Cambridge Greek Testament Commentary

Revelation 17:9

ὦδε is omitted in B2 so that the ὁ νοῦς is the subject of παρέσται.

9. ὧδε ὁ νοῦς. Compare Revelation 13:18. As there, the words seem to indicate that “the mind which hath wisdom” will recognise the meaning of the image, though it is obscurely expressed. But the “wisdom” required is not merely the faculty of guessing riddles—it is the wisdom enlightened from above; including however, we may suppose, an intelligent knowledge of the facts and principles of human history. At this point the explanation of the Angel seems to be interrupted till it is resumed at καὶ λέγει μοι, Revelation 17:15. If so, as the seer is addressed in Revelation 17:12, we should have to suppose we have the inspired reflection of another prophet.

ἑπτὰ ὄρη. These words prove decisively that Babylon represents the City of Rome. It is needless to quote classical descriptions of Rome as the City of the Seven Mountains: the designation is as unmistakeable as the name would be. Nevertheless, it is curious that the number is rather conventionally than actually true. The original seven hills were the Palatine, the Germalus (virtually a part of the Palatine hill), the Velia (the low ridge crossing the Forum), the Cispius, Oppius, and Fagutal (three summits of the Esquiline), and the Suburra which is not a hill at all. But Rome in the days of its greatness covered the Palatine, Capitol, Aventine, Caelian, Esquiline (two of the ridges of which, though not very well defined, are yet as distinct as the two next), the Quirinal, the Viminal (these two were never counted among the “seven mountains,” though higher than any of them, but were always called “hills,” perhaps because collis was the Sabine name and mons the Latin), and the Janiculum and Vatican on the other side of the Tiber. In modern Rome the buildings have spread over the Pincian Hill, but the Caelian, Palatine, Aventine, are nearly uninhabited, and the same was true till lately of the Esquiline.

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Cambridge Greek Testament Commentary

Revelation 17:9

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