14These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, because he is Lord of lords and King of kings — and those with him are called and chosen and faithful." [17:15] Then the angel said to John: "The waters that you saw, where the prostitute sits, are peoples and multitudes and nations and tongues. [17:16] The ten horns that you saw, and the beast — these will hate the prostitute and will make her desolate and naked, and will devour her flesh and burn her with fire. [17:17] For God put it into their hearts to carry out his purpose — to carry out one purpose and to hand over their royal authority to the beast until the words of God are completed. [17:18] And the woman that you saw is the great city that has royal authority over the kings of the earth."
REV 17:14-18
The Victory of the Lamb
In the world it was spoken into
In the Roman imperial context, the titles 'Lord of lords' and 'King of kings' directly challenged the emperor’s claim to ultimate authority. The Lamb’s victory over the beast and its allies would have been heard as a subversion of Roman imperial power, which often portrayed itself as divinely ordained and invincible. The prostitute, sitting on waters symbolizing peoples and nations, evokes imagery of Rome’s economic and political exploitation, particularly through its imperial cult and trade networks. The ten horns and the beast turning against the prostitute reflect the instability and self-destructive nature of oppressive systems. The Lamb’s triumph, despite its apparent vulnerability , underscores a divine reversal of power dynamics, where weakness becomes strength. For Jewish listeners, this would resonate with apocalyptic traditions of God’s ultimate justice against corrupt empires. The Lamb’s followers, described as 'called, chosen, and faithful,' align with the early Christian identity as a counter-cultural community resisting imperial domination.
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How other translations render this
REV 17:14
- KJV
- 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.
- BSB
- They will make war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will triumph over them, because He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and He will be accompanied by His called and chosen and faithful ones.”
- Koinōnos
- These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, because he is Lord of lords and King of kings — and those with him are called and chosen and faithful.
REV 17:15
- KJV
- And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.
- BSB
- Then the angel said to me, “The waters you saw, where the prostitute was seated, are peoples and multitudes and nations and tongues.
- Koinōnos
- Then the angel said to John: "The waters that you saw, where the prostitute sits, are peoples and multitudes and nations and tongues.
REV 17:16
- KJV
- 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.
- BSB
- And the ten horns and the beast that you saw will hate the prostitute. They will leave her desolate and naked, and they will eat her flesh and burn her with fire.
- Koinōnos
- The ten horns that you saw, and the beast — these will hate the prostitute and will make her desolate and naked, and will devour her flesh and burn her with fire.
REV 17:17
- KJV
- 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.
- BSB
- For God has put it into their hearts to carry out His purpose by uniting to give their kingdom to the beast, until the words of God are fulfilled.
- Koinōnos
- For God put it into their hearts to carry out his purpose — to carry out one purpose and to hand over their royal authority to the beast until the words of God are completed.
REV 17:18
- KJV
- And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.
- BSB
- And the woman you saw is the great city that rules over the kings of the earth.”
- Koinōnos
- And the woman that you saw is the great city that has royal authority over the kings of the earth.
Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.
Translator's notes
REV 17:14
- Lamb:The word translated 'Lamb' is a diminutive form, emphasizing the tenderness and vulnerability of the Lamb, yet this Lamb is also a powerful, conquering figure.
- Lord:The term translated 'Lord' signifies one who possesses ultimate authority and power, often used in ancient contexts for a master over slaves or a ruler over subjects.
REV 17:16
- prostitute:The word translated 'prostitute' referred to a harlot, often a slave, highlighting her social status and the transactional nature of her relationships in the ancient world.
REV 17:17
- purpose:The word translated 'purpose' carries the sense of a deliberate decision or resolution, reflecting a conscious act of will or judgment.