Revelation 2:14

12 To the angel of the church in Pergamum write: These are the words of the One who holds the sharp, double-edged sword.

13 I know where you live, where the throne of Satan sits. Yet you have held fast to My name and have not denied your faith in Me, even in the day when My faithful witness Antipas was killed among you, where Satan dwells.

But I have a few things against you, because some of you hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to place a stumbling block before the Israelites so they would eat food sacrificed to idols and commit sexual immorality.

15 In the same way, some of you also hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans.

16 Therefore repent! Otherwise I will come to you shortly and wage war against them with the sword of My mouth.

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
But I have a few things against you, because some of you hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to place a stumbling block before the Israelites so they would eat food sacrificed to idols and commit sexual immorality.
KJV
But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.
WEB
But I have a few things against you, because you have there some who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to throw a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality.
ASV
But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there some that hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit fornication.
DARBY
But I have a few things against thee: that thou hast there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to cast a snare before the sons of Israel, to eat [of] idol sacrifices and commit fornication.
BLB
But I have a few things against you, because you have [some] there holding the teaching of Balaam, who would teach Balak to cast a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols and to commit sexual immorality.
ÅB
Men jeg har noen få ting imot deg: at du har noen der som holder fast ved Bileams lære, han som lærte Balak å legge anstøt for Israels barn, å spise avguds-offer og drive hor;
OTB
Men jeg har noen få ting imot deg: Det er noen blant dere som holder fast ved Bileams lære, han som lærte Balak å legge en snublestein foran Israels barn, for å spise mat ofret til avguder og drive hor.
B1930
Men jeg har nogen få ting imot dig: at du har nogen der som holder fast ved Bileams lære, han som lærte Balak å legge anstøt for Israels barn, å ete avguds-offer og drive hor;

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Numbers 31:16

    “Look, these women caused the sons of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to turn unfaithfully against the LORD at Peor, so that the plague struck the congregation of the LORD.

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  • 2 Peter 2:15

    They have left the straight way and wandered off to follow the way of Balaam son of Beor, who loved the wages of wickedness.

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  • Revelation 2:20

    But I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess. By her teaching she misleads My servants to be sexually immoral and to eat food sacrificed to idols.

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  • Numbers 25:1–3

    While Israel was staying in Shittim, the men began to indulge in sexual immorality with the daughters of Moab,

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  • Jude 1:11

    Woe to them! They have traveled the path of Cain; they have rushed headlong into the error of Balaam; they have perished in Korah’s rebellion.

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  • Acts 15:29

    You must abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals, and from sexual immorality. You will do well to avoid these things. Farewell.

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  • Hebrews 13:4

    Marriage should be honored by all and the marriage bed kept undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterers.

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  • Joshua 24:9

    Then Balak son of Zippor, the king of Moab, set out to fight against Israel. He sent for Balaam son of Beor to curse you,

    Read in context