TRV
Translation
King James Version
And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.
Complete Jewish Bible
And the woman you saw is the great city that rules over the kings of the earth.”
Berean Standard Bible
And the woman you saw is the great city that rules over the kings of the earth.”
American Standard Version
And the woman whom thou sawest is the great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.
World English Bible Messianic
The woman whom you saw is the great city, which reigns over the kings of the earth.”
Geneva Bible (1599)
And that woman which thou sawest, is that great citie, which reigneth ouer the kings of ye earth.
Young's Literal Translation
and the woman that thou didst see is the great city that is having reign over the kings of the land.'
See on the biblical-era map
In the KJVVerse 30,994 of 31,102
Study This Verse
Commentary on Revelation 17 verses 14–18
14 ¶ These 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.
15 And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.
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.
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.
18 And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.
Here we have some account of the downfall of Babylon, to be more fully described in the following chapter.
I. Here is a war begun between the beast and his followers, and the Lamb and his followers. The beast and his army, to an eye of sense, appear much stronger than the Lamb and his army: one would think an army with a lamb at the head of them could not stand before the great red dragon. But,
II. Here is a victory gained by the Lamb: The Lamb shall overcome. Christ must reign till all enemies be put under his feet; he will be sure to meet with many enemies, and much opposition, but he will also be sure to gain the victory.
III. Here is the ground or reason of the victory assigned; and this is taken, 1. From the character of the Lamb: He is King of kings and Lord of lords. He has, both by nature and by office, supreme dominion and power over all things; all the powers of earth and hell are subject to his check and control. 2. From the character of his followers: They are called, and chosen, and faithful. They are called out by commission to this warfare; they are chosen and fitted for it, and they will be faithful in it. Such an army, under such a commander, will at length carry all the world before them.
IV. The victory is justly aggrandized. 1. By the vast multitude who paid obedience and subjection to the beast and to the whore. She sat upon (that is, presided over) many waters; and these waters were so many multitudes of people, and nations, of all languages; yea, she reigned not only over kingdoms, but over the kings, and they were her tributaries and vassals, Rev 17:15, Rev 17:18. 2. By the powerful influence which God hereby showed he had over the minds of great men. Their hearts were in his hand, and he turned them as he pleased; for, (1.) It was of God, and to fulfil his will, that these kings agreed to give their kingdom unto the beast; they were judicially blinded and hardened to do so. And, (2.) It was of God that afterwards their hearts were turned against the whore, to hate her, and to make her desolate and naked, and to eat her flesh, and burn her with fire; they shall at length see their folly, and how they have been bewitched and enslaved by the papacy, and, out of a just resentment, shall not only fall off from Rome, but shall be made the instruments of God's providence in her destruction.
Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers verses 14–18. Public domain.
Copy as
CyprianAD 258
Epistle LXII.12-13
Christ, who teaches and shows that the people of the Gentiles were coming into that place that the Jews had lost and that we were arriving afterward through the merit of faith, made wine from water, that is, he showed that the people of the Gentiles rather would resort together and come to the nuptials of Christ and of his church when the Jews were leaving. For the divine Scripture declares in the Apocalypse that the waters signify the peoples, saying, “The waters that you saw on which that harlot sits are peoples and crowds and nations of the heathen and tongues.” We perceive that this is actually also contained in the sacrament of the chalice. For because Christ, who bore our sins, also bore us all, we see that people are signified in the water, but in the wine the blood of Christ is shown. But when water is mixed with wine in the chalice, the people are united to Christ, and the multitude of the believers is bound and joined to him in whom they believe. This association and mingling of water and wine are so mixed in the chalice of the Lord that the mixture cannot mutually be separated. Whence nothing can separate the church, that is, the multitude established faithfully and firmly in the church, persevering in that which it has believed, from Christ as long as it clings and remains in undivided love. But thus, in the consecrating of the chalice of the Lord, water alone cannot be offered, nor can wine alone. For if anyone offers wine alone, the blood of Christ begins to be without us. If, in truth, the water is alone, the people begin to be without Christ. But when both are mixed and, in the union, are joined to each other and mingled together, then the spiritual and heavenly sacrament is completed.
