Revelation 17:15

Revelation 17:15 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.
• New International Version (NIV)Then the angel said to me, “The waters you saw, where the prostitute sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations and languages.
• English Standard Version (ESV)And the angel said to me, "The waters that you saw, where the prostitute is seated, are peoples and multitudes and nations and languages.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Then he said to me, “The waters which you saw, where the harlot sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations, and tongues.

Context of Revelation 17:15

13These have one purpose, and they give their power and authority to the beast. 14These will make war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will conquer them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings. Those with him are called, chosen, and faithful.” He also said to me, “The waters you saw, where the prostitute was seated, are peoples, multitudes, nations, and languages. 16The ten horns you saw, and the beast, will hate the prostitute. They will make her desolate and naked, devour her flesh, and burn her up with fire. 17For God has put it into their hearts to carry out his plan by having one purpose and to give their kingdom to the beast until the words of God are fulfilled.

Revelation 17:15 word by word

Καὶ λέγει μοι· τὰ ὕδατα ἃ εἶδες, οὗ ἡ πόρνη κάθηται, λαοὶ καὶ ὄχλοι εἰσὶν καὶ ἔθνη καὶ γλῶσσαι.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Andκαίkai · andG2532
• he saithλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
• unto meἐγώegō · I/weG1473
• The watersὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• The watersὕδωρhudōr hudatos · waterG5204
• whichὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
• thou sawestὁράωhoraō · to see: seeG3708
• whereοὗhou · whitherG3757
• the whoreπόρνηpornē · prostituteG4204
• sittethκάθημαιkathēmai · to sitG2521
• areεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• peoplesλαόςlaos · a peopleG2992
• multitudesὄχλοςochlos · crowdG3793
• nationsἔθνοςethnos · GentilesG1484
• tonguesγλῶσσαglōssa · tongueG1100

Cross-references for Revelation 17:15

• Revelation 17:1Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and spoke with me: “Come, I will show you the judgment of the notorious prostitute who is seated on many waters.
• Psalms 18:4The ropes of death were wrapped around me; the torrents of destruction terrified me.
• Psalms 65:7You silence the roar of the seas, the roar of their waves, and the tumult of the nations.
• Psalms 93:3The floods have lifted up, Lord, the floods have lifted up their voice; the floods lift up their pounding waves.
• Isaiah 8:7the Lord will certainly bring against them the mighty rushing water of the Euphrates River — the king of Assyria and all his glory. It will overflow its channels and spill over all its banks.
• Jeremiah 51:13You who reside by abundant water, rich in treasures, your end has come, your life thread is cut.
• Revelation 10:11And they said to me, “You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, languages, and kings.”
• Revelation 11:9And some of the peoples, tribes, languages, and nations will view their bodies for three and a half days and not permit their bodies to be put into a tomb.
• Revelation 13:7And it was permitted to wage war against the saints and to conquer them. It was also given authority over every tribe, people, language, and nation.

Commentaries on Revelation 17:15

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 15And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues - "So many words," Bishop Newton observes, "in the plural number, fitly denote the great extensiveness of her power and jurisdiction. She herself glories in the title of the Catholic Church, and exults in the number of her votaries as a certain proof of the true religion. Cardinal Bellarmin's first note of the true Church is…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 15And he saith unto me - The angel, Revelation 17:7. This commences the more “literal” statement of what is meant by these symbols. See the Analysis of the chapter. The waters which thou sawest - See the notes on Revelation 17:1. Are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues - For an explanation of these terms, see the notes on Revelation 7:9. The meaning here is: (a) that these waters represent a multitude of people. This is a common and an obvious…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 15-18Verses 15-18 God so ruled the hearts of these kings, by his power over them, and by his providence, that they did those things, without intending it, which he purposed and foretold. They shall see their folly, and how they have been bewitched and enslaved by the harlot, and be made instruments in her destruction. She was that great city which reigned over the kings of the earth, when John had this vision; and every one knows Rome to be that city…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 15-16Although the prostitute controls the masses, she does not win. Instead, the beast hates and kills her. Satan harms even those he uses for evil.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1515. (Re 17:1; Is 8:7.) An impious parody of Jehovah who "sitteth upon the flood" [Alford]. Also, contrast the "many waters" Re 19:6, "Alleluia." peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues--The "peoples," &c., here mark the universality of the spiritual fornication of the Church. The "tongues" remind us of the original Babel, the confusion of tongues, the beginning of Babylon, and the first commencement of idolatrous apostasy after the flood, as the…Read the comment

Topics related to Revelation 17:15

• Horn
• Water

In the dictionaries

• Antichrist
• Carry
• Harlot
• Crime; Crimes
• Eschatology of the New Testament
• Images
• Palestine
• People
• Revelation of John

Commentaries on Revelation 17

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings