Revelation 3:16
New International Version
So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.

New Living Translation
But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth!

English Standard Version
So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.

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

Berean Literal Bible
So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I am about to spit you out of My mouth.

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

New King James Version
So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.

New American Standard Bible
So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will vomit you out of My mouth.

NASB 1995
‘So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth.

NASB 1977
‘So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth.

Legacy Standard Bible
So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth.

Amplified Bible
So because you are lukewarm (spiritually useless), and neither hot nor cold, I will vomit you out of My mouth [rejecting you with disgust].

Christian Standard Bible
So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I am going to vomit you out of my mouth.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I am going to vomit you out of My mouth.

American Standard Version
So because thou art lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spew thee out of my mouth.

Contemporary English Version
But since you are lukewarm and neither cold nor hot, I will spit you out of my mouth.

English Revised Version
So because thou art lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spew thee out of my mouth.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
But since you are lukewarm and not hot or cold, I'm going to spit you out of my mouth.

Good News Translation
But because you are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, I am going to spit you out of my mouth!

International Standard Version
Since you are lukewarm and neither hot nor cold, I am going to spit you out of my mouth.

Majority Standard Bible
So because you are lukewarm?neither hot nor cold?I am about to vomit you out of My mouth!

NET Bible
So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I am going to vomit you out of my mouth!

New Heart English Bible
So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will vomit you out of my mouth.

Webster's Bible Translation
So then, because thou art luke-warm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit thee out of my mouth:

Weymouth New Testament
Accordingly, because you are lukewarm and neither hot nor cold, before long I will vomit you out of My mouth.

World English Bible
So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will vomit you out of my mouth.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
So—because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I am about to vomit you out of My mouth;

Berean Literal Bible
So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I am about to spit you out of My mouth.

Young's Literal Translation
So -- because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I am about to vomit thee out of my mouth;

Smith's Literal Translation
For so thou art tepid, and neither cold nor boiling, I am about to vomit thee out of my month.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
But because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold, not hot, I will begin to vomit thee out of my mouth.

Catholic Public Domain Version
But because you are lukewarm and are neither cold nor hot, I will begin to vomit you out of my mouth.

New American Bible
So, because you are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.

New Revised Standard Version
So, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I am about to spit you out of my mouth.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
So then because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue you out of my mouth.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
“And you are lukewarm and neither cold nor hot, I am going to vomit you from my mouth.”
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
So, then, because you are luke-warm, and neither cold, nor hot, I will vomit you out of my mouth.

Godbey New Testament
Thus because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I am about to spew you out of my mouth.

Haweis New Testament
I wish thou wert cold or hot. So because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit thee out of my mouth:

Mace New Testament
but since thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.

Weymouth New Testament
Accordingly, because you are lukewarm and neither hot nor cold, before long I will vomit you out of My mouth.

Worrell New Testament
So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I am about to spew you out of My mouth.

Worsley New Testament
So then, because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will cast thee out of my mouth:

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
To the Church in Laodicea
15I know your deeds; you are neither cold nor hot. How I wish you were one or the other! 16So because you are lukewarm— neither hot nor cold— I am about to vomit you out of My mouth! 17You say, ‘I am rich; I have grown wealthy and need nothing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked.…

Cross References
Matthew 7:21-23
Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of My Father in heaven. / Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ / Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you workers of lawlessness!’

James 1:22-25
Be doers of the word, and not hearers only. Otherwise, you are deceiving yourselves. / For anyone who hears the word but does not carry it out is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror, / and after observing himself goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. ...

Matthew 5:13
You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its savor, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.

2 Peter 2:20-22
If indeed they have escaped the corruption of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, only to be entangled and overcome by it again, their final condition is worse than it was at first. / It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness than to have known it and then to turn away from the holy commandment passed on to them. / Of them the proverbs are true: “A dog returns to its vomit,” and, “A sow that is washed goes back to her wallowing in the mud.”

Hebrews 6:4-6
It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, / who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age— / and then have fallen away—to be restored to repentance, because they themselves are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting Him to open shame.

Luke 14:34-35
Salt is good, but if the salt loses its savor, with what will it be seasoned? / It is fit neither for the soil nor for the manure pile, and it is thrown out. He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”

2 Timothy 3:5
having a form of godliness but denying its power. Turn away from such as these!

1 John 2:15-17
Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. / For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh, the desires of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not from the Father but from the world. / The world is passing away, along with its desires; but whoever does the will of God remains forever.

Romans 2:4-5
Or do you disregard the riches of His kindness, tolerance, and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness leads you to repentance? / But because of your hard and unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of wrath, when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed.

1 Corinthians 10:12
So the one who thinks he is standing firm should be careful not to fall.

Isaiah 29:13
Therefore the Lord said: “These people draw near to Me with their mouths and honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. Their worship of Me is but rules taught by men.

Ezekiel 33:31-32
So My people come to you as usual, sit before you, and hear your words; but they do not put them into practice. Although they express love with their mouths, their hearts pursue dishonest gain. / Indeed, you are to them like a singer of love songs with a beautiful voice, who skillfully plays an instrument. They hear your words but do not put them into practice.

Jeremiah 7:9-11
Will you steal and murder, commit adultery and perjury, burn incense to Baal, and follow other gods that you have not known, / and then come and stand before Me in this house, which bears My Name, and say, ‘We are delivered, so we can continue with all these abominations’? / Has this house, which bears My Name, become a den of robbers in your sight? Yes, I too have seen it, declares the LORD.

