Revelation 2:20

2:20 But I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, and by her teaching deceives my servants to commit sexual immorality and to eat food sacrificed to idols.

Revelation 2:23

2:23 Furthermore, I will strike her followers with a deadly disease, and then all the churches will know that I am the one who searches minds and hearts. I will repay each one of you 10  what your deeds deserve. 11 

Revelation 12:5

12:5 So 12  the woman gave birth to a son, a male child, 13  who is going to rule 14  over all the nations 15  with an iron rod. 16  Her 17  child was suddenly caught up to God and to his throne,

Revelation 17:6-7

17:6 I saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of the saints and the blood of those who testified to Jesus. 18  I 19  was greatly astounded 20  when I saw her. 17:7 But 21  the angel said to me, “Why are you astounded? I will interpret 22  for you the mystery of the woman and of the beast with the seven heads and ten horns that carries her.

Revelation 18:7

18:7 As much as 23  she exalted herself and lived in sensual luxury, 24  to this extent give her torment and grief because she said to herself, 25  ‘I rule as queen and am no widow; I will never experience grief!’

Revelation 18:10

18:10 They will stand a long way off because they are afraid of her torment, and will say,

“Woe, woe, O great city,

Babylon the powerful city!

For in a single hour your doom 26  has come!”


tn The Greek article has been translated here with demonstrative force.

tc The ms evidence for γυναῖκα (gunaika, “woman”) alone includes {א C P 1611 2053 pc lat}. The ms evidence for the addition of “your” (σου, sou) includes A 1006 2351 ÏK pc sy. With the pronoun, the text reads “your wife, Jezebel” instead of “that woman, Jezebel.” In Revelation, A C are the most important mss, along with א Ì47 (which only reads in portions of chapters 9-17) 1006 1611 2053; in this instance, the external evidence slightly favors the shorter reading. But internally, it gains strength. The longer reading implies the idea that the angel in 2:18 is the bishop or leader of the church in Thyatira. The pronoun “your” (σου) is used four times in vv. 19-20 and may have been the cause for the scribe copying it again. Further, once the monarchical episcopate was in vogue (beginning in the 2nd century) scribes might have been prone to add “your” here.

sn Jezebel was the name of King Ahab’s idolatrous and wicked queen in 1 Kgs 16:31; 18:1-5; 19:1-3; 21:5-24. It is probable that the individual named here was analogous to her prototype in idolatry and immoral behavior, since those are the items singled out for mention.

tn Grk “teaches and deceives” (διδάσκει καὶ πλανᾷ, didaskei kai plana), a construction in which the first verb appears to specify the means by which the second is accomplished: “by her teaching, deceives…”

tn See the note on the word “servants” in 1:1.

sn To commit sexual immorality and to eat food sacrificed to idols. Note the conclusions of the Jerusalem Council in Acts 15:29, which specifically prohibits Gentile Christians from engaging in these activities.

tn Grk “her children,” but in this context a reference to this woman’s followers or disciples is more likely meant.

tn Grk “I will kill with death.” θάνατος (qanatos) can in particular contexts refer to a manner of death, specifically a contagious disease (see BDAG 443 s.v. 3; L&N 23.158).

tn Grk “I will give.” The sense of δίδωμι (didwmi) in this context is more “repay” than “give.”

10 sn This pronoun and the following one are plural in the Greek text.

11 tn Grk “each one of you according to your works.”

12 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the conclusion of the anticipated birth.

13 tn On this term BDAG 135 s.v. ἄρσην states: “male…The neut. ἄρσεν Rv 12:5, difft. vs. 13, comes fr. Is 66:7 and is in apposition to υἱόν. On the juxtaposition s. FBoll, ZNW 15, 1914, 253; BOlsson, Glotta 23, ’34, 112.”

14 tn Grk “shepherd.”

15 tn Or “all the Gentiles” (the same Greek word may be translated “Gentiles” or “nations”).

16 tn Or “scepter.” The Greek term ῥάβδος (rJabdo") can mean either “rod” or “scepter.”

sn An allusion to Ps 2:9 (see also Rev 2:27; 19:15).

17 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.

18 tn Or “of the witnesses to Jesus.” Here the genitive ᾿Ιησοῦ (Ihsou) is taken as an objective genitive; Jesus is the object of their testimony.

19 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.

20 tn Grk “I marveled a great marvel” (an idiom for great astonishment).

21 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “but” to indicate the contrast present in this context.

22 tn 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.

23 tn “As much as” is the translation of ὅσα (Josa).

24 tn On the term ἐστρηνίασεν (estrhniasen) BDAG 949 s.v. στρηνιάω states, “live in luxury, live sensually Rv 18:7. W. πορνεύειν vs. 9.”

25 tn Grk “said in her heart,” an idiom for saying something to oneself.

26 tn Or “judgment,” condemnation,” “punishment.” BDAG 569 s.v. κρίσις 1.a.β states, “The word oft. means judgment that goes against a person, condemnation, and the sentence that follows…ἡ κ. σου your judgment Rv 18:10.”