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Revelation 17:5

Babylon

3 And the angel carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness, where I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was covered with blasphemous names and had seven heads and ten horns.

4 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.

And on her forehead a mysterious name was written: BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF PROSTITUTES AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.

6 I could see that the woman was drunk with the blood of the saints and witnesses for Jesus. And I was utterly amazed at the sight of her.

7 “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.

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Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
And on her forehead a mysterious name was written: BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF PROSTITUTES AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.
KJV
And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.
WEB
And on her forehead a name was written, “MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF THE PROSTITUTES AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.”
ASV
and upon her forehead a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF THE HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.
DARBY
and upon her forehead a name written, Mystery, great Babylon, the mother of the harlots, and of the abominations of the earth.
BLB
And upon her forehead a name was written, a mystery: BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF THE PROSTITUTES AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.
ÅB
og på hennes panne var skrevet et navn, en hemmelighet: Babylon, den store, mor til skjøgene og til stygghetene på jorden.
OTB
På hennes panne var det skrevet et navn, en hemmelighet: «BABYLON DEN STORE, MOR TIL SKJØGENE OG TIL JORDENS STYGGEDOMMER.»
B1930
og på hennes panne var skrevet et navn, en hemmelighet: Babylon, den store, mor til skjøgene og til stygghetene på jorden.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Revelation 18:2

    And he cried out in a mighty voice: “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great! She has become a lair for demons and a haunt for every unclean spirit, every unclean bird, and every detestable beast.

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  • Revelation 14:8

    Then a second angel followed, saying, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, who has made all the nations drink the wine of the passion of her immorality.”

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  • Revelation 17:7

    “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.

    Read in context

  • Revelation 16:19

    The great city was split into three parts, and the cities of the nations collapsed. And God remembered Babylon the great and gave her the cup of the wine of the fury of His wrath.

    Read in context

  • Isaiah 3:9

    The expression on their faces testifies against them, and like Sodom they flaunt their sin; they do not conceal it. Woe to them, for they have brought disaster upon themselves.

    Read in context

  • 2 Timothy 3:1–5

    But understand this: In the last days terrible times will come.

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  • Revelation 19:2

    For His judgments are true and just. He has judged the great prostitute who corrupted the earth with her immorality. He has avenged the blood of His servants that was poured out by her hand.”

    Read in context

  • 2 Thessalonians 2:7

    For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work, but the one who now restrains it will continue until he is taken out of the way.

    Read in context