Caesarius of ArlesAD 542
EXPOSITION ON THE APOCALYPSE 17:16, HOMILY 15
The harlot is the life of luxury that is lived by plunder and pleasures. It says that they would hate the harlot, for dissolute persons who are also proud, lustful and arrogant not only persecute the saints, but they also hold themselves in hatred. And in another way do those hate themselves in whom the word of Scripture is fulfilled, “Those who love iniquity hate their own soul.” “And they will make her desolate and naked.” Through the wrath of God and his just judgment by which they are abandoned by him, they themselves will make the world a desert, since they have been given over to it and use it unrighteously. “And they will devour her flesh.” This is so, because as the apostle says, “They will bite and eat one another.”
Primasius of HadrumetumAD 560
COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 17:17
What the apostle said, “God gave them up to a base mind to do what they ought not,” that is also now said. For God has placed in their hearts to do that which is pleasing to him. Righteousness is pleasing to God, through which we know that retribution is visited upon the impious. Moreover, [it is according to God’s will] that they who have given their kingdom to the beast pay their just penalties with the beast, until the words of God be fulfilled, which, to be sure, consist of justice and mercy. For “all the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth.”
Primasius of HadrumetumAD 560
COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 17:18
This woman is the very one who was given over to the corruptions of flesh and blood and who had prospered through the power of the earthly kingdom. And since she consists of those very kings over whom she is said to reign according to her habit, [the text] has divided the very same one into parts, as though separating a genus into its species, so that the words of the Lord will be fulfilled in the woman, in the city, in the kings, on the kings and on [the woman], when he redeems his own by his mercy and by his justice condemns the insolent.
Andreas of CaesareaAD 614
COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 17:15-18
Since the angel explained these things clearly, a more detailed explanation of them is superfluous. It is remarkable to me how the devil is both enemy and avenger. For he will work through the ten horns, who are guided by him, to oppose that lover of good and virtue, Christ our God, and to lay waste that populous city that has abandoned the divine laws and become servant to his pleasures, and like a bloodthirsty beast they will glut themselves on its blood. He will regard its conflagration as an occasion for rejoicing and the mutilation of human flesh as proper food, and he who always rejoices in duplicity will grant harmony to those ten apostate horns. That which continues makes very clear that the woman who was seen is the great city that exercises power over the kings of the earth, and the sufferings of that power that is ruling during those times is prophesied. From these trials the beneficent God will redeem us and enlist us in the heavenly city, namely, in the Jerusalem above. In this city “he will be everything to everyone,” as the apostle says, “when he shall destroy every rule,” clearly every apostate rule, “and every authority and power.” In addition, he will recline with and serve those who have served him here faithfully and wisely, that is, he will give them the enjoyment of the eternal blessings that have been “prepared from the foundation of the world.” Of this bliss may also we be found worthy in Christ, the Savior and Redeemer of our souls, with whom be glory and power to the Father, together with the Holy Spirit forever and ever. Amen.
BedeAD 735
Commentary on Revelation
And the woman whom you saw is the great city, etc. Likewise, later he is commanded to behold the bride of the Lamb, and he saw the holy city descending from heaven. As he describes it: And the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it (Rev. 21). For there are two cities in the world: one arising from the abyss, the other from the heavens. Hence, the same impiety, which he had described under the guise of the harlot, now compared to the ruins of a deserted city.
OecumeniusAD 990
Commentary on Revelation
More clearly, concerning the city about which the passage intends to signify, he brings forward that "the woman" "is the great city which has the dominion" over all.
Source: Quotations drawn from early Church Fathers and historical Christian theologians (AD 100–1500). Some quotes address the surrounding passage context rather than this verse alone.
Copy as
Continue studying Revelation 17:18 across the web’s major study libraries — every link below opens this exact verse, chapter, or book on the destination site.
Read & Compare
BibleGatewayThis verse in more than 200 translations and 70 languages.
Bible.comThe YouVersion reader — hundreds of translations, reading plans, and highlights.
ESV.orgCrossway's official English Standard Version reader.
NET BibleThe NET translation with 60,000+ translators' notes on every rendering decision.
STEP BibleTyndale House's free study tool — original text, vocabulary, and scholarly resources.
