Revelation 22:15

22:15 This verse again lists those who are not admitted to contrast with those admitted in 22:14 (see 21:8, 27; 22:11). These unrepentant sinners remain outside the city; it is another warning to those who do not repent that they will not be allowed to enter the city of God (22:14). • The reference to sinners as dogs was a familiar Jewish designation for rejected outsiders (see Matt 7:6; Phil 3:2; also 2 Sam 3:8; 2 Kgs 8:13); Jews used this term to refer to Gentiles (see Mark 7:26-28).

Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Rev 22:15. [247] ΦΙΛῶΝ ΨΕῦΔΟς) A good mind loves the truth, a bad one loves falsehood. That saying of Aristotle may in a certain sense be accommodated to this passage: ΤΟῦΤʼ ἜΣΤΙΝ Ἡ ΚΑΤʼ ἈΛΉΘΕΙΑΝ ΕὐΦΫΊΑ, ΤῸ ΔΎΝΑΣΘΑΙ ΚΑΛῶς ἙΛΈΣΘΑΙ Τʼ ἈΛΗΘῈς ΚΑῚ ΦΥΓΕῖΝ ΤῸ ΨΕῦΔΟς· ὍΠΕΡ ΟἹ ΠΕΦΥΚΌΤΕς Εὖ, ΔΎΝΑΝΤΑΙ ΠΟΙΕῖΝ Εὖ· ΟἹ ΓᾺΡ ΦΙΛΟῦΝΤΕς ΚΑῚ ΜΙΣΟῦΝΤΕς ΤῸ ΠΡΟΣΦΈΡΟΜΕΝΟΝ Εὖ, ΚΡΊΝΟΥΣΙ ΤῸ ΒΈΛΤΙΣΤΟΝ: lib. viii. Topic. cap. 14. Let this be transferred to spiritual things. It is the part of a good disposition to love the truth, and to hate falsehood: of a bad disposition, to hate the truth, and to love falsehood. Such indeed we all are by nature; but one receives the truth, an other continues to imitate the deaf adder: Psa 58:4-5. Hence the hearing of many is averse from the harmony of the truth, especially from that of the Apocalypse. The things which are set forth are plain from the words themselves and from the parallelism, but σωφροσύνη must be applied.

[247] τοῖς πυλῶσιν, through the gates) namely, as those who are invested with legitimate power.—V. g.

Bengel's Gnomon of the New Testament — English translation (T&T Clark, Edinburgh, 1860) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

But--so Coptic. But A, B, HIPPOLYTUS, ANDREAS, and CYPRIAN omit.

dogs--Greek, "the dogs"; the impure, filthy (Rev 22:11; compare Phi 3:2).

maketh--including also "whosoever practiceth a lie" [W. KELLY].

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Verse 15. Without are dogs] All those who are uncircumcised in heart. The Jews call all the uncircumcised dogs. "Who is a dog? Ans. He who is not circumcised." Pirkey Elieser, chap. 29.

And sorcerers] See Clarke on Re 21:8.

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

(15) For without are dogs and sorcerers . . .—Better, Outside are the dogs, and the sorcerers, and the fornicators, and the murderers, and the idolators, and every one loving and doing falsehood. The language is again an echo of earlier words. (See Rev_21:8.) The allusion to the dogs outside the city is hardly appreciated by Westerns. In the East, however, “troops of hungry and semi-wild dogs used to wander about the fields and streets of the cities, devouring dead bodies and other offal (1Ki_14:11; 1Ki_16:4; 1Ki_21:19; 1Ki_22:38; 2Ki_9:10; 2Ki_9:36; Jer_15:3; Psa_59:6), and thus became such objects of dislike that fierce and cruel enemies are poetically styled dogs in Psa_22:16; Psa_22:20.” The dog, moreover, was an unclean animal; dogs, therefore, are represented as outside the city, because nothing unclean is allowed to enter. The sins enumerated here are similar to those mentioned in the last chapter (Rev_22:8); it is the reiteration, therefore, of the warning that those who would enter in must break off their sins by righteousness.

