TRV
Revelation 18:10
Bible Versions
Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for in one hour is thy judgment come.
Standing {G2476} afar {G3113} off {G575} for {G1223} the fear {G5401} of her {G846} torment {G929}, saying {G3004}, Alas {G3759}, alas {G3759}, that great {G3173} city {G4172} Babylon {G897}, that mighty {G2478} city {G4172}! for {G3754} in {G1722} one {G3391} hour {G5610} is {G2064} thy {G4675} judgment {G2920} come {G2064}.
Standing at a distance, for fear of her torment, they will say,
“Oh no! The great city!
Bavel, the mighty city!
In a single hour
your judgment has come!”
“Oh no! The great city!
Bavel, the mighty city!
In a single hour
your judgment has come!”
In fear of her torment, they will stand at a distance and cry out: “Woe, woe to the great city, the mighty city of Babylon! For in a single hour your judgment has come.”
standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Woe, woe, the great city, Babylon, the strong city! for in one hour is thy judgment come.
-
Revelation 18:19
And they cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and wailing, saying, Alas, alas, that great city, wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea by reason of her costliness! for in one hour is she made desolate. -
Revelation 18:8
Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong [is] the Lord God who judgeth her. -
Revelation 18:15
The merchants of these things, which were made rich by her, shall stand afar off for the fear of her torment, weeping and wailing, -
Revelation 18:17
For in one hour so great riches is come to nought. And every shipmaster, and all the company in ships, and sailors, and as many as trade by sea, stood afar off, -
Revelation 14:8
And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication. -
Joel 1:15
Alas for the day! for the day of the LORD [is] at hand, and as a destruction from the Almighty shall it come. -
Amos 5:16
¶ Therefore the LORD, the God of hosts, the Lord, saith thus; Wailing [shall be] in all streets; and they shall say in all the highways, Alas! alas! and they shall call the husbandman to mourning, and such as are skilful of lamentation to wailing.
Revelation 18:10 captures a pivotal moment in the apocalyptic vision: the immediate aftermath of the symbolic "Babylon the Great's" destruction. This verse reveals the reaction of those who witnessed or learned of its swift downfall, emphasizing their fear and lamentation over the sudden loss of a mighty, influential entity.
Context
This verse is part of a larger prophetic narrative in Revelation, specifically chapters 17 and 18, which detail the judgment and fall of 'Babylon the Great'. This "Babylon" is widely understood not as the literal ancient city, but as a symbolic representation of a global system of spiritual corruption, economic oppression, and moral decadence that opposes God. The preceding verses (Revelation 18:1-8) announce its complete destruction, and verses 9-19 describe the lamentations of kings, merchants, and shipmasters who had prospered through their association with this powerful entity.
Key Themes
Linguistic Insights
The Greek phrase for "Alas, alas" is ouai ouai (οὐαὶ οὐαί), an interjection signifying deep distress, woe, or lamentation. It is a common expression of prophetic judgment in both the Old and New Testaments, often preceding declarations of doom. The phrase "in one hour" (Greek: mia hora) emphasizes the suddenness and completeness of the destruction, reinforcing that divine judgment, once enacted, is swift and absolute.
Cross-References & Connections
The theme of lamentation over a fallen city is echoed in Old Testament prophecies, such as the prophetic warnings against ancient Babylon in Jeremiah 51:8, where its fall is also described as sudden. The specific groups lamenting in Revelation 18:10 are further detailed in Revelation 18:17 and Revelation 18:19, showing the widespread impact of Babylon's collapse on the world's economic and political structures. This catastrophic end stands in stark contrast to the eternal stability and glory of the New Jerusalem.
Practical Application
Revelation 18:10 serves as a powerful warning against aligning oneself with systems of worldly power, wealth, and corruption. It reminds believers of the temporary nature of earthly kingdoms and the eventual, decisive judgment awaiting all that opposes God's will. For us today, it encourages spiritual discernment to identify and separate from any influences that foster materialism, injustice, or spiritual idolatry. It also offers assurance that despite the apparent power and influence of worldly systems, God remains sovereign and will ultimately bring justice and establish His eternal kingdom.