Amos 5:21-24
“I hate, I despise your feasts! I cannot stand the stench of your solemn assemblies. / Even though you offer Me burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them; for your peace offerings of fattened cattle I will have no regard. / Take away from Me the noise of your songs! I will not listen to the music of your harps. ...

Isaiah 1:11-17
“What good to Me is your multitude of sacrifices?” says the LORD. “I am full from the burnt offerings of rams and the fat of well-fed cattle; I take no delight in the blood of bulls and lambs and goats. / When you come to appear before Me, who has required this of you—this trampling of My courts? / Bring your worthless offerings no more; your incense is detestable to Me. New Moons, Sabbaths, and convocations—I cannot endure iniquity in a solemn assembly. ...


Treasury of Scripture

So then because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew you out of my mouth.

I will spue thee out.

Revelation 2:5
Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.

Jeremiah 14:19
Hast thou utterly rejected Judah? hath thy soul lothed Zion? why hast thou smitten us, and there is no healing for us? we looked for peace, and there is no good; and for the time of healing, and behold trouble!

Jeremiah 15:1-4
Then said the LORD unto me, Though Moses and Samuel stood before me, yet my mind could not be toward this people: cast them out of my sight, and let them go forth…

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Revelation 3
1. The angel of the church of Sardis is reproved and exhorted to repent.
37. The angel of the church of Philadelphia is approved for his diligence and patience;
14. the angel of Laodicea rebuked for being neither hot nor cold.
20. Christ stands at the door and knocks.














So because you are lukewarm
The term "lukewarm" is derived from the Greek word "chliaros," which means tepid or moderately warm. In the context of the ancient city of Laodicea, this term would have been particularly poignant. Laodicea was known for its inadequate water supply, which was neither hot like the therapeutic waters of nearby Hierapolis nor cold like the refreshing springs of Colossae. Spiritually, being "lukewarm" suggests a state of indifference or complacency in faith. This condition is a warning against spiritual apathy, urging believers to be fervent and zealous in their relationship with Christ.

neither hot nor cold
The phrase "neither hot nor cold" emphasizes the lack of spiritual fervor or refreshing quality in the Laodicean church. "Hot" (Greek: "zestos") implies a passionate, zealous faith, while "cold" (Greek: "psychros") suggests a state of being refreshing or invigorating. Historically, the Laodiceans would have understood this metaphor through their daily experience with their water supply. Spiritually, this phrase challenges believers to examine their faith's temperature, encouraging them to pursue a vibrant and active relationship with God rather than settling for mediocrity.

I am about to vomit you out of My mouth
The imagery of "vomit" (Greek: "emeo") is a strong and vivid expression of rejection. This metaphor indicates the severity of Christ's displeasure with a lukewarm faith. In the ancient world, vomiting was often associated with purging something harmful or distasteful. This phrase serves as a stark warning to the church in Laodicea—and to all believers—about the dangers of spiritual complacency. It underscores the necessity of repentance and renewal, urging Christians to seek a deeper, more committed relationship with Christ to avoid being rejected by Him. This call to action is a reminder of the importance of living a life that is fully devoted to God, characterized by passion and purpose.

Verse 16. - So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. The distaste and nausea produced by lukewarm food, which the stomach naturally rejects with loathing, are used as a figure in which to express the abhorrence of Christ for those who lacked zeal in his service (cf. Leviticus 18:28 and Leviticus 20:22, "That the land spue not you out also"). But the sentence is not irrevocable; there is still hope of averting it: Μέλλω σε ἐμέσαι, "I am about to spue thee," i.e. if a timely repentance does not avert the impending doom. (Contrast the absoluteness of the future in Revelation 2:5, etc., ἔρχομαί σοι ταχὺ καὶ κινήσω.)

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
So
οὕτως (houtōs)
Adverb
Strong's 3779: Thus, so, in this manner. Or (referring to what precedes or follows).

because
ὅτι (hoti)
Conjunction
Strong's 3754: Neuter of hostis as conjunction; demonstrative, that; causative, because.

you are
εἶ (ei)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 1510: I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.

lukewarm—
χλιαρὸς (chliaros)
Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 5513: Warm, tepid; of persons: lukewarm. From chlio; tepid.

neither
οὔτε (oute)
Conjunction
Strong's 3777: And not, neither, nor. From ou and te; not too, i.e. Neither or nor; by analogy, not even.

hot
ζεστὸς (zestos)
Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2200: Boiling hot; met: fervent. From zeo; boiled, i.e. calid.

nor
οὔτε (oute)
Conjunction
Strong's 3777: And not, neither, nor. From ou and te; not too, i.e. Neither or nor; by analogy, not even.

cold—
ψυχρός (psychros)
Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 5593: Cool, cold; fig: cold-hearted. From psuchos; chilly.

I am about
μέλλω (mellō)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular
Strong's 3195: A strengthened form of melo; to intend, i.e. Be about to be, do, or suffer something.

to vomit
ἐμέσαι (emesai)
Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active
Strong's 1692: To vomit forth. Of uncertain affinity; to vomit.

you
σε (se)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 4771: You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.

out of
ἐκ (ek)
Preposition
Strong's 1537: From out, out from among, from, suggesting from the interior outwards. A primary preposition denoting origin, from, out.

My
μου (mou)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Singular
Strong's 1473: I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.

mouth!
στόματός (stomatos)
Noun - Genitive Neuter Singular
Strong's 4750: The mouth, speech, eloquence in speech, the point of a sword.


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NT Prophecy: Revelation 3:16 So because you are lukewarm and neither (Rev. Re Apocalypse)
Revelation 3:15
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