A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

15. For] should be omitted.

dogs &c.] The articles should be expressed, “the dogs, and the sorcerers (see on Rev_9:21, Rev_21:8), and the fornicators, and the murderers and the idolaters, and everyone that loveth &c.”

maketh] Or doeth: the word is the same as in St John’s I Eph_1:6. To do the truth or a lie is a great deal more, for good or evil, than merely to say it. In that passage, the false Christian’s falsehood lies altogether in what he does, not in the privileges he claims, which would be truly his, if not belied by his life.

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

For without are dogs,.... That is, without the holy city are such persons who are comparable to dogs for their filthiness, impudence, and voraciousness, as are persecutors, heretics, and apostates, Mat 7:6. Some think Sodomites are intended, as in Deu 23:18. So Abarbinel and others interpret the law; and who abound in the Roman jurisdiction, called therefore Sodom, Rev 11:8 and indeed all wicked men, who will be cast out into outer darkness, may be signified hereby. The Jews say (k),

"when a man dies, if he be worthy (or righteous) he descends in the likeness of a lion to receive "his" soul, but if not, in the likeness of "a dog", concerning which David says, Psa 22:20.''

And sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters; characters of the antichristian party, who will have no place in this city, or glorious kingdom of Christ; See Gill on Rev 21:8.

And whosoever loveth and maketh a lie; who loves both to invent and tell lies, and loves to hear them told by others; meaning more especially the doctrinal lies of antichrist, which are spoken in hypocrisy by him, and his followers are given up to believe.

(k) Raya Mchimna in Zohar in Numb. fol. 95. 2.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

15 For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.

Ver. 15. For without are dogs] In outer darkness. The Irish air will sooner brook a toad or snake to live therein, than heaven will brook a sinner. It was not permitted to a dog to enter into the Acropolis or tower at Athens, δια του ακολαστου και δυσωδους for his heat in venery and ill savour, saith Plutarch. Goats, likewise, saith Varro, come not there (unless for necessary sacrifice once a year) lest they should hurt the olive. No filthy dogs or nasty goats get into heaven’s tower, &c. The panther smells well among beasts (whom thereby she draweth about her), not so among men. God and the saints loathe what the wicked love and delight in, as the panther doth in man’s excrements.

And whosoever loveth] Though he maketh it not. Some will not coin a false tale, that yet will spread it; these are equally guilty, and excluded God’s kingdom, Psa 52:3.

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

For without are dogs - The wicked, the depraved, the vile: for of such characters the dogs, an unclean animal among the Jews, was regarded as a symbol, Deu 23:18. On the meaning of the expression, see the notes on Phi 3:2. The word “without” means that they would not be admitted into the heavenly city, the New Jerusalem, Rev 21:8, Rev 21:27.

And sorcerers, ... - All these characters are specified in Rev 21:8, as excluded from heaven. See the notes on that verse. The only change is, that those who “love and make a lie” are added to the list; that is, who delight in lies, or what is false.

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

Without are dogs; meaning unbelievers, and whosever loveth and maketh a lie, i.e. all the wicked, who have not walked in the ways of truth. (Witham)

George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).

15. Without are the dogs, with the article. Not meaning that the dogs are admitted into the new earth, while excluded from the city. The Greek word for without is used for moral separateness in l Corinthians Rev_5:12-13; Col_4:5; 1Th_4:12. In Act_26:11, it means out of the country, even to foreign cities. The foreign and distant place assigned for characters represented by the dogs is specified in Rev_21:8, with which passage compare this verse.

Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie; without (omit "for") are the dogs, and the sorcerers, and the fornicaters, etc. The article renders each term general in its signification. (see on Rev_4:11) "The dogs" are those who are described in ver. 11 as "the filthy;" the term is proverbial amongst Eastern nations as an expression for what is most degraded. The epithets in this verse occur (with others) in Rev_21:8. A contrast is forcibly presented between these wicked ones here indicated, and those who have (in the preceding verse) the right to enter the city, owing to their purity obtained by washing their robes. (See homily on Rev_20:11-15)

For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie; without (omit "for") are the dogs, and the sorcerers, and the fornicaters, etc. The article renders each term general in its signification. (see on Rev_4:11) "The dogs" are those who are described in ver. 11 as "the filthy;" the term is proverbial amongst Eastern nations as an expression for what is most degraded. The epithets in this verse occur (with others) in Rev_21:8. A contrast is forcibly presented between these wicked ones here indicated, and those who have (in the preceding verse) the right to enter the city, owing to their purity obtained by washing their robes. (See homily on Rev_20:11-15)

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Without are dogs - The sentence in the original is abrupt, as expressing abhorrence. The gates are ever open; but not for dogs; fierce and rapacious men.

