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width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad5.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/revelation/17-4.htm" title="Revelation 17:4">◄</a> Revelation 17:5 <a href="/revelation/17-6.htm" title="Revelation 17:6">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Greek </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv">Verse<a href="/bsb/revelation/17.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><a href="/niv/revelation/17.htm">New International Version</a> The name written on her forehead was a mystery: babylon the great the mother of prostitutes and of the abominations of the earth. <a href="/nlt/revelation/17.htm">New Living Translation</a> A mysterious name was written on her forehead: “Babylon the Great, Mother of All Prostitutes and Obscenities in the World.” <a href="/esv/revelation/17.htm">English Standard Version</a> And on her forehead was written a name of mystery: “Babylon the great, mother of prostitutes and of earth’s abominations.” <a href="/bsb/revelation/17.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a> And on her forehead a mysterious name was written: BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF PROSTITUTES AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. <a href="/blb/revelation/17.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a> 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. <a href="/kjv/revelation/17.htm">King James Bible</a> And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. <a href="/nkjv/revelation/17.htm">New King James Version</a> And on her forehead a name was written: MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. <a href="/nasb_/revelation/17.htm">New American Standard Bible</a> and on her forehead a name was written, a mystery: “BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF PROSTITUTES AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.” <a href="/nasb/revelation/17.htm">NASB 1995</a> and on her forehead a name was written, a mystery, &#8220BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.&#8221 <a href="/nasb77/revelation/17.htm">NASB 1977 </a> and upon her forehead a name was written, a mystery, “BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.” <a href="/lsb/revelation/17.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a> and on her forehead a name was written, a mystery, “BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.” <a href="/amp/revelation/17.htm">Amplified Bible</a> And on her forehead a name was written, a mystery: “BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF PROSTITUTES (false religions, heresies) AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.” <a href="/csb/revelation/17.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a> On her forehead was written a name, a mystery: BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF PROSTITUTES AND OF THE DETESTABLE THINGS OF THE EARTH. <a href="/hcsb/revelation/17.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a> On her forehead a cryptic name was written: BABYLON THE GREAT THE MOTHER OF PROSTITUTES AND OF THE VILE THINGS OF THE EARTH. <a href="/asv/revelation/17.htm">American Standard Version</a> and upon her forehead a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF THE HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. <a href="/cev/revelation/17.htm">Contemporary English Version</a> On her forehead a mysterious name was written: I AM THE GREAT CITY OF BABYLON, THE MOTHER OF EVERY IMMORAL AND FILTHY THING ON EARTH. <a href="/erv/revelation/17.htm">English Revised Version</a> and upon her forehead a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF THE HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. <a href="/gwt/revelation/17.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a> A name was written on her forehead. The name was Mystery: Babylon the Great, the Mother of Prostitutes and Detestable Things of the Earth. <a href="/gnt/revelation/17.htm">Good News Translation</a> On her forehead was written a name that has a secret meaning: "Great Babylon, the mother of all prostitutes and perverts in the world." <a href="/isv/revelation/17.htm">International Standard Version</a> On her forehead was written a secret name: BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF PROSTITUTES AND DETESTABLE THINGS OF THE EARTH <a href="/msb/revelation/17.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a> And on her forehead a mysterious name was written: BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF PROSTITUTES AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. <a href="/net/revelation/17.htm">NET Bible</a> On her forehead was written a name, a mystery: "Babylon the Great, the Mother of prostitutes and of the detestable things of the earth." <a href="/nheb/revelation/17.htm">New Heart English Bible</a> And on her forehead a name was written, "MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF THE PROSTITUTES AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH." <a href="/wbt/revelation/17.