BibliaLogos Bible Software's free web reader.
USCCBThe New American Bible (Revised Edition) with the U.S. bishops' study notes.
Commentaries
BibleHub CommentariesDozens of classic commentaries on this verse, gathered on one page.
StudyLightMore than 100 commentary sets — the largest collection on the web.
BibleRefPlain-English commentary on what this verse means, verse by verse.
Enduring WordDavid Guzik's free commentary on this chapter, widely used by Bible teachers.
Bible Study ToolsVerse commentary alongside Greek and Hebrew study aids.
Original Language & Research
- BibleHub InterlinearThe verse word by word — original language, transliteration, and English.
- BibleHub LexiconEvery word's original-language definition and Strong's entry.
Blue Letter BibleDeep-study tools — Strong's numbers, concordance, and word studies.
CNTR CollationThe earliest Greek manuscripts of this verse, collated letter by letter.
Sermons, Hymns & Audio
TrulyRandomVerse is not affiliated with these sites and doesn’t control their content. They’re linked because they’re genuinely useful.
SUMMARY
Revelation 17:18 serves as the climactic interpretive key within the vision of the great harlot, definitively identifying the mysterious woman seen riding the scarlet beast as "that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth." This verse unveils the symbolic identity of "Babylon the Great," revealing it to be a powerful, dominant urban entity or system that exerts immense political, economic, and spiritual authority over worldly rulers, setting the stage for its dramatic and inevitable judgment.
CONTEXT
Literary Context: Revelation 17 presents a profound and disturbing vision of a woman, described as a "great harlot," seated on many waters and riding a scarlet beast with seven heads and ten horns. This woman is richly adorned but also drunk with the blood of saints and martyrs. Throughout the chapter, she is explicitly named "Babylon the Great, the Mother of Harlots and Abominations of the Earth" (Revelation 17:5). The angel provides John with an interpretation of the beast and its heads and horns (Revelation 17:7-17), culminating in the direct identification of the woman in verse 18. This verse acts as the crucial disclosure, transitioning from the symbolic description to a concrete (though still potentially allegorical) identification, which then directly precedes the detailed account of Babylon's fall in Revelation 18.
Historical & Cultural Context: In the 1st century AD, when Revelation was written, the dominant global power was the Roman Empire. Rome was known for its vast territorial control, its immense wealth derived from conquest and trade, its pervasive pagan idolatry, and its brutal persecution of Christians. Emperors like Nero and Domitian demanded divine worship, and refusal often led to martyrdom. The imagery of a "harlot" for a city or nation was a common prophetic trope in the Old Testament, used to describe spiritual unfaithfulness, idolatry, and alliances with foreign powers, as seen in passages concerning Jerusalem or Tyre (e.g., Ezekiel 16 or Isaiah 23). The name "Babylon" itself carried significant historical weight, evoking the ancient Mesopotamian empire known for its pride, rebellion against God, and its role in the exile of God's people, making it a powerful symbol for any oppressive world system that stands against God's kingdom and persecutes His people.
Key Themes: This verse contributes significantly to several key themes within Revelation. Firstly, it provides a definitive Identification of Symbolic Babylon, resolving much of the mystery surrounding the harlot's identity and confirming that the "woman" is not merely an abstract concept but represents a concrete entity with immense influence. Secondly, the phrase "which reigneth over the kings of the earth" underscores the theme of Global Dominion and Corruption. It highlights the pervasive political, economic, and spiritual influence of this city, portraying it as a corrupt system that dominates world powers and stands in opposition to God's righteous kingdom. This dominion foreshadows its ultimate judgment. Finally, the verse exemplifies the theme of Divine Interpretation and Revelation's Clarity. While much of Revelation is highly symbolic, God frequently provides specific interpretations through angelic messengers (as also seen in Revelation 1:20), ensuring that the core messages regarding His sovereignty, judgment, and ultimate victory are understood by His people.
