And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not.
21. Read, And I gave her time that she should repent, and she will not [does not choose to] repent of her fornication.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
And I gave her space to repent of her fornication – Probably after some direct and solemn warning of the evil of her course. The error and sin had been of long standing, but he now resolved to bear with it no longer. It is true of almost every great sinner, that sufficient time is given for repentance, and that vengeance is delayed after crime is committed. But it cannot always be deferred, for the period must arrive when no reason shall exist for longer delay, and when punishment must come upon the offender.
And she repented not – As she did not do it; as she showed no disposition to abandon her course; as all plea of having had no time to repent would now be taken away, it was proper that he should rise in his anger and cut her down.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 21. I gave her space to repent] “This alludes to the history of Jezebel. God first sent Elijah to Ahab to pronounce a severe judgment upon him; upon which Ahab showed tokens of repentance, and so God put off his punishment. By these means the like punishment pronounced against Jezebel was also put off. Thus God gave her time to repent, which she did not, but instead of that seduced her sons to the same sins. See 1Kgs 21:1-29. According to the Mosaical law, the punishment of idolatrous seducers was not to be delayed at all, but God sometimes showed mercy; and now much more under the Christian dispensation, though that mercy is often abused, and thus produces the contrary effect, as in the case of this Jezebel. See Ec 8:11.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
I was not quick with her, but gave her a time of patience, and did not cut her off at first; but she was incorrigible, and went on in her sinful courses.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
21. spaceGreek,“time.”
of her fornication . . . sherepented notThe three oldest manuscripts read, “and shewilleth not to repent of (literally, ‘out of,’ that is,so as to come out of) her fornication.” Here thereis a transition from literal to spiritual fornication, asappears from Re 2:22. The ideaarose from Jehovah’s covenant relation to the Old Testament Churchbeing regarded as a marriage, any transgression against which was,therefore, harlotry, fornication, or adultery.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And I gave her space to repent of her fornication,…. Of idolatry. This may have respect to the time of the witnesses, the Waldenses, and others, who bore a testimony against the Romish idolatry, and reproved for it, and denounced the judgment of God in case of impenitence; and as these things were repeated time after time, this may be called a space given to repent in; just as Jezebel had a space given her to repent in, from the time that Elijah declared the word of the Lord, that the dogs should eat her: so the Jews b say of the old world, that God gave them , “space to repent”, but they repented not, as here:
and she repented not; see Re 9:20; for the time for, and means leading to repentance may be given, yet if the grace of repentance itself is not given, men, either particular persons, or whole bodies of men, will never repent of their sins. The Alexandrian copy, Complutensian, Vulgate Latin, and all the Oriental versions, read, “and she would not repent”.
b Juchasin, fol. 7. 1.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
I gave her time ( ). First aorist active indicative of , allusion to a definite visit or message of warning to this woman.
That she should repent ( ). Sub-final use of with first aorist active subjunctive of .
And she willeth not ( ). “And she is not willing.” Blunt and final like Mt 23:37.
To repent of ( ). First aorist (ingressive) active infinitive with , “to make a change out of,” the usual construction with in this book (Rev 2:22; Rev 9:20; Rev 16:11), with in Ac 8:22. (fornication) here, but (to commit adultery) in verse 22.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
1) “And I gave her space to repent,” (kai edoka aute chronon hina metanoese) “And I gave, doled out to her sufficient time, in order that she might repent; that she might turn away from or get out of the entanglement of her sin; God’s call to repentance is not to be despised, without certain judgment, Pro 1:22-30; Rom 2:4-5. “Space to repent,” means a specific period of ample time so that she was without excuse, Rom 2:1.
2) “Of her fornication,” (ek tes porneias) “Out of her fornication involvement;” this certifies that God, in mercy and grace grants emotionally involved women, who are guilty of fornication, time and space to desert, turn away from, and to put away fornication from their lives. He is a merciful and longsuffering God, 1Co 5:1-4.
3) “And she repented not,” (kai ou thelei metanoesai) “And she wills not to repent,” or turn away from her fornication involvement -She has no holy will to leave her wickedness, 2Pe 3:9; Luk 13:5; Act 17:30-31.
