“And on her forehead was written a name of mystery: ‘Babylon the great, mother of prostitutes and of earth’s abominations'” (Revelation 17:5 ESV).
During our earlier study of Revelation chapter thirteen, we looked at the meaning behind the “mark of the beast.” According to Revelation 13:16, that mark will be placed on one’s right hand or forehead, two locations that are highly symbolic. For instance, consider how we employ such references today.
Let’s say we have someone who is naturally adept at fixing or repairing various items. We might refer that person as someone who is “handy.” Or perhaps we might associate a high-quality piece of “handiwork” with the labor of a skilled craftsman. With these things in mind, we can view this reference to one’s hand as an allusion to the work or activity of our lives. This is especially true of the “right hand,” a term that symbolizes power or authority.
In a similar manner, the “forehead” serves to represent our thought life. In other words, this reference alludes to what we think or who we are. We can see an example of this imagery in the efforts of two or more people who “put their heads together” to solve a challenging problem.
We can also apply this idea to our text from Revelation 17:5. For example, the label written on this woman’s forehead offers a revealing insight into her inner nature. Her beautiful clothing and precious jewelry masked an inner mindset that was preoccupied with obscenities (NLT), abominations (NKJV), and detestable things (CSB).
We should also note the use of the word “mystery” in regard to this woman. This conveys the idea of something that is not obvious to the understanding. (1) While others may have been blinded by her opulent appearance, God has personally unveiled the reality that lies within.
The reference to “great” is a derivative of the ancient word “mega,” a word that is still employed today as a prefix in words such as megaphone, megabyte, or megahertz. This refers to something large, weighty, or powerful. In the context of our text from Revelation 17:5, it can also mean “…full of arrogance, derogatory to the majesty of God.” (2)
This brings us to another reference to the word “Babylon.” As mentioned previously, “Babylon” refers to a place, as well as an attitude or mindset. To illustrate this idea, let’s consider three modern-day locations within the United States…
- Hollywood: “Hollywood” is a place, but it is also used to represent the filmmaking industry.
- Wall Street: Wall Street is a literal street, as well as a financial center.
- Detroit: Detroit is a city, but also refers to a center of automotive design and manufacturing.
In a similar manner, “Babylon” represents a historic location, as well as a blasphemous political, religious, and economic ideology.
Image Attribution: Themissmargaux, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
(1) G3466 – mysterion – Strong’s Greek Lexicon (kjv). (n.d.). Blue Letter Bible. https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g3466/kjv/tr/0-1/
(2) G3173 – megas – Strong’s Greek Lexicon (kjv). (n.d.). Blue Letter Bible. https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g3173/kjv/mgnt/0-1/