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Revelation 17

Rev. 17:1 KJV (With Strong’s)

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1
And
ho (Greek #3588)
the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
KJV usage: the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.
Pronounce: ho
Origin: ἡ (hay), and the neuter τό (to) in all their inflections
kai (Greek #2532)
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
KJV usage: and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.
Pronounce: kahee
Origin: apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force
there came
erchomai (Greek #2064)
middle voice of a primary verb (used only in the present and imperfect tenses, the others being supplied by a kindred (middle voice) ἐλεύθομαι (el-yoo'-thom-ahee), or (active) ἔλθω (el'-tho), which do not otherwise occur) to come or go (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)
KJV usage: accompany, appear, bring, come, enter, fall out, go, grow, X light, X next, pass, resort, be set.
Pronounce: er'-khom-ahee
one
heis (Greek #1520)
a primary numeral; one
KJV usage: a(-n, -ny, certain), + abundantly, man, one (another), only, other, some. See also 1527, 3367, 3391, 3762.
Pronounce: hice
Origin: (including the neuter (etc.) ἕν)
of
ek (Greek #1537)
or ἐξ (ex) a primary preposition denoting origin (the point whence action or motion proceeds), from, out (of place, time, or cause; literal or figurative; direct or remote)
KJV usage: after, among, X are, at, betwixt(-yond), by (the means of), exceedingly, (+ abundantly above), for(- th), from (among, forth, up), + grudgingly, + heartily, X heavenly, X hereby, + very highly, in, ...ly, (because, by reason) of, off (from), on, out among (from, of), over, since, X thenceforth, through, X unto, X vehemently, with(-out). Often used in composition, with the same general import; often of completion.
Pronounce: ek
the seven
hepta (Greek #2033)
seven
KJV usage: seven.
Pronounce: hep-tah'
Origin: a primary number
angels
aggelos (Greek #32)
a messenger; especially an "angel"; by implication, a pastor
KJV usage: angel, messenger.
Pronounce: ang'-el-os
Origin: from ἀγγέλλω (probably derived from 71; compare 34) (to bring tidings)
which had
echo (Greek #2192)
(used in certain tenses only) a primary verb; to hold (used in very various applications, literally or figuratively, direct or remote; such as possession; ability, contiuity, relation, or condition)
KJV usage: be (able, X hold, possessed with), accompany, + begin to amend, can(+ -not), X conceive, count, diseased, do + eat, + enjoy, + fear, following, have, hold, keep, + lack, + go to law, lie, + must needs, + of necessity, + need, next, + recover, + reign, + rest, + return, X sick, take for, + tremble, + uncircumcised, use.
Pronounce: ekh'-o
Origin: σχέω (skheh'-o)
the seven
hepta (Greek #2033)
seven
KJV usage: seven.
Pronounce: hep-tah'
Origin: a primary number
vials
phiale (Greek #5357)
a broad shallow cup ("phial")
KJV usage: vial.
Pronounce: fee-al'-ay
Origin: of uncertain affinity
, and
kai (Greek #2532)
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
KJV usage: and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.
Pronounce: kahee
Origin: apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force
talked
laleo (Greek #2980)
to talk, i.e. utter words
KJV usage: preach, say, speak (after), talk, tell, utter. Compare 3004.
Pronounce: lal-eh'-o
Origin: a prolonged form of an otherwise obsolete verb
with
meta (Greek #3326)
properly, denoting accompaniment; "amid" (local or causal); modified variously according to the case (genitive association, or accusative succession) with which it is joined; occupying an intermediate position between 575 or 1537 and 1519 or 4314; less intimate than 1722 and less close than 4862)
KJV usage: after(-ward), X that he again, against, among, X and, + follow, hence, hereafter, in, of, (up-)on, + our, X and setting, since, (un-)to, + together, when, with (+ -out). Often used in composition, in substantially the same relations of participation or proximity, and transfer or sequence.
Pronounce: met-ah'
Origin: a primary preposition (often used adverbially)
me
emou (Greek #1700)
of me
KJV usage: me, mine, my.
Pronounce: em-oo'
Origin: a prolonged form of 3449
, saying
lego (Greek #3004)
