1. Revelation 22:15 (ESV)
  2. Exposition

What is meant by “outside”?

Revelation 22:15 (ESV)

15 Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and the sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.

In the present context, the term outside contrasts with those who entered the city and so are now inside. Those outside did not or could not enter because they did not wash their robes. So they also do not have access to the tree of life—which in turn means that they remain in their death (as wages of sin, Genesis 2:17). By remaining outside they also cannot contaminate (the life of) those who are inside (Revelation 21:27).