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Revelation 17

Rev. 17:5 KJV (With Strong’s)

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5
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
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
her
autos (Greek #846)
the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative 1438) of the third person , and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons
KJV usage: her, it(-self), one, the other, (mine) own, said, (self-), the) same, ((him-, my-, thy- )self, (your-)selves, she, that, their(-s), them(-selves), there(-at, - by, -in, -into, -of, -on, -with), they, (these) things, this (man), those, together, very, which. Compare 848.
Pronounce: ow-tos'
Origin: from the particle αὖ (perhaps akin to the base of 109 through the idea of a baffling wind) (backward)
forehead
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
metopon (Greek #3359)
the forehead (as opposite the countenance)
KJV usage: forehead.
Pronounce: met'-o-pon
Origin: from 3326 and ops (the face)
was a name
onoma (Greek #3686)
a "name" (literally or figuratively) (authority, character)
KJV usage: called, (+ sur-)name(-d).
Pronounce: on'-om-ah
Origin: from a presumed derivative of the base of 1097 (compare 3685)
written
grapho (Greek #1125)
to "grave", especially to write; figuratively, to describe
KJV usage: describe, write(-ing, -ten).
Pronounce: graf'-o
Origin: a primary verb
, MYSTERY
musterion (Greek #3466)
a secret or "mystery" (through the idea of silence imposed by initiation into religious rites)
KJV usage: mystery.
Pronounce: moos-tay'-ree-on
Origin: from a derivative of μύω (to shut the mouth)
h, BABYLON
Babulon (Greek #897)
Babylon, the capitol of Chaldaea (literally or figuratively (as a type of tyranny))
KJV usage: Babylon.
Pronounce: bab-oo-lone'
Origin: of Hebrew origin (0894)
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)
, THE MOTHER
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
meter (Greek #3384)
a "mother" (literally or figuratively, immediate or remote)
KJV usage: mother.
Pronounce: may'-tare
Origin: apparently a primary word
OF δHARLOTS
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
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
ABOMINATIONS
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
bdelugma (Greek #946)
a detestation, i.e. (specially) idolatry
KJV usage: abomination.
Pronounce: bdel'-oog-mah
Origin: from 948
OF THE EARTH
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
ge (Greek #1093)
soil; by extension a region, or the solid part or the whole of the terrene globe (including the occupants in each application)
KJV usage: country, earth(-ly), ground, land, world.
Pronounce: ghay
Origin: contracted from a primary word
.
h
2 Thess. 2:7• 7For the mystery of lawlessness already works; only there is he who restrains now until he be gone, (2 Thess. 2:7)
δ
or, Fornications.

More on:

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Babylon the Great,
Earth,
Forehead,
mystery,
Writing

Cross References

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Ministry on This Verse

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upon.
Rev. 7:3• 3saying, Hurt not the earth, nor the sea, nor the trees, until we shall have sealed the bondmen of our God upon their foreheads. (Rev. 7:3)
;
Isa. 3:9• 9The look of their face doth witness against them, and they declare their sin as Sodom: they hide it not. Woe unto their soul! for they have brought evil upon themselves. (Isa. 3:9)
;
Phil. 3:19• 19whose end is destruction, whose god is the belly, and their glory in their shame, who mind earthly things:) (Phil. 3:19)
MYSTERY.
2 Thess. 2:7• 7For the mystery of lawlessness already works; only there is he who restrains now until he be gone, (2 Thess. 2:7)
;
2 Tim. 3:1‑5• 1But this know, that in the last days difficult times shall be there;
 2for men shall be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, evil speakers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, profane,
 3without natural affection, implacable, slanderers, of unsubdued passions, savage, having no love for what is good,
 4traitors, headlong, of vain pretensions, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God;
 5having a form of piety but denying the power of it: and from these turn away. (2 Tim. 3:1‑5)
BABYLON.
Rev. 11:8• 8and their body shall be on the street of the great city, which is called spiritually Sodom and Egypt, where also their Lord was crucified. (Rev. 11:8)
;
Rev. 14:8• 8And another, a second, angel followed, saying, Great Babylon has fallen, has fallen, which of the wine of the fury of her fornication has made all nations drink. (Rev. 14:8)
;
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. 18:2,10,21• 2And he cried with a strong voice, saying, Great Babylon has fallen, has fallen, and has become the habitation of demons, and a hold of every unclean spirit, and a hold of every unclean and hated bird;
 10standing afar off, through fear of her torment, saying, Woe, woe, the great city, Babylon, the strong city! for in one hour thy judgment is come.
 21And a strong angel took up a stone, as a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with violence shall Babylon the great city be cast down, and shall be found no more at all; (Rev. 18:2,10,21)
;
Jer. 51:47‑48• 47Therefore behold, days are coming when I will punish the graven images of Babylon; and her whole land shall be put to shame, and all her slain shall fall in the midst of her.
 48And the heavens and the earth, and all that is therein, shall shout aloud over Babylon; for out of the north the spoilers shall come against her, saith Jehovah. (Jer. 51:47‑48)
THE MOTHER.
Rev. 18:9• 9And the kings of the earth, who have committed fornication, and lived luxuriously with her, shall weep and wail over her, when they see the smoke of her burning, (Rev. 18:9)
;
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)
HARLOTS.
or, fornications.
• Babylon is not only herself "the great harlot," but "the mother of the harlots and the abominations of the earth." There are more of kindred corruptions in religion, though Rome is pre-eminent, "the mother and mistress," as she claims, of others. (“Lectures on Revelation 17-18” by W. Kelly)
• A mystery clearly points to something undiscoverable by the natural mind of man-a secret that requires the distinct and fresh light of God to unravel, but which when revealed thus is plain enough. (“Lectures on Revelation 17-18” by W. Kelly)
• There was great pretension to truth — a masterpiece of the enemy in counterfeiting the revealed ways of God. The mystery of Christ and the church had been revealed; now there is the mystery of this anti-church; not the mystery of faith and godliness, but of lawlessness — Babylon the great seated on the beast, the awful contrast of the church which is subject unto Christ. (“Babylon and the Beast: 1” by W. Kelly)
• Apart from this revelation, John would never have imagined that in Christendom there would develop a great system that professes the name of Christ, and claims to be the church, and yet becomes so utterly corrupt that it is described as " Babylon the great, the mother of harlots and abominations of the earth." (“Revelation 17” by W. Kelly)
• Babylon: The great licentious and idolatrous corruptress of religion; Western civilization in its religious aspect (Jer. 51:7). (“Revelation 17 Symbols” by A.H. Burton)
• Mystery: Pretension to truth. (“Revelation 17 Symbols” by A.H. Burton)

J. N. Darby Translation

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5
and upon her forehead a name written, Mystery, great Babylon, the mother of the harlots, and of the abominations of the earth.

W. Kelly Translation

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5
and upon her forehead a name written: MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHERa OF THE HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.

WK Translation Notes

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a
"The" harlots, etc., say the Revisers rightly; and "of the" abominations also. This was a case, not of reading, but of mistranslation in all the older English versions, save that of Rheims. Besides, they had from Latin influence the "whoredom" or fornication of the KJV margin as their text.