Note sorrow for sin can be too late – It was for the rich man in hell Luk 16:19-31; It was for Esau, who found no place for repentance, Heb 12:16-17.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
(21) And I gave her space.Read, And I gave her time to repent, and she will not (or, is not willing to) repent of her fornication, or, to repent out ofi.e., so as to forsake her fornication. Here, as before, we are reminded that true repentance is a repentance whereby we forsake sin. (Comp. Rev. 2:5; Rev. 3:2.)
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
21. I gave her space The Church tolerated her from negligence, but Christ allowed her space in mercy. Yet she had been living on probation.
Repented not It would seem that the space for repentance hardly now existed; yet there is a saving clause at the close of the next verse.
Rev 2:21. And I gave her space And I gave her time. This alludes to the history of Jezebel. God first sent Elijah to Ahab to pronounce a severe judgment upon him; upon which Ahab shewed tokens of repentance, and so God put off his punishment. By these means the like punishment pronounced against Jezebel was also put off. Thus God gave her time to repent, which she did not; but, instead of that, seduced her sons to the same sins. See 1Ki 21:23-29. According to the Mosaical law, the punishment of idolatrous seducers was not to be delayed at all; but God sometimes shewed mercy; and now much more under the Christian dispensation, though that mercy often produces the contrary effects, as in this Jezebel. See Ecc 8:1
Rev 2:21 . This misleader’s worthiness of punishment [1243] is increased by the fact that she had time for repentance, and yet will not repent. Thus by the this point is added to the guilt mentioned in Rev 2:20 .
, . . ., designates not the unsearchable decree of God in relation to “the speedy coming” of the Lord, that a time for repentance should still be open, but in connection with which it is predicted that the same will not be utilized; [1244] but a time of repentance is designated, the discerning of which, indeed, lies in an act of the Lord’s grace that is now past ( ), [1245] but which, as the pres. . shows, is to be regarded as continuing still to the present, and that, too, fruitlessly. Thus there is no ground for the opinion [1246] that John had already before published a written rebuke. But it is correctly inferred [1247] that the woman Jezebel had for a long time already exercised her corrupt activity. Even the fact that she had been let go [1248] appears from the standpoint of Divine Providence to afford an opportunity for a time of repentance, although the church must on this account be censured.
The after . [1249] naturally stands as a designation of the movement out of sins.
The not “inaccurately stated for immodest pursuits leading to inchastity” [1250] is meant precisely as in Rev 2:20 (Rev 2:14 ). Fornication in its various forms was properly the heart of the error.
[1243] Cf. Rev 2:22 .
[1244] Ebrard.
[1245] Cf. Winer, p. 80. Ebrard inaccurately paraphrases the aor. after the manner of the present.
[1246] Ew. ii.
[1247] Ew., De Wette.
[1248] Cf. Rev 2:20 .
[1249] Rev 2:22 . Cf. Act 8:22 : .
[1250] De Wette.
21 And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not.
Ver. 21. And I gave her space to repent ] “In space comes grace” proves not always a true proverb. They that defer the work, and say that men may repent hereafter, say truly, but not safely. The branch that bears not timely fruit is cut off. Joh 15:2 . The ground that yields not a seasonable and suitable return is nigh unto cursing, Heb 6:8 . The chick that comes not at the clucking of the hen becomes a prey to the kite, &c.
Rev 2:21 . The immorality was flagrant; more flagrant still was the obstinate persistence in it, despite admonitions and forbearance ( cf. Ecc 8:11 ; Bar. Ap. xxi. 20; 2Pe 3:9 ). This allusion to an abuse of God’s patience and to a warning given already (hardly in some writing like Jud 1:2 Peter, Spitta) is left quite indefinite; it was probably familiar enough to the first readers of the book. Interests and old associations had proved hitherto too strong for this prophetic counsel to be followed. Membership of a trade-guild, although it necessarily involved the recognition of some pagan deity and often led to orgies, “was a most important matter for every tradesman or artisan; it aided his business, and brought, him many advantages socially” (Ramsay).
