Read Verse Keyword Strong's
Prev

Revelation 17:2

Next

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.

With {G3326} whom {G3739} the kings {G935} of the earth {G1093} have committed fornication {G4203}, and {G2532} the inhabitants {G2730} of the earth {G1093} have been made drunk {G3184} with {G1537} the wine {G3631} of her {G846} fornication {G4202}.

The kings of the earth went whoring with her, and the people living on earth have become drunk from the wine of her whoring.”

The kings of the earth were immoral with her, and those who dwell on the earth were intoxicated with the wine of her immorality.”

with whom the kings of the earth committed fornication, and they that dwell in the earth were made drunken with the wine of her fornication.

Commentary

Revelation 17:2 vividly describes the pervasive spiritual corruption emanating from the symbolic entity known as "Babylon the Great". This verse highlights how both the world's rulers and its general populace have become deeply entangled in, and intoxicated by, its deceptive influence.

Context

This verse is part of a detailed vision given to the Apostle John, found in Revelation chapter 17. An angel reveals the judgment of a "great whore" who sits upon many waters, identified as "Babylon the Great, the Mother of Harlots and Abominations of the Earth" (Revelation 17:5). This figure symbolizes a powerful global system of spiritual and political corruption that seduces humanity away from God. Verse 2 specifically details the extent of this corruption, showing its impact on both leadership and ordinary people, contrasting sharply with the purity of the bride of Christ.

Key Themes

  • Spiritual Adultery and Idolatry: The term "fornication" (Greek: porneia) extends beyond mere sexual immorality to signify spiritual unfaithfulness to God. It encompasses idolatry, the pursuit of worldly power and riches, and alliances with systems that oppose divine truth. The "kings of the earth" committing fornication implies political and economic powers aligning with, and benefiting from, this corrupt system, betraying their allegiance to God.
  • Widespread Deception and Intoxication: The phrase "made drunk with the wine of her fornication" illustrates the profound and intoxicating effect of this system's allure. It suggests a loss of clear judgment, a willing embrace of deception, and a spiritual stupor that prevents people from discerning truth from error. This "wine" represents the seductive pleasures, false promises, and worldly ideologies that lead people astray.
  • Global Influence: The inclusion of "kings of the earth" and "inhabitants of the earth" underscores the universal reach and pervasive nature of Babylon's influence, affecting all levels of society.

Linguistic Insights

The Greek word for "fornication" is porneia (πορνεία), which in prophetic and covenantal contexts, frequently refers to spiritual unfaithfulness and idolatry, depicting Israel's turning away from God to worship other gods or to rely on worldly alliances. The imagery of being "made drunk" uses the Greek word methyō (μεθύω), vividly portraying a state of spiritual stupor and moral insensibility, where judgment is clouded by worldly allurements and false doctrines, leading to irrational and corrupt behavior.

Practical Application

Revelation 17:2 serves as a powerful warning against the seductive power of worldly systems and their capacity to lead both leaders and common people into spiritual compromise and moral decay. For believers today, this verse calls for:

  • Spiritual Discernment: A keen awareness and discernment are needed to identify and resist the subtle ways worldly values, ideologies, and material pursuits can compete with or corrupt one's devotion to God.
  • Separation from Worldly Corruption: It encourages believers to maintain spiritual sobriety and to stand apart from systems that promote idolatry, greed, and ungodliness, even when such systems are widely accepted or appear beneficial. As 1 Peter 5:8 admonishes, we are to "be sober, be vigilant."
  • Faithfulness to Christ: Ultimately, the verse underscores the importance of unwavering faithfulness to God alone, resisting the intoxicating allurements that promise earthly satisfaction but lead to spiritual ruin and judgment.

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 (May 20, 2025) 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 14:8 (8 votes)

    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.

  • Revelation 18:3 (6 votes)

    For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies.

  • Jeremiah 51:7 (6 votes)

    Babylon [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.

  • Revelation 18:9 (5 votes)

    ¶ 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,

  • Revelation 18:23 (3 votes)

    And the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee; and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee: for thy merchants were the great men of the earth; for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived.

  • Revelation 3:10 (3 votes)

    Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.

  • Revelation 17:17 (3 votes)

    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.