TRV
Translation
King James Version
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,
KJV (with Strong's)
Complete Jewish Bible
Such great wealth —
in a single hour, ruined!”
All the ship masters, passengers, sailors and everyone making his living from the sea stood at a distance
in a single hour, ruined!”
All the ship masters, passengers, sailors and everyone making his living from the sea stood at a distance
Berean Standard Bible
For in a single hour such fabulous wealth has been destroyed!” Every shipmaster, passenger, and sailor, and all who make their living from the sea, will stand at a distance
American Standard Version
for in one hour so great riches is made desolate. And every shipmaster, and every one that saileth any whither, and mariners, and as many as gain their living by sea, stood afar off,
World English Bible Messianic
For in an hour such great riches are made desolate.’ Every ship master, and everyone who sails anywhere, and mariners, and as many as gain their living by sea, stood far away,
Geneva Bible (1599)
For in one houre so great riches are come to desolation. And euery shipmaster, and all the people that occupie shippes, and shipmen, and whosoeuer traffike on the sea, shall stand a farre off,
Young's Literal Translation
`And every shipmaster, and all the company upon the ships, and sailors, and as many as work the sea, far off stood,
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Commentary on Revelation 18 verses 9–24
9 ¶ And the kings of the earth, who have committed fornication and lived deliciously with her, shall bewail her, and lament for her, when they shall see the smoke of her burning,
10 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.
11 And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buyeth their merchandise any more:
12 The merchandise of gold, and silver, and precious stones, and of pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet, and all thyine wood, and all manner vessels of ivory, and all manner vessels of most precious wood, and of brass, and iron, and marble,
13 And cinnamon, and odours, and ointments, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and beasts, and sheep, and horses, and chariots, and slaves, and souls of men.
14 And the fruits that thy soul lusted after are departed from thee, and all things which were dainty and goodly are departed from thee, and thou shalt find them no more at all.
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,
16 And saying, Alas, alas, that great city, that was clothed in fine linen, and purple, and scarlet, and decked with gold, and precious stones, and pearls!
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,
18 And cried when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, What city is like unto this great city!
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.
20 Rejoice over her, thou heaven, and ye holy apostles and prophets; for God hath avenged you on her.
21 And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all.
22 And the voice of harpers, and musicians, and of pipers, and trumpeters, shall be heard no more at all in thee; and no craftsman, of whatsoever craft he be, shall be found any more in thee; and the sound of a millstone shall be heard no more at all in thee;
23 And the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee; and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee: for thy merchants were the great men of the earth; for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived.
24 And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth.
I. II. Main points1. 2. Sub-points
Here we have,
I. A doleful lamentation made by Babylon's friends for her fall; and here observe,
1.Who are the mourners, namely, those who had been bewitched by her fornication, those who had been sharers in her sensual pleasures, and those who had been gainers by her wealth and trade - the kings and the merchants of the earth: the kings of the earth, whom she had flattered into idolatry by allowing them to be arbitrary and tyrannical over their subjects, while they were obsequious to her; and the merchants, that is, those who trafficked with her for indulgences, pardons, dispensations, and preferments; these will mourn, because by this craft they got their wealth.
2.What was the manner of their mourning. (1.) They stood afar off, they durst not come nigh her. Even Babylon's friends will stand at a distance from her fall. Though they had been partakers with her in her sins, and in her sinful pleasures and profits, they were not willing to bear a share in her plagues. (2.) They made a grievous outcry: Alas! alas! that great city, Babylon, that mighty city! (3.) They wept, and cast dust upon their heads, Rev 18:19. The pleasures of sin are but for a season, and they will end in dismal sorrow. All those who rejoice in the success of the church's enemies will share with them in their downfall; and those who have most indulged themselves in pride and pleasure are the least able to bear calamities; their sorrows will be as excessive as their pleasure and jollity were before.
3.What was the cause of their mourning; not their sin, but their punishment. They did not lament their fall into idolatry, and luxury, and persecution, but their fall into ruin - the loss of their traffic and of their wealth and power. The spirit of antichrist is a worldly spirit, and their sorrow is a mere worldly sorrow; they did not lament for the anger of God, that had now fallen upon them, but for the loss of their outward comfort. We have a large schedule and inventory of the wealth and merchandise of this city, all which was suddenly lost (Rev 18:12, Rev 18:13), and lost irrecoverably (Rev 18:14): All things which were dainty and goodly have departed from thee, and thou shalt find them no more at all. The church of God may fall for a time, but she shall rise again; but the fall of Babylon will be an utter overthrow, like that of Sodom and Gomorrah. Godly sorrow is some support under affliction, but mere worldly sorrow adds to the calamity.
