Bible Strands
Revelation 17:2
The kings of the earth were immoral with her, and those who dwell on the earth were intoxicated with the wine of her immorality.”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — An angel speaks to John while revealing the impending punishment of the great prostitute who sits on many waters. This declaration occurs during the apocalyptic vision immediately following the presentation of the seven bowls of judgment.
The words — The Greek ἐπόρνευσαν (eporneusan) literally means committed sexual immorality, describing the direct participation of the kings. The preposition μεθ᾽ (methʼ) indicates they acted with her, emphasizing tangible alliance rather than distant sympathy.
The thread — The image of nations drinking the wine of immorality reappears in Revelation 14:8 and Revelation 18:3, where fallen Babylon is described as making all nations drunk. The motif also echoes Jeremiah 51:7, which portrays Babylon as a golden cup that intoxicated the whole earth.
Why it lands — The text states that earthly rulers and inhabitants actively engaged in the prostitute's immorality and were intoxicated by her influence. It requires the reader to identify any political or cultural system that demands active participation in corruption while claiming legitimacy or divine favor.
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
With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication.
Cross-references
- 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.”
- Jeremiah 51:7 Babylon was a gold cup in the hand of the LORD, making the whole earth drunk. The nations drank her wine; therefore the nations have gone mad.
- Revelation 18:3 All the nations have drunk the wine of the passion of her immorality. The kings of the earth were immoral with her, and the merchants of the earth have grown wealthy from the extravagance of her luxury.”
- Revelation 18:9 Then the kings of the earth who committed sexual immorality and lived in luxury with her will weep and wail at the sight of the smoke rising from the fire that consumes her.
- Revelation 18:23 The light of a lamp will never shine in you again, and the voices of a bride and bridegroom will never call out in you again. For your merchants were the great ones of the earth, because all the nations were deceived by your sorcery.”
- Revelation 3:10 Because you have kept My command to persevere, I will also keep you from the hour of testing that is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.
- Revelation 17:17 For God has put it into their hearts to carry out His purpose by uniting to give their kingdom to the beast, until the words of God are fulfilled.
- Revelation 17:13 These kings have one purpose: to yield their power and authority to the beast.