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 mind, and shall give their power and strength to the beast. 14These 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. And he saith to me, The waters which thou sawest, where the harlot sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues. 16And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the harlot, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire. 17For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom to the beast, until the words of God shall be 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

• Andκαίkai · andG2532
• saithλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
• meμοίmoi · to meG3427
• watersὕδωρhudōr hudatos · waterG5204
• whichὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
• sawestεἴδωeidō · to perceive: seeG1492
• whereοὗhou · whitherG3757
• harlotπόρνηpornē · prostituteG4204
• sittethκάθημαιkathēmai · to sitG2521
• areεἰσίeisi · they areG1526
• peoplesλαόςlaos · a peopleG2992
• multitudesὄχλοςochlos · crowdG3793
• nationsἔθνοςethnos · GentilesG1484
• tonguesγλῶσσαglōssa · tongueG1100

Cross-references for Revelation 17:15

• Revelation 17:1And there came one of the seven angels who had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying to me, Come; I will show to thee the judgment of the great harlot that sitteth upon many waters:
• Psalms 18:4The sorrows of death surrounded me, and the floods of ungodly men made me afraid.
• Psalms 65:7Who stilleth the noise of the seas, the noise of their waves, and the tumult of the people.
• Psalms 93:3The floods have lifted up, O LORD, the floods have lifted up their voice; the floods lift their waves.
• Isaiah 8:7Now therefore, behold, the Lord bringeth up upon them the waters of the river, strong and many, even the king of Assyria, and all his glory: and he shall come up over all its channels, and go over all its banks:
• Jeremiah 51:13O thou that dwellest upon many waters, abundant in treasures, thy end is come, and the measure of thy covetousness.
• Revelation 10:11And he said to me, Thou must prophesy again concerning many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings.
• Revelation 11:9And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not permit their dead bodies to be put in graves.
• Revelation 13:7And it was given to him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.

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