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Revelation 17

Rev. 17:5 KJV (With Strong’s)

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5
And
ho (Greek #3588)
the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
KJV usage: the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.
Pronounce: ho
Origin: ἡ (hay), and the neuter τό (to) in all their inflections
kai (Greek #2532)
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
KJV usage: and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.
Pronounce: kahee
Origin: apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force
upon
epi (Greek #1909)
properly, meaning superimposition (of time, place, order, etc.), as a relation of distribution (with the genitive case), i.e. over, upon, etc.; of rest (with the dative case) at, on, etc.; of direction (with the accusative case) towards, upon, etc.
KJV usage: about (the times), above, after, against, among, as long as (touching), at, beside, X have charge of, (be-, (where-))fore, in (a place, as much as, the time of, -to), (because) of, (up-)on (behalf of), over, (by, for) the space of, through(-out), (un-)to(-ward), with. In compounds it retains essentially the same import, at, upon, etc. (literally or figuratively).
Pronounce: ep-ee'
Origin: a primary preposition
her
autos (Greek #846)
the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative 1438) of the third person , and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons
KJV usage: her, it(-self), one, the other, (mine) own, said, (self-), the) same, ((him-, my-, thy- )self, (your-)selves, she, that, their(-s), them(-selves), there(-at, - by, -in, -into, -of, -on, -with), they, (these) things, this (man), those, together, very, which. Compare 848.
Pronounce: ow-tos'
Origin: from the particle αὖ (perhaps akin to the base of 109 through the idea of a baffling wind) (backward)
forehead
ho (Greek #3588)
the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
KJV usage: the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.
Pronounce: ho
Origin: ἡ (hay), and the neuter τό (to) in all their inflections
metopon (Greek #3359)
the forehead (as opposite the countenance)
KJV usage: forehead.
Pronounce: met'-o-pon
Origin: from 3326 and ops (the face)
was a name
onoma (Greek #3686)
a "name" (literally or figuratively) (authority, character)
KJV usage: called, (+ sur-)name(-d).
Pronounce: on'-om-ah
Origin: from a presumed derivative of the base of 1097 (compare 3685)
written
grapho (Greek #1125)
to "grave", especially to write; figuratively, to describe
KJV usage: describe, write(-ing, -ten).
Pronounce: graf'-o
Origin: a primary verb
, MYSTERY
musterion (Greek #3466)
a secret or "mystery" (through the idea of silence imposed by initiation into religious rites)
KJV usage: mystery.
Pronounce: moos-tay'-ree-on
Origin: from a derivative of μύω (to shut the mouth)
h, BABYLON
Babulon (Greek #897)
Babylon, the capitol of Chaldaea (literally or figuratively (as a type of tyranny))
KJV usage: Babylon.
Pronounce: bab-oo-lone'
Origin: of Hebrew origin (0894)
THE GREAT
megas (Greek #3173)
big (literally or figuratively, in a very wide application)
KJV usage: (+ fear) exceedingly, great(-est), high, large, loud, mighty, + (be) sore (afraid), strong, X to years.
Pronounce: meg'-as
Origin: (including the prolonged forms, feminine μεγάλη, plural μεγάλοι, etc.; compare also 3176, 3187)
, THE MOTHER
ho (Greek #3588)
the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
KJV usage: the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.
Pronounce: ho
Origin: ἡ (hay), and the neuter τό (to) in all their inflections
meter (Greek #3384)
a "mother" (literally or figuratively, immediate or remote)
KJV usage: mother.
Pronounce: may'-tare
Origin: apparently a primary word
OF δHARLOTS
ho (Greek #3588)
the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
KJV usage: the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.
Pronounce: ho
Origin: ἡ (hay), and the neuter τό (to) in all their inflections
porne (Greek #4204)
a strumpet; figuratively, an idolater
KJV usage: harlot, whore.
Pronounce: por'-nay
Origin: feminine of 4205
AND
kai (Greek #2532)
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
KJV usage: and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.
Pronounce: kahee
Origin: apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force
ABOMINATIONS
ho (Greek #3588)
the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
KJV usage: the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.
Pronounce: ho
Origin: ἡ (hay), and the neuter τό (to) in all their inflections
bdelugma (Greek #946)
a detestation, i.e. (specially) idolatry
KJV usage: abomination.
Pronounce: bdel'-oog-mah
Origin: from 948
OF THE EARTH
ho (Greek #3588)
the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
KJV usage: the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.
Pronounce: ho
Origin: ἡ (hay), and the neuter τό (to) in all their inflections
ge (Greek #1093)
soil; by extension a region, or the solid part or the whole of the terrene globe (including the occupants in each application)
KJV usage: country, earth(-ly), ground, land, world.
Pronounce: ghay
Origin: contracted from a primary word
.
h
2 Thess. 2:7• 7For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. (2 Thess. 2:7)
δ
or, Fornications.