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a> And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS, AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. <a href="/wey/revelation/17.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a> And on her forehead was a name written: "I am a symbol of great Babylon, the mother of the harlots and of the abominations of the earth." <a href="/web/revelation/17.htm">World English Bible</a> And on her forehead a name was written, “MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF THE PROSTITUTES AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.” <div class="vheading2">Literal Translations</div><a href="/lsv/revelation/17.htm">Literal Standard Version</a> and on her forehead was a name written: “SECRET, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF THE WHORES, AND THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.” <a href="/blb/revelation/17.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a> 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. <a href="/ylt/revelation/17.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a> and upon her forehead was a name written: 'Secret, Babylon the Great, the Mother of the Whores, and the Abominations of the earth.' <a href="/slt/revelation/17.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a> And upon her forehead a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, MOTHER OF HARLOTS, AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.<div class="vheading2">Catholic Translations</div><a href="/drb/revelation/17.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a> And on her forehead a name was written: A mystery; Babylon the great, the mother of the fornications, and the abominations of the earth. <a href="/cpdv/revelation/17.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a> And a name was written upon her forehead: Mystery, Babylon the great, the mother of the fornications and the abominations of the earth. <a href="/nabre/revelation/17.htm">New American Bible</a> On her forehead was written a name, which is a mystery, “Babylon the great, the mother of harlots and of the abominations of the earth.” <a href="/nrsvce/revelation/17.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a> and on her forehead was written a name, a mystery: “Babylon the great, mother of whores and of earth’s abominations.”<div class="vheading2">Translations from Aramaic</div><a href="/lamsa/revelation/17.htm">Lamsa Bible</a> And upon her forehead was a name written, that not all could understand, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. <a href="/aramaic-plain-english/revelation/17.htm">Aramaic Bible in Plain English</a> And upon her forehead was written: “Mystery Babylon The Great, The Mother of Harlots and of the Filth of The Earth.”<div class="vheading2">NT Translations</div><a href="/anderson/revelation/17.htm">Anderson New Testament</a> And on her forehead was a name written: MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS, AND OF THE IDOLATROUS POLLUTIONS OF THE EARTH. <a href="/godbey/revelation/17.htm">Godbey New Testament</a> and upon her forehead her name was written; Mystery, Babylon The Great, The Mother of Harlots And The Abominations of The Earth. <a href="/haweis/revelation/17.htm">Haweis New Testament</a> And upon her forehead was there a name written, Mystery, Babylon the great, the mother or harlots, and of the abominations of the earth. <a href="/mace/revelation/17.htm">Mace New Testament</a> Upon her forehead this mystical title was written, Babylon the great, the mother of harlots, and abominations of the earth. <a href="/wey/revelation/17.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a> And on her forehead was a name written: "I am a symbol of great Babylon, the mother of the harlots and of the abominations of the earth." <a href="/worrell/revelation/17.htm">Worrell New Testament</a> and upon her forehead a name written, "MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF THE HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH." <a href="/worsley/revelation/17.htm">Worsley New Testament</a> And upon her forehead was a name written, "Mystery, Babylon the great, the mother of harlots, and of the abominations of the earth." <a href="/parallel/revelation/17-5.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv">Audio Bible</div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/LJfD7KQcx0I?start=3426" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe> <div class="vheadingv">Context</div><a href="/bsb/revelation/17.htm">The Woman on the Beast</a> …4The 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. 