Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Revelation 2:17

"He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches. To him that overcometh, to him will I give of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and upon the stone a new name written, which no one knoweth but he that receiveth it." — Revelation 2:17 (ASV)

The promise to the overcomer includes three symbols: “hidden manna,” “a white stone,” and “a new name.” The “hidden manna” is reminiscent of the manna hidden in the ark of the covenant by Moses (Exodus 16:33–34; Hebrews 9:4). Since Moses’ pot of manna was designed to remind the Israelites of God’s grace and faithfulness in the desert (Psalms 78:24), there may be a similar thought here. Apocalyptic Jewish teaching, however, saw in the messianic era the restoration of the hidden wilderness manna. Those at Pergamum who refused the banquets of the pagan gods will receive the manna of his great banquet of eternal life in the kingdom .

The “white stone” is a puzzle and has received various interpretations. It seems best to link the stone to the thought of the manna and see it as an allusion to an invitation that entitled its bearer to attend one of the pagan banquets.

The “new name... known only to him who receives it” is either the name of Christ himself, now hidden from the world but to be revealed in the future as the most powerful of names (3:12; 14:1), or the believer’s new name or changed character through redemption (Isaiah 62:2; Isaiah 65:15). In an ancient Egyptian text, the goddess Isis plotted to learn the secret name of the supreme god Re to gain his hidden power for herself. The one who knew the hidden name would receive the power and status of the god who revealed it. Hence the name was jealously guarded by the god. This background fits the context here: to Christians tempted to compromise their loyalty to Christ to gain the favor of the pagan gods, Christ generously offers himself and the power of his name so that those who have faith in him may overcome.