Devine Scripture

Revelation 17:4

What does Revelation 17:4 mean?

A plain-English look at Revelation 17:4 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Revelation 17:4 means

The woman’s clothing and jewels are richly royal—purple and scarlet, gold, precious stones, and pearls. She looks like a queen, bearing a golden cup that sparkles with beauty and promise. But the cup is filled with abominations and uncleanness. This contrast warns that appearances can deceive: worldly splendor often conceals spiritual rot. The harlot’s trade is to make sin look refined and religion look profitable, until hearts are captured by what God calls vile. The golden cup echoes the theme of intoxication; her gifts are intoxicating because they are attractive and accessible. Yet all her luxury serves one end: to seduce away from the holiness of God into idolatry and impurity.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and decked with gold and precious stone and pearls, having in her hand a golden cup full of abominations, even the unclean things of her fornication,

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication:

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and decked with gold and precious stone and pearls, having in her hand a golden cup full of abominations, even the unclean things of her fornication,

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And the woman was clothed in purple and bright red, with ornaments of gold and stones of great price and jewels; and in her hand was a gold cup full of evil things and her unclean desires;

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

and the woman was arrayed with purple and scarlet-colour, and gilded with gold, and precious stone, and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and uncleanness of her whoredom,

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And the woman was clothed round about with purple and scarlet, and gilt with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand, full of the abomination and filthiness of her fornication.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And the woman was clothed in purple and scarlet, and had ornaments of gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and the unclean things of her fornication;

Context

This verse deepens the visual impression of the woman begun in verse 3. Before her name is revealed, her attire and accessories display how she seduces—by spectacle, status, and sensory appeal. The golden cup prepares for the revelation of her identity in the next verse, where her forehead inscription explains what the glitter hides. The careful build-up ensures we see both the bait and the hook, so the angel’s forthcoming interpretation will expose the true nature behind the lavish exterior.

v.3And he carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness: and I saw a woman sitting upon a scarlet-colored beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.

v.4This passage

v.5and upon her forehead a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF THE HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Revelation 18:6

    Render unto her even as she rendered, and double unto her the double according to her works: in the cup which she mingled, mingle unto her double.

  • 2 Thessalonians 2:3

    let no man beguile you in any wise: for it will not be, except the falling away come first, and the man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition,

  • Ezra 9:11

    which thou hast commanded by thy servants the prophets, saying, The land, unto which ye go to possess it, is an unclean land through the uncleanness of the peoples of the lands, through their abominations, which have filled it from one end to another with their filthiness:

  • Daniel 11:38

    But in his place shall he honor the god of fortresses; and a god whom his fathers knew not shall he honor with gold, and silver, and with precious stones and pleasant things.

  • Revelation 18:12

    merchandise of gold, and silver, and precious stone, and pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet; and all thyine wood, and every vessel of ivory, and every vessel made of most precious wood, and of brass, and iron, and marble;

  • Ezekiel 24:13

    In thy filthiness is lewdness: because I have cleansed thee and thou wast not cleansed, thou shalt not be cleansed from thy filthiness any more, till I have caused my wrath toward thee to rest.

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