17:1 Then 37 one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and spoke to me. 38 “Come,” he said, “I will show you the condemnation and punishment 39 of the great prostitute who sits on many waters,
18:17 because in a single hour such great wealth has been destroyed!” 50
And every ship’s captain, 51 and all who sail along the coast 52 – seamen, and all who 53 make their living from the sea, stood a long way off
1 tn Grk “from where,” but status is in view rather than physical position. On this term BDAG 838 s.v. πόθεν 1 states, “from what place? from where?…In imagery μνημόνευε πόθεν πέπτωκες remember from what (state) you have fallen Rv 2:5.”
2 tn Grk “and do” (a continuation of the previous sentence in the Greek text). For stylistic reasons in English a new sentence was started here in the translation. The repeated mention of repenting at the end of the verse suggests that the intervening material (“do the deeds you did at first”) specifies how the repentance is to be demonstrated.
3 tn Or “you did formerly.”
4 tn Although the final clause is somewhat awkward, it is typical of the style of Revelation.
5 tn The Greek article has been translated here with demonstrative force.
6 tc The ms evidence for γυναῖκα (gunaika, “woman”) alone includes {א C P 1611 2053 pc lat}. The ms evidence for the addition of “your” (σου, sou) includes A 1006 2351 ÏK pc sy. With the pronoun, the text reads “your wife, Jezebel” instead of “that woman, Jezebel.” In Revelation, A C are the most important
7 sn Jezebel was the name of King Ahab’s idolatrous and wicked queen in 1 Kgs 16:31; 18:1-5; 19:1-3; 21:5-24. It is probable that the individual named here was analogous to her prototype in idolatry and immoral behavior, since those are the items singled out for mention.
8 tn Grk “teaches and deceives” (διδάσκει καὶ πλανᾷ, didaskei kai plana), a construction in which the first verb appears to specify the means by which the second is accomplished: “by her teaching, deceives…”
9 tn See the note on the word “servants” in 1:1.
10 sn To commit sexual immorality and to eat food sacrificed to idols. Note the conclusions of the Jerusalem Council in Acts 15:29, which specifically prohibits Gentile Christians from engaging in these activities.
9 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the implied result of hearing the voice summon the first rider.
10 tc The reading “and I looked” (καὶ εἶδον, kai eidon) or some slight variation (e.g., ἶδον, idon) has excellent ms support ({א A C P 1611}) and its omission seems to come through the
11 tn The phrase “and here came” expresses the sense of καὶ ἰδού (kai idou).
12 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
13 tn Grk “the one sitting on it.”
14 sn See the note on the word crown in Rev 3:11.
15 tn The participle νικῶν (nikwn) has been translated as substantival, the subject of the verb ἐξῆλθεν (exhlqen). Otherwise, as an adverbial participle of manner, it is somewhat redundant: “he rode out conquering and to conquer.”
13 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision.
14 tn Or “sounds,” “voices.” It is not entirely clear what this refers to. BDAG 1071 s.v. φωνή 1 states, “In Rv we have ἀστραπαὶ καὶ φωναὶ καὶ βρονταί (cp. Ex 19:16) 4:5; 8:5; 11:19; 16:18 (are certain other sounds in nature thought of here in addition to thunder, as e.g. the roar of the storm?…).”
17 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
18 tn This is a collective singular in Greek.
19 tn See L&N 20.45 for the translation of κατεσθίω (katesqiw) as “to destroy utterly, to consume completely.”
20 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
21 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the conclusion of the anticipated birth.
22 tn On this term BDAG 135 s.v. ἄρσην states: “male…The neut. ἄρσεν Rv 12:5, difft. vs. 13, comes fr. Is 66:7 and is in apposition to υἱόν. On the juxtaposition s. FBoll, ZNW 15, 1914, 253; BOlsson, Glotta 23, ’34, 112.”
23 tn Grk “shepherd.”