5<a href="/greek/2532.htm" title="2532: kai (Conj) -- And, even, also, namely. ">And</a> <a href="/greek/1909.htm" title="1909: epi (Prep) -- On, to, against, on the basis of, at. ">on</a> <a href="/greek/846.htm" title="846: autēs (PPro-GF3S) -- He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.">her</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: to (Art-ANS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the."></a> <a href="/greek/3359.htm" title="3359: metōpon (N-ANS) -- The forehead, front. From meta and ops; the forehead.">forehead</a> <a href="/greek/3466.htm" title="3466: mystērion (N-NNS) -- From a derivative of muo; a secret or mystery.">a mysterious</a> <a href="/greek/3686.htm" title="3686: onoma (N-NNS) -- Name, character, fame, reputation. From a presumed derivative of the base of ginosko; a name.">name</a> <a href="/greek/1125.htm" title="1125: gegrammenon (V-RPM/P-NNS) -- A primary verb; to grave, especially to write; figuratively, to describe.">was written:</a> <a href="/greek/897.htm" title="897: BABYLŌN (N-NFS) -- Of Hebrew origin; Babylon, the capitol of Chaldaea (as a type of tyranny).">BABYLON</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: Ē (Art-NFS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.">THE</a> <a href="/greek/3173.htm" title="3173: MEGALĒ (Adj-NFS) -- Large, great, in the widest sense. ">GREAT,</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: Ē (Art-NFS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.">THE</a> <a href="/greek/3384.htm" title="3384: MĒTĒR (N-NFS) -- A mother. Apparently a primary word; a mother.">MOTHER</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: TŌN (Art-GFP) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the."></a> <a href="/greek/4204.htm" title="4204: PORNŌN (N-GFP) -- A prostitute; met: an idolatrous community. Feminine of pornos; a strumpet; figuratively, an idolater.">OF PROSTITUTES</a> <a href="/greek/2532.htm" title="2532: KAI (Conj) -- And, even, also, namely. ">AND</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: TŌN (Art-GNP) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.">OF THE</a> <a href="/greek/946.htm" title="946: BDELYGMATŌN (N-GNP) -- An abominable thing, an accursed thing. From bdelusso; a detestation, i.e. idolatry.">ABOMINATIONS</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: TĒS (Art-GFS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.">OF THE</a> <a href="/greek/1093.htm" title="1093: GĒS (N-GFS) -- Contracted from a primary word; soil; by extension a region, or the solid part or the whole of the terrene globe.">EARTH. </a> 6I 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.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div> <a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><a href="/revelation/14-8.htm">Revelation 14:8</a> 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.” <a href="/revelation/18-2.htm">Revelation 18:2-3</a> 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. / 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.” <a href="/revelation/18-10.htm">Revelation 18:10</a> In fear of her torment, they will stand at a distance and cry out: “Woe, woe to the great city, the mighty city of Babylon! For in a single hour your judgment has come.” <a href="/revelation/18-16.htm">Revelation 18:16</a> saying: “Woe, woe to the great city, clothed in fine linen and purple and scarlet, adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls! <a href="/revelation/18-18.htm">Revelation 18:18</a> and cry out at the sight of the smoke rising from the fire that consumes her. “What city was ever like this great city?” they will exclaim. <a href="/revelation/18-21.htm">Revelation 18:21</a> Then a mighty angel picked up a stone the size of a great millstone and cast it into the sea, saying: “With such violence the great city of Babylon will be cast down, never to be seen again. <a href="/revelation/19-2.htm">Revelation 19:2</a> 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.” <a href="/jeremiah/51-7.htm">Jeremiah 51:7</a> 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. <a href="/isaiah/47-7.htm">Isaiah 47:7-9</a> You said, ‘I will be queen forever.’ You did not take these things to heart or consider their outcome. / So now hear this, O lover of luxury who sits securely, who says to herself, ‘I am, and there is none besides me. I will never be a widow or know the loss of children.’ / These two things will overtake you in a moment, in a single day: loss of children, and widowhood. They will come upon you in full measure, in spite of your many sorceries and the potency of your spells. <a href="/jeremiah/50-38.htm">Jeremiah 50:38</a> A drought is upon her waters, and they will be dried up. For it is a land of graven images, and the people go mad over idols. <a href="/jeremiah/51-13.htm">Jeremiah 51:13</a> You who dwell by many waters, rich in treasures, your end has come; the thread of your life is cut. <a href="/nahum/3-4.htm">Nahum 3:4</a> because of the many harlotries of the harlot, the seductive mistress of sorcery, who betrays nations by her prostitution and clans by her witchcraft. <a href="/isaiah/23-17.htm">Isaiah 23:17</a> And at the end of seventy years, the LORD will restore Tyre. Then she will return to hire as a prostitute and sell herself to all the kingdoms on the face of the earth. <a href="/ezekiel/16-15.htm">Ezekiel 16:15-17</a> But because of your fame, you trusted in your beauty and played the harlot. You lavished your favors on everyone who passed by, and your beauty was theirs for the asking. / You took some of your garments and made colorful high places for yourself, and on them you prostituted yourself. Such things should not have happened; never should they have occurred! / You also took the fine jewelry of gold and silver I had given you, and you made male idols with which to prostitute yourself. <a href="/ezekiel/23-2.htm">Ezekiel 23:2-4</a> “Son of man, there were two women, daughters of the same mother, / and they played in Egypt, prostituting themselves from their youth. Their breasts were fondled there, and their virgin bosoms caressed. / The older was named Oholah, and her sister was named Oholibah. They became Mine and gave birth to sons and daughters. As for their identities, Oholah is Samaria, and Oholibah is Jerusalem.</div> <a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div>And on her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.upon.<a href="/revelation/7-3.htm">Revelation 7:3</a> Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.<a href="/isaiah/3-9.htm">Isaiah 3:9</a> The shew of their countenance doth witness against them; and they declare their sin as Sodom, they hide it not. Woe unto their soul! for they have rewarded evil unto themselves.<a href="/philippians/3-19.htm">Philippians 3:19</a> Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)MYSTERY.<a href="/2_thessalonians/2-7.htm">2 Thessalonians 2:7</a> For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.<a href="/2_timothy/3-1.htm">2 Timothy 3:1-5</a> This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come… BABYLON.<a href="/revelation/11-8.htm">Revelation 11:8</a> And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.<a href="/revelation/14-8.htm">Revelation 14:8</a> And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.<a href="/revelation/16-19.htm">Revelation 16:19</a> And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath.THE MOTHER.<a href="/revelation/18-9.htm">Revelation 18:9</a> And the kings of the earth, who have committed fornication and lived deliciously with her, shall bewail her, and lament for her, when they shall see the smoke of her burning,<a href="/revelation/19-2.htm">Revelation 19:2</a> For true and righteous are his judgments: for he hath judged the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand.HARLOTS.<div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/revelation/17-4.htm">ABOMINATIONS</a> <a href="/revelation/16-19.htm">BABYLON</a> <a href="/luke/4-30.htm">Brow</a> <a href="/revelation/17-4.htm">EARTH</a> <a href="/revelation/14-18.htm">Earth's</a> <a href="/revelation/17-3.htm">EVIL</a> <a href="/revelation/14-9.htm">Forehead</a> <a href="/revelation/17-1.htm">GREAT</a> <a href="/luke/15-30.htm">HARLOTS</a> <a href="/revelation/12-4.htm">MOTHER</a> <a href="/revelation/10-7.htm">MYSTERY</a> <a href="/1_corinthians/6-9.htm">PROSTITUTES</a> <a href="/revelation/10-7.htm">SECRET</a> <a href="/1_peter/3-21.htm">Symbol</a> <a href="/ephesians/1-21.htm">Title</a> <a href="/revelation/17-4.htm">UNCLEAN</a> <a href="/hosea/4-14.htm">Whores</a> <a href="/revelation/14-4.htm">WOMEN</a> <a href="/revelation/14-1.htm">Written</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/leviticus/18-26.htm">ABOMINATIONS</a> <a href="/revelation/18-2.htm">BABYLON</a> <a href="/genesis/3-19.htm">Brow</a> <a href="/revelation/17-8.htm">EARTH</a> <a href="/genesis/27-28.htm">Earth's</a> <a href="/revelation/17-15.htm">EVIL</a> <a href="/revelation/20-4.htm">Forehead</a> <a href="/revelation/17-6.htm">GREAT</a> <a href="/1_kings/3-16.htm">HARLOTS</a> <a href="/genesis/2-24.htm">MOTHER</a> <a href="/revelation/17-7.htm">MYSTERY</a> <a href="/1_kings/3-16.htm">PROSTITUTES</a> <a href="/revelation/17-7.htm">SECRET</a> <a href="/exodus/13-16.htm">Symbol</a> <a href="/2_kings/23-17.htm">Title</a> <a href="/revelation/18-2.htm">UNCLEAN</a> <a href="/ezekiel/16-33.htm">Whores</a> <a href="/genesis/4-19.htm">WOMEN</a> <a href="/revelation/17-8.htm">Written</a><div class="vheading2">Revelation 17</div>1. <a href="/revelation/17-1.htm">A woman arrayed in purple and scarlet, with a golden cup in her hand sits upon the beast;</a> 5. <a href="/revelation/17-5.htm">which is great Babylon, the mother of all abominations.</a> 9. <a href="/revelation/17-9.htm">The interpretation of the seven heads;</a> 12. <a href="/revelation/17-12.htm">and the ten horns.</a> 14. <a href="/revelation/17-14.htm">The victory of the Lamb.