Revelation 17:5 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 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... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Revelation 17:1-18

17:1-18 1 One of the seven angels, who had the seven bowls, came and spoke with me. "Come here," he said, "and I will show you the judgment of the great harlot, who sits upon many waters, 2 with whom the kings of the earth committed fornication and with the wine of whose adultery those who inhabit the earth have become drunken." 3 He carried me away in the Spirit to a desert place, and I saw a woman, seated upon a scarlet beast, which was full of names which were insults to God, and which had... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Revelation 17:5

And upon her forehead was a name written ,.... As the high priest had on his mitre upon his forehead written, holiness to the Lord, Exodus 28:36 only a different inscription from that; the allusion is thought to be to harlots, who not only used to put their names over their doors, but some of them upon their foreheads, that all might know who they were; of which Mr. Daubuz has given proofs out of Seneca, Martial, Juvenal, and Petronius; and such might be said to have an whore's forehead... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Revelation 17:5

And upon her forehead was a name written, Mystery, Babylon the Great, the Mother of Harlots, and Abominations of the Earth - This inscription being written upon her forehead is intended to show that she is not ashamed of her doctrines, but publicly professes and glories in them before the nations: she has indeed a whore's forehead, she has refused to be ashamed. The inscription upon her forehead is exactly the portraiture of the Latin Church. This Church is, as Bishop Newton well expresses... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 17:1-6

"The great whore:" a corrupt Christianity. "And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will show unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters," etc. What a strange woman loomed in John's vision here! He calls her "the great whore [harlot]." He saw her seated upon a "scarlet-coloured beast,... decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup full of abominations:… and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 17:1-18

"Babylon the great." Our aim in this homily will be to show to what form of evil the name "Babylon the great" specially seems to point. The complexity and difficulty which have gathered round this chapter seem to the writer to arise rather from the enormous incubus of human interpretation which has pressed it down. In this passage we are shown rather a twisted rope than a tangled web. If we untwist the threads and lay them side by side, we shall not have much difficulty, specially if we... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 17:5

And upon her forehead was a name written. Omit "was." ὄνομα , "name," is dependent upon ἔχουσα , "having," in Revelation 17:4 . This practice was customary with harlots (Juv., 'Sat.,' 6:123; Seneca, 'Controv.,' Revelation 1:2 ). In Revelation 14:1 and Revelation 7:3 the faithful members of God's Church have his Name in their foreheads; here the faithless ones, represented by the harlot, exhibit a spurious imitation. As God's Name marked the former as his, so the name... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Revelation 17:5

And upon her forehead - In a circlet around her forehead. That is, it was made prominent and public, as if written on the forehead in blazing capitals. In Revelation 13:1 it is said that “the name of blasphemy” was written on the “heads” of the beast. The meaning in both places is substantially the same, that it was prominent, and unmistakable. See the notes on that verse. Compare the note on Revelation 14:1.Was a name written - A title, or something that would properly indicate her... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Revelation 17:4-5

Revelation 17:4-5. And the woman was arrayed With the utmost pomp and magnificence; in purple and scarlet Which were the colours of the imperial habit, the purple in times of peace, and the scarlet in times of war: and the scarlet is the colour of the popes and cardinals, as it used to be that of the Roman emperors and senators. Nay, the mules and horses which carry the popes and cardinals are covered with scarlet cloth, so that they may properly be said to ride upon a scarlet-coloured... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Revelation 17:1-6

17:1-19:10 BABYLON THE GREATThe prostitute and the beast (17:1-6)John’s next vision is of a lavishly adorned prostitute. She is symbolic of Babylon (see v. 5, 18), which in turn is symbolic of human society organized independently of God.In different eras and cultures Babylon shows itself in different ways. In John’s day it stood for Rome, but its fullest expression will be at the end of the age as it heads for inevitable judgment. The picture is of the human race’s pursuit of prosperity and... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Revelation 17:1-6

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Revelation 17:1-18

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Revelation 17:5

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Revelation 17:5

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 17:1-6

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 17:1-18

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 17:5

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Revelation 17:5

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Revelation 17:4-5

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Revelation 17:1-6

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