For true and righteous are his judgments: for he hath judged the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand.
REVELATION 19:2KJVWhat does Revelation 19:2 mean?
Revelation 19:2 declares that God’s judgments are true and just, because He has judged the “great whore” who corrupted the earth and has avenged the blood of His servants. The verse emphasizes that God’s actions against evil are fair and faithful to His character, especially in response to the harm done to His people.
In this part of Revelation, a great multitude in heaven is praising God after the downfall of “Babylon,” symbolized here as the “great whore.” The speaker is part of this heavenly chorus, celebrating God’s justice in punishing a corrupting power that led many astray and persecuted believers. The verse highlights both the seriousness of the wrongdoing and the certainty of God’s righteous response.
The Greek behind Revelation 19:2
- “True” (ἀληθιναί, alēthinai) and “righteous” (δίκαιαι, dikaiai): These words stress that God’s judgments are both completely reliable and morally right, not arbitrary or unfair.
- “Whore” (πόρνη, pornē): This term is used symbolically for a corrupting influence or power, not a literal person, pointing to a system or city (often understood as “Babylon”) that led others into moral and spiritual unfaithfulness.
- “Corrupt” (ἐφθείρε, ephtheire): The Greek word carries the sense of ruining or spoiling, showing that the influence of this “great whore” was destructive, not just mistaken.
- “Avenged” (ἐκδίκησεν, ekdikēsen): This word means to carry out justice or retribution, emphasizing that God’s response is not just punishment but a setting right of wrongs done to His servants.
Why Revelation 19:2 matters
- This verse clarifies that God’s judgment is not random or cruel, but is based on truth and justice, which addresses common misunderstandings about divine judgment.
- The verse connects the punishment of evil directly to the suffering of God’s servants, showing that God sees and responds to injustice against His people.
- By using vivid symbolic language, the verse ties together themes from earlier in Revelation about the fall of Babylon and the vindication of those who remained faithful.