Revelation 17:6 kjv
And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration.
Revelation 17:6 nkjv
I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. And when I saw her, I marveled with great amazement.
Revelation 17:6 niv
I saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of God's holy people, the blood of those who bore testimony to Jesus. When I saw her, I was greatly astonished.
Revelation 17:6 esv
And I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints, the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. When I saw her, I marveled greatly.
Revelation 17:6 nlt
I could see that she was drunk ? drunk with the blood of God's holy people who were witnesses for Jesus. I stared at her in complete amazement.
Revelation 17 6 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Rev 6:9-10 | ...I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain... | Cry of martyrs for justice. |
| Rev 16:6 | ...for they have shed the blood of saints and prophets... | Divine retribution for shedding innocent blood. |
| Rev 18:24 | And in her was found the blood of prophets and of saints... | Babylon's ultimate guilt and destruction. |
| Rev 19:2 | ...He has judged the great prostitute who corrupted the earth with her immorality... | God's justice in avenging His servants' blood. |
| Mt 23:35 | ...that on you may come all the righteous blood shed on earth... | Accumulation of guilt from shedding innocent blood. |
| 2 Thess 1:5-7 | ...a just long for God to repay tribulation to those who trouble you... | God's justice for those who suffer for faith. |
| Heb 11:35-38 | Others were tortured... stoned... sawn in two... slain with the sword... | Faithfulness of believers enduring martyrdom. |
| Acts 7:59-60 | ...And falling on his knees he cried out with a loud voice, "Lord, do not hold..." | Stephen, the first recorded martyr. |
| Dan 7:21 | I saw the same horn making war against the saints and overpowering them... | Prophecy of oppressive power persecuting saints. |
| Dan 7:25 | He shall speak words against the Most High, and shall wear out the saints... | Another prophecy of prolonged persecution. |
| Ps 79:3 | They have poured out their blood like water around Jerusalem... | Lament for the violent deaths of God's people. |
| Jer 51:49 | Babylon also is to fall for the slain of Israel... | Babylon's responsibility for the destruction of Israel. |
| Isa 49:26 | I will make your oppressors eat their own flesh, and they shall be drunk with their own blood... | Poetic justice against oppressors. |
| Jer 25:27 | Then you shall say to them, "Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: 'Drink, be drunk and vomit...'" | Nations drinking from God's wrath, linking to intoxication. |
| Rev 17:1-5 | ...I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast... the mother of prostitutes... | Initial description of the harlot and beast. |
| Rev 17:7 | ...Why did you wonder? I will tell you the mystery of the woman... | Angel's immediate response to John's wonder. |
| Rev 18:20 | Rejoice over her, O heaven, and you saints and apostles and prophets... | Rejoicing over Babylon's deserved judgment. |
| 1 Pet 5:13 | She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you greetings... | Possible reference to Rome as "Babylon." |
| Lk 2:18 | And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. | Example of wonder/astonishment in the New Testament. |
| Acts 3:10 | And they recognized him as the one who used to sit... And they were filled with wonder... | Another instance of deep amazement. |
| Lk 21:26 | Men fainting from fear and with foreboding of what is coming... | Context of awe or fear due to apocalyptic events. |
| Jer 2:30 | ...Your own sword devoured your prophets like a ravenous lion. | Prophet Jeremiah lamenting Israel's persecution of God's messengers. |
Revelation 17 verses
Revelation 17 6 Meaning
The Apostle John, in his vision, observed the allegorical "woman," identified as Babylon the Great, in a state of extreme intoxication. Her "wine" was not literal drink, but the very blood of God's holy people, the saints, and specifically those who had faithfully witnessed to Jesus even unto death (the martyrs). John's profound reaction was one of "great wonder" or astonishment, a shock and bewilderment at the horrific sight and implications of this woman's nature and actions.
Revelation 17 6 Context
Revelation 17 focuses on "Babylon the Great," presented as a harlot riding a scarlet beast, signifying a powerful, corrupt, and idolatrous system. This verse specifically unmasks her true character: a merciless persecutor of those loyal to Christ. It builds on previous descriptions of persecution (Rev 6, Rev 16) and sets the stage for the angel's detailed explanation of the woman and beast (Rev 17:7ff) and Babylon's ultimate downfall (Revelation 18). Historically, this imagery likely condemned the Roman Empire and its imperial cult, which demanded absolute allegiance and persecuted Christians for their exclusive devotion to Jesus. John's "wonder" underscores the shocking depravity and perhaps the paradoxical power and seductiveness of this persecuting entity, leading to the necessary angelic interpretation.
