Then the angel said to me, “The waters you saw, where the prostitute was seated, are peoples and multitudes and nations and tongues.
Parallel translations
- WEB He said to me, “The waters which you saw, where the prostitute sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations, and languages.
- KJV And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.
- NKJV Then he said to me, “The waters which you saw, where the harlot sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations, and tongues.
- NASB And he *said to me, “The waters which you saw where the prostitute sits are peoples and multitudes, and nations and languages.
- NLT Then the angel said to me, “The waters where the prostitute is ruling represent masses of people of every nation and language.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The waters where the prostitute sits are peoples, multitudes, nations, and languages. Her seductive influence is worldwide.
Overview
The angel explains that the woman's seat over many waters signifies her sway over all humanity. Her corrupting system reaches across every people group, showing the global scope of idolatry and worldliness. This universal reach is precisely why the gospel summons people 'out of her' from every nation to the Lamb.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 11
- Rev 17:1Then one of the seven angels with the seven bowls came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the punishment of the great prostitute, who sits on many waters.
- Isa 8:7–8the Lord will surely bring against them the mighty floodwaters of the Euphrates—the king of Assyria and all his pomp. It will overflow its channels and overrun its banks.
- Jer 51:55For the LORD will destroy Babylon; He will silence her mighty voice. The waves will roar like great waters; the tumult of their voices will resound.
- Jer 51:13You who dwell by many waters, rich in treasures, your end has come; the thread of your life is cut.
- Ps 65:7You stilled the roaring of the seas, the pounding of their waves, and the tumult of the nations.
- Ps 93:3–4The floodwaters have risen, O LORD; the rivers have raised their voice; the seas lift up their pounding waves.
- Jer 51:42The sea has come up over Babylon; she is covered in turbulent waves.
- Rev 11:9For three and a half days all peoples and tribes and tongues and nations will view their bodies and will not permit them to be laid in a tomb.
- Rev 10:11And they told me, “You must prophesy again about many peoples and nations and tongues and kings.”
- Ps 18:4The cords of death encompassed me; the torrents of chaos overwhelmed me.
- Rev 13:7–8Then the beast was permitted to wage war against the saints and to conquer them, and it was given authority over every tribe and people and tongue and nation.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Revelation ends the story with the slain-yet-standing Lamb who is worthy, the Lion of Judah, the Alpha and Omega, the returning King who makes all things new and dwells with his people forever.
How Revelation 17:15 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.