Revelation 18 10

Revelation 18:10 kjv

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.

Revelation 18:10 nkjv

standing at a distance for fear of her torment, saying, 'Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! For in one hour your judgment has come.'

Revelation 18:10 niv

Terrified at her torment, they will stand far off and cry: "?'Woe! Woe to you, great city, you mighty city of Babylon! In one hour your doom has come!'

Revelation 18:10 esv

They will stand far off, in fear of her torment, and say, "Alas! Alas! You great city, you mighty city, Babylon! For in a single hour your judgment has come."

Revelation 18:10 nlt

They will stand at a distance, terrified by her great torment. They will cry out, "How terrible, how terrible for you,
O Babylon, you great city!
In a single moment
God's judgment came on you."

Revelation 18 verses

Revelation 18 10 Meaning

Revelation 18:10 describes the horrified reaction of earthly powers (kings, merchants) as they witness the sudden and total destruction of Babylon. They stand afar off, not out of compassion, but out of fear of suffering her torment, lamenting the demise of what they once admired as the "great city," "the mighty city." Their lament emphasizes the overwhelming speed and finality of Babylon's judgment, occurring "in one hour."

Revelation 18 10 Context

Revelation 18 is a detailed pronouncement of judgment against "Babylon the Great," depicted as a powerful global city that has led nations astray through its luxury, spiritual harlotry, and persecution of God's people. This chapter directly follows the declaration in Revelation 17, which introduces Babylon as a "harlot" riding the beast, symbolizing a world system—be it religious, political, or commercial—opposed to God. Verse 10 specifically describes the reaction of the "kings of the earth," who earlier in verse 9 lamented her destruction because they participated in her luxurious excesses. This lament is not one of repentance, but of selfish regret for the loss of a valuable partner in their pursuit of earthly pleasure and power. Historically, this Babylon is often seen as representing Rome in John's day, an empire known for its immense wealth, political influence, and persecution of Christians, serving as a powerful symbol for any corrupt, godless world system. The "judgment" coming "in one hour" signifies its swift, unexpected, and utterly decisive overthrow by divine decree.

Revelation 18 10 Word analysis

• Standing (ἑστῶτες - hestōtes): Present participle, emphasizing an ongoing state or action. They remain fixed in their position, paralyzed by fear and unable to intervene or assist.
• at a distance (μακρόθεν - makrothen): This adverb signifies being far off. It conveys both physical separation (safety from the destruction) and a moral/emotional distance, showing their lack of genuine mourning or compassion for the city itself, but rather for their own loss associated with it. This contrasts with those who might draw near in comfort.
• for fear (διὰ τὸν φόβον - dia ton phobon): Prepositional phrase indicating the reason or cause. Their motive is terror, not empathy. It is self-preservation, fearing the same horrific fate that befell Babylon.
• of her torment (τοῦ βασανισμοῦ αὐτῆς - tou basanismou autēs): Basanismos refers to torture, anguish, or severe punishment. It suggests extreme suffering and implies the intensity and duration of Babylon's deserved agony. This is the horror they wish to avoid for themselves.
• Alas, alas (Οὐαί οὐαί - Ouai ouai): A doubled interjection, conveying deep sorrow, grief, and despair, often used in prophetic lamentations or pronouncements of woe (e.g., Jesus' woes on cities in the Gospels). Here, it expresses bitter regret.
• great city (ἡ πόλις ἡ μεγάλη - hē polis hē megalē): This recurring epithet (also in Rev 17:18; 18:16, 18, 19, 21) underscores Babylon's immense political, economic, and cultural influence. It emphasizes the scale of her former glory, making her fall all the more dramatic and impactful.
• Babylon (Βαβυλὼν - Babylōn): A symbolic name, echoing ancient Babylon, a historical enemy of God's people and a symbol of human pride and rebellion. In Revelation, it signifies a powerful, anti-God system of world government, economy, and false religion.
• the mighty city (ἡ πόλις ἡ ἰσχυρά - hē polis hē iskhyra): Ischyra means strong, powerful, mighty. It highlights Babylon's perceived invincibility and great power, making her swift downfall all the more shocking to those who relied on her strength.
• For in one hour (ὅτι ἐν μιᾷ ὥρᾳ - hoti en mia hōra): Mia hōra literally "one hour." This signifies extreme suddenness, swiftness, and decisiveness. It communicates that God's judgment is not delayed, but when it comes, it is complete and immediate, often beyond human comprehension or intervention.
• your judgment (ἡ κρίσις σου - hē krisis sou): Krisis refers to a legal process, a divine decree, a sentence, or the act of judgment itself. It emphasizes that Babylon's downfall is not accidental but a predetermined, just, and decisive act of God.
• has come (ἦλθεν - ēlthen): Aorist tense, signifying a completed action with lasting results. It asserts the accomplished fact of the judgment, stressing its finality and certainty.

Word-groups analysis:

• "Standing at a distance for fear of her torment": This phrase encapsulates the terrified and self-interested reaction of the earthly powers. Their detachment highlights their complicity without their actual shared suffering, but rather a realization of shared culpability without shared consequences. They don't want to get caught in the same judgment.
• "Alas, alas, great city, Babylon, the mighty city!": This repeated lament with triple descriptive phrases emphasizes the incredible shock and profound loss felt by the onlookers. The descriptions "great city" and "mighty city" underline Babylon's perceived invincibility, contrasting starkly with her sudden destruction.
• "For in one hour your judgment has come!": This statement pinpoints the astonishing speed and finality of Babylon's destruction. The "one hour" emphasizes that despite her immense power and glory, she could not withstand God's swift and total justice, reinforcing the sovereign power of God.

Revelation 18 10 Bonus section

The lament of the kings standing at a distance mirrors the separation and despair that comes when a once-dominant system collapses. It illustrates the hollowness of alliances based on shared self-interest rather than true loyalty. This verse subtly contrasts with the perspective of God's people who rejoice at Babylon's fall (Rev 18:20, 19:1-3) because it signifies the vindication of martyrs and the cleansing of the earth from oppressive evil. The concept of "one hour" in Revelation is not necessarily a literal sixty minutes but functions as a divine timestamp indicating unexpected swiftness, decisiveness, and an action that rapidly brings about a final end. This emphasizes that divine judgment, though often patient, will eventually strike with absolute precision and unalterable finality.

Revelation 18 10 Commentary

Revelation 18:10 powerfully depicts the sudden and dramatic collapse of "Babylon the Great," a symbol for the anti-God world system characterized by pride, luxury, and opposition to divine will. The lamenting "kings of the earth" stand "at a distance," signifying not compassion, but fear of succumbing to the same fate. Their grief is for the loss of their own economic and political advantages derived from Babylon, rather than sorrow for her sins or the suffering she inflicted. The emphatic repetition of "Alas, alas" combined with terms like "great city" and "mighty city" underscores their shock at the swift downfall of what they believed was unshakeable. The phrase "in one hour your judgment has come" highlights the terrifying speed, decisiveness, and comprehensive nature of God's justice. This immediate and complete overthrow serves as a stark warning: all earthly powers and systems built on human arrogance and rebellion against God, no matter how formidable, are vulnerable to His sudden and just judgment. The scene offers a profound lesson on the ephemeral nature of worldly power and the certainty of divine retribution for systemic evil.