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Revelation 18:15

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The merchants of these things, which were made rich by her, shall stand afar off for the fear of her torment, weeping and wailing,

The merchants {G1713} of these things {G5130}, which {G3588} were made rich {G4147} by {G575} her {G846}, shall stand {G2476} afar {G3113} off {G575} for {G1223} the fear {G5401} of her {G846} torment {G929}, weeping {G2799} and {G2532} wailing {G3996},

The sellers of these things, who got rich from her, will stand at a distance, for fear of her torment, weeping and mourning,

The merchants who sold these things and grew their wealth from her will stand at a distance, in fear of her torment. They will weep and mourn,

The merchants of these things, who were made rich by her, shall stand afar off for the fear of her torment, weeping and mourning;

Commentary

Revelation 18:15 vividly portrays the despair of those who had become wealthy through their association with "Babylon the Great," a symbolic entity representing the world's corrupt systems that oppose God.

Context

This verse is part of a series of laments in Revelation chapter 18, following the dramatic announcement of Babylon's sudden and complete destruction. Earlier in the chapter, kings of the earth (Revelation 18:9-10) and shipmasters (Revelation 18:17-19) are depicted mourning over the loss of Babylon's vast commercial and political influence. Here, the focus shifts to the "merchants of these things," specifically those who traded in the luxurious and often illicit goods associated with Babylon's opulence. Their sorrow is entirely self-serving, rooted in the abrupt collapse of their lucrative businesses and the end of their lavish lifestyles, not in any moral or spiritual regret over Babylon's wickedness.

Key Themes

  • The Peril of Worldly Riches: The verse powerfully illustrates the fleeting nature of wealth acquired through unrighteous means or aligned with ungodly systems. The merchants' riches, once a source of pride and comfort, vanish instantly with Babylon's fall, leading to profound despair. This serves as a stark reminder of Jesus' warning against laying up treasures on earth.
  • Divine Judgment and its Impact: God's judgment on Babylon is so absolute that it causes those who profited from her to "stand afar off," paralyzed by fear of experiencing similar torment. Their fear is not born of repentance but of self-preservation, recognizing the overwhelming power behind Babylon's destruction.
  • Self-Serving Sorrow: The "weeping and wailing" of the merchants is not for Babylon itself, nor for any spiritual loss, but purely for the economic devastation they face. This highlights a critical distinction between worldly sorrow, which focuses on personal loss, and godly sorrow, which leads to repentance (2 Corinthians 7:10).

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "weeping and wailing" (Greek: klaiontes kai penthountes) signifies intense grief and lamentation. While these terms are often used for genuine sorrow, in this context, they underscore the profound despair over material loss rather than spiritual or moral awakening. The merchants' lament is a stark contrast to the joy of heaven over Babylon's judgment, as seen in Revelation 18:20.

Practical Application

Revelation 18:15 serves as a timeless caution against placing our ultimate trust and security in the world's economic systems or material possessions. It challenges us to evaluate our own priorities: are we building our lives on a foundation that can be swept away by judgment, or are we investing in eternal values? This verse encourages believers to live with an eternal perspective, understanding that true and lasting riches are found in Christ and His Kingdom, rather than in the fleeting gains of the world. It calls us to discern the true source of our joy and security, ensuring it is not tied to things that will ultimately perish.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash (May 20, 2025) using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Revelation 18:3 (6 votes)

    For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies.

  • Acts 19:24 (4 votes)

    For a certain [man] named Demetrius, a silversmith, which made silver shrines for Diana, brought no small gain unto the craftsmen;

  • Acts 19:27 (4 votes)

    So that not only this our craft is in danger to be set at nought; but also that the temple of the great goddess Diana should be despised, and her magnificence should be destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worshippeth.

  • Ezekiel 27:31 (3 votes)

    And they shall make themselves utterly bald for thee, and gird them with sackcloth, and they shall weep for thee with bitterness of heart [and] bitter wailing.

  • Revelation 18:10 (3 votes)

    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.

  • Revelation 18:11 (3 votes)

    And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buyeth their merchandise any more:

  • Acts 16:19 (2 votes)

    And when her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone, they caught Paul and Silas, and drew [them] into the marketplace unto the rulers,