Smyrna

Revelation 2:8: “The church in Smyrna.“

             The writer may have employed the Hebrew meaning of the word sama`, ‘Hear!’ to speak to the church bearing the Greek name Smyrna.  In Hebrew, the word ‘hear’ included the meaning of hearing and obeying, much like the English word ‘heeding’.  The Hebrew word samar, ‘to keep watch, preserve’ may also have been in mind.  The Spirit gives neither rebuke nor chastening to this church that is heeding, watching and persevering.