“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.
Parallel translations
- WEB Here is the mind that has wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sits.
- KJV And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth.
- 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,
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. He who has understanding, let him calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man. His number is six hundred sixty-six.
- Rev 17:7The angel said to me, “Why do you wonder? I will tell you the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carries her, which has the seven heads and the ten horns.
- Dan 12:4But you, Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run back and forth, and knowledge shall be increased.”
- Matt 24:15“When, therefore, you see the abomination of desolation, which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand),
- Rev 17:3He carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness. I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet-colored animal, full of blasphemous names, having seven heads and ten horns.
- Rev 13:1Then I stood on the sand of the sea. I saw a beast coming up out of the sea, having ten horns and seven heads. On his horns were ten crowns, and on his heads, blasphemous names.
- Hos 14:9Who is wise, that he may understand these things? Who is prudent, that he may know them? For the ways of Yahweh are right, and the righteous walk in them; But the rebellious stumble in them.
- Dan 12:8–10I heard, but I didn’t understand: then I said, my lord, what shall be the issue of these things?
- Rev 17:18The woman whom you saw is the great city, which reigns over the kings of the earth.”
- Matt 13:11He answered them, “To you it is given to know the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven, but it is not given to them.
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 17:9 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.