Revelation 21:6

New Testament Apocalyptic ASV (1901)

What does Revelation 21:6 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And he said unto me, They are come to pass. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And he said unto me, They are come to pass. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.
Revelation 21:6 — American Standard Version

Context — Revelation 21

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
6And he said unto me, They are come to pass. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And he said unto me, it is done, etc.] The end of all things is come; it is all over with the first heaven and earth; these are no more, and the new heaven and earth are finished: there seems to be an allusion to the old creation, he spake, and it was done, (<193309>Psalm 33:9). The whole election of grace is completed; every individual vessel of mercy is called by grace; all the saints are brought with Christ, and their bodies raised, and living saints changed, and all together are as a bride prepared for her husband; and the nuptials are now solemnized; all the promises and prophecies relating to the glorious state of the church are now fulfilled; the mystery of God, spoken by his…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“It is done--the same Greek as in Rev 16:17. "It is come to pass." So Vulgate reads with English Version. But A reads, "They ('these words,' Rev 21:5) are come to pass." All is as sure as if it actually had been fulfilled for it rests on the word of the unchanging God. When the consummation shall be, God shall rejoice over the work of His own hands, as at the completion of the first creation God saw everything that He had made, and behold it was very good (Gen 1:31). Alpha . . . Omega--Greek in A and B, "the Alpha . . . the Omega" (Rev 1:18). give unto . . . athirst . . . water of life-- (Rev 22:17; Isa 12:3; Isa 55:1; Joh 4:13-14; Joh 7:37-38). This is added lest any should despair of…”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“And he said unto me - That is, he that sat on the throne - the Messiah. It is done - It is finished, complete; or, still more expressively, “it is” - γέγοναν gegonan. An expression remarkably similar to this occurs in John 19:30, when the Saviour on the cross said, “It is finished.” The meaning in the passage before us evidently is, “The great work is accomplished; the arrangement of human affairs is complete. The redeemed are gathered in; the wicked are cut off; truth is triumphant, and all is now complete - prepared for the eternal state of things.” I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end - This language makes it morally certain that the speaker here is the Lord Jesus, for it is…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“And he - That sat upon the throne. Said to me, It is done - All that the prophets had spoken; all that was spoken, Rev 4:1. We read this expression twice in this prophecy: first, Rev 16:17, at the fulfilling of the wrath of God; and here, at the making all things new. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end - The latter explains the former: the Everlasting. I will give to him that thirsteth - The Lamb saith the same, Rev 22:17. Revelation 21:7”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“21:6 God restates Jesus’ final words from the cross, It is finished! (John 19:30; cp. Rev 16:17), connecting Christ’s death with the assurance of eternal life. • I am the Alpha and the Omega: With the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet, John portrays God as encompassing total reality and total truth. God was from the Beginning (see Gen 1:1; cp. John 1:1-2) and is also the End (see Rev 1:8; 22:13). • Because Christ is supreme and in charge of all things (see Rom 9:5; 1 Cor 15:28; Eph 1:22-23; 4:5-6), he dispenses the water of life to all who are thirsty for it (see study note on Rev 7:16-17; see also Isa 55:1; John 4:10; 7:37-38).”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“It is: Rev 16:17 I am: Rev 1:8, Rev 1:11, Rev 1:17, Rev 22:13 I will: Rev 7:17, Rev 22:17; Isa 12:3, Isa 55:1-3; Joh 4:10, Joh 4:14, Joh 7:37, Joh 7:38 the fountain: Psa 36:9; Jer 2:13; Joe 3:18 freely: Hos 14:4; Rom 3:24, Rom 8:32; Co1 2:12, Co1 3:5, Co1 3:12, Co1 3:21; Jo1 5:4, Jo1 5:5 Revelation 21:7”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification