¹tn Here kaiv (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence within the narrative.
²tn Grk “with me.” The translation “with me” implies that John was engaged in a dialogue with the one speaking to him (e.g., Jesus or an angel) when in reality it was a one-sided conversation, with John doing all the listening. For this reason, met= ejmou' (met’ emou, “with me”) was translated as “to me.”
³tn Here one Greek term, krivma (krima), has been translated by the two English terms “condemnation” and “punishment.” See BDAG 567 s.v. 4.b, “mostly in an unfavorable sense, of the condemnatory verdict and sometimes the subsequent punishment itself 2 Pt 2:3; Jd 4…toV k. th'" povrnh" the condemnation and punishment of the prostitute Rv 17:1.”
⁴tn This is the same word translated “sexual immorality” earlier in the verse, but here the qualifier “sexual” has not been repeated for stylistic reasons.
⁵tn Here kaiv (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the implied result of the angel’s invitation to witness the fate of the prostitute.
⁶tn Or “in the spirit.” “Spirit” could refer either to the Holy Spirit or the human spirit, but in either case John was in “a state of spiritual exaltation best described as a trance” (R. H. Mounce, Revelation [NICNT], 75).
⁷tn Or “desert.”
⁸tn The word “there” is not in the Greek text, but is supplied for stylistic reasons.
⁹tn Here kaiv (kai) has been translated as “now” to indicate the detailed description of the woman, which is somewhat parenthetical in nature.
¹⁰tn The word “clothing” is supplied to clarify that the words “purple” and “scarlet” refer to cloth or garments rather than colors.
¹¹tn Grk “gilded with gold” (an instance of semantic reinforcement, see L&N 49.29).
¹²tn Grk “pearls, having in her hand.” Due to the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, a new sentence was started here in the translation.
¹³tc Several mss (including 1611 1854 2053 Ï^K pc) read “sexual immorality on/of the earth” (porneiva" th'" gh'", porneia" th" gh") instead of “her sexual immorality.” Other mss (Í sy^h** [co]) read “her sexual immorality and the earth’s” (porneiva" aujth'" kaiV th'" gh'", porneia" aujth" kai th" gh"). The translation is a rendering of porneiva" aujth'", found in {A 1006 2344 al}. It seems that the first reading “sexuality immorality on/of the earth” was a scribal mistake in which letters may have been confused (auths would have been read as thsghs), or was perhaps influenced by the presence of “of the world” (th'" gh'") at the end of v. 5. The original wording seems to be “her sexual immorality”; codex Í has conflated the two readings.
¹⁴tn Here kaiv (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
¹⁵tn Some translations consider the word musthvrion (musthrion, “mystery”) a part of the name written (“Mystery Babylon the Great,” so KJV, NIV), but the gender of both o[noma (onoma, “name”) and musthvrion are neuter, while the gender of “Babylon” is feminine. This strongly suggests that musthvrion should be understood as an appositive to o[noma (“a name, i.e., a mystery”).
¹⁶tn Or “of the witnesses to Jesus.” Here the genitive *Ihsou' (Ihsou) is taken as an objective genitive; Jesus is the object of their testimony.
¹⁷tn Here kaiv (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
¹⁸tn Grk “I marveled a great marvel” (an idiom for great astonishment).
¹⁹tn Here kaiv (kai) has been translated as “but” to indicate the contrast present in this context.
²⁰tn Grk “I will tell you,” but since what follows is the angel’s interpretation of the vision, “interpret for you” is the preferred translation here.
²¹tn On this term BDAG 2 s.v. a[busso" 2 states, “netherworld, abyss, esp. the abode of the dead Ro 10:7 (Ps 106:26) and of demons Lk 8:31; dungeon where the devil is kept Rv 20:3; abode of the qhrivon, the Antichrist 11:7; 17:8; of *Abaddwvn (q.v.), the angel of the underworld 9:11…frevar th'" aj. 9:1f; capable of being sealed 9:1; 20:1, 3.”
²²tn Here kaiv (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
²³tn Some translations take the o{ti (Joti) here as causal: “because he was, and is not, but is to come” (so NIV, NRSV), but it is much more likely that the subject of the o{ti clause has been assimilated into the main clause: “when they see the beast, that he was…” = “when they see that the beast was” (so BDAG 732 s.v. o{ti 1.f, where Rev 17:8 is listed).
²⁴tn Grk “Here is the mind that has wisdom.”
²⁵tn It is important to note that the height of “mountains” versus “hills” or other topographical terms is somewhat relative. In terms of Palestinian topography, Mount Tabor (traditionally regarded as the mount of transfiguration) is some 1,800 ft (550 m) above sea level, while the Mount of Olives is only some 100 ft (30 m) higher than Jerusalem.
²⁶tn That is, one currently reigns.
²⁷tn Here kaiv (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
²⁸tn Here kaiv (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
²⁹tn For the translation “ruling authority” for ejxousiva (exousia) see L&N 37.35.
³⁰tn The word “kings” is not in the Greek text, but has been supplied to clarify the referent.
³¹tn See BDAG 636 s.v. metav A.2.a.a.
³²tn Here kaiv (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence within the narrative.
³³tn Grk “he”; the referent (the angel) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
³⁴tn Grk “and multitudes,” but kaiv (kai) has not been translated here and before the following term since English normally uses a coordinating conjunction only between the last two elements in a series of three or more.
³⁵tn Here kaiv (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
³⁶tn A new sentence was started here in the translation. Here kaiv (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
³⁷tn The final clause could also be turned into an adverbial clause of means: “They will consume her flesh by burning her with fire.”
³⁸tn Grk “hearts.”
³⁹tn Or “his intent.”
⁴⁰tn The infinitive poih'sai (poihsai) was translated here as giving the logical means by which God’s purpose was carried out.
⁴¹tn On this term BDAG 203 s.v. gnwvmh 4 states, “declaration, decision, resolution…of God Rv 17:17.”
⁴²tn For this translation see BDAG 168 s.v. basileiva 1.a, “kingship, royal power, royal rule.”
⁴³tn Or “completed.”
⁴⁴tn Grk “And.” Because this remark is somewhat resumptive in nature, “as for” is used in the translation.