Online Resource Library
Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.comRobertson Word Pictures - Revelation 17:4 - 17:4
(Show All Books | Show All Chapters)
This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
Was arrayed (ēn peribeblēmenē). Periphrastic past perfect indicative of periballō, to fling round one.
In purple and scarlet (porphuroun kai kokkinon). Accusative retained after this passive verb of clothing, as so often. Porphurous is old adjective for purple (from porphura), in N.T. only here and Joh 19:2, Joh 19:5. See preceding verse for kokkinos.
Decked (kechrusōmenē). Perfect passive participle of chrusoō, old verb, to gild, to adorn with gold, here alone in N.T.
With gold and precious stone and pearls (chrusiōi kai lithōi timiōi kai margaritais). Instrumental case. Chrusiōi is cognate with the participle. Lithōi timiōi is collective (Rev 18:12, Rev 18:16; Rev 21:19). There is a zeugma also with margaritais (Rev 18:12, Rev 18:16; Rev 21:21), for which word see Mat 7:6. Probably John is thinking of the finery of the temple prostitutes in Asia Minor.
Full of abominations (gemon bdelugmatōn). Agreeing with potērion, “cup” (neuter singular accusative). Some MSS. read gemōn (nominative masculine like echōn in Rev 17:3, quite irregular). For bdelugmatōn (genitive after gemon) see Mat 24:15; (Mar 13:14), common in the lxx for idol worship and its defilements (from bdelussō, to render foul), both ceremonial and moral. See Jer 15:7.
Even the unclean things of her fornication (kai ta akatharta tēs porneias autēs). Either the accusative after gemon as in Rev 17:3 (and full of the unclean things of her fornication) or the object of echousa, like potērion.