And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, 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.
- BSB Then the angel said to me, “The waters you saw, where the prostitute was seated, 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 17:1And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters:
- Isa 8:7–8Now therefore, behold, the Lord bringeth up upon them the waters of the river, strong and many, even the king of Assyria, and all his glory: and he shall come up over all his channels, and go over all his banks:
- Jer 51:55Because the LORD hath spoiled Babylon, and destroyed out of her the great voice; when her waves do roar like great waters, a noise of their voice is uttered:
- Jer 51:13O thou that dwellest upon many waters, abundant in treasures, thine end is come, and the measure of thy covetousness.
- Ps 65:7Which stilleth the noise of the seas, the noise of their waves, and the tumult of the people.
- Ps 93:3–4The floods have lifted up, O LORD, the floods have lifted up their voice; the floods lift up their waves.
- Jer 51:42The sea is come up upon Babylon: she is covered with the multitude of the waves thereof.
- Rev 11:9And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves.
- Rev 10:11And he said unto me, Thou must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings.
- Ps 18:4The sorrows of death compassed me, and the floods of ungodly men made me afraid.
- Rev 13:7–8And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.
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.