Mat 13:46, Rev 17:4, 18:12-16 | Barnes | STEP

Matthew 13:46

Revelation of John 17:4

Verse 4. And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour. On the nature of the scarlet colour, Rev 17:3. The purple colour--πορφυρα--was obtained from a species of shell-fish found on the coasts of the Mediterranean, which yielded a reddish-purple dye, much prized by the ancients. Robes dyed in that colour were commonly worn by persons of rank and wealth, Mk 15:17,20, Lk 16:19. The purple colour contains more blue than the crimson, though the limits are not very accurately defined, and the words are sometimes interchanged. Thus the mock robe put on the Saviour is called in Mk 15:17,20, πορφυραν--purple, and in Mt 27:28, κοκκινην--crimson. On the applicability of this to the Papacy, Rev 17:3.

And decked with gold. After the manner of an harlot, with rich jewelry.

And precious stones. Sparkling diamonds, etc.

And pearls. Also a much-valued female ornament. Compare Barnes on "Mt 7:6; 13:46".

Having a golden cup in her hand. As if to entice lovers. Rev 14:8.

Full of abominations. Of abominable things; of things fitted to excite abhorrence and disgust; things unlawful and forbidden. The word, in the Scriptures, is commonly used to denote the impurities and abominations of idolatry. Dan 9:27. The meaning here is, that it seemed to be a cup filled with wine, but it was in fact a cup full of all abominable drugs, leading to all kinds of corruption. How much in accordance this is with the fascinations of the Papacy, it is not necessary now to say, after the ample illustrations of the same thing already furnished in these Notes.

And filthiness of her fornication, The image here is that of Papal Rome, represented as an abandoned woman in gorgeous attire, alluring by her arts the nations of the earth, and seducing them into all kinds of pollution and abomination. It is a most remarkable fact that the Papacy, as if designing to furnish a fulfilment of this prophecy, has chosen to represent itself almost precisely in this manner--as a female extending an alluring cup to passers by. Apostate churches, and guilty nations, often furnish the very proofs necessary to confirm the truth of the Scriptures.

(a) "Mystery Babylon" 2Thes 2:7 (1) "HARLOTS" "fornications"

Revelation of John 18:12-16

Verse 12. The merchandise of gold, and silver. Of course, these constitute an important article of commerce in a great city.

And precious stones. Diamonds, emeralds, rubies, etc. These have always been important articles of traffic in the world, and, of course, most of the traffic in them would find its way to great commercial cities.

And pearls. Mt 7:6; 13:46. These, too, have been always, and were particularly in early times, valuable articles of commerce. Mr. Gibbon mentions them as among the articles that contributed to the luxury of Rome in the age of the Antenines: "Precious stones, among which the pearl claimed the first rank after the diamond," vol. i.p. 34.

And fine linen. This was also a valuable article of commerce. It was obtained chiefly from Egypt. Isa 19:9. Linen among the ancients was an article of luxury, for it was worn chiefly by the rich, Ex 28:42, Lev 6:10, Lk 16:19. The original word here is βυσσυς, byssus, and it is found in the New Testament only in this place, and in Lk 16:19. It was a "species of fine cotton, highly prized by the ancients." Various kinds are mentioned--as that of Egypt, the cloth which is still found wrapped around mummies; that of Syria, and that of India, which grew on a tree similar to the poplar; and that of Achaia, which grew in the vicinity of Elis. See Rob. Lex.

And purple. Lk 16:19. Cloth of this colour was a valuable article of commerce, as it was worn by rich men and princes.

And silk. Silk was a very valuable article of commerce, as it was costly, and could he worn only by the rich. It is mentioned by Mr. Gibbon as such an article in Rome in the age of the Antenines: "Silk, a pound of which was esteemed not inferior in value to a pound of gold," i. 34. On the cultivation and manufacture of silk by the ancients, see the work entitled, The History of Silk, Cotton, Linen, and Wool, etc., published by Harper Brothers, New York, 1846, pp. 1-21.

And scarlet. Rev 17:3.

And all thyine wood. The word here used--θυινον--occurs nowhere else in the New Testament. It denotes an evergreen African tree, from which statues and costly vessels were made. It is not agreed, however, whether it was a species of cedar, savin, or lignum-vitae, which latter constitutes the modern genus thuja, or thyia. See Rees' Cyclo., art. Thuja.

And all manner vessels of ivory. Everything that is made of ivory. Ivory, or the tusk of the elephant, has always been among the precious articles of commerce.

And all manner vessels of most precious wood. Furniture of costly weed--cedar, the citron tree, lignum-vitse, etc.

And of brass, and iron, and marble. Brass or copper would, of course, be a valuable article of commerce. The same would be the case with iron; and so marble for building, for statuary, etc., would likewise be.

(d) "gold" Rev 17:4 (1) "thyine" "sweet" Verse 13. And cinnamon. Cinnamon is the aromatic bark of the Laurus Cinnamomam, which grows in Arabia, India, and especially in the island of Ceylon. It was formerly, as it is now, a valuable article in the Oriental trade.

