Meaning of Revelation 17:5 in Biblical Context
Revelation 17:5 describes a woman, identified as "Babylon the Great," with a name written on her forehead: "MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF THE PROSTITUTES AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH" [1]. This inscription is presented as a stark contrast to the "HOLINESS TO THE LORD" inscribed on the high priest's miter in the Old Testament, suggesting a profound spiritual opposition [2].
The term "mystery" in this context implies a spiritual truth that was previously hidden but is now being revealed [2]. Just as the union of Christ and the Church is described as a "great mystery" (Ephesians 5:31-32), this passage presents a counter-mystery: the Church becoming a harlot by conforming to the world [2]. This concept of revelation is central to biblical understanding, where God makes known his will and plans, as seen in instances like God revealing his salvation plan to Peter (Matthew 16:17) or the Father revealing the Son (Matthew 17:5, John 17:5) [3, 4, 5].
The imagery of a name on the forehead is significant. In ancient cultures, harlots sometimes had their names inscribed on their foreheads [2]. The description of "Babylon the Great" as the "mother of the prostitutes and of the abominations of the earth" points to her as the source and instigator of widespread spiritual corruption and idolatry [1]. The book of Revelation frequently uses symbolic language to depict spiritual realities, and this passage is no exception. The "abominations" likely refer to practices and beliefs that are detestable to God, often associated with idolatry and moral impurity in the Old Testament.
The broader context of Revelation 17 involves the judgment of this "great harlot" who sits on many waters, representing peoples, multitudes, nations, and languages (Revelation 17:1, 15). This judgment is part of God's ultimate plan, which is often described as predetermined and foreknown by God [6]. The Lamb, Jesus Christ, is depicted as ultimately overcoming those who make war against him and his followers [7]. The imagery throughout Revelation, including this verse, serves to reveal God's sovereign control over history and the eventual triumph of good over evil.
Sources
- Revelation “And on her forehead a name was written, “MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF THE PROSTITUTES AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.” -- Revelation 17:5”
- Revelation (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Revelation 17:5: upon . . . forehead . . . name--as harlots usually had. What a contrast to "HOLINESS TO THE LORD," inscribed on the miter on the high priest's forehead! mystery--implying a spiritual fact heretofore hidden, and incapable of discovery by mere reason, but now revealed. As the union of Christ and the Church is a "great mystery" (a spiritual truth of momentous interest, once hidden, now revealed, Eph 5:31-32), so the Church conforming to the world and thereby becoming a harlot is a counter "mystery" (or spiritual truth, symbolically now revealed). As”
- Matthew (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Matthew 16:17: 16:17 God revealed to Peter his plan of salvation in Jesus, the Messiah. This moment of revelation was a high point in the unfolding of God’s will for humanity (cp. Gal 1:16; 3:23; Eph 3:5).”
- Matthew (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Matthew 17:5: 17:5 a bright cloud overshadowed them: Such an occurrence accompanied God’s presence among the ancient Israelites during Moses’ ministry (see Exod 24:15-18; 25:8; 29:45-46; 40:34-38). • my dearly loved Son: The Father was confirming what Peter had previously affirmed (Matt 16:16-17). • They should listen to him because Jesus is God’s Son, who, as a prophet, reveals God’s will (11:27; see Deut 18:15, 18; Acts 3:22-23; 7:37).”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “ANF Vol 8: Twelve Patriarchs, Excerpts, Epistles, Apocrypha, Decretals — CHAP. XVIII.--THE NATURE OF REVELATION.: "Thus to me also was the Son revealed by the Father. Wherefore I know what is the meaning of revelation, having learned it in my own case. For at the very time when the Lord said, 'Who do they say that I am?'(9) and when I heard one saying one thing of Him, and another another, it came into my heart to say (and I know not, therefore, how I said it), 'Thou art the Son of the living God.'(10) But He, pronouncing me blessed, pointed out to me that it was the Father who had revealed it”
- CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 2, section 60: precede the means; and, according to Paul, the purpose to create precedes the purpose to redeem, and therefore cannot be a means to that end. Our Lord, we are told, was delivered to death “by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God.” But his death, of necessity, supposed his incarnation, and therefore in the order of thought, or in the plan of God, the purpose to prepare Him a body preceded the purpose to deliver Him to the death of the cross. The only passage of the Bible which appears to teach explicitly that creation is a mean”
- Revelation (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Revelation 17:14: These shall make war with the Lamb,.... The Lord Jesus Christ, so often spoken of in this book under this character, Rev 5:6. And this war is not to be understood of a war with him personally, or of that last and decisive, battle at Armageddon, in which will be the kings of the earth; but of a war with his members, of their persecuting of the saints, and faithful witnesses of Christ in all ages, within their jurisdictions, being instigated to it by the beast, under whose influence they are: and the Lamb shall overcome them: partly through the constancy of his p”