Revelation 17:16
What does Revelation 17:16 mean?
A plain-English look at Revelation 17:16 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Revelation 17:16 means
In a stunning turn, the ten horns and the beast now hate the harlot. They strip her, devour her, and burn her—images of total, contemptuous ruin. Evil is inherently self-destructive: alliances formed in rebellion unravel into mutual betrayal. The political powers, having used the corrupt system for gain, cast it off violently when it no longer serves them or when God’s restraining time ends. The language recalls judgments of unfaithful cities in Scripture—exposure, desolation, and fire. What looked invincible collapses from within. Thus the harlot’s judgment is not only from heaven above but also through the very earthly instruments she once rode.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And the ten horns which thou sawest, and the beast, these shall hate the harlot, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and shall burn her utterly with fire.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And 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.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And the ten horns which thou sawest, and the beast, these shall hate the harlot, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and shall burn her utterly with fire.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And the ten horns which you saw, and the beast, these will be turned against the evil woman, and will make her waste and uncovered, and will take her flesh for food, and will have her burned with fire.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862and the ten horns that thou didst see upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and shall burn her in fire,
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And the ten horns which thou sawest in the beast: These shall hate the harlot and shall make her desolate and naked and shall eat her flesh and shall burn her with fire.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And the ten horns which thou sawest, and the beast, these shall hate the harlot, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and shall burn her with fire;
Context
After learning how wide the woman’s influence is, the reader is shown the surprising means of her downfall. Verses 16 and 17 explain that the coalition allied with the beast will become God’s tool to destroy her. This prepares the way for the theological explanation in verse 17, attributing their sudden unity and violent action to God’s sovereign purpose. The narrative heightens the irony: the woman is overthrown by the powers that supported her.
v.15And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the harlot sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.
v.16This passage
v.17For God did put in their hearts to do his mind, and to come to one mind, and to give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God should be accomplished.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Revelation 19:18
that ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses and of them that sit thereon, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, and small and great.
- Job 31:31
If the men of my tent have not said, Who can find one that hath not been filled with his meat?
- Revelation 18:16
saying, Woe, woe, the great city, she that was arrayed in fine linen and purple and scarlet, and decked with gold and precious stone and pearl!
- Revelation 18:19
And they cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and mourning, saying, Woe, woe, the great city, wherein all that had their ships in the sea were made rich by reason of her costliness! for in one hour is she made desolate.
- Jeremiah 50:41
Behold, a people cometh from the north; and a great nation and many kings shall be stirred up from the uttermost parts of the earth.
- Ezekiel 16:37
therefore behold, I will gather all thy lovers, with whom thou hast taken pleasure, and all them that thou hast loved, with all them that thou hast hated; I will even gather them against thee on every side, and will uncover thy nakedness unto them, that they may see all thy nakedness.
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