Revelation 17:4 Meaning and Explanation
“And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication:”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The woman is robed in royal purple and scarlet and adorned with gold and jewels, yet the golden cup in her hand is full of abominations.
What Does Revelation 17:4 Mean?
John now sees the woman in full detail. She is dressed in the purple and scarlet of royalty and wealth, glittering with gold, costly stones, and pearls. In her hand she lifts a golden cup, the kind a queen would offer a guest. But the cup that looks so precious is brimming with abominations and the filth of her unfaithfulness.
The contrast between the outside and the inside is the whole point. Everything visible is designed to attract; the gold is real, the jewels are real, the cup itself is beautiful. Yet what it holds is poison. The vision teaches the heart to look past the surface of what the world offers and ask what is actually in the cup. Not every gleaming thing nourishes the soul, and what is handed to us in beauty can still be deadly to drink.
Revelation 17:4 in the Original Language
bdelygma (βδέλυγμα), 'abomination' -- something detestable to God, often tied to idolatry.
Frequently Asked Questions About Revelation 17:4
What does Revelation 17:4 mean?
The woman is robed in royal purple and scarlet and adorned with gold and jewels, yet the golden cup in her hand is full of abominations.