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
Revelation 17:18 primarily employs Symbolism and Allegory by providing the key to understanding the complex imagery presented earlier in the chapter. The "woman" is a symbol, and this verse reveals her allegorical meaning as a "great city." The phrase "great city" itself is a powerful Metonymy or Synecdoche, where the city stands in for the entire political, economic, and spiritual system it embodies and controls. The description of this city as "reigning over the kings of the earth" uses Hyperbole to emphasize its overwhelming global dominance, while also serving as a clear Prophetic Interpretation, a direct divine explanation of a previously enigmatic symbol, a characteristic feature of apocalyptic literature to ensure understanding of its core messages.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Revelation 17:18 is profoundly significant as it unmasks the true nature of the oppressive world system symbolized by "Babylon the Great." Theologically, it affirms God's sovereign knowledge and ultimate control over human history, even over the most powerful and corrupt earthly empires. By identifying the "woman" as a dominant city, the text highlights the inherent danger of worldly power, wealth, and influence when they are divorced from God and used to oppose His people. This "great city" represents the culmination of human rebellion, idolatry, and persecution, embodying all that stands against the divine order. Its explicit identification sets the stage for the dramatic judgment described in the subsequent chapter, underscoring the certainty of divine justice against all forms of unrighteousness and oppression.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Revelation 17:18 calls believers to a profound sense of discernment and spiritual vigilance in a world often captivated by power, wealth, and worldly systems. The identification of the "woman" as a "great city" that reigns over the kings of the earth serves as a timeless warning: beware of any human system—be it political, economic, or cultural—that seeks ultimate dominion, accumulates power through ungodly means, and ultimately sets itself against the kingdom of God. This verse encourages us to recognize that such systems, no matter how grand or influential they appear, are ultimately destined for divine judgment. Our application involves not only identifying these worldly powers but also actively resisting their corrupting influence, refusing to be entangled in their unrighteousness, and prioritizing our allegiance to Christ's kingdom above all earthly loyalties. It challenges us to live out the call to "come out of her, my people" (Revelation 18:4), maintaining spiritual purity and a prophetic witness against the allure and oppression of this world.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
What is the "great city" identified in Revelation 17:18?
Answer: The "great city" identified in Revelation 17:18 is the symbolic "Babylon the Great" described throughout Revelation 17 and Revelation 18. While many scholars historically identify it with ancient Rome, particularly due to its first-century context as the preeminent global power that persecuted Christians, the "great city" also carries a broader symbolic meaning. It represents any powerful, dominant, and corrupt world system—whether political, economic, or religious—that opposes God, persecutes His people, and seeks to exert global control. It embodies the spirit of human rebellion and idolatry throughout history, culminating in a final manifestation that will face divine judgment.
Is the "great city" a literal city or a symbolic representation?
Answer: The interpretation varies among scholars, but the most common understanding is that it is both a literal city (historically Rome, or potentially a future global capital) and a symbolic representation. The detailed description of its wealth, influence, and spiritual harlotry in Revelation 18 suggests a tangible, powerful urban center. However, its designation as "Babylon" (a city long destroyed by John's time) and its pervasive influence "over the kings of the earth" indicate that it also symbolizes a universal system of rebellion against God. It represents the spirit of worldly power, commercialism, and anti-God idolatry that manifests in various forms throughout history, culminating in a final, dominant expression that will be judged by God.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Revelation 17:18, by identifying the "great city" as the embodiment of earthly power and rebellion against God, points to the ultimate triumph of Christ and the establishment of His eternal kingdom. The "great city" that "reigneth over the kings of the earth" stands in stark contrast to the true King of kings, Jesus Christ, who alone holds all authority in heaven and on earth (Matthew 28:18). While this worldly system seeks to dominate through corruption and violence, Christ's reign is one of righteousness, peace, and truth. The judgment pronounced upon this "great city" in Revelation 18 is a powerful demonstration of Christ's sovereign power to dismantle all opposing forces and bring justice. Ultimately, the fall of Babylon makes way for the glorious revelation of the New Jerusalem, the "holy city, coming down out of heaven from God" (Revelation 21:2), where God dwells with His people, and Christ reigns eternally. This contrast highlights that all earthly kingdoms, no matter how powerful, are temporary and subject to the authority of the Lamb, who will ultimately inherit all things (Revelation 5:12-13). The "great city" represents the world system that rejected Him, and its destruction affirms that salvation and true dominion belong to our God and to His Christ (Revelation 11:15).