Revelation of John 22:17 · Bible study
Revelation 22:17 Commentary: Spirit and Bride Say Come
Greek · 10 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Does 'Come' invite sinners to Christ or pray for His return? This study explores the double invitation of Revelation 22:17.
Research Summary
- Meaning: The Holy Spirit and the Church unite in a double call, praying for Christ's return and inviting all who thirst to receive salvation as a free gift.
- Key words: πνεῦμα (Spirit), νύμφη (bride), ἔρχου (come, present imperative), διψῶν (thirsting, present participle), δωρεάν (freely, adverb meaning 'as a gift').
- Main debate: Is 'Come' addressed to Christ (the Church's prayer for the parousia) or to sinners (the gospel invitation)? Most commentators see both movements present.
- Theological theme: The freeness of salvation; the eschatological longing of the Church; the role of the Spirit in uniting the Church's prayer and witness.
- Best use: A text for evangelistic preaching, for teaching on prayer and the Holy Spirit, and for encouraging congregational participation in Christ's mission.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” Let the one who hears say, “Come!” And let the one who is thirsty come, and the one who desires the water of life drink freely.
WEB World English Bible 2000
The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” He who hears, let him say, “Come!” He who is thirsty, let him come. He who desires, let him take the water of life freely.
KJV King James Version 1769
And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And he that heareth, let him say, Come. And he that is athirst, let him come: he that will, let him take the water of life freely.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
And the Spirit and the Bride say, Come; and he who is hearing--let him say, Come; and he who is thirsting--let him come; and he who is willing--let him take the water of life freely.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that hears say, Come. And let him that is athirst come; he that will, let him take [the] water of life freely.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
And the spirit and the bride say: Come. And he that heareth, let him say: Come. And he that thirsteth, let him come. And he that will, let him take the water of life, freely.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Y el Espíritu y la Esposa dicen: Ven. Y el que oye, diga: Ven. Y el que tiene sed, venga: y el que quiere, tome del agua de la vida de balde.
E o Espírito e a noiva dizem: Vem!E quem o ouve, diga: Vem!E quem tem sede, venha; e quem quiser, tome de graça da água da vida.
Et l’ Esprit et l’ épouse disent: Viens. Et que celui qui entend dise: Viens. Et que celui qui a soif vienne; que celui qui veut, prenne de l’ eau de la vie, gratuitement.
Und der Geist und die Braut sprechen: Komm! Und wer es hört, der spreche: Komm! Und wen dürstet, der komme; und wer da will, der nehme das Wasser des Lebens umsonst.
En de Geest en de Bruid zeggen: Kom! En die het hoort, zegge: Kom! En die dorst heeft, kome; en die wil, neme het water des levens om niet.
E lo Spirito e la sposa dicono: Vieni. E chi ode dica: Vieni. E chi ha sete venga: chi vuole, prenda in dono dell’acqua della vita.
A Duch i oblubienica mówią: Przyjdź! A kto słyszy, niech rzecze: Przyjdź! A kto pragnie, niech przyjdzie; a kto chce, niech bierze wodę żywota darmo.
И Дух и невеста говорят: прииди! И слышавший да скажет прииди! Жаждущий пусть приходит, и желающий пусть берет воду жизни даром.
聖靈 和 新婦 都說：「來！」聽見的人 也 該說：「來！」口渴的人 也 當來；願意的，都可以白白 取 生命 的水喝。
And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him who gives ear, say, Come. And let him who is in need come; and let everyone desiring it take of the water of life freely.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Koine Greek)
New Testament · Koine Greek · Revelation of John 22:17
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators across traditions agree this verse is the climax of the Bible's offers of grace. The Spirit and the bride, the Holy Spirit and the Church, speak together. The call is universal: 'whosoever will' may take the water of life freely. Barnes emphasises the freeness of the gospel, noting that the verse 'condenses all the invitations of mercy to mankind.' Clarke writes that 'no soul is excluded: Jesus died for every man; every man may be saved.' But a crucial question divides them: who is the 'Come' addressed to? Gill and the Cambridge Bible see it primarily as the Church's cry for Christ's return, echoing verse 20 ('Come, Lord Jesus'). JFB synthesises both: the Spirit and Bride pray for Christ's coming, and that same longing becomes an invitation to the thirsty to come now. The consensus is that the verse holds two movements together, the Church looks up for her Lord even as she reaches out to the world.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Medium
Main views:
- Prayer for Christ's return: Context of verses 7, 12, 20; the bride as one awaiting the groom; patristic emphasis on the eschatological cry.
- Invitation to sinners: The latter half of the verse explicitly addresses the thirsty; parallels with Isaiah 55:1; use in evangelism throughout church history.
