Word Studies¶

G4204 — pornē (harlot/whore)¶

Original: πόρνη Transliteration: pornē Part of Speech: Feminine noun Definition: A strumpet; figuratively, an idolater — harlot, whore BLB Count: 12 occurrences

Translations¶

Translation	Count	Percentage
whore	4 (36.4%)	Rev 17:1, 17:15, 17:16, 19:2
harlots	3 (27.3%)	Rev 17:5 (MOTHER OF HARLOTS)
harlot	2 (18.2%)	1Co 6:16, Heb 11:31
of an harlot	1 (9.1%)
OF HARLOTS	1 (9.1%)

Key Verses¶

Rev 17:1 — "the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters"
Rev 17:5 — "THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH"
Rev 17:15 — "The waters... where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes"
Rev 17:16 — "these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked"
Rev 19:2 — "he hath judged the great whore, which did corrupt the earth"
1Co 6:16 — "he which is joined to an harlot is one body"
Heb 11:31 — "By faith the harlot Rahab perished not"

Note: In Revelation, pornē is used exclusively for the Babylon figure (4x as "whore," 1x as "harlots"). The only positive OT use is Rahab (Heb 11:31; Jas 2:25).

G4202 — porneia (fornication)¶

Original: πορνεία Transliteration: porneia Part of Speech: Feminine noun Definition: Harlotry (including adultery and incest); figuratively, idolatry BLB Count: 26 occurrences

Translations¶

Translation	Count	Key Verses
fornication	19	Mat 19:9; Act 15:20; Rom 1:29; 1Co 5:1; 6:18; 7:2; 2Co 12:21; Gal 5:19; Eph 5:3; Col 3:5; 1Th 4:3; Rev 2:21; 9:21; 14:8; 17:2; 17:4; 18:3; 19:2

Key Revelation Occurrences¶

Rev 14:8 — "she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication"
Rev 17:2 — "the kings of the earth have committed fornication... the wine of her fornication"
Rev 17:4 — "golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication"
Rev 18:3 — "all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication"
Rev 19:2 — "did corrupt the earth with her fornication"

G3466 — mystērion (mystery)¶

Original: μυστήριον Transliteration: mystērion Part of Speech: Neuter noun Definition: From a derivative of myō (to shut the mouth); a secret or "mystery" BLB Count: 27 occurrences

Translations¶

Translation	Count	Percentage
mystery	18 (66.7%)
mysteries	4 (14.8%)
a mystery	2 (7.4%)
MYSTERY	1 (3.7%)	Rev 17:5

Key Verses¶

Rev 17:5 — "MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS"
Rev 17:7 — "I will tell thee the mystery of the woman, and of the beast"
Rev 10:7 — "the mystery of God should be finished"
Rev 1:20 — "The mystery of the seven stars"
2Th 2:7 — "the mystery of iniquity doth already work"
Eph 5:32 — "This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church"
Col 1:26 — "the mystery which hath been hid from ages"
1Ti 3:16 — "great is the mystery of godliness"
Rom 11:25 — "this mystery, that blindness in part is happened to Israel"
1Co 13:2 — "though I understand all mysteries"
Mar 4:11 — "the mystery of the kingdom of God"

Note: Two contrasting mysteries in Rev 17: (1) MYSTERY on the harlot's forehead (v.5), representing a counterfeit religious system; (2) the mystery of God finished at the seventh trumpet (Rev 10:7). Also contrast with "mystery of iniquity" (2 Thess 2:7).

G684 — apōleia (perdition/destruction)¶

Original: ἀπώλεια Transliteration: apōleia Part of Speech: Feminine noun Definition: Ruin or loss (physical, spiritual or eternal) BLB Count: 20 occurrences

Translations¶

Translation	Count	Verses
perdition	5	1Ti 6:9; Heb 10:39; 2Pe 3:7; Rev 17:8; 17:11
destruction	4	Mat 7:13; Rom 9:22; 2Pe 2:1; 2Pe 3:16
waste	2	Mat 26:8; Mar 14:4
of perdition	1	2Th 2:3
perish	1	Act 8:20
damnable	1	2Pe 2:1
pernicious ways	1	2Pe 2:2
damnation	1	2Pe 2:3
die	1	Php 1:28

Critical Connection: Beast and Man of Sin¶

Rev 17:8 — beast "shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition [apōleian]"
Rev 17:11 — beast "is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition [apōleian]"
2Th 2:3 — "the man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition [apōleias]"
Jhn 17:12 — "none of them is lost, but the son of perdition [apōleias]" (Judas)

