Revelation 19 2

Revelation 19:2 kjv

For true and righteous are his judgments: for he hath judged the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand.

Revelation 19:2 nkjv

For true and righteous are His judgments, because He has judged the great harlot who corrupted the earth with her fornication; and He has avenged on her the blood of His servants shed by her."

Revelation 19:2 niv

for true and just are his judgments. He has condemned the great prostitute who corrupted the earth by her adulteries. He has avenged on her the blood of his servants."

Revelation 19:2 esv

for his judgments are true and just; for he has judged the great prostitute who corrupted the earth with her immorality, and has avenged on her the blood of his servants."

Revelation 19:2 nlt

His judgments are true and just.
He has punished the great prostitute
who corrupted the earth with her immorality.
He has avenged the murder of his servants."

Revelation 19 verses

Revelation 19 2 Meaning

Revelation 19:2 declares God's judgments as fundamentally true and righteous, providing the divine justification for His actions. Specifically, it highlights the judgment enacted upon the "great prostitute" (symbolizing Babylon), which had corrupted the entire earth through her spiritual immorality and idolatry. Furthermore, the verse proclaims that God has avenged the innocent blood of His servants, whom this very entity had persecuted and killed, thereby bringing divine retribution for their martyrdom. This serves as a vindication of God's justice and faithfulness to His people.

Revelation 19 2 Context

Revelation 19:2 stands as part of a heavenly chorus of praise and worship following the dramatic fall of "Babylon the Great," detailed in Revelation chapter 18. Chapter 18 describes the complete and utter destruction of this corrupt world system, symbolized as a magnificent but wicked city that exploited nations and persecuted God's people. The immediately preceding verse (Rev 19:1) introduces the "Hallelujah" chorus from a "great multitude in heaven," celebrating God's triumph. Verse 2 specifically explains why God is being praised: His judgments are perfect, particularly His righteous act of judging and punishing Babylon for her pervasive spiritual and moral corruption, and for the martyrdom of His saints. This verse therefore signifies the vindication of God's character and the beginning of His righteous rule, paving the way for the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. Historically, for the original audience facing Roman persecution, this vision offered profound comfort and assurance that divine justice would prevail over oppressive worldly powers.

