Revelation 17:15
And the angel said to me, “The waters that you saw, where the prostitute is seated, are peoples and multitudes and nations and languages.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The angel's explanation reveals that the "waters" aren't just random chaos, but specifically the human element – all kinds of people – over which this powerful, corrupt system presides. It's a stark reminder that systems of deception gain their strength by seducing and controlling vast, diverse populations.
The angel is now clearly explaining the symbolic visions John has been shown, specifically interpreting the vast body of water where the prostitute sits. This water isn't literal but represents the immense, diverse masses of humanity – all the different groups and languages of people – that this corrupt system exerts influence over. This revelation emphasizes the widespread, global reach of the power described, connecting it to the deceptive allure that draws people from every background to follow it.
John sees a symbolic woman sitting on vast waters. But what do these waters really represent? It's not just a backdrop; it's a crucial clue to her power.
In Revelation 17:15, the angel clarifies the vision: the "waters" are not literal water, but symbolic of humanity.
A Deluge of People
The text specifies "peoples and multitudes, and nations and tongues." This isn't just a large crowd; it's a global representation of diverse humanity. Think of the sheer scale: every ethnicity, every language group, every nation on earth.
The Source of Her Power
Just as a powerful entity might draw strength from a vast natural resource, this symbolic woman draws her influence from this immense human base. She "sits" on these waters, indicating control and dominion over them. This imagery highlights how religious or political power often gains its sway by influencing and governing vast numbers of people across the globe.
This woman's "throne" isn't confined to one city or region. What does the vast diversity of her "waters" tell us about the nature of her influence?
The description of the waters as "peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues" isn't just about size; it's about the scope of the woman's influence.
Beyond Borders
This symbolic woman's power isn't limited to a single nation or culture. The inclusion of every conceivable human division emphasizes her universal appeal and reach. She isn't just influencing one segment of the world; she has captured the attention and allegiance of people from all corners of the globe.
A Deceptive "Catholicity"
Historically, certain powerful religious entities have claimed a "catholic" (meaning universal) scope. This verse critiques such claims by showing that even when power spans the globe, its nature can be deceptive. The "whore" represents a spiritual unfaithfulness, and her universal influence makes her deception all the more pervasive and dangerous. It's a warning that widespread acceptance doesn't equate to truth or faithfulness.
Understand the original words
hydōr · Greek Noun
In apocalyptic symbolism, chaotic or vast bodies of water often represent the nations of the world or the mass of humanity apart from God.
pornē · Greek Noun
A symbolic figure representing spiritual infidelity, idolatry, or a system that leads people away from exclusive worship of the true God.
The imagery of waters representing diverse peoples, nations, and languages draws on ancient understandings of vast, encompassing entities like empires and seas, highlighting the widespread influence and dominion claimed by the powers described in Revelation.
c. 740 BC
Assyrian Empire's Expansion
The Assyrian Empire, a major Near Eastern power, was known for its vast, multi-ethnic empire. Its military conquests brought diverse peoples, nations, and languages under its rule, setting a precedent for how large empires could encompass great diversity.
605 BC
First Babylonian Deportation
Nebuchadnezzar I of Babylon began deporting Jewish elites to Babylon. This marked the beginning of the Babylonian exile, a period where a significant portion of a nation was removed and subjected to foreign rule and culture.
539 BC
Fall of Babylon to Persia
Cyrus the Great conquered Babylon, incorporating its vast empire, including its diverse populations and languages, into the Persian Empire. This event highlighted the fluidity of power over vast, multi-ethnic territories.
c. 1st Century AD
Roman Empire's Zenith
The Roman Empire at its height encompassed a vast territory with an unprecedented diversity of peoples, languages, and cultures under a single political and economic system.
This passage uses the imagery of a powerful flood to represent the invading army of Assyria, directly paralleling Revelation's use of waters to symbolize overwhelming multitudes and forces.
Daniel 7:2-3Daniel sees four great beasts rising from a turbulent sea, a vision that echoes Revelation's depiction of powerful entities drawing their strength and scope from vast, chaotic masses of humanity.
Psalm 107:23-24This psalm describes sailors in ships who see the 'works of the LORD' and his 'wonders in the deep,' using the sea and its vastness to illustrate God's power over immense, potentially overwhelming forces, similar to how the angel explains the symbolic waters.
Jeremiah 47:2Jeremiah uses the image of waters rising from the north to signify the destructive invasion of Egypt, showing a prophetic precedent for using vast bodies of water to represent invading or overwhelming peoples.
Revelation 7:9This passage describes a great multitude from every nation, tribe, people, and language standing before the throne, providing a positive contrast to the 'waters' in Revelation 17, showing both destructive and redeemed multitudes before God.
barnesRevelation 17:15: "And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues."
And he saith unto me - The angel, Revelation 17:7 . This commences the more "literal" statement of what is meant by these symbols. See the Analysis of the chapter. The waters which thou sawest - See the notes on Revelation 17:1. Are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues - For an explanation of these terms, see the notes on Revelation…
clarkeRevelation 17:15: "And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues."
And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues - "So many words," Bishop Newton observes, "in the plural number, fitly denote the great extensiveness of her power and jurisdiction. She herself glories in the title of the Catholic Church, and exults in the number…
The angel's explanation reveals that the "waters" aren't just random chaos, but specifically the human element – all kinds of people – over which this powerful, corrupt system presides. It's a stark reminder that systems of deception gain their strength by seducing and controlling vast, diverse populations.
The angel is now clearly explaining the symbolic visions John has been shown, specifically interpreting the vast body of water where the prostitute sits. This water isn't literal but represents the immense, diverse masses of humanity – all the different groups and languages of people – that this corrupt system exerts influence over. This revelation emphasizes the widespread, global reach of the power described, connecting it to the deceptive allure that draws people from every background to follow it.
The angel is now clearly explaining the symbolic visions John has been shown, specifically interpreting the vast body of water where the prostitute sits. This water isn't literal but represents the immense, diverse masses of humanity – all the different groups and languages of people – that this corrupt system exerts influence over. This revelation emphasizes the widespread, global reach of the power described, connecting it to the deceptive allure that draws people from every background to follow it.
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c. AD 95— this verse
John's Vision of Revelation
The Book of Revelation was likely written around this time by the Apostle John while in exile on the island of Patmos. The visions depict symbolic representations of spiritual and political powers influencing the Roman world.
"And the angel said to me, “The waters that you saw, where the prostitute is seated, are peoples and multitudes and nations and languages." — The angel's explanation reveals that the "waters" aren't just random chaos, but specifically the human element – all kinds of people – over which this powerful, corrupt system presides. It's a star…
