Revelation 18 18

Revelation 18:18 kjv

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

Revelation 18:18 nkjv

and cried out when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, 'What is like this great city?'

Revelation 18:18 niv

When they see the smoke of her burning, they will exclaim, 'Was there ever a city like this great city?'

Revelation 18:18 esv

and cried out as they saw the smoke of her burning, "What city was like the great city?"

Revelation 18:18 nlt

They will cry out as they watch the smoke ascend, and they will say, "Where is there another city as great as this?"

Revelation 18 verses

Revelation 18 18 Meaning

This verse describes the bewildered lamentation of the merchants and mariners witnessing the utter destruction of the great city, Babylon, by fire. Their outcry, "What city is like unto this great city!", expresses shock and profound grief over the sudden, irreparable loss of the commercial and influential power that once seemingly stood supreme and unassailable in their eyes. It underscores the unprecedented nature of Babylon's fall and their bewilderment at such a catastrophic and swift end to an entity they believed incomparable in its grandeur and wealth.

Revelation 18 18 Context

Revelation 18 details the complete and sudden destruction of "Babylon the Great," which symbolizes the corrupt worldly system of economic exploitation, luxury, idolatry, and persecution. Chapter 17 describes its nature as the great harlot, and chapter 18 narrates its fall. The lamentations over its ruin are threefold: by the kings of the earth (Rev 18:9-10), by the merchants (Rev 18:11-17), and by the shipmasters and mariners (Rev 18:17-19), reflecting the profound economic and political impact of its demise. This particular verse (18) falls within the lament of the mariners, who observe the direct evidence of Babylon's catastrophic end through the smoke rising from its burning remains. The entire chapter serves as a polemic against Rome's imperial claims of invincibility and self-sufficiency, portraying it not as an eternal city but as a temporal power doomed by divine judgment.

Revelation 18 18 Word analysis

• And cried (Greek: ἔκραζον, ekrazon): This verb is in the imperfect tense, indicating a continuous or repeated action of crying out. It denotes a loud, urgent, and emotional scream or shout, often of distress, fear, or astonishment. The use of imperfect suggests sustained wailing rather than a single cry, emphasizing the deep and prolonged lamentation of those who witness the catastrophe.
• when they saw (Greek: βλέποντες, blepontes): A present participle, indicating direct observation or perceiving with their own eyes. This highlights the immediacy and vividness of their experience; they are eyewitnesses to the destruction. Their lament is based on tangible proof, not mere hearsay.
• the smoke (Greek: τὸν καπνὸν, ton kapnon): Smoke is a biblical motif for destruction and judgment by fire. It is the visible sign of complete consumption, often associated with divine wrath (e.g., Sodom and Gomorrah, Isa 34:10). The sight of the smoke confirms the finality and extent of Babylon's burning.
• of her burning (Greek: τῆς πυρώσεως αὐτῆς, tēs pyrōseōs autēs): Refers to the intense act of being set ablaze or consumed by fire. The noun emphasizes the result and process of being incinerated. This is not just a fire, but a definitive, consuming conflagration that obliterates the city. It underscores the severity of the judgment.
• saying (Greek: λέγοντες, legontes): Another present participle, indicating that their crying out was accompanied by these specific words.
• What city is like (Greek: Τίς ὁμοία τῇ πόλει, Tis homoia tē polei): This is a rhetorical question, typical in ancient laments, expressing profound shock, disbelief, and sorrow. It means "There is no city like it." It signifies the unparalleled nature of Babylon's former splendor and power, but also, tragically, the unprecedented scale of its destruction.
• unto this great city (Greek: τῇ πόλει τῇ μεγάλῃ, tē polei tē megalē): The phrase emphasizes "greatness," echoing Babylon's self-perception and how it was seen by the world. It speaks of its immense wealth, political sway, and perceived invincibility, which are now utterly shattered. "This great city" directly links back to the prominent term used throughout Revelation to describe Babylon/Rome.

• "cried when they saw the smoke of her burning": This phrase captures the sensory shock and emotional intensity of the scene. The cry is an immediate, involuntary response to the visual evidence of cataclysmic judgment. It signifies the profound grief of those whose livelihoods and worldly security were intricately tied to the now-destroyed city, focusing on the economic devastation rather than moral failings.
• "What city is like unto this great city!": This powerful rhetorical question underscores the worldview of those lamenting. To them, Babylon was uniquely magnificent, a central pillar of their existence. Their sorrow stems from the loss of such an incomparable worldly entity, highlighting the vanity and transience of human achievements and idolatrous attachments when contrasted with God's ultimate power. It also sets up a stark contrast with the New Jerusalem (Rev 21:10-27), the truly great city, which is eternal and founded on God's righteousness, not worldly splendor.

Revelation 18 18 Bonus section

The merchants' cry, "What city is like...", parallels ancient lamentations over fallen commercial powers like Tyre (Ezek 27), yet it also amplifies the rhetoric to emphasize Babylon's perceived unmatched grandeur. This rhetorical question highlights the absolute, singular nature of Babylon's destruction, as well as its unique prominence in the earthly sphere. The emphasis on "smoke" serves as an immediate visual signifier of judgment, evoking divine acts of old (like Sodom and Gomorrah), demonstrating God's consistent character in dealing with wickedness. This reaction of the shipmasters, distinct from the kings (who mourned from afar) and merchants (who profited from land trade), completes the picture of universal commercial lamentation.

Revelation 18 18 Commentary

Revelation 18:18 vividly captures the reaction of worldly onlookers – specifically, the seafaring commercial entities – to the climactic judgment of "Babylon the Great." Their lamentation is born of profound economic loss and shattered expectation. "What city is like unto this great city!" is not a cry of spiritual repentance or understanding of divine justice, but a bewildered lament over the unprecedented downfall of an economic superpower. It reflects the shock that something so seemingly invincible could fall so suddenly and utterly. The "smoke of her burning" serves as tangible evidence of God's complete and irrevocable judgment upon a system characterized by idolatry, exploitation, and defiance of God. This verse starkly contrasts the world's grief over lost luxury and profit with heaven's rejoicing over justice and vindication (Rev 19:1-3), highlighting the differing perspectives on God's actions. It serves as a reminder of the transience of all worldly power and wealth, especially when built on corruption and opposition to God.