REV 17

Revelation 17:4

WEB

The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the impurities of the sexual immorality of the earth.

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.

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:

Matthew Henry

Verses 1–6

Revelation 17:1–6

Here we have a new vision, not as to the matter of it, for that is contemporary with what came under the three last vials; but as to the manner of description, etc. Observe, 1. The invitation given to the apostle to take a view of what was here to be represented: Come hither, and I will show thee the judgment of the great whore, etc., Rev 17:1. This is a name of great infamy. A whore [in this passage] is one that is married, and has been false to her husband's bed, has forsaken the guide of her youth, and broken the covenant of God. She had been a prostitute to the kings of the earth, whom she had intoxicated with the wine of her fornication. 2. The appearance she made: it was gay and gaudy, like such sort of creatures: She was arrayed in purple, and scarlet colour, and decked with gold, and precious stones, and pearls, Rev 17:4. Here were all the allurements of worldly honour and riches, pomp and pride, suited to sensual and worldly minds. 3. Her principal seat and residence - upon the beast that had seven heads and ten horns; that is to say, Rome, the city on seven hills, infamous for idolatry, tyranny, and blasphemy. 4. Her name, which was written on her forehead. It was the custom of impudent harlots to hang out signs, with their names, that all might know what they were. Now in this observe, (1.) She is named from her place of residence - Babylon the great. But, that we might not take it for the old Babylon literally so called, we are told there is a mystery in the name; it is some other great city resembling the old Babylon. (2.) She is named from her infamous way and practice; not only a harlot, but a mother of harlots, breeding up harlots, and nursing and training them up to idolatry, and all sorts of lewdness and wickedness - the parent and nurse of all false religion and filthy conversation. 5. Her diet: she satiated herself with the blood of the saints and martyrs of Jesus. She drank their blood with such greediness that she intoxicated herself with it; it was so pleasant to her that she could not tell when she had had enough of it: she was satiated, but never satisfied.

Cross-references: Rev 17:1 · Rev 17:4

Greek interlinear

χρυσοῦνchrusounadjective · acc · sing · neut

G2532

καίkaí/kahee/

and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet

Derivation: apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force;

and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words

KJV: and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.

G3588

ho/ho/

the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc

, including the feminine , and the neuter τό in all their inflections;

Derivation: the definite article;

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)

KJV: the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.

G1135

γυνήgynḗ/goo-nay'/

wife, woman

Derivation: probably from the base of G1096;

a woman; specially, a wife

KJV: wife, woman.

See also: G1096.

G1510

εἰμίeimí/i-mee'/

am, have been, X it is I, was

Derivation: the first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb;

I exist (used only when emphatic)

KJV: am, have been, X it is I, was.

See also G1488, G1498, G1511, G1527, G2258, G2071, G2070, G2075, G2076, G2771, G2468, G5600.

See also: G1488, G1498, G1511, G1527, G2258, G2071, G2070, G2075, G2076, G2771, G2468, G5600.

G4016

περιβάλλωperibállō/per-ee-bal'-lo/

array, cast about, clothe(-d me), put on

Derivation: from G4012 and G906;

to throw all around, i.e. invest (with a palisade or with clothing)

KJV: array, cast about, clothe(-d me), put on.

See also: G4012, G906.

G4210

πορφυροῦςporphyroûs/por-foo-rooce'/

purple

Derivation: from G4209;

purpureal, i.e. bluish red

KJV: purple.

See also: G4209.

G2847

κόκκινοςkókkinos/kok'-kee-nos/

scarlet (colour, coloured)

Derivation: from G2848 (from the kernel-shape of the insect);

crimson-colored

KJV: scarlet (colour, coloured).

See also: G2848.

G5558

χρυσόωchrysóō/khroo-so'-o/

deck

Derivation: from G5557;

to gild, i.e. bespangle with golden ornaments

KJV: deck.

See also: G5557.

G5553

χρυσίονchrysíon/khroo-see'-on/

gold

Derivation: diminutive of G5557;

a golden article, i.e. gold plating, ornament, or coin

KJV: gold.

