Revelation 2:16

Μετανόησον οὖν· εἰ δὲ μή, ἔρχομαί σοι ταχύ, καὶ πολεμήσω μετ᾽ αὐτῶν ἐν τῇ ῥομφαίᾳ τοῦ στόματός μου.

RBT Greek Interlinear:

Strongs 3340; metanoēson; μετανόησον; change mind; V-AMA-2S

Strongs 3767; oun; οὖν; therefore; Conj

Strongs 1487; ei; εἰ; if; Conj

Strongs 1161; de; δὲ; and; Conj

Strongs 3361; mē; μή; not; Adv

Strongs 2064; erchomai; ἔρχομαί; I am coming; V-PIM/P-1S

Strongs 4771; soi; σοι; you; PPro-D2S

Strongs 5035; tachy; ταχύ; swiftly; Adv

Strongs 2532; kai; καὶ; and; Conj

Strongs 4170; polemēsō; πολεμήσω; I will wage war; V-FIA-1S

Strongs 3326; met’; μετ’; in company with; Prep

Strongs 846; autōn; αὐτῶν; of themselves; PPro-GM3P

Strongs 1722; en; ἐν; within; Prep

Strongs 3588; tē; τῇ; the; Art-DFS

Strongs 4501; rhomphaia; ῥομφαίᾳ; sword; N-DFS

Strongs 3588; tou; τοῦ; the; Art-GNS

Strongs 4750; stomatos; στόματός; mouth; N-GNS

Strongs 1473; mou; μου; of myself; PPro-G1S

RBT Translation:

Therefore change the mind! Otherwise I am coming to yourself swiftly, and I will wage war in company with⁵ themselves within the Broad Sword of the Mouth of myself!

LITV Translation:
Repent! But if not, I will come to you quickly, and I will make war with them by the sword of My mouth.

ESV Translation:
Therefore repent. If not, I will come to you soon and war against them with the sword of my mouth.

Footnotes

5

Μετά τινος (metá tinos) and σύν τινι (sýn tini) both denote relationships of cooperation or alliances in warfare.

Specifically, μετά τινος means "with" or "alongside someone," indicating a partnership or joint effort in conflict, as seen in Xenophon’s works (e.g., Hellenica 7.1.27) and other contexts. Similarly, σύν τινι means "with" or "together with," describing collaborative military actions or alliances (e.g., Anabasis 2.6.5). In contrast, περὶ τῆς ἀρχῆς π. (perì tēs archēs p.), meaning "about the control of," refers to wars fought over the control or rule of territories or authority, as illustrated in Herodotus (e.g., 6.98). These phrases capture the nuances of military cooperation and conflicts over political control in ancient Greek contexts. (cf. Logeion πολεμήσω)

Interpreters of the NT took the word mετά (with/after) for "against", perhaps thinking that our modern usage of the verb (i.e. "at war with") is a justifiable means of interpreting the ancient usage of "to wage war."