And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth.
Parallel translations
- WEB Here is the mind that has wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sits.
- BSB This calls for a mind with wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sits.
- NKJV “Here is the mind which has wisdom: The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sits.
- NASB Here is the mind which has wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains upon which the woman sits,
- NLT “This calls for a mind with understanding: The seven heads of the beast represent the seven hills where the woman rules. They also represent seven kings.
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
Understanding requires God-given wisdom: the seven heads are seven mountains where the woman sits. The imagery points to a concrete center of worldly power.
Overview
The call for 'the mind that has wisdom' invites careful, Spirit-led interpretation. Seven mountains would have evoked Rome for John's first readers, the city on seven hills, while also signifying the fullness of earthly dominion. Faithful Christians differ on the precise referent, but all agree the vision unmasks human empire that exalts itself against God.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 10
- Rev 13:18Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.
- Rev 17:7And the angel said unto me, Wherefore didst thou marvel? I will tell thee the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carrieth her, which hath the seven heads and ten horns.
- Dan 12:4But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.
- Matt 24:15When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)
- Rev 17:3So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.
- Rev 13:1And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.
- Hos 14:9Who is wise, and he shall understand these things? prudent, and he shall know them? for the ways of the LORD are right, and the just shall walk in them: but the transgressors shall fall therein.
- Dan 12:8–10And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things?
- Rev 17:18And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.
- Matt 13:11He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.
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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 17:9 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.