some textual deviations occurring. He comments,
“Instead of [plunontes tas stolas autōn], supported by {A} A about 15 minuscules (including 1006 2020 2053) itar vg copsa al, the Textus Receptus, following 046 most minuscules itgig syrph, h copbo al, reads the somewhat similar sounding words [poiountes tas entolas autou]. The latter reading appears to be a scribal emendation, for elsewhere the author uses the expression [tērein tas entolas] (12.17; 14.12).”[1]
Hearing the audible phrase plunontes tas stolas autōn, some Greek copyists wrote poiountes tas entolas autou. This latter phrase means “Happy are those doing His commands” (YLT). There was no foul play here, but innocent human error. Metgzer is keen to note that both Revelation 12:17 and 14:12 previously emphasize God’s people keeping His commandments, and how a copyist would have had this idea in mind when audibly hearing what text to write down. However, the correct reading is plunontes tas stolas autōn, “Blessed are those who wash their robes.”
Within today’s Messianic sphere of influence, where Believers can be strongly encouraged to follow the Torah or Law of Moses—determining the correct reading of this verse can be a problem. When one determines what the correct reading of this verse should be, each of us has to ask the question of what is more important: keeping God’s commandments or having our robes washed clean of sin in the Messiah’s blood?
Many in the Hebrew Roots movement are guilty of the sin of Torah-olatry, and will most unfortunately, conclude that observing the Torah is superior to having their robes washed clean of sin via the sacrifice of Yeshua. Keeping God’s commandments is a legitimate theme of the Book of Revelation, yet no man or woman can ever hope to enter into His Kingdom without being washed by Yeshua’s blood. One’s obedience to God’s commandments is to come as a result of being transformed by the Holy Spirit via the New Covenant (Jeremiah 31:31-34; Ezekiel 36:25-27), as we are saved by grace through faith, but for the keeping of good works (Ephesians 2:8-10).
NOTES
[1] Bruce M. Metzger, A Textual Commentary on the Greek New Testament, Second Edition (Stuttgart: Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft, 1998), 690.
