Revelation 17:7

WEB

The angel said to me, “Why do you wonder? I will tell you the mystery of the woman and of the beast that carries her, which has the seven heads and the ten horns.

BSB

“Why are you so amazed?” said the angel. “I will tell you the mystery of the woman and of the beast that carries her, which has the seven heads and ten horns.

KJV

And the angel said unto me, Wherefore didst thou marvel? I will tell thee the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carrieth her, which hath the seven heads and ten horns.

Matthew Henry

Verses 7–13

Revelation 17:7–13

Here we have the mystery of this vision explained. The apostle wonders at the sight of this woman: the angel undertakes to open this vision to him, it being the key of the former visions; and he tells the apostle what was meant by the beast on which the woman sat; but it is so explained as still to need further explanation. 1. This beast was, and is not, and yet is; that is, it was a seat of idolatry and persecution; and is not, that is, not in the ancient form, which was pagan; and yet it is, it is truly the seat of idolatry and tyranny, though of another sort and form. It ascends out of the bottomless pit (idolatry and cruelty are the issue and product of hell), and it shall return thither and go into perdition. 2. This beast has seven heads, which have a double signification. (1.) Seven mountains - the seven hills on which Rome stands; and (2.) Seven kings - seven sorts of government. Rome was governed by kings, consuls, tribunes, decemviri, dictators, emperors who were pagan, and emperors who were Christian. Five of these were extinct when this prophecy was written; one was then in being, that is, the pagan emperor; and the other, that is, the Christian emperor, was yet to come, Rev 17:10. This beast, the papacy, makes an eighth governor, and sets up idolatry again. 3. This beast had ten horns; which are said to be ten kings which have as yet received no kingdoms; as yet, that is, as some, shall not rise up till the Roman empire be broken in pieces; or, as others, shall not rise up till near the end of antichrist's reign, and so shall reign but as it were one hour with her, but shall for that time be very unanimous and very zealous in that interest, and entirely devoted to it, divesting themselves of their prerogatives and revenues (things so dear to princes), out of an unaccountable fondness for the papacy.

Cross-references: Rev 17:10

Greek interlinear

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.

G3004

λέγωlégō/leg'-o/

ask, bid, boast, call, describe, give out, name, put forth, say(-ing, on), shew, speak, tell, utter

Derivation: a primary verb;

properly, to "lay" forth, i.e. (figuratively) relate (in words (usually of systematic or set discourse; whereas G2036 and G5346 generally refer to an individual expression or speech respectively; while G4483 is properly to break silence merely, and G2980 means an extended or random harangue)); by implication, to mean

KJV: ask, bid, boast, call, describe, give out, name, put forth, say(-ing, on), shew, speak, tell, utter.

See also: G2036, G5346, G4483, G2980.

G1473

ἐγώegṓ/eg-o'/

I, me

Derivation: a primary pronoun of the first person I (only expressed when emphatic)

KJV: I, me.

For the other cases and the plural see G1691, G1698, G1700, G2248, G2249, G2254, G2257, etc.

See also: G1691, G1698, G1700, G2248, G2249, G2254, G2257.

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.

G32

ἄγγελοςángelos/ang'-el-os/

angel, messenger

Derivation: from ἀγγέλλω (probably derived from G71;

compare G34) (to bring tidings); a messenger; especially an "angel"; by implication, a pastor

KJV: angel, messenger.

See also: G71, G34.

G1223

διάdiá/dee-ah'/

after, always, among, at, to avoid, because of (that), briefly, by, for (cause) … fore, from, in, by occasion of, of, by reason of, for sake, that, thereby, therefore, X though, through(-out), to, wherefore, with (-in)

Derivation: a primary preposition denoting the channel of an act;

through (in very wide applications, local, causal, or occasional)

KJV: after, always, among, at, to avoid, because of (that), briefly, by, for (cause) … fore, from, in, by occasion of, of, by reason of, for sake, that, thereby, therefore, X though, through(-out), to, wherefore, with (-in).

In composition it retains the same general importance.

G5101

τίςtís/tis/

every man, how (much), + no(-ne, thing), what (manner, thing), where (-by, -fore, -of, -unto, - with, -withal), whether, which, who(-m, -se), why

Derivation: probably emphatic of G5100;

an interrogative pronoun, who, which or what (in direct or indirect questions)

KJV: every man, how (much), + no(-ne, thing), what (manner, thing), where (-by, -fore, -of, -unto, - with, -withal), whether, which, who(-m, -se), why.

See also: G5100.

G2296

θαυμάζωthaumázō/thou-mad'-zo/

admire, have in admiration, marvel, wonder

Derivation: from G2295;

to wonder; by implication, to admire

KJV: admire, have in admiration, marvel, wonder.

See also: G2295.

G4771

σύ/soo/

thou

Derivation: the personal pronoun of the second person singular;

thou

KJV: thou.

See also G4571, G4671, G4675; and for the plural G5209, G5210, G5213, G5216.

See also: G4675, G4571, G4671, G5209, G5210, G5213, G5216.

G3466

μυστήριονmystḗrion/moos-tay'-ree-on/

mystery

Derivation: from a derivative of μύω (to shut the mouth);

a secret or "mystery" (through the idea of silence imposed by initiation into religious rites)

KJV: mystery.

G1135

γυνήgynḗ/goo-nay'/

wife, woman

Derivation: probably from the base of G1096;

a woman; specially, a wife

KJV: wife, woman.

See also: G1096.

G2342

θηρίονthēríon/thay-ree'-on/

(venomous, wild) beast

Derivation: diminutive from the same as G2339;

a dangerous animal

KJV: (venomous, wild) beast.

See also: G2339.

G941

βαστάζωbastázō/bas-tad'-zo/

bear, carry, take up

Derivation: perhaps remotely derived from the base of G939 (through the idea of removal);

to lift, literally or figuratively (endure, declare, sustain, receive, etc.)

KJV: bear, carry, take up.

See also: G939.

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.

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.

G2033

ἑπτάheptá/hep-tah'/

seven

Derivation: a primary number;

seven

KJV: seven.

G2776

κεφαλήkephalḗ/kef-al-ay'/

head

Derivation: from the primary κάπτω (in the sense of seizing);

the head (as the part most readily taken hold of), literally or figuratively

KJV: head.

G1176

δέκαdéka/dek'-ah/

(eight-)een, ten

Derivation: a primary number;

ten

KJV: (eight-)een, ten.

G2768

κέραςkéras/ker'-as/

horn

Derivation: from a primary κάρ (the hair of the head);

a horn (literally or figuratively)

KJV: horn.

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