Berean Bible

Back to Reader

Revelation

Note Journal Prayer

17

:

3

“

And he carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness, and I saw a woman sitting upon a scarlet beast being full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.

Lexicon

Verse part Definition: Part of speech: Strong's: Greek: Transliteration:
he carried me away To carry, bear away (sometimes with violence). V-AIA-3S H667 ἀπήνεγκεν apēnenken
[the] Spirit Wind, breath, spirit. N-DNS H4151 πνεῦματι pneumati
a wilderness, Deserted, desolate, waste; hence: the desert, to the east and south of Palestine; of a person: deserted, abandoned, desolate. Adj-AFS H2048 ἔρημον erēmon
I saw To see, look upon, experience, perceive, discern, beware. V-AIA-1S H3708    
a woman A woman, wife, my lady. N-AFS H1135 γυναῖκα gunaika
. . . I, the first-person pronoun. V-PPM/P-AFS H2521 καθημένην kathēmenēn
a scarlet Crimson, scarlet, dyed with Kermes (coccum), the female coccus of the Kermes oak. Adj-ANS H2847 κόκκινον kokkinon
beast Properly: a wild beast, hence: any animal; a brute. N-ANS H2342 θηρίον thērion
being full To be full of. V-PPA-ANP H1073 γέμοντα gemonta
of blasphemy, Abusive or scurrilous language, blasphemy. N-GFS H988 βλασφημίας blasphēmias
of names Name, character, fame, reputation. N-ANP H3686 ὀνόματα onomata
having To have, hold, possess. V-PPA-NMS H2192 ἔχων echōn
seven Seven. Adj-AFP H2033 ἑπτὰ epta
heads (a) the head, (b) a corner stone, uniting two walls; head, ruler, lord. N-AFP H2776 κεφαλὰς kephalas
ten Ten. Adj-ANP H1176 δέκα deka
Analysis:

Ten: Completion, wholeness, in a general sense, entirety…

The number ten relates to completion, wholeness, or speaking about something in its entirety. In Luke's Gospel, Yeshua uses the number ten frequently in His parables or when recounting an event. Yeshua spoke of ten coins (chapter 15), ten lepers (chapter 17), ten servants (chapter 19), and ten units of money (chapter 19). In Matthew's Gospel, Yeshua refers to ten virgins; while in Mark's Gospel, ten cities. In all of these passages, Yeshua is utilizing the number ten in a collective manner. In other words, He is speaking about ten in a general manner or as a whole. 

In the book of Revelation chapters 13 and 17, the number ten appears in reference to ten horns. These ten horns are related to the beast, which had also seven heads. These ten horns are ten kings which rule with the beast. Why specifically ten kings? Other than Israel, all the nations of the world are going to serve the beast. Hence, the ten kings represent the world in its entirety or wholeness. In this example, it may be puzzling at first to see why the number seven is used in regard to the beast, as seven relates to holiness or perfection. The solution to this difficulty is found when one remembers that seven also relates to purpose or setting something apart. Hence, the beast is the empire which has as its purpose the exact opposite of the will of God, i.e., the beast has been set apart to stand in opposition to the purposes of God. 

In Hebrew, the word that relates to a pagan temple prostitute is the word that could be translated as a "holy one". Certainly this one is not holy in our understanding of the word; however in Hebrew, the idea which is being expressed by the use of the Hebrew word for "holy" is that this woman has been set apart (sanctified) for a purpose. Obviously a very unholy purpose; yet in Hebrew the word "holy" does not always convey a good or godly purpose, just a purpose.

Loveisrael.org - Baruch Korman, Ph.D. - All Rights Reserved - Used with Permission 2016
horns. (a) a horn, (b) a horn-like projection at the corner of an altar, (c) a horn as a symbol of power. N-ANP H2768 κέρατα kerata

Parallel Verses

Removed text
Added text
Berean Bible And he carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness, and I saw a woman sitting upon a scarlet beast being full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.
King James Bible And So he carried me away in the Spirit spirit into a wilderness, the wilderness: and I saw a woman sitting sit upon a scarlet beast being coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.
Hebrew Greek English And he carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness, wilderness; and I saw a woman sitting upon on a scarlet beast being beast, full of names of blasphemy, blasphemous names, having seven heads and ten horns.
New American Standard Bible 1995 And he carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness, wilderness; and I saw a woman sitting upon on a scarlet beast being beast, full of names of blasphemy, blasphemous names, having seven heads and ten horns.