24 tn Or “all the Gentiles” (the same Greek word may be translated “Gentiles” or “nations”).
25 tn Or “scepter.” The Greek term ῥάβδος (rJabdo") can mean either “rod” or “scepter.”
26 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
25 tn For the translation “ruling authority” for ἐξουσία (exousia) see L&N 37.35.
26 tn On the use of the masculine pronoun to refer to the beast, see the note on the word “It” in 13:1.
29 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “thus” to indicate the implied result of the bowl poured on the sun.
30 tn Grk “men,” but this is a generic use of ἄνθρωπος (anqrwpo") and refers to both men and women.
31 tn On this phrase BDAG 536 s.v. καῦμα states, “burning, heat Rv 7:16…καυματίζεσθαι κ. μέγα be burned with a scorching heat 16:9.”
32 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “yet” to indicate the contrast present in this context.
33 tn For the translation “ruling authority” for ἐξουσία (exousia) see L&N 37.35.
33 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence within the narrative.
34 tn Grk “with me.” The translation “with me” implies that John was engaged in a dialogue with the one speaking to him (e.g., Jesus or an angel) when in reality it was a one-sided conversation, with John doing all the listening. For this reason, μετ᾿ ἐμοῦ (met’ emou, “with me”) was translated as “to me.”
35 tn Here one Greek term, κρίμα (krima), has been translated by the two English terms “condemnation” and “punishment.” See BDAG 567 s.v. 4.b, “mostly in an unfavorable sense, of the condemnatory verdict and sometimes the subsequent punishment itself 2 Pt 2:3; Jd 4…τὸ κ. τῆς πόρνης the condemnation and punishment of the prostitute Rv 17:1.”
37 tn Grk “hearts.”
38 tn Or “his intent.”
39 tn The infinitive ποιῆσαι (poihsai) was translated here as giving the logical means by which God’s purpose was carried out.
40 tn On this term BDAG 203 s.v. γνώμη 4 states, “declaration, decision, resolution…of God Rv 17:17.”
41 tn For this translation see BDAG 168 s.v. βασιλεία 1.a, “kingship, royal power, royal rule.”
42 tn Or “completed.”
41 tn Grk “For this reason, her plagues will come.”
42 tn Grk “death.” θάνατος (qanatos) can in particular contexts refer to a manner of death, specifically a contagious disease (see BDAG 443 s.v. 3; L&N 23.158).
43 tn This is the same Greek word (πένθος, penqo") translated “grief” in vv. 7-8.
44 tn Here “burned down” was used to translate κατακαυθήσεται (katakauqhsetai) because a city is in view.
45 tn On ἠρημώθη (hrhmwqh) L&N 20.41 states, “to suffer destruction, with the implication of being deserted and abandoned – ‘to be destroyed, to suffer destruction, to suffer desolation.’ ἐρημόομαι: μιᾷ ὥρᾳ ἠρημώθη ὁ τοσοῦτος πλοῦτος ‘such great wealth has been destroyed within a single hour’ Re 18:17.”
46 tn On κυβερνήτης (kubernhth") BDAG 574 s.v. 1 states, “one who is responsible for the management of a ship, shipmaster, lit. Rv 18:17.”
47 tn Or perhaps, “everyone who sails as a passenger.” On πλέων (plewn) BDAG 825 s.v. πλέω states, “πᾶς ὁ ἐπὶ τόπον πλέων everyone who sails to a place = seafarer, sea traveler…Rv 18:17. The vv.ll.…have led to various interpretations. Some render: everyone who sails along the coast…See EbNestle, Einführung in das Griech. NT 1909, 182; AFridrichsen, K. Hum. Vetensk.-Samf. i Upps. Årsb. ’43, 31 note ὁ ἐπίτοπον πλέων=one who sails occasionally, a passenger. – S. also IHeikel, StKr 106, ’34/’35, 317).”
48 tn Grk “and as many as.”