See also: G5557.

G3037

λίθοςlíthos/lee'-thos/

(mill-, stumbling-)stone

Derivation: apparently a primary word;

a stone (literally or figuratively)

KJV: (mill-, stumbling-)stone.

G5093

τίμιοςtímios/tim'-ee-os/

dear, honourable, (more, most) precious, had in reputation

, including the comparative τιμιώτερος , and the superlative τιμιώτατος

Derivation: from G5092;

valuable, i.e. (objectively) costly, or (subjectively) honored, esteemed, or (figuratively) beloved

KJV: dear, honourable, (more, most) precious, had in reputation.

See also: G5092.

G3135

μαργαρίτηςmargarítēs/mar-gar-ee'-tace/

pearl

Derivation: from μάργαρος (a pearl-oyster);

a pearl

KJV: pearl.

G2192

ἔχωéchō/ekh'-o/

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

, including an alternate form σχέω ; (used in certain tenses only)

Derivation: 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: 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.

G4221

ποτήριονpotḗrion/pot-ay'-ree-on/

cup

Derivation: neuter of a derivative of the alternate of G4095;

a drinking-vessel; by extension, the contents thereof, i.e. a cupful (draught); figuratively, a lot or fate

KJV: cup.

See also: G4095.

G1722

ἐνen/en/

about, after, against, + almost, X altogether, among, X as, at, before, between, (here-)by (+ all means), for (… sake of), + give self wholly to, (here-)in(-to, -wardly), X mightily, (because) of, (up-)on, (open-)ly, X outwardly, one, X quickly, X shortly, (speedi-)ly, X that, X there(-in, -on), through(-out), (un-)to(-ward), under, when, where(-with), while, with(-in)

Derivation: a primary preposition denoting (fixed) position (in place, time or state), and (by implication) instrumentality (medially or constructively), i.e. a relation of rest (intermediate between G1519 and G1537);

"in," at, (up-)on, by, etc.

KJV: about, after, against, + almost, X altogether, among, X as, at, before, between, (here-)by (+ all means), for (… sake of), + give self wholly to, (here-)in(-to, -wardly), X mightily, (because) of, (up-)on, (open-)ly, X outwardly, one, X quickly, X shortly, (speedi-)ly, X that, X there(-in, -on), through(-out), (un-)to(-ward), under, when, where(-with), while, with(-in).

Often used in compounds, with substantially the same import; rarely with verbs of motion, and then not to indicate direction, except (elliptically) by a separate (and different) preposition.

See also: G1519, G1537.

G5495

χείρcheír/khire/

hand

Derivation: perhaps from the base of G5494 in the sense of its congener the base of G5490 (through the idea of hollowness for grasping);

the hand (literally or figuratively (power); especially (by Hebraism) a means or instrument)

KJV: hand.

See also: G5494, G5490.

G846

αὐτόςautós/ow-tos'/

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

Derivation: from the particle αὖ (perhaps akin to the base of G109 through the idea of a baffling wind) (backward);

the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative G1438) of the third person , and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons

KJV: 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 G848.

See also: G109, G1438, G848.

G1073

γέμωgémō/ghem'-o/

be full

Derivation: a primary verb;

to swell out, i.e. be full

KJV: be full.

G946

βδέλυγμαbdélygma/bdel'-oog-mah/

abomination

Derivation: from G948;

a detestation, i.e. (specially) idolatry

KJV: abomination.

See also: G948.

G169

ἀκάθαρτοςakáthartos/ak-ath'-ar-tos/

foul, unclean

Derivation: from G1 (as a negative particle) and a presumed derivative of G2508 (meaning cleansed);

impure (ceremonially, morally (lewd) or specially, (demonic))

KJV: foul, unclean.

See also: G1, G2508.

G4202

πορνείαporneía/por-ni'-ah/

fornication

Derivation: from G4203;

harlotry (including adultery and incest); figuratively, idolatry

KJV: fornication.

See also: G4203.

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