So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.
REVELATION 17:3KJVWhat does Revelation 17:3 mean?
Revelation 17:3 describes John being carried by the Spirit into a wilderness, where he sees a symbolic vision: a woman sitting on a scarlet-colored beast that is covered with blasphemous names and has seven heads and ten horns. This verse introduces a dramatic and mysterious scene meant to convey deeper spiritual truths through vivid imagery.
In this part of the book, the apostle John is being shown a vision by an angel. The setting shifts to a wilderness, which often represents a place of spiritual testing or revelation in the Bible. The woman and the beast are both symbols, and the details—like the scarlet color, the blasphemous names, and the specific numbers of heads and horns—are meant to be unpacked in the following verses for their meaning within the vision.
The Greek behind Revelation 17:3
- πνεῦμα (pneuma, G4151): This word means "spirit." Here, it indicates that John is experiencing this vision not physically, but through a spiritual encounter or revelation.
- ἔρημος (erēmos, G2048): This word means "wilderness" or "desolate place." The wilderness setting often signals a place apart from ordinary life, where significant revelations or trials occur.
- γυναῖκα (gynaika, G1135): This word means "woman." In Revelation, women often symbolize larger groups or entities, not just individuals.
- θηρίον (thērion, G2342): This word means "beast." In apocalyptic literature, a beast typically represents a powerful, often hostile force or kingdom.
- βλασφημίας (blasphēmias, G988): This word means "blasphemy" or "slander against God." The beast being "full of names of blasphemy" emphasizes its opposition to God and its arrogant claims.
Why Revelation 17:3 matters
- This verse sets the stage for one of the most symbolic and debated visions in Revelation, introducing characters and imagery that will be explained in the following verses.
- The specific mention of seven heads and ten horns connects this beast to earlier visions in Daniel and Revelation, helping readers see the continuity in biblical prophecy.
- Understanding that John is "in the spirit" and in a "wilderness" helps readers recognize that what follows is a symbolic vision, not a literal event, which is crucial for interpreting the rest of the chapter.