properly, to "lay" forth, i.e. (figuratively) relate (in words (usually of systematic or set discourse; whereas 2036 and 5346 generally refer to an individual expression or speech respectively; while 4483 is properly to break silence merely, and 2980 means an extended or random harangue)); by implication, to mean
KJV usage: ask, bid, boast, call, describe, give out, name, put forth, say(-ing, on), shew, speak, tell, utter.
Pronounce: leg'-o
Origin: a primary verb
unto me
moi (Greek #3427)
to me
KJV usage: I, me, mine, my.
Pronounce: moy
Origin: the simpler form of 1698
, Come hither
deuro (Greek #1204)
here; used also imperative hither!; and of time, hitherto
KJV usage: come (hither), hither(-to).
Pronounce: dyoo'-ro
Origin: of uncertain affinity
; I will show
deiknuo (Greek #1166)
to show (literally or figuratively)
KJV usage: shew.
Pronounce: dike-noo'-o
Origin: a prolonged form of an obsolete primary of the same meaning
unto thee
soi (Greek #4671)
to thee
KJV usage: thee, thine own, thou, thy.
Pronounce: soy
Origin: dative case of 4771
the judgment
ho (Greek #3588)
the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
KJV usage: the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.
Pronounce: ho
Origin: ἡ (hay), and the neuter τό (to) in all their inflections
krima (Greek #2917)
a decision (the function or the effect, for or against ("crime"))
KJV usage: avenge, condemned, condemnation, damnation, + go to law, judgment.
Pronounce: kree'-mah
Origin: from 2919
of the great
megas (Greek #3173)
big (literally or figuratively, in a very wide application)
KJV usage: (+ fear) exceedingly, great(-est), high, large, loud, mighty, + (be) sore (afraid), strong, X to years.
Pronounce: meg'-as
Origin: (including the prolonged forms, feminine μεγάλη, plural μεγάλοι, etc.; compare also 3176, 3187)
whore
ho (Greek #3588)
the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
KJV usage: the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.
Pronounce: ho
Origin: ἡ (hay), and the neuter τό (to) in all their inflections
porne (Greek #4204)
a strumpet; figuratively, an idolater
KJV usage: harlot, whore.
Pronounce: por'-nay
Origin: feminine of 4205
v that sitteth
kathemai (Greek #2521)
and ἧμαι (to sit; akin to the base of 1476); to sit down; figuratively, to remain, reside
KJV usage: dwell, sit (by, down).
Pronounce: kath'-ay-mahee
Origin: from 2596
upon
epi (Greek #1909)
properly, meaning superimposition (of time, place, order, etc.), as a relation of distribution (with the genitive case), i.e. over, upon, etc.; of rest (with the dative case) at, on, etc.; of direction (with the accusative case) towards, upon, etc.
KJV usage: about (the times), above, after, against, among, as long as (touching), at, beside, X have charge of, (be-, (where-))fore, in (a place, as much as, the time of, -to), (because) of, (up-)on (behalf of), over, (by, for) the space of, through(-out), (un-)to(-ward), with. In compounds it retains essentially the same import, at, upon, etc. (literally or figuratively).
Pronounce: ep-ee'
Origin: a primary preposition
many
polus (Greek #4183)
(singular) much (in any respect) or (plural) many; neuter (singular) as adverbial, largely; neuter (plural) as adverb or noun often, mostly, largely
KJV usage: abundant, + altogether, common, + far (passed, spent), (+ be of a) great (age, deal, -ly, while), long, many, much, oft(-en (-times)), plenteous, sore, straitly. Compare 4118, 4119.
Pronounce: pol-oos'
Origin: including the forms from the alternate πολλός
waters
ho (Greek #3588)
the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
KJV usage: the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.
Pronounce: ho
Origin: ἡ (hay), and the neuter τό (to) in all their inflections
hudor (Greek #5204)
water (as if rainy) literally or figuratively
KJV usage: water.
Pronounce: hoo'-dore
Origin: ὕδατος (hoo'-dat-os), etc. from the base of 5205
w:
v
Rev. 19:2• 2for true and righteous are his judgments; for he has judged the great harlot which corrupted the earth with her fornication, and has avenged the blood of his bondmen at her hand. (Rev. 19:2)
;
Nah. 3:4• 4--Because of the multitude of the fornications of the well-favoured harlot, mistress of sorceries, that selleth nations through her fornications, and families through her sorceries, (Nah. 3:4)
w
Jer. 51:13• 13Thou that dwellest upon many waters, abundant in treasures, thine end is come, the measure of thy rapacity. (Jer. 51:13)