And odours. Aromatics employed in religious worship, and for making perfumes. Mr. Gibbon (i. 34) mentions, among the articles of commerce and luxury in the age of the Antenines, "a variety of aromatics that were consumed in religious worship and the pomp of funerals." It is unnecessary to say that the use of such odours has been always common at Rome.

And ointments. Unguents--as spikenard, etc. These were in common use among the ancients. Mt 14:7; Mk 14:3.

And frankincenes. Mt 2:11. It is unnecessary to say that incense has been always much used in public worship in Rome, and that it has been, therefore, a valuable article of commerce there.

And wine. An article of commerce and luxury in all ages.

And oil. That is, olive oil. This, in ancient times, and in Oriental countries particularly, was an important article of commerce.

And fine flour. The word here means the best and finest kind of flour.

And beasts, and sheep, and horses. Also important articles of merchandise.

And chariots. The word here used--ρεδων--means, properly, a carriage with four wheels; or a carriage drawn by mules, (Prof. Stuart.) It was properly a travelling carriage. The word is of Gallic origin.--Quinctil, i. 9; Cic. Mil. 10; Att. v. 17, vi. 1. See Adams's Rom. Ant. p. 525. It was an article of luxury.

And slaves. The Greek here is σωματων--"of bodies." Prof. Stuart renders it grooms, and supposes that it refers to a particular kind of slaves who were employed in taking care of horses and carriages. The word properly denotes body--an animal body--whether of the human body, living or dead, or the body of a beast; and then the external man --the person, the individual. In later usage, it comes to denote a slave, (see Rob. Lex.,) and in this sense it is used here. The traffic in slaves was common in ancient times, as it is now. We know that this traffic was carried on to a large extent in ancient Rome--the city which John probably had in his eye in this description. See Gibbon, Dec. and Fall, i. pp. 25, 26. Athenseus, as quoted by Mr. Gibbon, (p. 26,) says that "he knew very many Romans who possessed, not for use, but for ostentation, ten and even twenty thousand slaves." It should be said here, however, that although this refers evidently to traffic in slaves, it is not necessary to suppose that it would be literally characteristic of Papal Rome. All this is symbolical, designed to exhibit the Papacy under the image of a great city, with what was customary in such a city, or with what most naturally presented itself to the imagination of John as found in such a city; and it is no more necessary to suppose that the Papacy would be engaged in the traffic of slaves, than in the traffic of cinnamon, or fine flour, or sheep and horses.

And souls of men. The word used, and rendered souls--ψυχας-- though commonly denoting the soul, (properly the breath, or vital principle,) is also employed to denote the living thing--the animal-- in which the soul or vital principle resides; and hence may denote a person or a man. Under this form it is used to denote a servant, or slave. (See Rob. Lex.) Prof. Robinson supposes that the word here means female slaves, in distinction from those designated by the previous word. Prof. Stuart (in loc.) supposes that the previous word denotes a particular kind of slaves--those who had the care of horses-- and that the word here is used in a generic sense, denoting slaves in general. This kind of traffic in the "persons" or souls of men is mentioned as characterizing ancient Tyre, in Eze 27:13: "Jayan, Tubal, and Meshech, they were thy merchants; they traded in the persons of men." It is not quite clear why, in the passage before us, this traffic is mentioned in two forms--as that of the bodies and the souls of men; but it would seem most probable that the writer meant to designate all that would properly come under this traffic--whether male or female slaves were bought and sold; whether they were for servitude, or for the gladiatorial sports, (see Wetstein, in loc.;) whatever might be the kind of servitude that they might be employed in, and whatever might be their condition in life. The use of the two words would include all that is implied in the traffic--for, in most important senses, it extends to the body and the soul. In slavery, both are purchased; both are supposed, so far as he can avail himself of them, to become the property of the master.

(2) "slaves" "bodies" (e) "souls" Eze 27:13 Verse 14. And the fruits that thy soul lusted after. Literally, "The fruits of the desire of thy soul." The word rendered fruits-- οπωρα--properly means, late summer; dog-days--the time when Sirius, or the dog-star, is predominant. In the East, this is the season when the fruits ripen, and hence the word comes to denote fruit. The reference is to any kind of fruit that would be brought for traffic into a great city, and that would be regarded as an article of luxury.

Are departed from thee. That is, they are no more brought for sale into the city.

And all things which were dainty and goodly. These words "characterize all kinds of furniture and clothing which were gilt, or plated, or embroidered, and therefore were bright or splendid."-- Prof. Stuart.

And thou shalt find them no more at all. The address here is decidedly to the city itself. The meaning is, that they would no more be found there. Verse 15. The merchants of these things. Who trafficked in these things, and who supplied the city with them, Rev 18:11.

Which were made rich by her. By traffic with her.

Shall stand afar off. Rev 18:10.

For fear of her torment. Struck with terror by her torment, so that they did not dare to approach her, Rev 18:10. Verse 16. And saying, Alas, alas, etc. Rev 18:10.

That was clothed in fine linen. In the previous description, (Rev 18:12-13,) these are mentioned as articles of traffic; here the city, under the image of a female is represented as clothed in the most rich and gay of these articles.

And purple, and scarlet. Rev 17:3-4. Compare 18:12.

And decked with gold, and precious stones, and pearls. Rev 17:4.

(a) "clothed in fine linen" Lk 16:19