Revelation 17:15

Verse

Then the angel said to me, “The waters you saw, where the prostitute was seated, are peoples and multitudes and nations and tongues.

American Standard Version (1901)

And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the harlot sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.

Bible in Basic English

And he said to me, The waters which you saw, where the evil woman is seated, are peoples, and armies, and nations and languages.

Douay-Rheims 1899

And he said to me: The waters which thou sawest, where the harlot sitteth, are peoples, and nations, and tongues.

Free Bible Version

The angel went on to explain to me, “The waters that you saw where the harlot was sitting represent peoples, crowds of people, nations, and languages.

Geneva Bible 1599

And he said vnto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are people, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.

King James (Authorized) Version

And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.

Translation for Translators

Then the angel said to me, “The waters that you saw in the city where the prostitute sits represent people-groups, multitudes of people, nations, and speakers of many languages [MTY].

Unlocked Literal Bible

The angel said to me, “The waters you saw, where the prostitute is seated, are peoples, multitudes, nations, and languages.

Noah Webster Bible

And he saith to me, The waters which thou sawest, where the harlot sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and languages.

World English Bible

He said to me, “The waters which you saw, where the prostitute sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations, and languages.

Young's Literal Translation

And he saith to me, 'The waters that thou didst see, where the whore doth sit, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues;'

Context

The Victory of the Lamb

¹⁴They will make war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will triumph over them, because He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and He will be accompanied by His called and chosen and faithful ones.”¹⁵Then the angel said to me, “The waters you saw, where the prostitute was seated, are peoples and multitudes and nations and tongues.¹⁶And the ten horns and the beast that you saw will hate the prostitute. They will leave her desolate and naked, and will eat her flesh and burn her with fire.

Sermons

Epistle 100

George Fox

Epistle 229

George Fox

Summary

This verse describes the symbolic imagery of the waters where the great prostitute sits, representing peoples, multitudes, nations, and languages. The prostitute's influence extends over a vast and diverse population, signifying her global impact. The imagery underscores the widespread reach of spiritual corruption and deception in the world. It serves as a warning against being swayed by false teachings and ideologies that lead people away from God. Ultimately, the verse highlights the importance of discernment and staying faithful to the truth amidst the prevailing spiritual darkness.

Commentary

Adam Clarke
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
John Gill
Tyndale

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

And 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, the very name of the Catholic Church; and his fourth note is, amplitude, or multitude, and variety of believers; for the truly Catholic Church, says he, ought not only to comprehend all ages, but likewise all places, all nations, all kinds of men."

John Gill Bible Commentary

And he saith unto me,.... That is, the angel, who proposed to give John the interpretation of the vision, he went on with it as follows: the waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth; see Gill on Rev 17:1, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues; denoting the vast multitude of people, of which the several kingdoms, of divers languages, consist, which belong to the jurisdiction of Rome Papal: it is an eastern way of speaking, and is particularly used to express the various kingdoms, and infinite number of people belonging to the Babylonish monarchy, which was an emblem of the antichristian state, Dan 3:4 and these are compared to waters, to many waters; which phrase sometimes is used for the sea, Psa 107:23 because of the vast numbers of them; the whole world wondered after the beast, and the kings and inhabitants of the earth have been subject to the see of Rome; and because of their overbearing force, carrying all before them; see Isa 8:7 Rev 13:3 and because, like waters, they are continually upon the flux, one generation succeeding another; and because of their instability, fickleness, and inconstancy, as in religion, so in their constitution, they will hate the whore they love; and as they frequently change and alter in their form, at last they will utterly cease: so the Jews (w) interpret many waters, in Sol 8:7 of all people, and of the kings of the earth, and of the nations of the world; and they say, that many waters never signify any other than all the nations, and those that are appointed over them (x). So, "he drew me out of many waters", Psa 18:16 is by the Targum on the place explained, he delivered me from many people. And so Psa 46:4 is paraphrased by the Targumist; "people, "as rivers", and their streams, shall come, and make glad the city of the Lord;'' see the Targum on Isa 8:7 and in Eze 32:2 where it is observed kingdoms are compared to waters (y). (w) Targum in Cant. viii. 7. Shirhashirim Rabba fol. 26. 1. (x) Zohar in Gen. fol. 51. 3. & Raya Mehimna in ib. & in Numb. fol. 105. 3. Bemidbar Rabba, sect. 2. fol. 179. 4. (y) Yaikut Simeoni, par. 2. fol. 93. 2.

Revelation 17:15

The Victory of the Lamb

Scripture
Sermons
Commentary

Berean Standard Bible

Then the angel said to me, “The waters you saw, where the prostitute was seated, are peoples and multitudes and nations and tongues.

American Standard Version (1901)

And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the harlot sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.

Bible in Basic English

And he said to me, The waters which you saw, where the evil woman is seated, are peoples, and armies, and nations and languages.

Douay-Rheims 1899

And he said to me: The waters which thou sawest, where the harlot sitteth, are peoples, and nations, and tongues.

Free Bible Version

The angel went on to explain to me, “The waters that you saw where the harlot was sitting represent peoples, crowds of people, nations, and languages.

Geneva Bible 1599

And he said vnto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are people, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.

King James (Authorized) Version

And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.

Translation for Translators

Then the angel said to me, “The waters that you saw in the city where the prostitute sits represent people-groups, multitudes of people, nations, and speakers of many languages [MTY].

Unlocked Literal Bible

The angel said to me, “The waters you saw, where the prostitute is seated, are peoples, multitudes, nations, and languages.

Noah Webster Bible

And he saith to me, The waters which thou sawest, where the harlot sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and languages.

World English Bible

He said to me, “The waters which you saw, where the prostitute sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations, and languages.

Young's Literal Translation

And he saith to me, 'The waters that thou didst see, where the whore doth sit, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues;'

Adam Clarke
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
John Gill
Tyndale

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

John Gill Bible Commentary

Revelation 17:15

Verse

Context

The Victory of the Lamb

Sermons

Summary

Commentary

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

John Gill Bible Commentary

Tyndale Open Study Notes

Revelation 17:15

The Victory of the Lamb

Epistle 100

Epistle 229

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

John Gill Bible Commentary

Tyndale Open Study Notes