All NT Occurrences¶

Mat 7:13 — "broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction"
Mat 26:8 — "To what purpose is this waste?"
Mar 14:4 — "Why was this waste of the ointment made?"
Jhn 17:12 — "the son of perdition" (Judas)
Act 8:20 — "Thy money perish with thee"
Rom 9:22 — "vessels of wrath fitted to destruction"
Php 1:28 — "an evident token of perdition [die]"
Php 3:19 — "Whose end is destruction"
2Th 2:3 — "the son of perdition"
1Ti 6:9 — "drown men in destruction and perdition"
Heb 10:39 — "not of them who draw back unto perdition"
2Pe 2:1 — "bring upon themselves swift destruction"
2Pe 2:2 — "pernicious ways"
2Pe 2:3 — "whose damnation slumbereth not"
2Pe 3:7 — "the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men"
2Pe 3:16 — "wrest... unto their own destruction"
Rev 17:8 — "go into perdition"
Rev 17:11 — "goeth into perdition"

Note: Only two figures in the NT are called "son of perdition" — Judas Iscariot (Jhn 17:12) and the man of sin (2Th 2:3). The beast of Rev 17 also "goeth into perdition" — same destination vocabulary.

G2342 — thērion (beast)¶

Original: θηρίον Transliteration: thērion Part of Speech: Neuter noun Definition: Diminutive from thēr; a dangerous animal — (venomous, wild) beast BLB Count: 46 occurrences (36 = "beast" in Revelation alone)

Translations¶

Translation	Count
beast	36 (80.0%)
wild beasts	3
beasts	2
a beast	2

Distribution¶

Non-Revelation uses: Mar 1:13; Act 10:12; 11:6; 28:4; Tit 1:12; Heb 12:20; Jas 3:7
Revelation uses: 36x across Rev 6:8; 11:7; 13:1-18 (15x); 14:9,11; 15:2; 16:2,10,13; 17:3,7,8,11,12,13,16,17; 19:19,20; 20:4,10

Note: In Revelation, thērion is technical vocabulary for the satanic political-religious power system. It is NOT the same word used for the "four beasts" (living creatures) around the throne — those are zōa (G2226).

G2847 — kokkinos (scarlet)¶

Original: κόκκινος Transliteration: kokkinos Part of Speech: Adjective Definition: From kokkos (the kernel-shaped insect); dyed scarlet BLB Count: 6 occurrences

Key Verses¶

Rev 17:3 — "a scarlet coloured beast"
Rev 17:4 — "the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour"
Rev 18:12 — merchandise of "purple, and silk, and scarlet"
Rev 18:16 — "that great city, that was clothed in... scarlet"
Heb 9:19 — "he took the blood of calves... with scarlet wool"
Mat 27:28 — "they put on him a scarlet robe" (mocking Christ)

OT Background (LXX uses of kokkinos)¶

Gen 38:28 — scarlet thread on Zerah's hand
Exo 25:4 — scarlet for the tabernacle
Lev 14:4,6 — scarlet in cleansing rituals
Jos 2:18 — scarlet cord (Rahab)
2Sa 1:24 — Saul clothed Israel in scarlet

G4209 — porphyra (purple) / G4210 — porphyrous (purple-colored)¶

Original: πορφύρα / πορφυροῦς Transliteration: porphyra / porphyrous Definition: The "purple" mussel; the red-blue dye obtained from it; purple fabric

G4209 porphyra (noun) — 5 occurrences¶

Rev 17:4 — "arrayed in purple and scarlet"
Rev 18:12 — merchandise of "purple, and silk, and scarlet"
Mar 15:17 — soldiers clothed Jesus in purple (mocking)
Mar 15:20 — took off the purple from him
Luk 16:19 — rich man "clothed in purple and fine linen"

G4210 porphyrous (adjective) — 3 occurrences¶

Rev 17:4 — (reading: porphyroun)
Rev 18:16 — "clothed in... purple, and scarlet"
Jhn 19:2 — put on him a purple robe
Jhn 19:5 — wearing the purple robe

Note: Purple was the color of royalty and extreme wealth. Both the mocking of Christ (purple robe) and the harlot's attire use the same vocabulary — the harlot wears the trappings of false sovereignty.