</a> 16. <a href="/revelation/17-16.htm">The punishment of the harlot.</a> </div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; 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The forehead represents the mind and will, indicating a deliberate and public declaration of allegiance. The term "mysterious" suggests a hidden or deeper meaning, inviting readers to seek spiritual insight into the identity and nature of this figure.BABYLON THE GREAT: Babylon is a symbol of rebellion against God, originating from the Tower of Babel in <a href="/genesis/11.htm">Genesis 11</a>. Historically, Babylon was a powerful empire known for its idolatry and opposition to God's people, as seen in the Babylonian captivity of the Israelites. In Revelation, Babylon represents a system of worldly power and corruption, often interpreted as a metaphor for Rome or any anti-Christian entity throughout history. The term "Great" emphasizes its significant influence and reach.THE MOTHER OF PROSTITUTES: The imagery of prostitution is used throughout the Bible to describe unfaithfulness to God, particularly in the prophetic books like Hosea and Ezekiel. This phrase suggests that Babylon is the source or origin of spiritual adultery, leading others away from true worship. It implies a pervasive and corrupting influence on nations and peoples, drawing them into idolatry and immorality.AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH: Abominations refer to practices that are detestable to God, often associated with idolatry and moral corruption. This phrase indicates that Babylon is not only the source of spiritual unfaithfulness but also of widespread moral decay. It connects to the broader biblical theme of God's judgment against sin and the ultimate triumph of His righteousness, as seen in the prophetic literature and the eschatological visions of Revelation.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <a href="/topical/b/babylon_the_great.htm">Babylon the Great</a> Symbolic representation of a powerful, corrupt system or city that opposes God. Historically, Babylon was a city known for its idolatry and opposition to God's people. 2. <a href="/topical/t/the_mother_of_prostitutes.htm">The Mother of Prostitutes</a> This title suggests a source or origin of spiritual unfaithfulness and idolatry, indicating a system that leads others into similar practices. 3. <a href="/topical/a/abominations_of_the_earth.htm">Abominations of the Earth</a> Refers to detestable practices and sins that are contrary to God's holiness, often associated with idolatry and moral corruption.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><a href="/topical/u/understanding_spiritual_adultery.htm">Understanding Spiritual Adultery</a> Just as Babylon is called the "Mother of Prostitutes," believers must recognize the danger of spiritual unfaithfulness, which can manifest as idolatry or prioritizing anything above God. <a href="/topical/r/recognizing_modern_'babylons'.htm">Recognizing Modern 'Babylons'</a> In today's world, systems or ideologies that oppose God's truth can be seen as modern-day Babylons. Christians are called to discern and resist these influences. <a href="/topical/t/the_call_to_holiness.htm">The Call to Holiness</a> The abominations associated with Babylon remind believers of the importance of living a life set apart for God, avoiding practices that lead to spiritual compromise. <a href="/topical/t/the_assurance_of_god's_justice.htm">The Assurance of God's Justice</a> Revelation assures us that God will ultimately judge and destroy all systems that oppose Him, providing hope and encouragement to remain faithful.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_revelation_17.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Revelation 17</a> <a href="/q/who's_the_whore_of_babylon.htm">Who is the Whore of Babylon in biblical prophecy?</a> <a href="/q/what_is_babylon's_fall_in_rev_18_2.htm">What does Revelation 18:2 mean by Babylon's fall?</a> <a href="/q/what_is_the_oneness_doctrine.htm">What does Revelation 18:2 mean by Babylon's fall?</a> <a href="/q/evidence_linking_empire_city_to_'great_prostitute'.htm">In Revelation 17:1-2, the 'great prostitute' is said to corrupt the earth's inhabitants; is there any historical or archaeological evidence linking a specific empire or city to this figure?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/revelation/17.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(5) And upon her forehead . . .--It was usual with harlots to wear their name on the forehead; but the name here is more than a name. Like the name impressed upon the foreheads of the saints, it is "the expression of her nature"--"MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF THE HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH."The word "mystery" is, perhaps, part of the name; it is, at any rate, a prefix which tells us that the name is not literal, but symbolical. Something lies behind, which will be made manifest in due time. (Comp. <a href="/2_thessalonians/2-7.htm" title="For the mystery of iniquity does already work: only he who now lets will let, until he be taken out of the way.">2Thessalonians 2:7</a>.) She is mother of harlots. Others, in smaller spheres, will follow her example; but she is the origin and type of all.