Revelation 17 6 Word analysis
- And I saw (καὶ εἶδον - kai eidon): A recurring phrase in Revelation, signaling John's direct visionary experience. It places the reader directly into the vision with John.
- the woman (τὴν γυναῖκα - tēn gynaika): Refers to the "great harlot" introduced at the chapter's beginning (Rev 17:1). She is a symbolic representation of a powerful, idolatrous, and oppressive system or city that opposes God.
- drunken (μεθύουσαν - methuousan): From methyō, meaning "to be intoxicated." This powerful metaphor indicates not merely being under the influence, but completely saturated and overwhelmed by something. Here, it conveys an insatiable and excessive indulgence in shedding the blood of believers, implying both gluttony for violence and an almost deranged state.
- with the blood (ἐκ τοῦ αἵματος - ek tou haimatos): "Out of the blood" or "by means of the blood." The blood is the very substance of her intoxication, highlighting the enormity of her guilt and the extent of her violence. It signifies profound contamination and an almost vampiric nature.
- of the saints (τῶν ἁγίων - tōn hagiōn): "Holy ones," referring to all those set apart by God and dedicated to Him—the universal body of believers. This term underscores their spiritual purity and righteousness, making their persecution an offense against God Himself.
- and with the blood (καὶ ἐκ τοῦ αἵματος - kai ek tou haimatos): Repetition for emphasis, distinguishing and highlighting the next group.
- of the martyrs of Jesus (τῶν μαρτύρων Ἰησοῦ - tōn martyron Iēsou): Literally, "of the witnesses of Jesus." While martys means "witness," in the New Testament context, especially by this period, it increasingly denoted a witness who sealed their testimony with their death. This specifically points to those who endured persecution and gave their lives for or because of their unwavering faithfulness to Jesus Christ.
- and when I saw her (καὶ ἰδὼν αὐτήν - kai idōn autēn): John reiterates his observation, emphasizing his direct encounter and subsequent reaction.
- I wondered (ἐθαύμασα - ethaumasa): From thaumazō, "to be amazed, astonished, or wonder." This verb often carries an element of profound awe, perplexity, or shock. In this context, it conveys deep shock and bewilderment rather than admiration in the sense of approval.
- with great admiration (θαῦμα μέγα - thauma mega): Literally "great wonder" or "great astonishment." It intensifies John's already expressed wonder. This is not admiration in a positive sense but profound awe, shock, or bewilderment at the harlot's identity, her actions, and the extent of her evil. It implies a perplexity so deep that an explanation is required, which the angel provides in the next verse.
Revelation 17 6 Bonus section
- The deliberate distinction between "saints" and "martyrs of Jesus" emphasizes both the broader suffering of all believers and the specific ultimate sacrifice made by those who died for their faith. This reflects the intense persecution faced by early Christians.
- The phrase "drunken with blood" is an Old Testament echo found in prophecies of divine judgment against oppressive nations that shed innocent blood (e.g., Isa 49:26, Lam 4:13). It highlights Babylon's full measure of guilt.
- John's profound "wonder" (thauma) indicates a prophetic shock at the manifestation of such pervasive spiritual and political evil. It emphasizes the need for divine revelation to understand such mysteries.
- This verse contributes significantly to the apocalyptic narrative, presenting the stark conflict between God's kingdom and the forces of evil, revealing the high cost of faithfulness and ensuring that God sees and remembers the sacrifice of His people.
Revelation 17 6 Commentary
Revelation 17:6 starkly portrays the inherent evil of the "great harlot" or Babylon. Her "drunkenness" on the blood of God's people reveals her true character: an oppressive, idolatrous system that revels in persecuting and executing those faithful to Christ. This imagery highlights her moral depravity, demonstrating an insatiable, almost addicted, appetite for violence against believers. John's "great wonder" is not a sign of approval but profound shock and perplexity. He is astounded, perhaps, by the depth of her wickedness, the audacity of her persecution, or the seemingly contradictory splendor of her appearance contrasted with her horrific deeds. This reaction serves to underscore the gravity of what is being revealed and to set the stage for the angelic interpretation that follows, unlocking the mystery of this sinister figure. The verse reminds believers of the high cost of discipleship and the unwavering evil that persecutes Christ's followers throughout history.