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Revelation 18:17

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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,

For {G3754} in one {G3391} hour {G5610} so great {G5118} riches {G4149} is come to nought {G2049}. And {G2532} every {G3956} shipmaster {G2942}, and {G2532} all {G3956} the company {G3658} in {G1909} ships {G4143}, and {G2532} sailors {G3492}, and {G2532} as many as {G3745} trade {G2038} by sea {G2281}, stood {G2476} afar {G3113} off {G575},

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

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

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,

Commentary

Context of Revelation 18:17

Revelation 18 describes the dramatic and complete fall of "Babylon the Great," a symbolic entity often understood as a powerful, corrupt global economic and political system opposed to God. This chapter vividly portrays its immense wealth and influence, drawing parallels to ancient Babylon's grandeur and commercial dominance. Verse 17 continues the lament begun by kings and merchants in previous verses, highlighting the swift and devastating nature of its destruction. The focus here shifts specifically to those involved in maritime commerce, emphasizing the global impact of this sudden collapse on trade and economy.

Key Themes

  • Sudden and Complete Destruction: The phrase "in one hour" (repeated from Revelation 18:10 and Revelation 18:19) underscores the unexpected and rapid demise of Babylon's vast "riches" and power. What took years to accumulate vanishes instantly, demonstrating the fragility of worldly glory.
  • Economic Collapse: The verse explicitly connects Babylon's downfall to the ruin of its extensive trading network. It depicts a catastrophic global economic shock, affecting all who profited from its system, particularly those engaged in sea trade. The lament of the "shipmaster" and "sailors" highlights the immediate and devastating impact on their livelihoods.
  • Lamentation and Helplessness: The imagery of "every shipmaster, and all the company in ships, and sailors, and as many as trade by sea, stood afar off," illustrates the profound shock, fear, and powerlessness of those who witnessed this event. They are not participants in the destruction but stunned onlookers, unable to intervene or salvage anything. Their distance signifies both awe at God's judgment and their own despair.
  • Divine Judgment: Underlying this economic and political destruction is God's righteous judgment against a system built on greed, luxury, and opposition to His will (Revelation 19:2).

Linguistic Insights

The King James Version phrase "come to nought" vividly conveys the idea of complete annihilation or utter ruin. It signifies that Babylon's immense wealth becomes worthless, entirely undone. The repetition of "one hour" throughout Revelation 18 emphasizes the compressed timeline of this cataclysm, highlighting the swiftness and decisiveness of divine action. The description of those involved in sea trade standing "afar off" is a poignant detail, showing their inability to help or even approach the scene of destruction, highlighting the scale of the disaster and their own fear and despair.

Practical Application

Revelation 18:17 serves as a powerful reminder of the transient nature of worldly wealth and power. For believers, it reinforces the principle that true security and lasting treasure are found not in earthly systems or material possessions, but in God alone (Matthew 6:19-21). The verse encourages discernment, urging us not to place our ultimate trust or hope in economic structures or political powers that are ultimately destined for judgment. It underscores God's sovereignty over all earthly kingdoms and His ultimate triumph, offering hope to those who endure in faith while warning against entanglement with systems that oppose His righteousness.

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 17:16 (4 votes)

    And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire.

  • Isaiah 23:14 (4 votes)

    Howl, ye ships of Tarshish: for your strength is laid waste.

  • Ezekiel 27:27 (4 votes)

    Thy riches, and thy fairs, thy merchandise, thy mariners, and thy pilots, thy calkers, and the occupiers of thy merchandise, and all thy men of war, that [are] in thee, and in all thy company which [is] in the midst of thee, shall fall into the midst of the seas in the day of thy ruin.

  • Ezekiel 27:36 (4 votes)

    The merchants among the people shall hiss at thee; thou shalt be a terror, and never [shalt be] any more.

  • Revelation 18:19 (3 votes)

    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.

  • Jeremiah 51:8 (3 votes)

    Babylon is suddenly fallen and destroyed: howl for her; take balm for her pain, if so be she may be healed.

  • Jonah 1:6 (3 votes)

    So the shipmaster came to him, and said unto him, What meanest thou, O sleeper? arise, call upon thy God, if so be that God will think upon us, that we perish not.