space = time. Greek. chronos. See Rev 6:11; Rev 20:3, and App-195.
to repent = in order that (Greek. hina) she might repent. and she, &c. The texts read, “and she is not willing to repent of her fornication”.
space: Rev 9:20, Rev 9:21, Jer 8:4-6, Rom 2:4, Rom 2:5, Rom 9:22, 1Pe 3:20, 2Pe 3:9, 2Pe 3:15
Reciprocal: Exo 9:2 – General Isa 26:10 – favour Jer 44:5 – they Eze 18:30 – so Dan 4:29 – end Amo 4:6 – yet Hag 2:17 – yet Mat 3:2 – Repent Mat 11:20 – because Mat 21:32 – repented Luk 13:3 – except Luk 15:15 – he went Joh 5:14 – lest Joh 8:11 – go Act 8:22 – Repent Act 26:20 – repent 1Co 5:1 – fornication Eph 5:3 – fornication Rev 2:2 – how Rev 2:5 – and repent Rev 2:16 – Repent Rev 3:3 – repent Rev 3:19 – repent Rev 16:9 – and they
Rev 2:21. Gave her space (of time) to repent indicates the longsuffering of God toward evildoers. Repent of her fornication. Doubtless those whose religion was so materialistic as to worship dumb idols also indulged themselves in fleshly fornication. However, it is evident from many passages that idolatry was classed as spiritual fornication in Bible times; one such passage is Jer 3:9.
Rev 2:22. This verse indicates that spiritual adultery (idolatry) is what is meant through most of these verses. The Lord here threatens to punish this wicked woman by casting her and her customers into a bed together. That would not be any punishment for a woman who was a literal adulteress. But the form of language is used that indicates something unpleasant was to be inflicted, for it refers to the bed as a place of tribulation. Of course in a case of literal adultery the Lord would regard an impure woman and her patrons as being guilty together. Likewise if a woman entices the professed servants of God to commit idolatry, the whole group would be held as partners in the guilt. (See Mat 15:14.)
Rev 2:23. Kill her children with death. This may sound strange to us if we try to be technical, for if a person is killed at all it would mean death. It is what is known as a Hebraism which means an expression peculiar to the speech of the Hebrews and used by others for the purpose of emphasis. The idea is to make the hearer realize the certainty that death is to be inflicted. It is similar to “thou shalt surely die” (Gen 2:17), or not to “die the common death of all men” (Num 16:29). All the churches shall know. Whatever was going to be done was to be of such a public character as to make it an example. Searcheth the reins and hearts. The Lord is able to penetrate the innermost thoughts and expose the evil to the shame of the guilty. Will give unto every one of you according to your works. Those who are personally responsible for the conditions will be called to account.
Comments by Foy E. Wallace
Verses 21-23
3. “I will cast her into a bed . . . and I will kill her children” –Rev 2:21-23.
The Lord had given this leader of degenerates in the Thyatira church “a place to repent,” that is, a respite, or period of probation, as he had done for the antediluvians in the days of Noah–but instead of accepting this suspension of sentence and repenting, they proceeded in their degeneracy from bad to worse, and the Lord said: “I will cast her into a bed,” that is, of pain, instead of the sensuality which represented spiritual fornication in the corruptions of doctrine and practice. This symbolic Jezebel would be cast into a bed of retribution for her sins, referring to the judgment that would be brought upon the followers of these apostate teachers in the churches. And the Lord added: “I will kill her children”–that is, by exterminating the seeds of wickedness and false doctrine, thus preventing its offspring.
Rev 2:21. (3) And I gave her time that she should repent. It is intended by the use of the word time here, that we should fix our thoughts upon the delay of the Son of God in executing His righteous judgments (comp. chap. Rev 10:6). All along punishment was deserved, but He withheld His hand that His goodness might lead the evil-doers to repentance.(4) She willeth not to repent of her fornication. The delay was in vain. The hearts of these transgressors was set in them to do evil. They willed not to repent. The expression is remarkable and characteristic (comp. on Joh 5:6; Joh 6:21).
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Fuente: Heinrich August Wilhelm Meyer’s New Testament Commentary
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament