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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 worketh: only [there is] one that restraineth now until he be out of the way, (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, till we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads. (Rev. 7:3)
;
Isa. 3:9•  (Isa. 3:9)
;
Phil. 3:19• 19whose end [is] destruction, whose God [is] the belly, and they glory in their shame, who mind the things of earth. (Phil. 3:19)
MYSTERY.
2 Thess. 2:7• 7For the mystery of lawlessness already worketh: only [there is] one that restraineth now until he be out of the way, (2 Thess. 2:7)
;
2 Tim. 3:1‑5• 1But this know, that in [the] last days grievous times shall be there.
 2For men shall be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, haughty, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
 3without natural affection, implacable, slanderers, uncontrolled, fierce, haters of good,
 4traitors, headstrong, puffed up, pleasure-lovers rather than God-lovers,
 5having a form of piety, but having denied the power thereof; and from these turn away. (2 Tim. 3:1‑5)
BABYLON.
Rev. 11:8• 8And their dead body {i}shall be{/i} 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, Fallen [fallen] is Babylon the great, who hath given all the nations to drink of the wine of the fury of her fornication. (Rev. 14:8)
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Rev. 16:19• 19And the great city became three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and Babylon the great was remembered before God to give her the cup of the wine of the indignation of his wrath. (Rev. 16:19)
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Rev. 18:2,10,21• 2And he cried with a strong voice, saying, Fallen [fallen] is Babylon the great, and is become a habitation of demons, and a haunt of every unclean spirit, and a haunt of every unclean and hated bird.
 10standing afar off because of the fear of her torment, saying, Woe, woe, the great city Babylon, the strong city! for in one hour came thy judgment.
 21And a strong angel took up a stone as a great millstone, and cast {i}it{/i} into the sea, saying, Thus with violence shall Babylon the great city be cast down, and shall in no wise be found more. (Rev. 18:2,10,21)
;
Jer. 51:47‑48•  (Jer. 51:47‑48)
THE MOTHER.
Rev. 18:9• 9And the kings of the earth that committed fornication and lived luxuriously with her shall weep and wail on account of her, when they see the smoke of her burning, (Rev. 18:9)
;
Rev. 19:2• 2for true and righteous {i}are{/i} his judgments; for he hath judged the great harlot who corrupted the earth with her fornication, and hath avenged the blood of his servants 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.