II. An account of the joy and triumph there was both in heaven and earth at the irrecoverable fall of Babylon: while her own people were bewailing her, the servants of God were called to rejoice over her, Rev 18:20. Here observe, 1. How universal this joy would be: heaven and earth, angels and saints, would join in it; that which is matter of rejoicing to the servants of God in this world is matter of rejoicing to the angels in heaven. 2. How just and reasonable; and that, (1.) Because the fall of Babylon was an act of God's vindictive justice. God was then avenging his people's cause. They had committed their cause to him to whom vengeance belongs, and now the year of recompence had come for the controversies of Zion; and, though they did not take pleasure in the miseries of any, yet they had reason to rejoice in the discoveries of the glorious justice of God. (2.) Because it was an irrecoverable ruin. This enemy should never molest them any more, and of this they were assured by a remarkable token (Rev 18:21): An angel from heaven took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, "Thus shall Babylon be thrown down with violence, and be found no more at all; the place shall be no longer habitable by man, no work shall be done there, no comfort enjoyed, no light seen there, but utter darkness and desolation, as the reward of her great wickedness, first in deceiving the nations with her sorceries, and secondly in destroying and murdering those whom she could not deceive," Rev 18:24. Such abominable sins deserved so great a ruin.
Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers verses 9–24. Public domain.
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Caesarius of ArlesAD 542
EXPOSITION ON THE APOCALYPSE 18:15-17, HOMILY 16
Whenever the Spirit says that they were made rich from her, he is indicating the abundance of their sins.… Can a city be dressed in fine linen and purple, rather than people? They lament for themselves, since they are despoiled of those riches mentioned here.… Can all those who are merchants and sailors and who work upon the sea be present to see the burning of a single city? Rather, it says that all who loved the world and were the workers of iniquity fear for themselves when they see the ruin of their own hope.
Primasius of HadrumetumAD 560
COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 18:17-19
“They threw dust on their heads.” This means that they reproached their leaders by whom they were led astray and so were lost.… “They wept and mourned.” … To be sure, we know that many are often stricken by such contrition, and so it is not false to refer to the person these distances from which they are removed. That is, they will stand afar off and cry out when they see the smoke of its burning, since to stand afar off is not to fall with those who are lost but rather to acquire a stability from submitting to conversion. For “before one’s own master does one stand or fall.” One ought not understand this standing in a bodily sense but as the conversion of a firm soul in faith, so that when they are said to weep over others who are perishing, they are themselves understood to be making a fruitful penance. For this reason the apostle says, “When you were dead through trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience, among whom we all once lived in the passions of the flesh, following the desires of the flesh and mind, and so we were by nature children of wrath like the rest,” or things like this. According to these words of the apostle, I think that this passage can be rightly referred to the persons who convert. For no one can be found to be good who was not formerly evil. Therefore, the psalm says, “I have reckoned all the sinners of the earth as transgressors.”
Andreas of CaesareaAD 614
COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 18:15-19, 22
He leads before our eyes the sufferings of this Babylon, and through the laments made over her he depicts the greatness of her misfortune that she, who previously boasted of her royal majesty, will suffer.… He speaks figuratively of the present life as a “sea,” since it is heaving with waves. Those who make commerce upon [the sea] swim in the turbulence of this life as though they were fishes. However, perhaps that city that suffers these things lies beside a physical sea and receives these misfortunes from those who sail upon it and receive from it an opportunity to loot it of its wealth. But it is necessary to add that the merchants of this universal Babylon, that is, Confusion, will suffer the same thing at the conclusion of the visible world and will sob inconsolably, since they are unwillingly deprived of the pleasures of this life and are reproached by their conscience because of their deeds.… But against this opinion is that of the ancient teachers of the church, which supposes that these things are prophesied against the Babylon of the Romans. They refer to the vision in which the ten horns are on the fourth beast, that is, upon the Roman rule, and from it another one comes that roots out three of the ten and subdues the others. And when this king of the Romans comes in the pretense of assisting and helping their rule, he in fact comes to effect their complete ruin. Therefore, as we said, whoever interprets this kingdom as though it were one body that from the beginning until now exercised power and which truly has shed the blood of apostles, prophets and martyrs, such a one would not be mistaken concerning the present passage. For even as it is said that there is one chorus and one army and one city, although those who populate each of these might change, so also there is one kingdom, although it is divided into many times and places.
