Revelation Chapter 17 KJV
King James Version, Holy Bible
1 And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters:
2 With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication.
3 So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.
4 And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication:
5 And upon her forehead was a name written, Mystery, Babylon The Great, The Mother Of Harlots And Abominations Of The Earth.
6 And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration.
Revelation Chapter 17 (New Testament)
7 And the angel said unto me, Wherefore didst thou marvel? I will tell thee the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carrieth her, which hath the seven heads and ten horns.
8 The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.
9 And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth.
10 And there are seven kings: five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a short space.
11 And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition.
12 And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast.
Revelation Chapter 17 (New Testament)
13 These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast.
14 These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.
15 And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.
16 And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire.
17 For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled.
18 And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth
| Greek Word + Transliteration | Verse + Snippet | Meaning | Scholarly Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| πόρνη — pornē | Verse 1 — “…the great harlot…” | “Harlot,” prostitute. | Pornē (“harlot”) symbolizes spiritual unfaithfulness (“prostitute”). She represents corrupt religious-political systems. The term conveys moral and doctrinal infidelity. — Joseph Thayer, Greek-English Lexicon (1889) |
| ὕδωρ — hydōr | Verse 1 — “…sitteth upon many waters…” | “Waters,” peoples/masses. | Hydōr (“water”) stands metaphorically for nations (“waters”). It shows her global influence. The term emphasizes universality of corruption. — Philip Schaff, History of the Christian Church (1890) |
| βδέλυγμα — bdelugma | Verse 4 — “…abominations and filthiness…” | “Abomination,” detestable thing. | Bdelugma (“abomination”) expresses deep moral disgust (“detestable thing”). It characterizes idolatry and impurity. The term communicates divine rejection. — Richard Trench, Synonyms of the NT (1896) |
| μυστήριον — mystērion | Verse 5 — “…Mystery, Babylon the Great…” | “Mystery,” hidden reality. | Mystērion (“mystery”) denotes symbolic revelation (“hidden reality”). It points to spiritual meaning beneath imagery. The term invites interpretation by the Spirit. — B. F. Westcott, Revelation of the Risen Lord (1898) |
| μέθυσος — methysos | Verse 6 — “…drunken with the blood of saints…” | “Drunk,” intoxicated. | Methysos (“drunk”) portrays delight in persecution (“intoxicated”). Babylon is saturated with violence. The term shows moral depravity. — James Hastings, Dictionary of the Bible (1898) |
| θαυμάζω — thaumazō | Verse 6 — “…I wondered with great admiration.” | “Marvel,” astonish. | Thaumazō (“to marvel”) signals shock and awe (“wonder/astonish”). John reacts to the paradoxical glory and wickedness. The term reflects prophetic bewilderment. — Thayer, Lexicon (1889) |
| βασιλεύω — basileuō | Verse 12 — “…receive power as kings one hour…” | “Reign,” rule. | Basileuō (“to reign”) marks temporary authority (“rule”). These kings unite in rebellion. The term contrasts transient human power with Christ’s eternal rule. — Schaff, Commentary on Revelation (1882) |
| συναγωνίζομαι — synagōnizomai | Verse 14 — “…make war with the Lamb…” | “Contend,” fight against. | Synagōnizomai (“to fight against”) conveys foolish hostility (“oppose/fight”). The conflict is doomed from the outset. The term highlights the futility of resisting Christ. — Franz Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary (1884) |
| κλητός — klētos | Verse 14 — “…called, chosen, and faithful.” | “Called,” invited. | Klētos (“called”) denotes divine summons (“called/invited”). It marks believers as chosen participants in Christ’s victory. The term emphasizes grace. — Richard Trench, Synonyms (1896) |
| νικάω — nikaō | Verse 14 — “…the Lamb shall overcome them…” | “Overcome,” conquer. | Nikaō (“to conquer”) asserts Christ’s unstoppable victory (“overcome”). His kingship guarantees triumph. The term underscores His divine supremacy. — B. F. Westcott, Revelation of the Risen Lord (1898) |
Biblical Scholars On This Chapter:
| Scholar | Work | View on Chapter 17 |
|---|---|---|
| R. H. Charles (University of Cambridge, United Kingdom, 1855–1931) | The Revelation of St. John | The imagery of the woman and beast symbolizes corruption, idolatry, and political oppression. |
| Ferdinand Christian Baur (University of Tübingen, Germany, 1792–1860) | Paul, the Apostle of Jesus Christ | Baur interprets the chapter as an early Christian critique of worldly power and moral decay. |
| A. T. Robertson (Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, United States, 1863–1934) | Word Pictures in the New Testament | Robertson emphasizes the vivid symbolic representation of spiritual and political evil. |
| Alfred Plummer (University of Cambridge, United Kingdom, 1841–1926) | A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the Revelation of St. John | Plummer highlights the moral and theological significance of the vision. |
| Charles B. Williams (Yale University, United States, 1860–1929) | A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the Revelation of St. John | Williams notes the chapter communicates a warning against moral compromise and idolatry. |
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Revelation Chapter 17
Verse: "And the woman that you saw is the great city that has dominion over the kings of the earth." (Revelation 17:18)
Lesson: This chapter describes a woman who symbolizes the corrupt system of Babylon that has infiltrated the world. This system is characterized by materialism, immorality, and idolatry. It is a warning to believers not to be enticed by the pleasures of the world, but to remain faithful to God.
What's Next? Read Our Bible Verses About Life With Purpose and Encouragement
Conclusion: As believers, we must be vigilant in guarding ourselves against the temptations of the world. We must remember that our true citizenship is in heaven and that we are called to live a life that is pleasing to God. We must also pray for those who are caught up in the system of Babylon, that they would come to know the truth and turn to God.
Prayer Points: Let us pray for the strength to resist the temptations of the world. Let us also pray for those who are caught up in the system of Babylon, that they would come to know the truth and turn to God.
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