(6) And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints.--It is said later (<a href="/revelation/18-24.htm" title="And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain on the earth.">Revelation 18:24</a>) that in her was found the blood of prophets, and saints, and of all that have been slain upon the earth. The cruel spirit of persecution marked old Pagan Rome. She was drunk with their blood. It is not literally true that "all the blood shed on the earth" would be found in Rome, either Pagan or Papal; but it is spiritually true. Just as all the blood from righteous Abel to Zacharias was required of Jerusalem, so also of Babylon; for the spirit is the same spirit of hatred of holiness and love of worldliness. To slay one is to slay all, as to be guilty in one point of the Law is to be guilty of all; for it is not to mere acts, but also to the spirit and drift of men's conduct, that the Scriptures look. It is the Babylon spirit, whether dominant in Rome or in London, that kills the good. Wherever the spirit of worldliness (in its widest sense) is to be found, there is the spirit at enmity with God and good, and there is the Babylon which has slain the saints.And when I saw her, I wondered . . .--Rather, And I wondered when I saw her with great wonder (not "admiration" in our modern sense). Why did St. John wonder? Was it at the splendour or the blasphemous names? Hardly these; for he was familiar with the former in descriptions of Babylon given by the prophets, and with the latter from his own vision in Revelation 13. The wonder probably rose from the strange alliance of the woman with the wild beast. It was not wonderful to see the vision of a wild beast or monster dealing out death and slaughter, but to see a woman allied with the monster and drunken with the blood of the holy provoked astonishment. The woman, too, was a harlot. The prophets had spoken of Israel and Judah as harlots, where they had allied themselves with the world and its dark idolatries (comp. <a href="/isaiah/1-21.htm" title="How is the faithful city become an harlot! it was full of judgment; righteousness lodged in it; but now murderers.">Isaiah 1:21</a>; <a href="/jeremiah/2-20.htm" title="For of old time I have broken your yoke, and burst your bands; and you said, I will not transgress; when on every high hill and under every green tree you wander, playing the harlot.">Jeremiah 2:20</a>; <a href="/ezekiel/16-15.htm" title="But you did trust in your own beauty, and played the harlot because of your renown, and poured out your fornications on every one that passed by; his it was.">Ezekiel 16:15</a>; <a href="/hosea/2-5.htm" title="For their mother has played the harlot: she that conceived them has done shamefully: for she said, I will go after my lovers, that give me my bread and my water, my wool and my flax, my oil and my drink.">Hosea 2:5</a>). Did he read in the form of the vision the hint that in the lapse of years the Church of Christ, like Israel of old, might fall from her high calling and become the ally of the world-power? The hint of it slumbered in the vision. . . . <div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/revelation/17.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div>Verse 5. - And upon her forehead was a name written. Omit "was." Ὄνομα, "name," is dependent upon ἔχουσα, "having," in ver. 4. This practice was customary with harlots (Juv., 'Sat.,' 6:123; Seneca, 'Controv.,' 1:2). In <a href="/revelation/14-1.htm">Revelation 14:1</a> 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 Babylon, etc., marks the latter as belonging to the world (see on Revelation 16:19; 17:5; 18:2). The name consists of the words following, to the end of the verse. MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. The word "MYSTERY" may be (1) part of the name, standing coordinately with "BABYLON" (Alford, Bleek, Hengstenberg, Vitringa, Wordsworth); (2) a description of the following title, being thus in apposition with ὅνομα, "name" (Auberlin, De Wette, Dusterdieck, Ebrard); (3) an adverb used in the same sense as in the last case (Stuart). Whichever view be taken, there can be no doubt that the purpose is to draw attention to the fact which is contained in the following words - a fact which might otherwise be exceedingly difficult to receive. For the rest of the verso asserts that the harlot is Babylon; that is, that the worldly portion of the Church, though nominally Christian, is in reality identical with the world, which is openly antagonistic to God. Indeed, the latter portion of the verse goes even further than this. This faithless (though outwardly Christian) portion of Christ's Church is the mother, that is, the cause of the existence of unfaithfulness to God. So true is it that the professing Christian who is worldly minded does more to cause in others disobedience and unfaithfulness to God, than he who openly declares himself in opposition to God, and even persecutes the faithful; cf. the words to the Church in Laodicea, "I would thou went cold or hot" (<a href="/revelation/3-15.htm">Revelation 3:15</a>). (On "ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH," see on ver. 4.) <a href="/commentaries/revelation/17-5.