Revelation 18:9

¶ 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,

And {G2532} the kings {G935} of the earth {G1093}, who {G3588} have committed fornication {G4203} and {G2532} lived deliciously {G4763} with {G3326} her {G846}, shall bewail {G2799} her {G846}, and {G2532} lament {G2875} for {G1909} her {G846}, when {G3752} they shall see {G991} the smoke {G2586} of her {G846} burning {G4451},

The kings of the earth who went whoring with her and shared her luxury will sob and wail over her when they see the smoke as she burns.

Then the kings of the earth who committed sexual immorality and lived in luxury with her will weep and wail at the sight of the smoke rising from the fire that consumes her.

And the kings of the earth, who committed fornication and lived wantonly with her, shall weep and wail over her, when they look upon the smoke of her burning,

Commentary

Revelation 18:9 describes the reaction of the "kings of the earth" to the sudden and devastating fall of Babylon the Great. This verse paints a vivid picture of lamentation not born of repentance, but of self-interest and the loss of a profitable, albeit unholy, alliance.

Context

This verse is situated within the broader prophetic narrative of Revelation chapters 17 and 18, which detail the judgment and destruction of "Babylon the Great." This symbolic entity represents a global system of spiritual apostasy, political corruption, and economic exploitation that has seduced and dominated the nations of the world. The "kings of the earth" are those who have collaborated with this system, benefiting from its power and luxury. Their sorrow in this verse contrasts sharply with the rejoicing of God's people and the heavenly host over Babylon's demise, as seen in Revelation 19:1-3.

Key Themes

  • Unholy Alliances and Their Consequences: The verse highlights the intimate, corrupt relationship between the world's rulers and Babylon. Their "fornication" signifies not just sexual immorality but spiritual idolatry, illicit political and economic partnerships, and unfaithfulness to God. Their "delicious" living underscores the material prosperity and indulgence gained through this alliance.
  • Self-Serving Sorrow: The kings' lament is not for Babylon's wickedness or their own sin, but for the loss of their source of power, wealth, and pleasure. They mourn the end of their lavish lifestyle and the collapse of the system that enabled it, as they "see the smoke of her burning," indicating a complete and fiery destruction. This stands in stark contrast to genuine repentance.
  • Divine Judgment and Retribution: This verse underscores the certainty and severity of God's judgment against all systems that oppose His righteousness and lead humanity astray. The suddenness of Babylon's fall, as foreshadowed in Revelation 18:8, catches these worldly rulers by surprise, revealing the ultimate futility of their earthly power and alliances.

Linguistic Insights

  • "Fornication" (Greek: porneia): While encompassing sexual immorality, in a prophetic context like Revelation, porneia often signifies spiritual adultery, idolatry, and illicit alliances that compromise one's devotion to God. It represents a departure from purity and faithfulness.
  • "Lived deliciously" (Greek: estreniasan): This term conveys a sense of wanton luxury, unrestrained indulgence, and living sumptuously. It speaks of a lifestyle characterized by excess and self-gratification, often at the expense of others or in defiance of divine principles.

Practical Application

Revelation 18:9 serves as a powerful warning against becoming entangled with worldly systems that prioritize wealth, power, and pleasure over righteousness and allegiance to God. It challenges us to examine our own alliances—be they economic, political, or social—and ensure they do not compromise our spiritual integrity. The lament of the kings reminds us that earthly gains are temporary, and true security is found only in God, not in corrupt worldly structures. Believers are called to "come out of her, my people" and align themselves with God's eternal kingdom, which will never fall.

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 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 19:3

    And again they said, Alleluia. And her smoke rose up for ever and ever.

  • Revelation 18:3

    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.

  • Revelation 17:2

    With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication.

  • Revelation 18:18

    And cried when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, What [city is] like unto this great city!

  • Ezekiel 26:16

    Then all the princes of the sea shall come down from their thrones, and lay away their robes, and put off their broidered garments: they shall clothe themselves with trembling; they shall sit upon the ground, and shall tremble at [every] moment, and be astonished at thee.

  • Ezekiel 26:17

    And they shall take up a lamentation for thee, and say to thee, How art thou destroyed, [that wast] inhabited of seafaring men, the renowned city, which wast strong in the sea, she and her inhabitants, which cause their terror [to be] on all that haunt it!

  • Revelation 14:11

    And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.
← Back