Revelation 17:16

And 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.

And {G2532} the ten {G1176} horns {G2768} which {G3739} thou sawest {G1492} upon {G1909} the beast {G2342}, these {G3778} shall hate {G3404} the whore {G4204}, and {G2532} shall make {G4160} her {G846} desolate {G2049} and {G2532} naked {G1131}, and {G2532} shall eat {G5315} her {G846} flesh {G4561}, and {G2532} burn {G2618} her {G846} with {G1722} fire {G4442}.

As for the ten horns that you saw and the beast, they will hate the whore, bring her to ruin, leave her naked, eat her flesh and consume her with fire.

And the ten horns and the beast that you saw will hate the prostitute. They will leave her desolate and naked, and will eat her flesh and burn her with fire.

And the ten horns which thou sawest, and the beast, these shall hate the harlot, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and shall burn her utterly with fire.

Commentary

Context

Revelation 17 describes the prophetic judgment of "Babylon the Great," often symbolized as "the great whore" or "harlot," who sits upon many waters and rides the scarlet beast. This chapter unveils the intricate relationship between this corrupt religious, political, and economic system and the powerful beast with seven heads and ten horns. Verses 12-14 explain that the ten horns represent "ten kings" who receive power with the beast and will ultimately make war against the Lamb. Revelation 17:16, therefore, reveals a shocking turn of events: these very kings, initially allied with the beast and seemingly benefiting from the harlot's influence, will be instrumental in her downfall.

Key Themes

  • Divine Judgment and Retribution: This verse vividly portrays God's ultimate justice against wickedness and rebellion. The destruction of the harlot is not by divine lightning alone, but through the very earthly powers that once supported her, highlighting God's sovereign control over even the actions of wicked rulers.
  • Reversal of Alliances: A profound theme is the unexpected turning of the ten horns (kings) against the harlot. This signifies the inherent instability and self-destructive nature of evil alliances. What appears to be a unified front against God ultimately collapses from within.
  • Complete Destruction of Evil Systems: The graphic imagery—making her "desolate and naked," "eat her flesh," and "burn her with fire"—emphasizes the complete and utter annihilation of the spiritual and earthly power represented by "Babylon the Great." It is a portrayal of total ruin and exposure.
  • God's Sovereignty: Despite the seemingly chaotic nature of end-time events, Revelation 17:17 clarifies that this betrayal and destruction occur because "God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will." This underscores God's ultimate control over history and the actions of all individuals and nations.

Linguistic and Symbolic Insights

The imagery used in Revelation 17:16 is intensely symbolic, drawing on Old Testament prophetic language for judgment:

  • "Hate the whore": The Greek word for "hate" (miseō) implies a strong aversion and active antagonism, not just dislike. It denotes a turning with hostility.
  • "Make her desolate and naked": To make "desolate" means to lay waste or abandon. To make "naked" signifies stripping away her glory, power, and protection, exposing her shame and vulnerability. This mirrors prophetic judgments against corrupt cities and nations in the Old Testament (e.g., Jeremiah 13:26, Ezekiel 16:37).
  • "Eat her flesh": This gruesome image suggests devouring her wealth, resources, and very substance. It implies a violent appropriation and consumption of her power and influence.
  • "Burn her with fire": Fire is a pervasive biblical symbol of divine wrath, purification, and complete destruction. Its use here indicates a final, irreversible judgment, akin to the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 19:24) or other judgments described in prophetic books like Isaiah 34:9-10.

Prophetic Significance

This verse points to a crucial stage in end-times prophecy: the sudden and violent downfall of "Babylon the Great" just before the return of Christ. The ten kings, representing a coalition of world powers under the influence of the beast, will turn on the harlot, fulfilling God's predetermined plan. This event is further elaborated in Revelation 18, which describes the swift and devastating judgment upon this powerful global system. It signifies the removal of a major obstacle to God's ultimate reign and the coming of the Lord's kingdom.

Practical Application

For believers today, Revelation 17:16 offers several key takeaways:

  • Trust in God's Sovereignty: Even when evil systems seem to flourish and exert immense power, God remains in control. He uses even the actions of those opposed to Him to bring about His perfect will and justice.
  • Warning Against Worldly Alliances: The verse serves as a stark warning against aligning with or placing trust in corrupt worldly systems. Such alliances are ultimately unstable and self-destructive, as their end is certain destruction.
  • Patience and Hope: Believers are encouraged to patiently endure, knowing that God's justice will prevail. The eventual downfall of all systems that oppose God's righteousness is assured, providing hope amidst present challenges.
  • Discernment: It calls for spiritual discernment to recognize the true nature of worldly powers and their eventual fate, rather than being captivated by their apparent glory or influence.
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 18:8

    Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong [is] the Lord God who judgeth her.

  • Leviticus 21:9

    And the daughter of any priest, if she profane herself by playing the whore, she profaneth her father: she shall be burnt with fire.

  • Ezekiel 16:37

    Behold, therefore I will gather all thy lovers, with whom thou hast taken pleasure, and all [them] that thou hast loved, with all [them] that thou hast hated; I will even gather them round about against thee, and will discover thy nakedness unto them, that they may see all thy nakedness.

  • Ezekiel 16:44

    ¶ Behold, every one that useth proverbs shall use [this] proverb against thee, saying, As [is] the mother, [so is] her daughter.

  • 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 17:2

    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.

  • Revelation 18:16

    And 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!
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