Revelation 2:3 (KJV)

What does Revelation 2:3 mean?

Revelation 2:3 records Jesus commending the church in Ephesus for remaining steady under strain. The people have faced burdens and continued their demanding work because they belong to him and bear his name.

The words “for my name’s sake” identify Jesus as the reason for their labor. After describing the church’s testing of false teachers in verse 2, Jesus turns attention to the strain the church has borne.

The Greek behind Revelation 2:3

• “borne” — βαστάζω (bastazō): This word can mean carrying a load or bearing something difficult. Here, the picture is of bearing a burden.
• “patience” — ὑπομονή (hypomonē): This word often carries the sense of endurance. It suggests staying firm under pressure, not merely waiting.
• “hast not fainted” — κάμνω (kamnō): This word can mean becoming weary or giving out. The phrase describes the church as not giving way despite its exertion.

Why Revelation 2:3 matters

• Jesus recognizes both suffering and effort. “Hast borne” points to what the church has endured, while “hast laboured” points to its active work.
• The praise in verse 3 is part of a larger message that also includes a serious criticism. In verse 4, Jesus says the church has left its “first love,” showing that he notices more than its endurance and labor.