Revelation 17:6
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John's "great admiration" here isn't admiration in our modern sense of liking something; it’s profound astonishment at the sheer horror of it. It’s a spiritual shock that the one who should embody Christ’s faithful bride is found "drunk" on the blood of His followers, revealing an awful corruption where the church itself becomes the persecutor.
And I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints, the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. When I saw her, I marveled greatly.
English Standard Version (ESV)
John sees a symbolic vision of a richly adorned woman, depicted as a prostitute, who is described as being completely intoxicated with the blood of Jesus' followers. This isn't just about shedding blood; it's a picture of a power that has become drunk and frenzied on the violent persecution and murder of those who bear witness to Christ, leading John to marvel with profound astonishment.
Why does John describe this woman as 'drunk with blood'? This isn't just a metaphor for killing; it's something much more intense and disturbing.
The imagery of being "drunk with blood" paints a picture of extreme intoxication and savage delight in violence.
A Drunken Rage
This imagery is meant to shock us, showing a power so consumed by its persecution of God's people that it becomes utterly depraved.
John's reaction isn't simple disgust; it's profound astonishment. What makes this vision so uniquely shocking?
John's amazement stems from seeing something that should be holy transformed into something utterly corrupt.
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A Grotesque Distortion
John's wonder is a sorrowful amazement at the depths of apostasy—when the sacred becomes profane.
The verse mentions both 'saints' and 'martyrs.' What's the subtle but crucial distinction John makes here?
While all martyrs are saints, not all saints are martyrs. This verse highlights the specific cause of death for the martyrs.
Bearing Witness Through Death
This distinction shows that the violence described is not random, but targeted at those who are most vocal and steadfast in their witness for Christ. Their death is a direct consequence of their allegiance.
Understand the original words
hagios · Greek Noun (plural)
A term used for God’s people who are set apart for His service and declared holy through faith in Christ. It refers to those who are consecrated to God and live in accordance with His will.
martys · Greek Noun (plural)
One who bears witness to the truth, often enduring suffering or death for their testimony of faith in Jesus Christ. It describes the ultimate testimony of one's commitment to the Lord.
The vision of the woman 'drunk with the blood of the saints' would have been astonishing to John. He witnessed a spiritual entity, meant to represent God's people, involved in the very persecution he and others endured, a profound and horrifying corruption of its divine calling.
c. AD 313
Edict of Milan Grants Religious Tolerance
Emperor Constantine's edict granted tolerance to Christianity throughout the Roman Empire, ending widespread official persecution of Christians. This marked a significant shift in the religious landscape, moving Christianity from the persecuted to the favored.
c. AD 380
Christianity Becomes Roman State Religion
Emperor Theodosius I made Nicene Christianity the official state religion of the Roman Empire. This cemented Christianity's power and influence, but also set the stage for internal disputes and, for some, a departure from earlier forms of discipleship.
c. AD 476 - 800
Fall of Western Roman Empire & Rise of Papal Power
The collapse of centralized Roman authority in the West created a power vacuum. The Bishop of Rome (the Pope) gradually asserted increasing temporal and spiritual authority over fragmented kingdoms, influencing politics and society.
c. AD 1000 - 1500
Medieval Persecutions and Inquisitions
During the Middle Ages, various church-sanctioned movements, including the Inquisition, targeted groups deemed heretical. Thousands were persecuted, imprisoned, and executed for beliefs that deviated from official church doctrine.
c. AD 1517 onwards
The Protestant Reformation Begins
Martin Luther's Ninety-five Theses sparked widespread challenges to the authority and doctrines of the Roman Catholic Church. This led to centuries of religious conflict, wars, and the persecution of Protestants by Catholic powers, and vice versa.
c. AD 1572— this verse
St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre
A targeted series of assassinations and mob violence against Huguenots (French Calvinist Protestants) during the French Wars of Religion. Thousands were killed in Paris and across France, a brutal event often cited as an example of religious persecution.
c. AD 1618 - 1648
Thirty Years' War
A devastating conflict primarily fought in Central Europe, initially a religious war between Catholic and Protestant states. It resulted in widespread destruction, famine, disease, and millions of deaths, profoundly impacting the political and religious map of Europe.
This passage uses similar imagery of God's judgment coming like an intoxicated warrior, providing a Old Testament parallel to the 'drunkenness' described here, highlighting a divine wrath against enemies.
Matthew 23:35Jesus speaks of 'the blood of all the righteous shed on earth,' from Abel to Zechariah, connecting the idea of bloodshed throughout history with a pattern of wickedness that is being judged.
Acts 7:52Stephen confronts the religious leaders, accusing their ancestors of persecuting and killing the prophets and Jesus, directly linking religious authority to the shedding of innocent blood, mirroring the theme in Revelation.
Revelation 18:24This verse explicitly states that 'in her was found the blood of prophets and of saints, and of all who have been slain on earth,' reinforcing the massive scale of persecution attributed to the 'woman' in Revelation 17.
1 Peter 4:16This passage speaks of suffering for the name of Christ and that if anyone suffers as a Christian, they should not be ashamed but give glory to God, providing context for the 'martyrs of Jesus' mentioned in Revelation.
pooleRevelation 17:6: "And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration."
And I saw the woman, the papacy, drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus; filled with the blood of those holy ones, which she caused to be slain for bearing testimony to Jesus Christ. And when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration; which he would not have done had it been a pa…
vincentRevelation 17:6: "And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration."
Saints - martyrsThe saints include the martyrs or witnesses, but the latter word emphasizes the testimony of the saints which has been the cause of their death. For martyr; see on 1 Peter 5:1.
John's "great admiration" here isn't admiration in our modern sense of liking something; it’s profound astonishment at the sheer horror of it. It’s a spiritual shock that the one who should embody Christ’s faithful bride is found "drunk" on the blood of His followers, revealing an awful corruption where the church itself becomes the persecutor.
John sees a symbolic vision of a richly adorned woman, depicted as a prostitute, who is described as being completely intoxicated with the blood of Jesus' followers. This isn't just about shedding blood; it's a picture of a power that has become drunk and frenzied on the violent persecution and murder of those who bear witness to Christ, leading John to marvel with profound astonishment.
John sees a symbolic vision of a richly adorned woman, depicted as a prostitute, who is described as being completely intoxicated with the blood of Jesus' followers. This isn't just about shedding blood; it's a picture of a power that has become drunk and frenzied on the violent persecution and murder of those who bear witness to Christ, leading John to marvel with profound astonishment.
"And I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints, the blood of the martyrs of Jesus.
When I saw her, I marveled greatly." — John's "great admiration" here isn't admiration in our modern sense of liking something; it’s profound astonishment at the sheer horror of it. It’s a spiritual shock that the one who should embody Ch…
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Last reviewed October 2026