BedeAD 735
Commentary on Revelation
And every shipmaster, and all the sailors stood afar off, etc. Can all who sail the sea be present to see the burning of the city? But he means all the worshipers and workers of the world fear for themselves, seeing the ruin of their hope.
Source: Quotations drawn from early Church Fathers and historical Christian theologians (AD 100–1500). Some quotes address the surrounding passage context rather than this verse alone.
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SUMMARY
Revelation 18:17 dramatically portrays the swift and utter destruction of "Babylon the Great," a symbolic entity representing a powerful, corrupt global economic and political system. The verse emphasizes the sudden collapse of its immense wealth, declaring that "in one hour so great riches is come to nought." It then shifts focus to the profound shock and helplessness of those who profited from this system, specifically "every shipmaster, and all the company in ships, and sailors, and as many as trade by sea," who are depicted standing "afar off," witnessing the catastrophic ruin from a distance, unable to intervene or salvage anything.
CONTEXT
Literary Context: Revelation 18 unfolds as a prophetic lament over the fall of "Babylon the Great," a symbolic city representing a global system of economic power, luxury, and spiritual harlotry that has corrupted the nations. Following the initial announcement of Babylon's fall in Revelation 18:2, the chapter proceeds with a series of laments from various groups who benefited from her wealth and influence. Revelation 18:9-10 describe the kings of the earth mourning her destruction, while Revelation 18:11-16 detail the merchants' grief over the loss of their vast trade. Verse 17 directly continues this lament, specifically focusing on the maritime community—shipmasters, sailors, and all involved in sea trade—who are depicted as helpless onlookers. The repeated phrase "in one hour" throughout Revelation 18 (verses 10, 17, 19) underscores the suddenness and decisiveness of this divine judgment, linking the laments of different groups by this shared experience of instantaneous ruin.
Historical & Cultural Context: In the ancient world, maritime trade was the backbone of global commerce, connecting empires and facilitating the exchange of vast wealth. Major port cities like Rome, Alexandria, and Ephesus were centers of immense economic activity and cultural influence. The imagery of "Babylon the Great" in Revelation draws parallels to historical empires known for their commercial dominance and spiritual corruption, such as ancient Babylon and later, the Roman Empire. Rome, with its extensive network of trade routes across the Mediterranean, served as a powerful contemporary example of a global economic superpower. The lament of shipmasters and sailors would have resonated deeply with John's original audience, who understood the critical role of sea trade in their daily lives and the devastating impact of its disruption. The sudden "come to nought" of such riches would evoke the total collapse of an entire economic system, mirroring the historical destruction of powerful cities that once seemed invincible.
Key Themes: Revelation 18:17 contributes significantly to several key themes within the book of Revelation and the broader biblical narrative. Firstly, it powerfully illustrates the sudden and complete destruction of worldly power and wealth. The phrase "in one hour" emphasizes the swiftness and decisiveness of God's judgment, demonstrating the fragility of earthly glory and the transience of material possessions, a theme echoed in passages like Psalm 49:16-17. Secondly, it highlights the theme of economic collapse as a consequence of divine judgment. The detailed enumeration of those involved in sea trade underscores the global reach and devastating impact of Babylon's downfall on the world's economy. Thirdly, the imagery of "standing afar off" conveys the lamentation and helplessness of those who profited from Babylon. They are not victims of war but stunned, powerless witnesses, unable to salvage anything, signifying both their awe at God's judgment and their despair over their lost livelihoods. Finally, underlying this destruction is the overarching theme of divine justice and sovereignty, where God brings righteous judgment against a system built on greed, luxury, and opposition to His kingdom, as seen in Revelation 19:2.
