Revelation 17:5 Meaning and Explanation
“And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →On her forehead is written a name: Mystery, Babylon the Great, mother of harlots and of the abominations of the earth.
What Does Revelation 17:5 Mean?
The woman wears her name openly on her forehead, the way a slave or a temple devotee might be marked. The title is layered: a mystery to be unveiled, the name of Babylon, the ancient city of pride and exile, and the claim to be mother of all earthly harlotry and abomination. She is not one local evil but the source and pattern from which many corruptions flow.
To call her Babylon is to gather every empire that ever set itself against God into a single figure. The forehead, the place of allegiance, declares whose she is. Scripture elsewhere marks the faithful on the forehead as belonging to God; here the mark of self-exalting rebellion is just as visible. Every heart bears some name on it. The vision presses the question of which name is written there, and which city one truly calls home.
Revelation 17:5 in the Original Language
mysterion (μυστήριον), 'mystery' -- a hidden truth now being disclosed.
Frequently Asked Questions About Revelation 17:5
What does Revelation 17:5 mean?
On her forehead is written a name: Mystery, Babylon the Great, mother of harlots and of the abominations of the earth.