Revelation 18 19

Revelation 18:19 kjv

And they cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and wailing, saying, Alas, alas that great city, wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea by reason of her costliness! for in one hour is she made desolate.

Revelation 18:19 nkjv

"They threw dust on their heads and cried out, weeping and wailing, and saying, 'Alas, alas, that great city, in which all who had ships on the sea became rich by her wealth! For in one hour she is made desolate.'

Revelation 18:19 niv

They will throw dust on their heads, and with weeping and mourning cry out: "?'Woe! Woe to you, great city, where all who had ships on the sea became rich through her wealth! In one hour she has been brought to ruin!'

Revelation 18:19 esv

And they threw dust on their heads as they wept and mourned, crying out, "Alas, alas, for the great city where all who had ships at sea grew rich by her wealth! For in a single hour she has been laid waste.

Revelation 18:19 nlt

And they will weep and throw dust on their heads to show their grief. And they will cry out, "How terrible, how terrible for that great city!
The shipowners became wealthy
by transporting her great wealth on the seas.
In a single moment it is all gone."

Revelation 18 verses

Revelation 18 19 Meaning

Revelation 18:19 depicts the desperate lament of mariners, shipmasters, and all who profited from sea trade, witnessing the sudden and catastrophic fall of "Babylon the Great." Their dramatic expressions of grief—casting dust on their heads, weeping, and wailing—signify immense sorrow not for the city's inhabitants or their plight, but for the profound economic loss incurred by her destruction. They mourn the abrupt cessation of their vast wealth, accumulated through Babylon's costly trade and luxury, acknowledging that this immense economic power was annihilated "in one hour."

Revelation 18 19 Context

Revelation 18 details the definitive fall of "Babylon the Great," depicted as a world system embodying idolatry, materialism, and rebellion against God. The chapter begins with an angel proclaiming Babylon's ruin (v.1-3), followed by a divine call for God's people to separate from her lest they share in her sins and plagues (v.4-8). Verses 9-19 provide three distinct laments from those who benefited most from her existence: the kings of the earth (v.9-10), the merchants of the earth (v.11-16), and, as in verse 19, the mariners and those associated with sea trade (v.17-19). Each lament emphasizes the city's sudden demise, its former wealth, and the devastating impact on those who prospered from her. This chapter climaxes God's judgment against global economic and spiritual corruption, contrasting sharply with the joy of God's saints and the heavenly host over Babylon's destruction (Rev 18:20, 19:1-3). The historical backdrop hints at the Roman Empire's power and its imperial cult, which demanded worship and controlled vast trade networks, yet would eventually succumb to divine judgment.

