King James Version

What Does Revelation 19:7 Mean?

Revelation 19:7 in the King James Version says “Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself...” — study this verse from Revelation chapter 19 with commentary, cross-references, and original Greek word analysis.

“Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.”

Revelation 19:7 · KJV

Context

5

And a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all ye his servants, and ye that fear him, both small and great.

6

And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.

7

Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.

8

And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. white: or, bright

9

And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.

Read Revelation 19 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.... This verse from Revelation's vision of hallelujah chorus, marriage supper, christ's return - final victory, word of god rides forth employs apocalyptic imagery rich with Old Testament allusions and symbolic meaning. The Greek text uses vivid apocalyptic language characteristic of Jewish prophetic literature, drawing heavily from Daniel, Ezekiel, Isaiah, and Zechariah.

The symbolism must be interpreted within its first-century context while recognizing timeless spiritual realities. The imagery would resonate powerfully with persecuted believers facing Roman imperial cult worship, providing hope that despite present suffering, Christ reigns sovereign and will consummate His kingdom. The apocalyptic genre uses symbolic numbers (seven, twelve, 144,000), colors, beasts, and cosmic imagery to convey theological truth rather than photographic descriptions.

Christologically, Revelation consistently exalts Jesus as the victorious Lamb, the faithful witness, the King of kings and Lord of lords. Every vision ultimately points to Christ's supremacy, His finished redemptive work, and His certain return to judge the living and dead and establish the new creation.

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Historical & Cultural Context

John received this revelation circa AD 95 during Domitian's persecution, exiled on Patmos for his testimony. The seven churches of Asia Minor faced increasing pressure to participate in emperor worship and pagan religious practices. Refusal meant economic hardship, social ostracism, and potential martyrdom. Understanding this context illuminates Revelation's encouragement to faithful endurance.

The apocalyptic genre was familiar to first-century Jewish and Christian readers. Rather than newspaper-style predictions, apocalyptic literature uses symbolic imagery to reveal spiritual realities behind earthly events, encourage the faithful, warn the unfaithful, and assert God's ultimate sovereignty over history. Parallels with Daniel, Ezekiel, and intertestamental apocalyptic writings would help original readers decode the symbols.

Rome's imperial cult demanded worship of Caesar as divine, placing Christians in impossible situations—compromise their faith or face persecution. Revelation identifies Rome as "Babylon" and assures believers that despite appearances, the Lamb conquered through His death and resurrection, and all earthly kingdoms will submit to His reign.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does Revelation 19:7 reveal God's character, particularly His sovereignty, holiness, and justice?
  2. What specific encouragement or warning does this verse offer for maintaining faithful Christian witness amid cultural pressure?
  3. How does this passage point to Christ's victory and the hope of new creation, and how should that shape your present priorities?

Original Language Analysis

Greek · 20 words
χαίρωμεν1 of 20

“Let us be glad”

G5463

to be "cheer"ful, i.e., calmly happy or well-off; impersonally, especially as salutation (on meeting or parting), be well

καὶ2 of 20

“and”

G2532

and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words

ἀγαλλιῶμεθα,3 of 20

“rejoice”

G21

properly, to jump for joy, i.e., exult

καὶ4 of 20

“and”

G2532

and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words

δῶμεν5 of 20

“give”

G1325

to give (used in a very wide application, properly, or by implication, literally or figuratively; greatly modified by the connection)

τὴν6 of 20
G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

δόξαν7 of 20

“honour”

G1391

glory (as very apparent), in a wide application (literal or figurative, objective or subjective)

αὐτοῦ8 of 20

“his”

G846

the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons

ὅτι9 of 20

“for”

G3754

demonstrative, that (sometimes redundant); causative, because

ἦλθεν10 of 20

“is come”

G2064

to come or go (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)

ὁ11 of 20
G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

γάμος12 of 20

“the marriage”

G1062

nuptials

τοῦ13 of 20
G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

ἀρνίου14 of 20

“of the Lamb”

G721

a lambkin

καὶ15 of 20

“and”

G2532

and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words

ἡ16 of 20
G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

γυνὴ17 of 20

“wife”

G1135

a woman; specially, a wife

αὐτοῦ18 of 20

“his”

G846

the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons

ἡτοίμασεν19 of 20

“hath made”

G2090

to prepare

ἑαυτήν20 of 20

“herself”

G1438

(him- her-, it-, them-, my-, thy-, our-, your-)self (selves), etc

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Revelation. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Revelation 19:7 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Revelation 19:7 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Revelation 21:2Revelation 21:9Revelation 19:92 Corinthians 11:2Matthew 22:2John 3:29

Test Your Knowledge

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