Revelation 19 2 Word analysis

• for (γάρ - gar): A causal conjunction, indicating the reason or explanation for the preceding statement (the praise and Hallelujahs). It explains why God's judgments are worthy of such exaltation.
• true (ἀληθινοί - alēthinoi): Refers to judgments that are genuine, real, dependable, and not false or illusory. God’s judgments are not capricious but based on truth. This attribute points to the integrity of God’s nature.
• and (καί - kai): A simple conjunction connecting "true" and "righteous," showing them as equally important attributes of God's judgments.
• righteous (δίκαιοι - dikaioi): Implies justice, equity, conformity to God's moral standard, and moral rectitude. God's judgments are not only real but also inherently fair and just, in alignment with His holy character. They are morally unimpeachable.
• are (εἰσίν - eisin): The present indicative verb, signifying the enduring and unchangeable nature of God’s judgments. They are always, intrinsically, true and righteous.
• his (αὐτοῦ - autou): Refers specifically to God's judgments, distinguishing them from human or earthly judgments.
• judgments (κρίματα - krimata): Refers to acts of discerning justice, judicial decisions, sentences, or divine retribution. In this context, it points to the concrete acts of God’s decisive intervention against evil.
• for he has judged (ὅτι ἐποίησεν κρίσιν - hoti epoiēsen krisin): The particle "ὅτι" (hoti) again indicates the reason, reinforcing the explanation. "ἐποίησεν κρίσιν" literally "He made judgment," or "executed judgment." It emphasizes a definitive, completed action by God.
• the great prostitute (τὴν πόρνην τὴν μεγάλην - tēn pornēn tēn megalēn): A vivid, highly symbolic epithet from Revelation, introduced in Rev 17. "Prostitute" (πόρνη - pornē) denotes spiritual harlotry (idolatry, rebellion against God), betrayal, and enticing others into sin, often associated with corrupt power. "Great" (μεγάλην - megalēn) emphasizes her immense power, influence, and global reach. This refers to the wicked world system, often identified with oppressive worldly powers that stand against God's people and truth.
• who corrupted (ἥτις ἔφθειρεν - hētis ephthleiren): "Corrupted" (ἔφθειρεν - ephthleiren) implies defilement, decay, moral depravity, ruin, and bringing into a state of spiritual rot. It's a strong verb signifying a destructive influence that ruins the moral and spiritual fabric. The intensive nature implies total spiritual contamination.
• the earth (τὴν γῆν - tēn gēn): Denotes not just the physical ground, but metaphorically, the inhabitants and societies of the world. Her corruption was global and pervasive, affecting all of humanity.
• with her immorality (ἐν τῇ πορνείᾳ αὐτῆς - en tē porneia autēs): "Immorality" (πορνεία - porneia) here refers primarily to spiritual idolatry, defection from God, and wicked commercial practices, though it may include literal sexual sin as part of her depravity. This highlights the specific means by which she corrupted the world – leading people away from true worship into idolatrous and oppressive practices.
• and avenged (καὶ ἐξεδίκησεν - kai exedikēsen): "Avenged" (ἐξεδίκησεν - exedikēsen) means to execute justice, exact retribution, or vindicate. It conveys the idea of God acting as a legal and moral arbiter to right wrongs. It is not arbitrary revenge, but justified retribution based on true and righteous judgment.
• on her (ἐκ χειρὸς αὐτῆς - ek cheiros autēs): This phrase structurally connects the act of shedding blood directly to the prostitute herself, emphasizing her direct culpability.
• the blood (τὸ αἷμα - to haima): Symbolizes life and, specifically in this context, the lives violently taken from martyrs.
• of his servants (τῶν δούλων αὐτοῦ - tōn doulōn autou): Refers to the faithful followers of God, prophets, apostles, and all saints who served Him, often unto death (Rev 6:9-10; 18:24). Their spilled blood cries out for justice.
• shed by her hand (ἐκ χειρὸς αὐτῆς - ek cheiros autēs): "By her hand" points to the prostitute as the direct perpetrator or instrumental cause of the shedding of innocent blood. It underscores her personal responsibility and complicity in the persecution and death of God's faithful ones.

Revelation 19 2 Bonus section

The concept of "Babylon the Great" (ἡ πόρνη ἡ μεγάλη) has significant interpretive depth. While commonly understood as symbolic of Rome in John's immediate context due to its imperial power and persecution of Christians, biblical scholars also see it as representing any great earthly city, system, or power throughout history that stands in opposition to God, His truth, and His people. It embodies religious apostasy, commercial greed, political oppression, and spiritual corruption. The repeated phrase "true and righteous are his judgments" (found also in Rev 15:3 and 16:7) establishes a crucial theological principle throughout Revelation: God's justice is unimpeachable, providing comfort and confidence for believers facing intense persecution. The phrase "avenged on her the blood of his servants" directly echoes Old Testament themes where God arises to execute vengeance for the shedding of innocent blood (Deut 32:43; Psa 79:10). This emphasizes God's active involvement in human history and His ultimate sovereignty over all forms of injustice.

Revelation 19 2 Commentary

Revelation 19:2 is a profound declaration of God's just character, revealing the foundational truth that all His actions, especially in judgment, are perfect in their integrity and moral rectitude. The heavenly chorus underscores that the overthrow of "Babylon the Great" was not an arbitrary act of power, but a divinely merited consequence. Her judgment was necessitated by her global corruption through spiritual harlotry and pervasive wickedness, drawing nations away from God. Crucially, God’s judgment also includes avenging the innocent blood of His servants—the countless martyrs who suffered persecution and death at her instigation. This fulfills the saints' cry for justice (Rev 6:10) and provides assurance to persecuted believers that God sees, remembers, and will definitively act to vindicate His people and honor His own name. The verse reassures believers that despite the apparent triumph of evil, divine justice is inevitable and utterly flawless.