- Both simultaneously: The verse holds two imperatives: the Church prays for Christ to come, and in the same breath she calls the world to come to Him; JFB and many modern commentators hold this.
What is clear: The verse offers the water of life freely to anyone who thirsts and is willing. No one is barred except by their own refusal.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Addressee of 'Come' | The verse is an invitation, a call that expects a response. | Some (Barnes, Clarke) understand it as a direct call to sinners to come to Christ. Others (Gill, Cambridge) see it as the Church's prayer for Christ's return. JFB and many modern readers see both: the bride prays 'Come, Lord' and then turns to invite the thirsty. |
| Role of the hearer | The one who hears is called to repeat the invitation. | What does 'hears' imply? JFB says it means 'obeyeth', saving hearing. Others take it as simply overhearing the Spirit and bride, so that even a casual hearer can join the call. |
| Water of life: present or future? | The water of life is a gift from God, associated with salvation and eternal life. | Is this 'water' a present spiritual experience of grace, or a future reality in the new creation? The language of 'take' suggests present appropriation, but the context of the coming city points to future fullness. Most traditions affirm both: a foretaste now and the full drink then. |
| Identity of the bride | The bride is the Church, the people of God. | Is the bride the church on earth (the believing community now) or the perfected, heavenly church (as earlier in Revelation)? The Cambridge Bible notes the identification of the church in both states. The invitation flows from the church in its earthly mission, anticipating its heavenly reality. |
Historical & Cultural Context
Revelation 22 sits at the end of the Bible, in the epilogue of the Apocalypse. Jesus has just declared, 'I am coming quickly' (v.12, v.20). The Bride is the Church, portrayed as a bride adorned for her husband (Rev 21:2). In Jewish wedding custom, the bride and her attendants would eagerly await the bridegroom's arrival. The Spirit here is the Holy Spirit, who dwells in the Church and inspires her prayers. The cry 'Come' therefore echoes the early Christian prayer Marana tha ('Our Lord, come,' 1 Cor 16:22).
The image of water of life draws from Isaiah 55:1, where the prophet cries, 'Come, everyone who thirsts, to the waters! Come, he who has no money, buy and eat!' That passage is set in a context of covenant renewal and free grace. In Revelation, the water of life appears earlier (Rev 21:6, 22:1) as a river flowing from God's throne. The verb 'take' (λαβέτω) is a third-person imperative: let him take. It is an open offer, not a command to do something to earn it. The adverb 'freely' (δωρεάν) means 'without charge, as a gift', the accusative case of the noun 'gift' used adverbially. Thayer defines it as 'undeservedly'. The offer is pure grace.
Poole's annotations on John 7 link the feast of Tabernacles water-drawing ceremony to this invitation: Jesus stood and cried, 'If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink.' Revelation 22:17 is the echo of that cry at the end of the story. The cultural background of a thirsty world calling for water amplifies the urgency: this is not a polite suggestion but a life-or-death appeal.
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note no significant variant that changes the meaning. The UBS text reads: 'And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that hears say, Come. And let him that is thirsty come; and let him that will take the water of life freely.' Some manuscripts (A, B, Vulgate, Coptic) omit the conjunction 'and' before 'let him that will' (θέλων), making the final clause explanatory rather than coordinate: 'he who desires, let him take the water of life freely' (so JFB, Cambridge). The meaning is unaffected.
Reception History
From the early church, this verse shaped the liturgy of baptism and the Eucharist. Candidates for baptism were called to the water of life; the congregation responded with 'Come.' The prayer 'Maranatha' (1 Cor 16:22) found its full expression here. In the Reformation, the phrase 'whosoever will' became a watchword for free grace, cited by Luther and Calvin against any notion of salvation by works. 'Whosoever Will' hymns (e.g., by Philip Bliss and others) carried the verse into evangelistic revivals. In the Eastern tradition, the verse is read during the season of Pentecost, linking the Spirit's outpouring to the Church's mission. The invitation continues to be used in altar calls and communion invitations, calling all to take the water of life without price.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- The Invitation from Heaven. The Spirit and the bride speak as one. The Holy Spirit inspires the Church, and the Church voices the Spirit's longing. Together they say 'Come!' This is not a single voice but a chorus: heaven and earth united in the call.
- The Call Passed On. 'He who hears, let him say, Come.' The one who receives the invitation becomes a messenger. The same word, 'Come', is to be repeated. This is evangelism by echo: what you have heard, you speak.
- The Door Stands Open. 'He who is thirsty, let him come. He who desires, let him take the water of life freely.' No conditions beyond thirst and willingness. The water is not sold but given. 'Freely' means it costs you nothing because it cost Christ everything.
Five-point outline
- The source: The Holy Spirit and the Church in unity.
