Revelation 17:1

Then one of the seven angels with the seven bowls came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the punishment of the great prostitute, who sits on many waters.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — One of the seven angels holding the seven bowls approaches the narrator and issues a command to witness a vision. This announcement immediately follows the completion of the bowl judgments and directly introduces the symbolic figure of the great prostitute.

The words — The Greek ἦλθεν (ēlthen) marks a definitive arrival, while εἷς (heis) isolates a single messenger from the seven. The phrase who sits on many waters describes the prostitute’s established position of influence and resource control.

The thread — The designation who dwell by many waters directly parallels Jeremiah 51:13, which declares the end of a wealthy city built near abundant waters. The punishment of this same prostitute is later confirmed in Revelation 19:2, where God’s true and just judgments are executed against her.

Why it lands — The text first establishes that a powerful, resource-rich entity will face a divinely appointed judgment. It then requires the reader to acknowledge that human systems of corruption and immorality cannot outlast God’s righteous verdict.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Greek words

King James Version

And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters:

Cross-references

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.”
Jeremiah 51:13 You who dwell by many waters, rich in treasures, your end has come; the thread of your life is cut.
Revelation 17:1 Then one of the seven angels with the seven bowls came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the punishment of the great prostitute, who sits on many waters.
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.
Revelation 21:9 Then one of the seven angels with the seven bowls full of the seven final plagues came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.”
Isaiah 1:21 See how the faithful city has become a harlot! She once was full of justice; righteousness resided within her, but now only murderers!
Jeremiah 2:20 “For long ago you broke your yoke and tore off your chains, saying, ‘I will not serve!’ Indeed, on every high hill and under every green tree you lay down as a prostitute.
Nahum 3:4 because of the many harlotries of the harlot, the seductive mistress of sorcery, who betrays nations by her prostitution and clans by her witchcraft.
Isaiah 57:3 “But come here, you sons of a sorceress, you offspring of adulterers and prostitutes!
Revelation 15:1 Then I saw another great and marvelous sign in heaven: seven angels with the seven final plagues, with which the wrath of God is completed.