More on:

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Angels,
Seven,
Vials

Cross References

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Ministry on This Verse

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1-4:  A woman arrayed in purple and scarlet, with a golden cup in her hand sits upon the beast;
5-8:  which is great Babylon, the mother of all abominations.
9-11:  The interpretation of the seven heads;
12-13:  and the ten horns.
14-15:  The victory of the Lamb.
16-18:  The punishment of the whore.
one.
Rev. 15:1,6• 1And I saw another sign in the heaven, great and wonderful: seven angels having seven plagues, the last; for in them the fury of God is completed.
 6and the seven angels who had the seven plagues came out of the temple, clothed in pure bright linen, and girded about the breasts with golden girdles. (Rev. 15:1,6)
;
Rev. 17:1‑17• 1And one of the seven angels, which had the seven bowls, came and spoke with me, saying, Come here, I will shew thee the sentence of the great harlot who sits upon the many waters;
 2with whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication; and they that dwell on the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication.
 3And he carried me away in spirit to a desert; and I saw a woman sitting upon a scarlet beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.
 4And the woman was clothed in purple and scarlet, and had ornaments of gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and the unclean things of her fornication;
 5and upon her forehead a name written, Mystery, great Babylon, the mother of the harlots, and of the abominations of the earth.
 6And I saw the woman drunk with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the witnesses of Jesus. And I wondered, seeing her, with great wonder.
 7And the angel said to me, Why hast thou wondered? *I* will tell thee the mystery of the woman, and of the beast which carries her, which has the seven heads and the ten horns.
 8The beast which thou sawest was, and is not, and is about to come up out of the abyss and go into destruction: and they who dwell on the earth, whose names are not written from the founding of the world in the book of life, shall wonder, seeing the beast, that it was, and is not, and shall be present.
 9Here is the mind that has wisdom: The seven heads are seven mountains, whereon the woman sits.
 10And there are seven kings: five have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come; and when he comes he must remain only a little while.
 11And the beast that was and is not, he also is an eighth, and is of the seven, and goes into destruction.
 12And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have not yet received a kingdom, but receive authority as kings one hour with the beast.
 13These have one mind, and give their power and authority to the beast.
 14These 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 called, and chosen, and faithful.
 15And he says to me, The waters which thou sawest, where the harlot sits, are peoples and multitudes and nations and tongues.
 16And the ten horns which thou sawest, and the beast, these shall hate the harlot, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and shall burn her with fire;
 17for God has given to their hearts to do his mind, and to act with one mind, and to give their kingdom to the beast until the words of God shall be fulfilled. (Rev. 17:1‑17)
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Rev. 21:9• 9And there came one of the seven angels which had had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues, and spoke with me, saying, Come here, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb's wife. (Rev. 21:9)
talked.
Rev. 4:1• 1After these things I saw, and behold, a door opened in heaven, and the first voice which I heard as of a trumpet speaking with me, saying, Come up here, and I will shew thee the things which must take place after these things. (Rev. 4:1)
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Rev. 21:15• 15And he that spoke with me had a golden reed as a measure, that he might measure the city, and its gates, and its wall. (Rev. 21:15)
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Luke 9:30• 30And lo, two men talked with him, who were Moses and Elias, (Luke 9:30)
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Luke 24:32• 32And they said to one another, Was not our heart burning in us as he spoke to us on the way, and as he opened the scriptures to us? (Luke 24:32)
I will.
Rev. 16:19• 19And the great city was divided into three parts; and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon was remembered before God to give her the cup of the wine of the fury of his wrath. (Rev. 16:19)
;
