1Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and said to John: "Come, and the verdict against the great prostitute who is seated on many waters will be shown to you — [17:2] she with whom the kings of the earth committed sexual immorality, and those dwelling on the earth became drunk from the wine of her immorality." [17:3] He carried John away in the Spirit into a wilderness. John saw a woman seated on a scarlet beast that was covered with blasphemous names, with seven heads and ten horns. [17:4] The woman was clothed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls, holding in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the impurities of her sexual immorality. [17:5] On her forehead a name was written — a mystery: "Babylon the Great, the Mother of Prostitutes and of the Abominations of the Earth."
REV 17:1-5
The Woman on the Beast
In the world it was spoken into
In the first-century Roman Empire, prostitution was not only a social reality but also a metaphor for idolatry and political corruption. The 'great prostitute' in Revelation 17 would have been understood by its original audience as a symbol of Rome, the dominant imperial power that demanded loyalty akin to worship. The 'many waters' she sits upon likely represent the diverse peoples and nations under Roman control. The 'kings of the earth' who 'committed sexual immorality' with her evoke the political alliances and compromises made with Rome, often at the expense of faithfulness to God. The 'wine of her immorality' suggests the intoxicating allure of Roman wealth, power, and cultural influence. The 'scarlet beast' with blasphemous names reflects the deification of emperors and the imperial cult, which were abhorrent to early Christians. The wilderness setting, a place of testing and divine encounter in Jewish tradition, underscores the spiritual nature of this vision.
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How other translations render this
REV 17:1
- KJV
- 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:
- BSB
- Then one of the seven angels with the seven bowls came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the punishment of the great prostitute, who sits on many waters.
- Koinōnos
- Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and said to John: "Come, and the verdict against the great prostitute who is seated on many waters will be shown to you —
REV 17:2
- KJV
- 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.
- BSB
- The kings of the earth were immoral with her, and those who dwell on the earth were intoxicated with the wine of her immorality.”
- Koinōnos
- she with whom the kings of the earth committed sexual immorality, and those dwelling on the earth became drunk from the wine of her immorality.
REV 17:3
- KJV
- 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.
- BSB
- And the angel carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness, where I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was covered with blasphemous names and had seven heads and ten horns.
- Koinōnos
- He carried John away in the Spirit into a wilderness. John saw a woman seated on a scarlet beast that was covered with blasphemous names, with seven heads and ten horns.
REV 17:4
- KJV
- 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:
- BSB
- The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls. She held in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the impurities of her sexual immorality.
- Koinōnos
- The woman was clothed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls, holding in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the impurities of her sexual immorality.
REV 17:5
- KJV
- And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.
- BSB
- And on her forehead a mysterious name was written: BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF PROSTITUTES AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.
- Koinōnos
- On her forehead a name was written — a mystery: "Babylon the Great, the Mother of Prostitutes and of the Abominations of the Earth.
Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.
Translator's notes
REV 17:1
- the:The word translated 'judgment' here refers to a legal decision or verdict, often implying a sentence or condemnation, rather than just a general opinion or assessment.
REV 17:2
- committed sexual immorality:The term translated 'committed sexual immorality' broadly encompasses all forms of illicit sexual activity, including prostitution, adultery, and other sexual sins, not just a specific act.
REV 17:3
- [the] Spirit.:The word translated 'Spirit' can also mean 'wind' or 'breath.' In this context, it suggests a powerful, divine influence that carries John away, much like a strong wind.
REV 17:4
- of abominations:The word translated 'abominations' refers to things that are detestable, disgusting, and morally repugnant, often with religious connotations of idolatry or defilement.