Revelation 17:1

¶ 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:

And {G2532} there came {G2064} one {G1520} of {G1537} the seven {G2033} angels {G32} which {G3588} had {G2192} the seven {G2033} vials {G5357}, and {G2532} talked {G2980} with {G3326} me {G1700}, saying {G3004} unto me {G3427}, Come hither {G1204}; I will shew {G1166} unto thee {G4671} the judgment {G2917} of the great {G3173} whore {G4204} that sitteth {G2521} upon {G1909} many {G4183} waters {G5204}:

Then came one of the angels with the seven bowls; and he said to me, “Come, I will show you the judgment of the great whore who is sitting by many waters.

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.

And there came one of the seven angels that had the seven bowls, and spake with me, saying, Come hither, I will show thee the judgment of the great harlot that sitteth upon many waters;

Commentary

Revelation 17:1 marks a pivotal shift in John's vision, moving from the pouring out of the seven bowls of God's wrath to a detailed exposition of the judgment awaiting a specific, highly symbolic entity. An angel, one of the seven who held the vials of judgment, invites John to witness the ultimate downfall of "the great whore," a figure representing profound spiritual and political corruption.

Context

This verse immediately follows the dramatic events of Revelation 16, where the final plagues are poured out, signaling the culmination of God's wrath upon the earth. The angel's appearance here signifies a direct continuation and explanation of these judgments, particularly focusing on the source of much evil in the world. John, as the recipient of these visions, is being given a deeper understanding of the forces opposing God and their ultimate destiny. This scene sets the stage for the unveiling of "Babylon the Great," which is introduced and described in subsequent verses, starting with Revelation 17:5.

Key Themes

  • Divine Judgment: The primary theme is God's righteous and inevitable judgment on wickedness. The angel's purpose is explicitly "to shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore," underscoring the certainty and severity of divine justice against those who oppose God's kingdom.
  • The "Great Whore": This symbolic figure represents a powerful, corrupt system or entity that has committed spiritual adultery by engaging in idolatry, unfaithfulness to God, and illicit alliances with worldly powers. She embodies the epitome of human rebellion and apostasy.
  • "Sitteth Upon Many Waters": This phrase immediately introduces the vast influence and widespread dominion of the "great whore." As explained later in Revelation 17:15, "the waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues," indicating her global reach and control over vast populations.
  • Unveiling of Evil: John is invited to "Come hither," suggesting a privileged revelation of spiritual truths and the true nature of the enemy. This unveiling is crucial for understanding the cosmic conflict and God's ultimate victory.

Linguistic Insights

The term "whore" (Greek: pornē) used here is not merely about sexual immorality but carries a profound spiritual meaning. In Old Testament prophecy, "harlotry" often described Israel's unfaithfulness to God through idolatry and alliances with pagan nations (e.g., Ezekiel 16 or Isaiah 23:17 concerning Tyre). Thus, "the great whore" signifies a profound spiritual apostasy and a system that has betrayed God for worldly power, wealth, and influence.

Practical Application

Revelation 17:1 reminds believers of God's sovereignty and His ultimate triumph over all forms of evil and corruption. It calls for discernment, urging us to recognize and resist systems, ideologies, or influences that promote idolatry, spiritual compromise, or opposition to God's truth. The coming judgment serves as a warning against spiritual unfaithfulness and a comfort that all injustice and wickedness will ultimately be brought to account by a righteous God. It reinforces the importance of remaining faithful to Christ in a world that often seeks to draw believers into its corrupt ways.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Revelation 19:2

    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.

  • Revelation 17:1

    ¶ 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:

  • Revelation 17:17

    For 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.

  • Jeremiah 51:13

    O thou that dwellest upon many waters, abundant in treasures, thine end is come, [and] the measure of thy covetousness.

  • Revelation 16:19

    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.

  • Revelation 21:9

    ¶ And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb's wife.

  • Nahum 3:4

    Because of the multitude of the whoredoms of the wellfavoured harlot, the mistress of witchcrafts, that selleth nations through her whoredoms, and families through her witchcrafts.