Rev. 18:16‑19• 16saying, Woe, woe, the great city, which was clothed with fine linen and purple and scarlet, and had ornaments of gold and precious stones and pearls!
 17for in one hour so great riches has been made desolate. And every steersman, and every one who sailed to any place, and sailors, and all who exercise their calling on the sea, stood afar off,
 18and cried, seeing the smoke of her burning, saying, What city is like to the great city?
 19and cast dust upon their heads, and cried, weeping and grieving, saying, Woe, woe, the great city, in which all that had ships in the sea were enriched through her costliness! for in one hour she has been made desolate. (Rev. 18:16‑19)
the great.
Rev. 17:4‑5,15‑16• 4And the woman was clothed in purple and scarlet, and had ornaments of gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and the unclean things of her fornication;
 5and upon her forehead a name written, Mystery, great Babylon, the mother of the harlots, and of the abominations of the earth.
 15And he says to me, The waters which thou sawest, where the harlot sits, are peoples and multitudes and nations and tongues.
 16And the ten horns which thou sawest, and the beast, these shall hate the harlot, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and shall burn her with fire; (Rev. 17:4‑5,15‑16)
;
Rev. 19:2• 2for true and righteous are his judgments; for he has judged the great harlot which corrupted the earth with her fornication, and has avenged the blood of his bondmen at her hand. (Rev. 19:2)
;
Isa. 57:3• 3But draw near hither, ye sons of the sorceress, the seed of the adulterer and the harlot. (Isa. 57:3)
;
Nah. 3:4‑5• 4--Because of the multitude of the fornications of the well-favoured harlot, mistress of sorceries, that selleth nations through her fornications, and families through her sorceries,
 5behold, I am against thee, saith Jehovah of hosts; and I will uncover thy skirts upon thy face, and I will shew the nations thy nakedness, and the kingdoms thy shame. (Nah. 3:4‑5)
that sitteth.
Rev. 17:15• 15And he says to me, The waters which thou sawest, where the harlot sits, are peoples and multitudes and nations and tongues. (Rev. 17:15)
;
Jer. 51:13• 13Thou that dwellest upon many waters, abundant in treasures, thine end is come, the measure of thy rapacity. (Jer. 51:13)
• it is described as a harlot here; not only as a woman, but as a corrupt and licentious one…. this term is used in special reference to religious corruption. (“Lectures on Revelation 17-18” by W. Kelly)
• [sits upon the many waters] The figure implies the wide-spread influence which this abandoned woman exercises. (“Lectures on Revelation 17-18” by W. Kelly)
• The chapter gives us character and description, not dates. The history is resumed in Revelation 19, first as to heaven, and next as to earth; Revelation 17, 18 forming a descriptive episode. (“Lectures on Revelation 17-18” by W. Kelly)
• The woman-the strange woman -sets forth corruption, human nature indulging itself in its own evil desires, irrespective of God's will. The beast is the expression of the will of man setting itself up in direct antagonism to God. In short, one may be described as corruption, and the other as violence. (“Lectures on Revelation 17-18” by W. Kelly)
• In these chapters, then, it is no longer the Antichrist that is before us, but the anti-church. We have a twofold view of this false church. In Chapter 17 it is presented under the figure of a woman; in Chapter 18 it is seen under the figure of a great city. The woman presents the Papacy in all its corruption, as seen by God, for the woman is presented as a harlot. The city sets forth the Papacy as seen by man in all its magnificence and luxury. (“Revelation 17” by W. Kelly)
• Waters: People under Satanic power and influence (See ver. 15). (“Revelation 17 Symbols” by A.H. Burton)

J. N. Darby Translation

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1
And one of the seven angels, which had the seven bowls, came and spoke with me, saying, Come here, I will shew thee the sentence of the great harlot who sits upon the many waters;

W. Kelly Translation

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1
And there came one of the seven angels that had the seven bowls, and spoke with me, sayinga, Come hither; I will show thee the judgment of the great harlot that sitteth onb [thec] many waters;

WK Translation Notes

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a
The words "to me" rest on the witness of a few later MSS. The omission is assuredly right, and has all the higher authorities, and the mass too.
b
Or, "by."
c
The article inserted before "many waters" is omitted in some MSS. I have therefore bracketed it as a mark of doubt, though disposed to lean towards its reception.