More on:

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Babylon the Great,
Earth,
Forehead,
mystery,
Writing

Cross References

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Ministry on This Verse

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upon.
Rev. 7:3• 3Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads. (Rev. 7:3)
;
Isa. 3:9• 9The show of their countenance doth witness against them; and they declare their sin as Sodom, they hide it not. Woe unto their soul! for they have rewarded evil unto themselves. (Isa. 3:9)
;
Phil. 3:19• 19Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.) (Phil. 3:19)
MYSTERY.
2 Thess. 2:7• 7For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. (2 Thess. 2:7)
;
2 Tim. 3:1‑5• 1This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
 2For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
 3Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
 4Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
 5Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. (2 Tim. 3:1‑5)
BABYLON.
Rev. 11:8• 8And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified. (Rev. 11:8)
;
Rev. 14:8• 8And 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. (Rev. 14:8)
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Rev. 16:19• 19And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath. (Rev. 16:19)
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Rev. 18:2,10,21• 2And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.
 10Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for in one hour is thy judgment come.
 21And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all. (Rev. 18:2,10,21)
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Jer. 51:47‑48• 47Therefore, behold, the days come, that I will do judgment upon the graven images of Babylon: and her whole land shall be confounded, and all her slain shall fall in the midst of her.
 48Then the heaven and the earth, and all that is therein, shall sing for Babylon: for the spoilers shall come unto her from the north, saith the Lord. (Jer. 51:47‑48)
THE MOTHER.
Rev. 18:9• 9And 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, (Rev. 18:9)
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Rev. 19:2• 2For true and righteous are his judgments: for he hath judged the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand. (Rev. 19:2)
HARLOTS.
or, fornications.
• Babylon is not only herself "the great harlot," but "the mother of the harlots and the abominations of the earth." There are more of kindred corruptions in religion, though Rome is pre-eminent, "the mother and mistress," as she claims, of others. (“Lectures on Revelation 17-18” by W. Kelly)
• A mystery clearly points to something undiscoverable by the natural mind of man—a secret that requires the distinct and fresh light of God to unravel, but which when revealed thus is plain enough. (“Lectures on Revelation 17-18” by W. Kelly)
• There was great pretension to truth — a masterpiece of the enemy in counterfeiting the revealed ways of God. The mystery of Christ and the church had been revealed; now there is the mystery of this anti-church; not the mystery of faith and godliness, but of lawlessness — Babylon the great seated on the beast, the awful contrast of the church which is subject unto Christ. (“Babylon and the Beast: 1” by W. Kelly)
• Apart from this revelation, John would never have imagined that in Christendom there would develop a great system that professes the name of Christ, and claims to be the church, and yet becomes so utterly corrupt that it is described as "Babylon the great, the mother of harlots and abominations of the earth." (“Revelation 17” by W. Kelly)
• She is identified as “Mystery Babylon” indicating the depths of her idolatry. She is “the mother of harlots.” This means that she has many daughters under her wing who have her character. As a “Mother” she has given birth to the other denominations in Christendom, for they have all come out of her clerical corruption and thus bear the marks of her character in varying degrees. These will all be gathered under her wing in the first half of the prophetic week and will constitute the false church (vs. 5). (“A Parenthesis: Revelation 17-19:10” by B. Anstey)
• First, “Mystery.” The general usage of the word in the New Testament signifies what is now revealed, but had hitherto been a secret (Matt. 13; Eph. 5:32; and so forth). The Church is subject to Christ; the woman is subject to none. She usurps Christ’s place of supremacy over the nations. She is indeed a mystery. She should have stood for God and truth, but now she is witnessed as the embodiment of error, and of all that is morally vile and wicked. (“Revelation 17: Babylon and the Beast” by W. Scott)
• “Babylon the Great.” It is a huge system of spiritual evil. Great and bad as Babylon was, the enslaver of God’s people of old, so bad that its doom is irrevocable (Jer. 51:64), yet it is exceeded by far in its spiritual counterpart, the great Babylon of the Apocalypse. The former was guilty, but the latter much more so. (“Revelation 17: Babylon and the Beast” by W. Scott)
• “The mother of the harlots, and of the abominations of the earth.” Her offspring are numerous. She is the parent, the source of each and every religious system which courts the world. Religious idolatry of every shape and form, every ensnaring thing and object; in short, systems, things, doctrines, and objects used by Satan to turn men from God are here traced to their source—Great Babylon. (“Revelation 17: Babylon and the Beast” by W. Scott)
• This, then, is the character publicly borne by the woman, just as in ancient times it was the practice in certain places for harlots to bear their name and evil reputation on their foreheads. If the admirers of the woman fail to see her true character because intoxicated with her finery and grandeur the spiritual do not. (“Revelation 17: Babylon and the Beast” by W. Scott)
• Babylon: The great licentious and idolatrous corruptress of religion; Western civilization in its religious aspect (Jer. 51:7). (“Revelation 17 Symbols” by A.H. Burton)
• Mystery: Pretension to truth. (“Revelation 17 Symbols” by A.H. Burton)

J. N. Darby Translation

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and upon her forehead a name written, Mystery, great Babylon, the mother of the harlots, and of the abominations of the earth.

W. Kelly Translation

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and upon her forehead a name written: MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHERa OF THE HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.

WK Translation Notes

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a
"The" harlots, etc., say the Revisers rightly; and "of the" abominations also. This was a case, not of reading, but of mistranslation in all the older English versions, save that of Rheims. Besides, they had from Latin influence the "whoredom" or fornication of the KJV margin as their text.