G946 — bdelygma (abomination)¶

Original: βδέλυγμα Transliteration: bdelygma Part of Speech: Neuter noun Definition: A detestation, i.e. (specially) idolatry — abomination BLB Count: 6 occurrences

Key Verses¶

Rev 17:4 — "golden cup... full of abominations"
Rev 17:5 — "MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH"
Rev 21:27 — "nothing that... worketh abomination"
Mat 24:15 — "the abomination of desolation" (quoting Dan 9:27; 11:31; 12:11)
Mar 13:14 — "the abomination of desolation"
Luk 16:15 — "that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God"

OT Background (LXX)¶

1Ki 11:5,6 — Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites
2Ki 16:3; 21:2 — abominations of the nations
Dan 9:27; 11:31; 12:11 — the abomination of desolation

Note: In the OT, bdelygma specifically denotes idols and idolatrous practices. The harlot's cup being "full of abominations" connects directly to the idolatry vocabulary of the OT prophets.

G3735 — oros (mountain)¶

Original: ὄρος Transliteration: oros Part of Speech: Neuter noun Definition: A mountain, hill BLB Count: 65 occurrences

Key Verse¶

Rev 17:9 — "The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth"

Prophetic "Mountain" = Kingdom Imagery¶

Dan 2:35 — "the stone... became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth" (= God's kingdom)
Dan 2:45 — "the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands"
Jer 51:25 — "Behold, I am against thee, O destroying mountain" (= Babylon)
Isa 2:2 — "the mountain of the LORD's house shall be established in the top of the mountains"

Note: Mountains in prophetic symbolism can represent kingdoms/powers (Jer 51:25; Dan 2:35). Rev 17:9 may thus identify the seven heads as seven kingdom-powers, not merely literal hills.

G2768 — keras (horn)¶

Original: κέρας Transliteration: keras Part of Speech: Neuter noun Definition: A horn (literally or figuratively) BLB Count: 11 occurrences

Key Verses¶

Rev 17:3 — beast having "seven heads and ten horns"
Rev 17:7 — "the beast... which hath the seven heads and ten horns"
Rev 17:12 — "the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings"
Rev 17:16 — "the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore"
Rev 12:3 — dragon "having seven heads and ten horns"
Rev 13:1 — beast "having seven heads and ten horns"
Rev 13:11 — earth beast "had two horns like a lamb"
Rev 5:6 — Lamb "having seven horns and seven eyes"
Luk 1:69 — "raised up an horn of salvation for us"

OT Horn Symbolism¶

Horn = power/authority (1Sa 2:10; 2Sa 22:3; Psa 18:2; 89:17; 132:17)
Dan 7:7-8,20-24 — ten horns = ten kings; little horn rises among them
Dan 8:3-9,20 — ram's horns = Medo-Persia; goat's horn = Greece

G5204 — hydōr (water/waters)¶

Original: ὕδωρ Transliteration: hydōr Part of Speech: Neuter noun Definition: Water (as if rainy) literally or figuratively BLB Count: 79 occurrences

Key Verses¶

Rev 17:1 — "the great whore that sitteth upon many waters"
Rev 17:15 — "The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues"

OT Background¶

Jer 51:13 — "O thou that dwellest upon many waters, abundant in treasures, thine end is come" (literal Babylon on the Euphrates; Rev applies this language to spiritual Babylon)
Isa 8:7 — "the Lord bringeth up upon them the waters of the river, strong and many, [even] the king of Assyria" (waters = invading army/peoples)

G935 — basileus (king) / G932 — basileia (kingdom)¶

G935 basileus — 118 occurrences¶

Definition: A sovereign (abstractly, relatively, or figuratively) — king

Key Rev 17 Occurrences: - Rev 17:9 — "seven kings" (basileis) - Rev 17:10 — "seven kings: five are fallen, and one is" - Rev 17:12 — "ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet" - Rev 17:14 — "he is Lord of lords, and King of kings" (Basileus basileōn) - Rev 19:16 — "KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS"

G932 basileia — 162 occurrences¶

Definition: Properly, royalty; abstractly, rule; concretely, a realm

Rev 17 Kingdom Cluster: - Rev 17:12 — "ten kings, which have received no kingdom (basileian) as yet" - Rev 17:17 — "give their kingdom (basileian) unto the beast" - Rev 17:18 — "the great city, which [has] kingdom (basileian) over the kings of the earth"

Critical Finding (from prior study rev-17-18-greek-grammar): Rev 17:18 does NOT use basileuō ("to reign") but rather echousa basileian ("having kingdom") — a present active participle of echō + noun basileia. John reserves basileuō exclusively for God, Christ, and the saints (7 uses: Rev 5:10; 11:15; 11:17; 19:6; 20:4; 20:6; 22:5). The harlot city POSSESSES kingdom but does not legitimately REIGN.