Then he said to me, “The waters which you saw, where the harlot sits, are peoples, multitudes, 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.
- BSB Then the angel said to me, “The waters you saw, where the prostitute was seated, are peoples and multitudes and 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 17:1One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and spoke with me, saying, “Come here. I will show you the judgment of the great prostitute who sits on many waters,
- Isa 8:7–8now therefore, behold, the Lord brings upon them the mighty flood waters of the River: the king of Assyria and all his glory. It will come up over all its channels, and go over all its banks.
- Jer 51:55For Yahweh lays Babylon waste, and destroys out of her the great voice! Their waves roar like many waters. The noise of their voice is uttered.
- Jer 51:13You who dwell on many waters, abundant in treasures, your end has come, the measure of your covetousness.
- Ps 65:7who stills the roaring of the seas, the roaring of their waves, and the turmoil of the nations.
- Ps 93:3–4The floods have lifted up, Yahweh, the floods have lifted up their voice. The floods lift up their waves.
- Jer 51:42The sea has come up on Babylon. She is covered with the multitude of its waves.
- Rev 11:9From among the peoples, tribes, languages, and nations people will look at their dead bodies for three and a half days, and will not allow their dead bodies to be laid in a tomb.
- Rev 10:11They told me, “You must prophesy again over many peoples, nations, languages, and kings.”
- Ps 18:4The cords of death surrounded me. The floods of ungodliness made me afraid.
- Rev 13:7–8It was given to him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them. Authority over every tribe, people, language, and nation was given to him.
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.