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KING JAMES BIBLE · PCE

Revelation 17:4–6

TEXT EDITION
Pure Cambridge Edition selected
And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication:
And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.
And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration.
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PASSAGE SELECTION

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3 selected · 7 available

Choose up to 10 verses in this chapter. The study tools update with the selected passage.

SCRIPTURE WITH SCRIPTURE

Cross References

15 Essential passages are open for comparison.

Reference depth

From verse 4

  1. Jeremiah 51:7Rank 1 from verse 4
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    7Babylon hath been a golden cup in the Lord’s hand, that made all the earth drunken: the nations have drunken of her wine; therefore the nations are mad.

  2. Revelation 18:16Rank 2 from verse 4
    Open

    16And saying, Alas, alas, that great city, that was clothed in fine linen, and purple, and scarlet, and decked with gold, and precious stones, and pearls!

  3. Revelation 19:2Rank 3 from verse 4
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    2For 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.

  4. Revelation 18:12Rank 4 from verse 4
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    12The merchandise of gold, and silver, and precious stones, and of pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet, and all thyine wood, and all manner vessels of ivory, and all manner vessels of most precious wood, and of brass, and iron, and marble,

  5. 2 Thessalonians 2:3–10Rank 5 from verse 4
    Open

    3Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;

    4Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.

    5Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?

    6And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.

    7For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.

    8And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:

    9Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,

    10And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

From verse 5

  1. Revelation 14:8Rank 1 from verse 5
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    8And 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.

  2. Revelation 18:2Rank 2 from verse 5
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    2And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.

  3. Revelation 16:19Rank 3 from verse 5
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    19And 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.

  4. Revelation 17:7Rank 4 from verse 5
    Open

    7And the angel said unto me, Wherefore didst thou marvel? I will tell thee the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carrieth her, which hath the seven heads and ten horns.

  5. 2 Thessalonians 2:7Rank 5 from verse 5
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    7For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.

From verse 6

  1. Revelation 16:6Rank 1 from verse 6
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    6For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and thou hast given them blood to drink; for they are worthy.

  2. Revelation 13:15Rank 2 from verse 6
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    15And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.

  3. Daniel 7:25Rank 3 from verse 6
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    25And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.

  4. Revelation 2:13Rank 4 from verse 6
    Open

    13I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan’s seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth.

  5. Acts 22:20Rank 5 from verse 6
    Open

    20And when the blood of thy martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by, and consenting unto his death, and kept the raiment of them that slew him.

WORDS IN THIS PASSAGE

Definitions

Open a word for its full definition and concordance.

DEFINED WORDS

Revelation 17:4

COMBINED MEANING

arrayed

↗

Past-tense, participial, or adjectival form of array, meaning to arrange or set in order, especially for battle, or to clothe.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

in

↗

1. A preposition marking position, presence, state, circumstance, manner, means, sphere, reference, relation, association, or participation. 2. As an adverb, inward, inside, or into the place or position referred to.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

purple

↗

A reddish-blue colour; cloth or clothing of that colour, often associated with wealth or royalty.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

scarlet

↗

Sense 1: A bright red colour. Sense 2: Dye, thread, cloth, or a garment of that colour.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

decked

↗

Past-tense, participial, or adjectival form of deck, meaning to adorn, array, clothe, or cover with ornaments, splendour, precious material, or another stated decoration.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

pearls

↗

Precious, rounded substances formed within shellfish and used as jewels.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

hand

↗

Sense 1: The part of the body at the end of the arm. Sense 2: Figuratively, power, possession, aid, or agency.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

fornication

↗

1. Unlawful sexual relations. 2. By figure, unfaithful or illicit relations.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

DEFINED WORDS

Revelation 17:5

COMBINED MEANING

upon

↗

1. Marks the person, place, thing, or basis to which something is related: on or onto; above or over; toward or against as the target of action, speech, thought, attention, or force; resting on, assigned to, or affecting as a state, gift, burden, duty, guilt, or judgment; supported by or based on; or one placed, added, or repeated on or after another. 2. With a stated time or occasion, or a preceding event, at that time or point, or at or after that event: on, at, when, then, or following it.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

name

↗

Sense 1: A word, appellation, or designation by which a person or thing is called or known. Sense 2: The person or persons named or represented. Sense 3: Reputation, character, renown, or remembrance. Sense 4: The authority, behalf, or standing represented by a name. Sense 5: As a verb, to call, designate, or mention by name.

Meaning drawn from: Direct Scripture definition · KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

written

↗

Past-tense or past-participial form of write (to set down, record, or communicate in letters or writing).

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

mystery

↗

A matter or meaning hidden or formerly hidden, secret, unrevealed, or not understood.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

Babylon

↗

Sense 1: The proper name of the city, land, or kingdom of Babylon. Sense 2: The prophetic entity called Babylon.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

mother

↗

Sense 1: A female parent. Sense 2: Figuratively, a source, chief city, or maternal relation.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

earth

↗

Sense 1: The world in distinction from heaven. Sense 2: Dry land, ground, soil, or dust. Sense 3: A land, region, or its inhabitants.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

DEFINED WORDS

Revelation 17:6

COMBINED MEANING

drunken

↗

Intoxicated with strong drink; overcome or affected as by intoxication.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

blood

↗

Sense 1: The bodily fluid associated with physical life. Sense 2: Life taken, bloodshed, or guilt and responsibility for it. Sense 3: Kindred, shared human descent, or natural human nature. Sense 4: The juice of grapes.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

wondered

↗

Past-tense, participial, or adjectival form of wonder, meaning to be affected by surprise or admiration.

Meaning drawn from: Direct Scripture definition · KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

admiration

↗

1. Wonder or astonishment. 2. Regard or praise shown to a person.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Bullokar 1616 · Skeat 1893 · Webster 1828

READ THE PASSAGE

View in context

Suggested context · Revelation 17:1–18

The selected passage is highlighted. Context is a study aid.

17:1AND 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:

17:2With 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.

17:3So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.

17:4And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication:

Selected passage

17:5And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.

Selected passage

17:6And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration.

Selected passage

17:7And the angel said unto me, Wherefore didst thou marvel? I will tell thee the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carrieth her, which hath the seven heads and ten horns.

17:8The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.

17:9And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth.

17:10And there are seven kings: five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a short space.

17:11And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition.

17:12And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast.

17:13These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast.

17:14These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.

17:15And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.

17:16And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire.

17:17For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled.

17:18And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.

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