Bible Dictionary
DELICIOUSLY
To live deliciously means to live luxuriously or wantonly. Revelation uses the expression of Babylon’s self-indulgent prosperity before her judgment.
Definition
To live deliciously means to live luxuriously, wantonly, or in self-indulgent prosperity. The expression describes a life devoted to pleasure and abundance.
Biblical Usage
Revelation applies the expression to Babylon, saying that she lived deliciously. The Revised Version renders it “wantonly,” while its margin gives “luxuriously,” emphasizing excessive indulgence.
Historical Background
The expression translates a Greek verb meaning to live hard or wantonly, so the biblical sense concerns luxurious and unrestrained living rather than merely enjoying pleasant things.
Historical Bible Dictionaries
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>de-lish'-us-li (streniao "to live hard or wantonly"): "She (Babylon) .... lived deliciously" (Re 18:7,9 the King James Version, the Revised Version (British and American) "wantonly," the Revised Version, margin "luxuriously").</p>