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a> <a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Greek</div>On ἐπὶ (epi) Preposition <a href="/greek/strongs_1909.htm">Strong's 1909: </a> On, to, against, on the basis of, at. her αὐτῆς (autēs) Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Feminine 3rd Person Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_846.htm">Strong's 846: </a> He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons. forehead μέτωπον (metōpon) Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_3359.htm">Strong's 3359: </a> The forehead, front. From meta and ops; the forehead. a mysterious μυστήριον (mystērion) Noun - Nominative Neuter Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_3466.htm">Strong's 3466: </a> From a derivative of muo; a secret or 'mystery'. name ὄνομα (onoma) Noun - Nominative Neuter Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_3686.htm">Strong's 3686: </a> Name, character, fame, reputation. From a presumed derivative of the base of ginosko; a 'name'. was written: γεγραμμένον (gegrammenon) Verb - Perfect Participle Middle or Passive - Nominative Neuter Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_1125.htm">Strong's 1125: </a> A primary verb; to 'grave', especially to write; figuratively, to describe. Babylon ΒΑΒΥΛΩΝ (BABYLŌN) Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_897.htm">Strong's 897: </a> Of Hebrew origin; Babylon, the capitol of Chaldaea (as a type of tyranny). the Ο (HĒ) Article - Nominative Feminine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the. Great, ΜΕΓΑΛΗ (MEGALĒ) Adjective - Nominative Feminine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_3173.htm">Strong's 3173: </a> Large, great, in the widest sense. the Ο (HĒ) Article - Nominative Feminine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the. mother ΜΗΤΗΡ (MĒTĒR) Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_3384.htm">Strong's 3384: </a> A mother. Apparently a primary word; a 'mother'. of prostitutes ΠΟΡΝΩΝ (PORNŌN) Noun - Genitive Feminine Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_4204.htm">Strong's 4204: </a> A prostitute; met: an idolatrous community. Feminine of pornos; a strumpet; figuratively, an idolater. and ΚΑΙ (KAI) Conjunction <a href="/greek/strongs_2532.htm">Strong's 2532: </a> And, even, also, namely. of the ΤΩΝ (TŌN) Article - Genitive Neuter Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the. abominations ΒΔΕΛΥΓΜΑΤΩΝ (BDELYGMATŌN) Noun - Genitive Neuter Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_946.htm">Strong's 946: </a> An abominable thing, an accursed thing. From bdelusso; a detestation, i.e. idolatry. of the ΤΗΣ (TĒS) Article - Genitive Feminine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the. earth. ΓΗΣ (GĒS) Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_1093.htm">Strong's 1093: </a> Contracted from a primary word; soil; by extension a region, or the solid part or the whole of the terrene globe. <div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/revelation/17-5.htm">Revelation 17:5 NIV</a> <a href="/nlt/revelation/17-5.htm">Revelation 17:5 NLT</a> <a href="/esv/revelation/17-5.htm">Revelation 17:5 ESV</a> <a href="/nasb/revelation/17-5.htm">Revelation 17:5 NASB</a> <a href="/kjv/revelation/17-5.htm">Revelation 17:5 KJV</a> <a href="//bibleapps.com/revelation/17-5.htm">Revelation 17:5 BibleApps.com</a> <a href="//bibliaparalela.com/revelation/17-5.htm">Revelation 17:5 Biblia Paralela</a> <a href="//holybible.com.cn/revelation/17-5.htm">Revelation 17:5 Chinese Bible</a> <a href="//saintebible.com/revelation/17-5.htm">Revelation 17:5 French Bible</a> <a href="/catholic/revelation/17-5.htm">Revelation 17:5 Catholic Bible</a> <a href="/revelation/17-5.htm">NT Prophecy: Revelation 17:5 And on her forehead a name was (Rev. Re Apocalypse)</a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/revelation/17-4.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Revelation 17:4"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Revelation 17:4" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/revelation/17-6.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Revelation 17:6"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Revelation 17:6" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>