How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow.
How much {G3745} she hath glorified {G1392} herself {G1438}, and {G2532} lived deliciously {G4763}, so much {G5118} torment {G929} and {G2532} sorrow {G3997} give {G1325} her {G846}: for {G3754} she saith {G3004} in {G1722} her {G846} heart {G2588}, I sit {G2521} a queen {G938}, and {G2532} am {G1510} no {G3756} widow {G5503}, and {G2532} shall see {G1492} no {G3364} sorrow {G3997}.
“Give her as much torment and sorrow
as the glory and luxury she gave herself!
For in her heart she says, ‘I sit a queen —
I am not a widow, I will never see sorrow.’
As much as she has glorified herself and lived in luxury, give her the same measure of torment and grief. In her heart she says, ‘I sit as queen; I am not a widow and will never see grief.’
How much soever she glorified herself, and waxed wanton, so much give her of torment and mourning: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall in no wise see mourning.
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Isaiah 47:7
¶ And thou saidst, I shall be a lady for ever: [so] that thou didst not lay these [things] to thy heart, neither didst remember the latter end of it. -
Isaiah 47:9
But these two [things] shall come to thee in a moment in one day, the loss of children, and widowhood: they shall come upon thee in their perfection for the multitude of thy sorceries, [and] for the great abundance of thine enchantments. -
Zephaniah 2:15
This [is] the rejoicing city that dwelt carelessly, that said in her heart, I [am], and [there is] none beside me: how is she become a desolation, a place for beasts to lie down in! every one that passeth by her shall hiss, [and] wag his hand. -
Lamentations 1:1
¶ How doth the city sit solitary, [that was] full of people! [how] is she become as a widow! she [that was] great among the nations, [and] princess among the provinces, [how] is she become tributary! -
Ezekiel 28:2
Son of man, say unto the prince of Tyrus, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thine heart [is] lifted up, and thou hast said, I [am] a God, I sit [in] the seat of God, in the midst of the seas; yet thou [art] a man, and not God, though thou set thine heart as the heart of God: -
Ezekiel 28:10
Thou shalt die the deaths of the uncircumcised by the hand of strangers: for I have spoken [it], saith the Lord GOD. -
2 Thessalonians 2:4
Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.
Revelation 18:7 KJV delivers a powerful indictment against "Babylon the Great," a symbolic entity representing a global system of spiritual, economic, and political corruption that opposes God. This verse highlights her hubris and self-indulgence, declaring that her judgment will be directly proportional to her pride and luxury.
Context of Revelation 18:7
This verse is part of a vivid prophetic vision detailing the imminent fall and destruction of Babylon. Following the announcement of her collapse and a call for God's people to separate from her (Revelation 18:4), this verse underscores the specific sins that provoke divine retribution. Babylon's self-exaltation and extravagant lifestyle are presented as direct reasons for her impending torment and sorrow, serving as a stark contrast to her previous perceived invincibility.
Key Themes and Messages
Linguistic Insights
The KJV phrase "glorified herself" translates the Greek edoxasen heauten (ἐδόξασεν ἑαυτήν), emphasizing her self-exaltation and giving glory to herself rather than to God. "Lived deliciously" comes from the Greek word estreniase (ἐστρηνίασε), which conveys a strong sense of living in luxury and wantonness, often with an arrogant disdain for others or for moral restraint. Her declaration "I sit a queen" (Greek: kathēmai basillisa) is a powerful statement of reigning authority and perceived stability, while "no widow" (Greek: chēra ouk eimi) highlights her belief in her own self-sufficiency and immunity from vulnerability or loss, a stark contrast to the true Church, which awaits its marriage to the Lamb.
Practical Application
Revelation 18:7 serves as a timeless warning against the dangers of pride, materialism, and self-sufficiency. It reminds us that worldly power, wealth, and pleasure are fleeting and that true security is found only in God, not in earthly possessions or status. For believers, it's a call to examine our own hearts for any tendencies towards self-glorification or excessive attachment to worldly comforts. It underscores the certainty of divine judgment for those who oppose God's will and live in arrogant disregard of His sovereignty. Ultimately, this verse encourages humility, dependence on God, and a focus on eternal values rather than temporal gains, echoing the wisdom that pride goes before destruction.