Revelation 17:4; The Woman Was Decked With Gold and Precious Stones and Pearls

Revelation 17:4 And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication: 

Feinberg observed well, “Some six elements are introduced to demonstrate the wealth, luxury, and extravagance of the harlot. But all is utilised to the one end – her uncleanness and immorality (cf. Revelation 18:9-19 for a picture of extensive wealth).”

The woman’s adornment with gold stands out because of the expression combining two cognate words with the same idea (Exodus 26:37).

Exodus 26:37 And thou shalt make for the hanging five pillars of shittim wood, and overlay them with gold, and their hooks shall be of gold: and thou shalt cast five sockets of brass for them. 

She was “decked (Lit., made gold) with gold” She was excessively bedizened with the richest ornaments. Precious stones and pearls enhanced her attire even more. Her appearance was like the greatest queen in order to impress and allure her paramours. This flashy adornment may have recalled to John the finery of the temple prostitutes in Asia Minor, though prostitutes of all times and in all places adopt this kind of appearance (Jeremiah 4:30). (Alford, Swete, Moffatt).

Jeremiah 4:30 And when thou art spoiled, what wilt thou do? Though thou clothest thyself with crimson, though thou deckest thee with ornaments of gold, though thou rentest thy face with painting, in vain shalt thou make thyself fair; thy lovers will despise thee, they will seek thy life. 

This description is in sharp contrast to the appearance of the bride of the Lamb whose apparel consists of “fine linen, bring and clean” (Revelation 19:8).

Revelation 19:8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. 

[Robert L. Thomas, Revelation 8-22 – An Exegetical Commentary, Moody, 1995, 283]