Revelation 18:5

For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.

For {G3754} her {G846} sins {G266} have reached {G190}{G2853} unto {G891} heaven {G3772}, and {G2532} God {G2316} hath remembered {G3421} her {G846} iniquities {G92}.

for her sins are a sticky mass piled up to heaven,
and God has remembered her crimes.

For her sins are piled up to heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities.

for her sins have reached even unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.

Revelation 18:5 (KJV) declares the profound reason for the impending judgment upon "Babylon the Great": "For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities." This verse is a powerful statement of divine justice and the ultimate reckoning for accumulated wickedness.

Context of Revelation 18:5

This verse is situated within the dramatic prophecy of Revelation 18, which describes the catastrophic fall of "Babylon the Great." This symbolic entity represents a global system of spiritual, economic, and political corruption that stands in opposition to God and His people. The preceding verses (Revelation 18:2-3) announce her utter destruction and highlight her pervasive influence through her illicit wealth and spiritual depravity. Verse 5 serves as the divine justification for this severe judgment, explaining that her transgressions have reached an unbearable level in God's sight, necessitating immediate and decisive action.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Justice and Accountability: The verse underscores God's absolute sovereignty and His unwavering commitment to justice. No sin goes unnoticed or unpunished indefinitely. The imagery of sins "reaching unto heaven" vividly portrays the enormity and cumulative weight of Babylon's wickedness, making her judgment inevitable.
  • God's "Remembrance" of Iniquities: When the Bible says God "remembers" iniquities, it doesn't imply that God forgets and then recalls. Rather, it signifies that the time for divine patience has ended, and the moment for decisive action and righteous judgment has arrived. It is a declaration that the cup of her iniquity is full, much like the sins of the Amorites before their judgment (Genesis 15:16).
  • The Consequences of Systemic Sin: This verse highlights that not only individuals but also corrupt systems and institutions face God's judgment. Babylon's sins are not isolated acts but a deep-seated pattern of rebellion, oppression, and moral decay that has impacted the entire world.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "her sins have reached unto heaven" (Greek: ekollēthēsan achri tou ouranou or similar textual variations) uses powerful imagery. It suggests that the sins have piled up so high they touch the sky, or that they are so flagrant and numerous they are undeniably visible and offensive to God. This echoes similar Old Testament descriptions of overwhelming wickedness, such as the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 18:20-21), where their sin "cried out" to heaven. The term "remembered" (Greek: emnēmoneusen) in "God hath remembered her iniquities" is an active verb, indicating that God is now bringing these offenses to account, not merely recalling them from memory.

Reflection and Application

Revelation 18:5 serves as a profound reminder of God's perfect justice. It assures believers that all forms of evil, corruption, and oppression will ultimately face divine reckoning. For us today, this verse calls for spiritual discernment and separation from systems and ideologies that oppose God's righteousness. It encourages believers to live righteously, knowing that God sees and will act. It also offers hope that despite the prevalence of sin in the world, God's ultimate victory and the establishment of His righteous kingdom are certain, as seen in the promise of a new heaven and new earth (Revelation 21:1-4).

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Ezra 9:6

    And said, O my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to thee, my God: for our iniquities are increased over [our] head, and our trespass is grown up unto the heavens.

  • Genesis 18:20

    And the LORD said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous;

  • Genesis 18:21

    I will go down now, and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it, which is come unto me; and if not, I will know.

  • Revelation 16:19

    And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath.

  • Jeremiah 51:9

    We would have healed Babylon, but she is not healed: forsake her, and let us go every one into his own country: for her judgment reacheth unto heaven, and is lifted up [even] to the skies.

  • Jonah 1:2

    Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me.

  • 2 Chronicles 28:9

    But a prophet of the LORD was there, whose name [was] Oded: and he went out before the host that came to Samaria, and said unto them, Behold, because the LORD God of your fathers was wroth with Judah, he hath delivered them into your hand, and ye have slain them in a rage [that] reacheth up unto heaven.

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