John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.

Without, that is, without the gates of the city of the New Jerusalem, are all filthy and unclean sinners, all cruel and bloody persecutors, all raging and furious enemies to me and my people, all idolaters and all liars; these shall be shut out of heaven, as dogs are shut out of the house; and shut into hell, to be imprisoned with devils and damned spirits, and that everlastingly, to lie for ever in that mysterious fire, whose strange property it is always to torture, but never to kill, or always to kill but never to consume: they would die, but they cannot die; they seek for death, but cannot find it; they desire it, but it flies from them.

William Burkitt's Expository Notes on the New Testament (1700–1703) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

15. Without are dogs. In an oriental city the dogs, an unclean animal, are seen in great numbers in the streets, and are a disagreeable feature. These are taken to represent one type of sinners. Others with different characteristics are also given. All are without. None of them ever pass through the portals of the New Jerusalem.

B. W. Johnson's The People's New Testament with Notes (1889–1891) — public domain. Electronic text from the Christian Classics Ethereal Library (CCEL) ThML edition.

κύνες , an archaic metaphor, coloured by the nomad’s hatred of hounds; cf. Arabia Deserta , i. 337, 339 (“only the dog has no citizenship in the nomad life”. “It is the only life mishandled by the gentle Arab, who with spurns and blows cast out these profane creatures from the tent.”) Here κύνες are not merely impure pagans, but the impudently impure, possibly in the special and darker sense of “sodomites” ( cf. 1Ti 1:10 ; Deu 23:19-20 , collated with πόρνη and βδέλυγμα ). cf. on Rev 21:8 and Cooke’s North Sem. Inscriptions , p. 68. Such loathsome practices were not uncommon in the Oriental cults.

The Expositor's Greek Testament, edited by W. Robertson Nicoll (1897–1910) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

15. ἔξω. Are we to suppose that Gehenna is always close to the Walls of Jerusalem?

οἱ κύνες καὶ οἱ φαρμακοί. See on Rev 9:21, Rev 21:8. Note the articles throughout which R. V[899] expresses.

[899] Revised Version.

ποιῶν. The word is the same as in St John 1 Eph 1:6. To do the truth or a lie is a great deal more, for good or evil, than merely to say it. In that passage, the false Christian’s falsehood lies altogether in what he does, not in the privileges he claims, which would be truly his, if not belied by his life.

Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges (Cambridge University Press, 1896; 21 vols, various authors incl. Carr, Maclear, Plummer, Farrar, Lumby, Moule, M. R. James, Simcox) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Dogs [οι κυνες] . The A. V. omits the article "the dogs." Compare Phi 3:2. This was the term of reproach with which the Judaizers stigmatized the Gentiles as impure. In the Mosaic law the word is used to denounce the moral profligacies of heathen worship (Deu 23:18). Compare Mt 14:26. Here the word is used of those whose moral impurity excludes them from the New Jerusalem. "As a term of reproach, the word on the lips of a Jew, signified chiefly impurity; of a Greek, impudence. The herds of dogs which prowl about Eastern cities, without a home and without an owner, feeding on the refuse and filth of the streets, quarreling among themselves, and attacking the passer - by, explain both applications of the image" (Lightfoot, on Phi 3:2). Sorcerers. See on ch. Rev 9:21, and compare ch. 21 8.

Whoremongers [πορνοι] . Rev., better, fornicators.

Maketh [ποιων] . Or doeth. Compare doeth the truth, Joh 3:21; 1Jo 1:6. See on Joh 3:21.

Marvin R. Vincent, Word Studies in the New Testament (1887–1900) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.