Revelation 2:17

To eat] RV omits. Hidden manna] cp. Exodus 16:33; Hebrews 9:4; Jewish tradition held that the ark and its contents, including the pot of manna, were hidden by Jeremiah, and that they would be restored when the Messiah came. This tradition is used here to symbolise the bread of life: cp. John 6:31.

White stone] Ramsay explains this as a 'tessera,' i.e. a little cube of stone, ivory, or other substance, with words or symbols engraved on one or more faces. Here the 'stone' is simply to bear the name, and the stress of the passage is on the name. It is a stone, imperishable, because that which is to last is put on imperishable material; and it is white, as the fortunate colour.

New name] A new name implied entrance on a new life: cp. the new name given in baptism. So by this 'new name' is meant that the victorious Christian will enter upon a new and higher stage of existence. But the name is also the secret name of God (cp. Revelation 3:12), and it was anciently supposed that the knowledge of the name of God gave power over spirits. So the Christian, triumphant over persecution, will enter into life, and have new knowledge of God and new power.