- The urgency: Christ says, 'I am coming soon' (v.20); the Church answers with longing.
- The chain: Every hearer is called to become a caller.
- The condition: Thirst, a honest sense of need, not merit.
- The gift: Water of life, taken without payment, for anyone willing.
Illustration hooks
- A child at a crowded fair, separated from her parents, crying for water. A stranger offers a bottle, free, no questions. The thirst matters more than the deserving.
- A wedding invitation that arrives in the mail. It names the date, the place, the bridegroom. But the space for the guest's name is blank, 'whosoever will' fills it in.
- A water fountain in a public square on a hot day. No coin slot, no attendant. You just press the button and drink.
Questions your congregation is asking
- Is this invitation for everyone, or only for people who feel a certain level of spiritual desire?
- What does it mean to 'take' the water of life, is it a one-time decision or a constant drinking?
- If the Spirit and bride are already calling, why does our church outreach sometimes feel like we are forcing a closed door?
Leading a Discussion
This verse closes the Bible with an open door. The Spirit and the Church speak together, a reminder that our worship and witness are not separate. The prayer 'Come' is both a cry for Jesus to return and an invitation for the world to come to Him. Read the verse aloud slowly. Notice how many times the word 'Come' appears. Notice who speaks, who listens, who is invited.
Discussion questions
- Who is 'the Spirit' in this verse? Who is 'the bride'? Why are they named together?
- What does the first 'Come!' refer to? How does the context of verses 12 and 20 help you decide?
- What is the difference between 'he who hears' and 'he who is thirsty'? Are they the same group?
- The water of life is offered 'freely', what does that add to the meaning? Why would John emphasize that?
- How does this verse connect to Isaiah 55:1? What does that Old Testament background add?
- If 'Come' includes both a prayer for Christ's return and an invitation to sinners, how does that shape how you live this week?
- In what ways can you personally 'say, Come' to someone who is thirsty this week?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Psalms 34:8 | Oh taste and see that Yahweh is good. Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him. |
| Isaiah 2:3 | Many peoples shall go and say, “Come, let’s go up to the mountain of Yahweh, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths.” For the law shall go out of Zion, and Yahweh’s word from Jerusalem. |
| Isaiah 2:5 | House of Jacob, come, and let’s walk in the light of Yahweh. |
| Isaiah 12:3 | Therefore with joy you will draw water out of the wells of salvation. |
| Isaiah 48:16 | “Come near to me and hear this: “From the beginning I have not spoken in secret; from the time that it happened, I was there.” Now the Lord Yahweh has sent me with his Spirit. |
| Isaiah 48:18 | Oh that you had listened to my commandments! Then your peace would have been like a river and your righteousness like the waves of the sea. |
| Isaiah 55:1 | “Hey! Come, everyone who thirsts, to the waters! Come, he who has no money, buy, and eat! Yes, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. |
| Isaiah 55:3 | Turn your ear, and come to me. Hear, and your soul will live. I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David. |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
8 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke identifies the Spirit and the bride as the entire church across both Testaments, united in one invitation. He stresses that this call is universal and free: anyone who thirsts or desires salvation may come and take the water of life without any cost, because Christ died for all.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes stresses that the invitation to come and be saved is radically free and open to everyone. He notes that even those who do not accept the offer themselves are authorized to pass it along, so no one can claim they were not invited.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The Cambridge Bible notes that "the Bride" in this verse identifies the earthly Church praying for Christ's return with the perfected heavenly Church throughout the book. The Spirit teaches the Church to cry "Come," so that believers learn to welcome Christ's appearing rather than fear it. The invitation for all who thirst to come freely echoes Christ's coming to us.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
For without shall be dogs and inchanters, and whoremongers, and murtherers, and idolaters, and whosoeuer loueth or maketh lies.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill emphasizes that the Spirit's cry "Come" is the Holy Spirit himself working in believers, creating in them an earnest longing for Christ's return. He also clarifies that the free invitation to take the water of life is addressed to all who thirst, but notes the will to come is itself God's work, not unaided human choice.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB explains that the word "Come" in this verse works two ways at once. The Spirit and the Bride pray it to Christ, longing for His return, while the same call invites everyone who thirsts or is willing to take the water of life freely. The prayer of the Church and the invitation to sinners are the same cry.
Vincent's Word Studies Evangelical 1887
Vincent identifies the Bride as the Church and emphasizes that the Spirit dwells within her. The voice that calls is both the Spirit's and the Bride's, meaning the Church speaks with the
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley emphasizes the Spirit works within believers, stirring earnest desire for Christ's return. This inner longing becomes the bride's own cry, "Come." The invitation then extends to all who thirst, offering the water of life as freely as a drink from a stream, without cost or condition.