Dabo tibi coronam vitae
“I will give you the crown of life.”
Vulgate, Revelation 2:10
What does “Dabo tibi coronam vitae” mean?
Dabo tibi coronam vitae translates as “I will give you the crown of life.”
The promise rewards faithfulness that holds firm through trials. It encourages endurance, trusting that perseverance will be honoured in the end.
“Dabo tibi coronam vitae” word by word
| Latin | English | Grammar |
|---|---|---|
| Dabo | I will give | first person singular future active indicative of do, dare, “to give”; the future ending -bo marks the first conjugation |
| tibi | to you | dative singular of tu, “you” (one person); the indirect object, the one who receives |
| coronam | the crown | accusative singular of corona, “crown, wreath”; the direct object of dabo |
| vitae | of life | genitive singular of vita, “life”; the genitive gives “crown of life” |
How to pronounce “Dabo tibi coronam vitae”
The differences are in tibi (TIH-bih or TEE-bee) and in the first letter and ending of vitae (WEE-tye or VEE-teh). Stress falls on the first syllable of dabo, tibi and vitae, and on the second syllable of coronam.
The story behind it
Word for word the line says “I will give to you a crown of life”. It comes from the Latin Vulgate, the Bible translation made largely by Jerome in the late 4th century, at Revelation 2:10.
In the Book of Revelation the risen Christ dictates short letters to seven churches. This promise closes the letter to the church in Smyrna, which is told to be faithful even unto death.
The image of a crown draws on the victor’s wreath of the ancient world, given to winning athletes. Here it stands for a reward that lasts. The phrase is still used on memorial cards and in funeral and confirmation settings.
How to use “Dabo tibi coronam vitae”
A fitting line for a memorial card, a funeral inscription or a confirmation gift, where it offers comfort and encouragement. It also suits a personal motto for someone facing a long trial.
- Latin
- Dabo tibi coronam vitae
- English
- I will give you the crown of life.
- Source
- Vulgate, Revelation 2:10
- Era
- Church Latin
- Theme
- Faith
Common mistakes
- It is not a general promise of success. In context it rewards faithfulness through suffering.
- Do not leave out the first part of the verse. The full sentence begins “Esto fidelis usque ad mortem” (“Be faithful unto death”).
- Vitae is genitive (“of life”), not the nominative vita. Writing “coronam vita” is wrong.
- To speak to several people, tibi becomes vobis (“to you all”): “Dabo vobis coronam vitae”.
Questions about “Dabo tibi coronam vitae”
What does “Dabo tibi coronam vitae” mean literally?
“I will give to you the crown of life.” Dabo is “I will give”, tibi “to you”, coronam “crown” and vitae “of life”.
Where does “Dabo tibi coronam vitae” come from?
It is from the Vulgate, the Latin Bible, at Revelation 2:10. It ends the message to the church in Smyrna.
How do you pronounce “Dabo tibi coronam vitae”?
Classical: DAH-boh TIH-bih koh-ROH-nahm WEE-tye. Church Latin: DAH-boh TEE-bee koh-ROH-nahm VEE-teh.
Is “Dabo tibi coronam vitae” correct Latin for a tattoo?
Yes, it is the Vulgate wording and grammatically correct. It is addressed to one person, so for a group use “Dabo vobis coronam vitae”.
More to explore
Translation and grammar checked by Latin Quoter · last reviewed November 2026
One Latin line. Every Monday.
A quote, its translation and the story behind it, free in your inbox.