Revelation 18 19 Word analysis

• And they cast dust on their heads (ἔβαλον χοῦν ἐπὶ τὰς κεφαλὰς αὐτῶν - eballon choun epi tas kephalas autōn):
  • Meaning: "They threw dirt upon their heads."
  • Significance: This action is a powerful, ancient, and highly visible expression of profound grief, sorrow, and often, desperation or humiliation throughout the Near East. It's an act of public lament.
  • Context: Unlike modern displays, this was not merely symbolic; it implied a state of complete distress, identifying with the earth in misery.
  • Polemics: This dramatic sorrow underscores the self-serving nature of their lament. Their sorrow is for their own lost fortunes, not for justice or divine judgment.
• and cried (καὶ ἔκραζον - kai ekrazon):
  • Meaning: "And they cried out."
  • Significance: Implies a loud, intense, and often public outcry. It's more than a whisper of sadness; it's an audible outburst of pain.
• weeping (κλαίοντες - klaiontes):
  • Meaning: "Crying, lamenting, mourning with tears."
  • Significance: A fundamental human expression of sadness, adding tears to the emotional display.
• and wailing (καὶ πενθοῦντες - kai penthountes):
  • Meaning: "And mourning, grieving, lamenting deeply."
  • Significance: Denotes a deeper, often more ritualized form of grief than mere weeping, involving solemn expression of sorrow, often for the dead. The triple expression ("cried, weeping, wailing") escalates the intensity of their distress.
• saying (λέγοντες - legontes):
  • Meaning: "Saying, speaking." Introduces their specific lament.
• Alas, alas (Οὐαὶ, οὐαὶ - Ouai, ouai):
  • Meaning: "Woe, woe!" or "Alas, alas!"
  • Significance: An interjection of distress, sorrow, or a prophetic denouncement. The repetition emphasizes the extreme nature of the catastrophe and their despair. It signifies a profound loss or misfortune. This double "woe" often marks inescapable judgment in Revelation.
• that great city (ἡ πόλις ἡ μεγάλη - hē polis hē megalē):
  • Meaning: "The great city."
  • Significance: A specific designation for Babylon, emphasized throughout Revelation 17-18. "Great" signifies its power, wealth, and influence, which is now shattered. This contrasts her earthly "greatness" with her divinely decreed nothingness.
• wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea (ἐν ᾗ ἐπλουτήσαν πάντες οἱ ἔχοντες τὰ πλοῖα ἐν τῇ θαλάσσῃ - en hē eploutēsan pantes hoi echontes ta ploia en tē thalassē):
  • Meaning: "In her were enriched all those having ships on the sea."
  • Significance: This phrase identifies the specific group performing the lament – the maritime traders. It explicitly links Babylon's "costliness" and economic activity directly to their wealth. This highlights Babylon as the central hub of global trade.
  • Words-group: Emphasizes the far-reaching economic impact of Babylon, as its trade affected all those involved in shipping, illustrating its vast commercial network and the world's dependence on it.
• by reason of her costliness (ἐκ τῆς τιμιότητος αὐτῆς - ek tēs timiotētos autēs):
  • Meaning: "Out of her preciousness/expensiveness/worth."
  • Significance: Refers to the precious goods, luxurious commodities, and extravagant trade that emanated from or through Babylon. Her high-value commerce made others rich. This points to the illicit or immoral acquisition of wealth that characterized Babylon.
• for in one hour is she made desolate (ὅτι ἐν μιᾷ ὥρᾳ ἠρημώθη - hoti en mia hōra ērēmōthē):
  • Meaning: "Because in one hour she was made desolate/ruined."
  • Significance: "In one hour" is a recurring phrase in Revelation 18 (v. 10, 17, 19), underscoring the astonishing swiftness and totality of Babylon's destruction. This abrupt end amplifies the traders' shock and despair, as they had no time to adapt or save their assets. "Desolate" means reduced to ruins, empty of inhabitants and resources.
  • Words-group: This clause perfectly encapsulates the theme of divine judgment's unexpected and overwhelming speed, which is a major point of emphasis in the chapter.

Revelation 18 19 Bonus section

The lament of the mariners closely parallels the Old Testament prophecies against Tyre (Ezekiel 26-28), a wealthy mercantile city that also met its downfall due to pride and commercial sin. The language used, including the description of merchants, ships, and the surrounding nations mourning their economic loss, directly echoes these ancient prophecies. This establishes a biblical pattern: cities that thrive on excessive wealth, exploitation, and spiritual rebellion (represented by Babylon) ultimately face a swift and devastating judgment from God. The focus of the lament is exclusively on material loss, exposing the heart of worldly systems that prioritize profit and luxury above righteousness, and their vulnerability to divine decree. This verse serves as a sober reminder of the transient nature of earthly prosperity when God's appointed time for judgment arrives.

Revelation 18 19 Commentary

Revelation 18:19 powerfully concludes the sequence of laments over Babylon's fall by detailing the grief of those whose livelihoods depended entirely on her vast maritime trade. Their outward display of casting dust and incessant wailing is not born of compassion for the city or repentance for their illicit gains, but solely from the devastating, sudden loss of their immense wealth. The repeated "Alas, alas" signifies personal economic catastrophe rather than moral remorse. This lament emphasizes Babylon's role as a global economic power, enriching countless through her costly luxuries. The phrase "in one hour" (reiterated throughout the chapter) highlights the astonishing speed and completeness of her destruction, a testament to the irresistible force of divine judgment that overthrows even the most entrenched earthly empires, stripping away all that was seemingly stable and prosperous in an instant. This sudden downfall reveals the ephemeral nature of all wealth and power not founded on God.