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
Revelation 18:17 employs several potent literary devices to convey its message. Hyperbole is evident in the phrase "in one hour," which, while literally meaning a short duration, functions hyperbolically to emphasize the astonishing speed and decisiveness of Babylon's destruction, contrasting sharply with the years it took to accumulate such "great riches." The detailed listing of "every shipmaster, and all the company in ships, and sailors, and as many as trade by sea" is an example of Enumeration, serving to underscore the comprehensive and widespread impact of Babylon's fall on the entire global economy, particularly the maritime sector. Imagery is powerfully used in the depiction of these individuals "standing afar off," creating a vivid mental picture of their stunned helplessness and the overwhelming nature of the catastrophe. This also suggests a sense of Irony, as those who once profited immensely from Babylon's trade are now reduced to powerless spectators of its demise. Finally, the entire verse contributes to the broader Lament genre of Revelation 18, expressing profound sorrow and despair over the loss of a once-mighty economic power.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Revelation 18:17 serves as a stark theological declaration concerning the transience of all earthly power and wealth that stands in opposition to God. It underscores the principle that systems built on greed, idolatry, and exploitation, no matter how vast or seemingly invincible, are ultimately subject to divine judgment. The suddenness of Babylon's fall highlights God's absolute sovereignty over human affairs and His ability to bring down even the most entrenched worldly empires in an instant. This judgment is not arbitrary but righteous, a consequence of Babylon's spiritual harlotry and the corruption she inflicted upon the nations. For believers, this passage offers a profound warning against placing ultimate trust or hope in material riches, economic systems, or political powers, reminding them that true security and lasting treasure are found only in God's eternal kingdom. It reinforces the call to discern between the temporary allure of the world and the enduring reality of God's righteous reign.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Revelation 18:17 challenges us to critically examine where our ultimate security and hope truly lie. In a world often driven by economic indicators, material accumulation, and the pursuit of worldly power, this verse serves as a sobering reminder that all such foundations are ultimately fragile and temporary. For the believer, it calls for a radical reorientation of priorities, urging us to invest our lives and resources not in systems destined for "nought," but in the eternal kingdom of God. This means cultivating a spirit of detachment from the fleeting allure of wealth, practicing generosity and justice, and discerning the subtle ways in which worldly values can infiltrate our hearts and churches. It encourages us to live with an eternal perspective, recognizing that true prosperity is found in our relationship with Christ and our participation in His mission, rather than in the shifting sands of global economies.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Who is "Babylon the Great" in Revelation, and why is its destruction so significant?
Answer: "Babylon the Great" in Revelation is widely understood as a symbolic representation, not a literal city in John's time, but rather a powerful, corrupt global system that embodies spiritual idolatry, economic exploitation, and political oppression, standing in opposition to God's kingdom. While some interpret it as a specific historical empire (like Rome) or a future geopolitical entity, its primary significance lies in its symbolic role as the epitome of human rebellion against God, characterized by immense wealth, luxury, and the persecution of God's people (as seen in Revelation 17:6). Its destruction, as described throughout Revelation 18, is profoundly significant because it signifies God's ultimate triumph over all forms of evil, injustice, and worldly systems that defy His righteous rule, paving the way for the establishment of His eternal kingdom.
What is the significance of the repeated phrase "in one hour" in Revelation 18?
Answer: The phrase "in one hour" (found in Revelation 18:10, 18:17, and 18:19) is highly significant because it emphasizes the astonishing speed, suddenness, and decisiveness of God's judgment upon Babylon the Great. It highlights that the destruction of this seemingly invincible global power will not be a gradual decline but an instantaneous, catastrophic event. This swiftness underscores God's absolute sovereignty and power, demonstrating that what took centuries to build can be brought to "nought" in a moment. It serves as a powerful warning against relying on the perceived stability of worldly systems and underscores the certainty and finality of divine judgment.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Revelation 18:17, depicting the sudden and complete collapse of earthly riches and power, finds its ultimate Christ-centered fulfillment in the triumph of God's eternal kingdom over all temporal dominion. While Babylon represents the pinnacle of human rebellion and self-sufficiency, Christ embodies the true and lasting King whose kingdom "is not of this world" (John 18:36). The "riches" that come to nought in one hour stand in stark contrast to the "unsearchable riches of Christ" (Ephesians 3:8)—spiritual blessings, eternal life, and an inheritance that can never perish, spoil, or fade (1 Peter 1:4). The lament of the shipmasters and traders, standing "afar off" in despair, foreshadows the ultimate judgment where every knee will bow before Christ (Philippians 2:10-11) and those who rejected Him will face eternal separation. However, for those who have placed their faith in the Lamb of God, the fall of Babylon is not a cause for despair but for rejoicing, as it signals the imminent establishment of the New Jerusalem, where God Himself dwells with His people (Revelation 21:1-4), and where true and lasting peace, justice, and prosperity are found under the reign of Christ, the King of kings and Lord of lords (Revelation 19:16).