Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Revelation 17:4

"And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and decked with gold and precious stone and pearls, having in her hand a golden cup full of abominations, even the unclean things of her fornication," — Revelation 17:4 (ASV)

Dressed in queenly attire (Ezekiel 16:13; cf. Revelation 18:7), the woman rides the beast, swinging in her hand a golden cup full of her idolatrous abominations and wickedness. Note the contrast—beauty and gross wickedness. Her costly and attractive attire suggests the prostitute’s outward beauty and attraction (Jeremiah 4:30). The golden cup filled with wine alludes to Jeremiah’s description of Babylon’s worldwide influence in idolatry (Jeremiah 51:7). Her cup is filled with “abominable things” (GK 1007)—things most frequently associated with idolatry, which was abhorrent to Jews and Christians alike (21:27). Jesus used this word to refer to Daniel’s “abomination that causes desolation” standing in the temple (Mark 13:14 cf. Daniel 9:27; 11:31; 12:11). “Filth” (lit., “uncleannesses”; GK 176) is associated in the NT with evil (unclean) spirits (e.g., Matthew 10:1; 12:43) and with idolatry (2 Corinthians 6:17), perhaps with cult prostitution (Ephesians 5:5).