Revelation 18 13

Revelation 18:13 kjv

And cinnamon, and odours, and ointments, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and beasts, and sheep, and horses, and chariots, and slaves, and souls of men.

Revelation 18:13 nkjv

and cinnamon and incense, fragrant oil and frankincense, wine and oil, fine flour and wheat, cattle and sheep, horses and chariots, and bodies and souls of men.

Revelation 18:13 niv

cargoes of cinnamon and spice, of incense, myrrh and frankincense, of wine and olive oil, of fine flour and wheat; cattle and sheep; horses and carriages; and human beings sold as slaves.

Revelation 18:13 esv

cinnamon, spice, incense, myrrh, frankincense, wine, oil, fine flour, wheat, cattle and sheep, horses and chariots, and slaves, that is, human souls.

Revelation 18:13 nlt

She also bought cinnamon, spice, incense, myrrh, frankincense, wine, olive oil, fine flour, wheat, cattle, sheep, horses, wagons, and bodies ? that is, human slaves.

Revelation 18 verses

Revelation 18 13 Meaning

This verse is a lament by the merchants of the earth over the fall of Babylon the Great, depicting her immense wealth, global commercial reach, and dependence on a vast array of commodities. The listing progresses from exotic luxuries and common foodstuffs to livestock and vehicles, culminating dramatically and horrifically with "slaves and souls of men," revealing the deep moral depravity inherent in Babylon's economic system where even human beings, in their entirety, are reduced to tradable goods.

Revelation 18 13 Context

Revelation 18 details the catastrophic fall and destruction of Babylon the Great, an entity that symbolizes a global system of wealth, power, and anti-God influence. The chapter begins with a powerful angel proclaiming her downfall, followed by a divine command for God's people to separate from her. The verse in question, Revelation 18:13, is part of a lengthy list of goods lamented by the world's merchants and shipmasters who mourn the loss of their lucrative trade. This extensive catalogue underscores Babylon's economic dominance and her insatiable demand for both luxury and basic commodities, culminating in the shocking mention of "slaves and souls of men," revealing the moral depravity and human exploitation at the heart of her commercial empire. Historically, this depiction reflects ancient economic powerhouses like Rome, which thrived on extensive trade networks and depended heavily on slave labor, contrasting Rome's practices with God's justice. The polemic is against any system, then or now, that prioritizes material gain above human dignity and God's righteous standards.

Word Analysis

• and cinnamon (καὶ κινάμωμον - kai kinamomomon): Cinnamon, an aromatic spice from Cinnamomum zeylanicum. A luxury item in ancient times, imported from the East (India, Sri Lanka). Its inclusion immediately signals a market for expensive, exotic goods, indicating vast trade routes and significant wealth.
• and odours (καὶ ἄμωμον - kai amōmon): A type of fragrant spice or perfume. Literally "amoma" or "aromatic," another luxury used for perfumes, incense, and possibly anointing. Denotes sensory extravagance and refined taste.
• and ointments (καὶ θυμιάματα - kai thymiamata): Fragrant substances often used in perfumes, for anointing, or as incense for religious rituals or personal adornment. Suggests a society engaged in lavish personal care, ceremonial use, or a blend of both.
• and frankincense (καὶ λίβανον - kai libanon): A highly valued aromatic gum resin, primarily from trees in Arabia and East Africa. Used in incense, perfumes, and ancient religious ceremonies (e.g., in the tabernacle, Exod 30:34-38). Its presence highlights both luxury consumption and possibly a spiritual counterfeiting aspect in Babylon's opulence.
• and wine (καὶ οἶνον - kai oinon): A basic staple and a symbol of abundance and celebration, but also of intoxication and excess when consumed to extremes. Represents both agricultural wealth and indulgence.
• and oil (καὶ ἔλαιον - kai elaion): Olive oil, a fundamental commodity used for food, lighting, anointing, and medicine. Indicates agricultural production and essential provisions.
• and fine flour (καὶ σεμίδαλιν - kai semidalin): Highly refined wheat flour, considered superior to coarse flour. Points to quality food provisions for the wealthy, not just basic sustenance.
• and wheat (καὶ σῖτον - kai siton): The primary grain staple. Along with fine flour, it highlights the extensive need for basic provisions for a massive population, undergirding the economic empire.
• and beasts (καὶ κτήνη - kai ktēnē): Livestock in general, referring to cattle, oxen, and pack animals used for transport, food, and agricultural labor. Signifies vast land holdings or extensive ranching interests required to support the city.
• and sheep (καὶ πρόβατα - kai probata): Specifically sheep, a key source of meat, wool, and sacrifice. Indicates a major pastoral sector supplying basic necessities.
• and horses (καὶ ἵππων - kai hippōn): Used for transportation, warfare, and luxury riding. Their presence suggests both military might and personal prestige/recreation.
• and chariots (καὶ ῥεδῶν - kai rhedōn): Wagons or carriages, particularly those used for transport of goods or people, often associated with luxury and display (distinct from military chariots, which would use harma). Emphasizes both a logistical transport system and a display of wealth and mobility.

Word Groups Analysis:

• Luxury & Aromatics (cinnamon, odours, ointments, frankincense): This group highlights extreme wealth and indulgence. These items are non-essential, expensive, imported, and primarily cater to sensory pleasure, ceremonial use, or an elite lifestyle, revealing the superficial grandeur and spiritual void of Babylon.
• Staples & Provisions (wine, oil, fine flour, wheat): These items demonstrate the massive scale of Babylon’s population and its ability to procure and distribute basic necessities. The contrast between "fine flour" and "wheat" also indicates class differentiation within its economy, with luxuries for some and necessities for many.
• Animals & Transport (beasts, sheep, horses, chariots): This group covers the physical infrastructure of Babylon's economy, including animal husbandry and the means of transportation essential for both trade and military power. "Chariots" can also imply a display of grandeur and speed.
• and slaves (καὶ σωμάτων - kai sōmatōn): Literally "bodies." This refers to slaves as physical commodities, highlighting the buying and selling of human beings reduced to their physical existence and labor power. This marks a significant turn in the list, transitioning from inanimate objects and animals to human beings treated as property. This is a direct polemic against God's law (Deut 24:7, Exod 21:16) and against human dignity created in His image (Gen 1:27).
• and souls of men (καὶ ψυχὰς ἀνθρώπων - kai psychas anthrōpōn): This is the ultimate and most horrifying item. Psychē refers to the breath, life, inner being, mind, or soul. "Souls of men" signifies a trade that goes beyond mere physical bodies (slavery) to include the innermost essence, personality, intellect, and spiritual well-being of a person. This implies not just chattel slavery, but potentially forced labor, spiritual manipulation, trafficking in prostitution, coercion of conscience, or even the control over the very minds and destinies of people for profit. It exposes the absolute nadir of Babylon's dehumanization, reducing human essence itself to a commodity, signifying the ultimate rejection of God's valuation of human life.

Revelation 18 13 Bonus section

The inclusion of "souls of men" is unique in ancient commercial lists. While slavery (somata) was widespread in the ancient world, including in the Roman Empire, the addition of psychas anthropon elevates the sin beyond physical bondage to a profound spiritual and moral crime. It highlights a core tenet of God's justice: humans are not things to be bought and sold in their totality. This serves as a warning not just against physical slavery but against any system that diminishes human dignity, manipulates conscience, or treats the deepest parts of a person as marketable assets. The emphasis on "souls" also connects to the ultimate worth of a person's eternal spirit, implying that Babylon’s system aims to control or extinguish not just the body, but the very essence of human life, thus competing with God for humanity's deepest loyalties and destinies.

Revelation 18 13 Commentary

Revelation 18:13 is a powerful indictment of Babylon's economic system, progressively revealing its moral decay. It starts with a comprehensive list of tangible goods, showcasing Babylon's vast global trade and insatiable materialism—from exotic spices to staple foods, and then livestock and transport. However, the final two items, "slaves" (bodies) and "souls of men," unveil the ultimate horror of this empire. It is not just an economic power, but a dehumanizing force that turns human beings into mere commodities, denying their inherent dignity as God's image-bearers. "Bodies" (slaves) refers to the physical trafficking and exploitation, while "souls of men" points to an even deeper level of spiritual and existential commodification, implying the selling of a person's life, intellect, will, or even their eternal destiny. This profound exploitation is the pinnacle of Babylon's sin and seals its judgment, as it embodies the antithesis of God's love and justice for humanity. The passage condemns any system, then or now, that reduces people to mere means of production or profit, ultimately exposing its spiritual emptiness and deserving of divine wrath.Examples: A system where children are trafficked for forced labor or prostitution; economies reliant on forced ideology or complete mental subjugation of a populace; systems where individuals sacrifice their moral compass or spiritual convictions for material gain.