Revelation 18 7

Revelation 18:7 kjv

How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow.

Revelation 18:7 nkjv

In the measure that she glorified herself and lived luxuriously, in the same measure give her torment and sorrow; for she says in her heart, 'I sit as queen, and am no widow, and will not see sorrow.'

Revelation 18:7 niv

Give her as much torment and grief as the glory and luxury she gave herself. In her heart she boasts, 'I sit enthroned as queen. I am not a widow; I will never mourn.'

Revelation 18:7 esv

As she glorified herself and lived in luxury, so give her a like measure of torment and mourning, since in her heart she says, 'I sit as a queen, I am no widow, and mourning I shall never see.'

Revelation 18:7 nlt

She glorified herself and lived in luxury,
so match it now with torment and sorrow.
She boasted in her heart,
'I am queen on my throne.
I am no helpless widow,
and I have no reason to mourn.'

Revelation 18 verses

Revelation 18 7 Meaning

Revelation 18:7 describes the internal boast, extreme pride, and lavish self-indulgence of "Babylon the Great," which symbolize the culmination of human rebellion against God. Her deep-seated conviction that she is an unshakeable sovereign, secure and immune to loss or suffering, will be met with a divine judgment perfectly proportional to her self-exaltation. This verse reveals that her downfall is rooted not only in her external actions but also in her inner arrogance and deluded sense of invincibility.

Revelation 18 7 Context

Revelation chapter 18 details the catastrophic fall and destruction of "Babylon the Great," described as a magnificent and influential global system. This "Babylon" symbolizes humanity's ungodly pursuit of power, luxury, commerce, and spiritual harlotry (idolatry), opposing God's righteous kingdom. It is portrayed as having dominated the world's economic and political affairs. Verse 7 specifically illuminates the core internal sin that fuels this entity's outward decadence: unbridled self-glory, overweening pride, and a deluded sense of impregnable security. This boast reveals the heart of defiance against the divine order. Historically, this imagery draws heavily from Old Testament prophecies against literal Babylon, Tyre, and Egypt, and also alludes to the opulence and imperialistic pride of Rome, the dominant power of John's era, making it highly relevant to the original audience familiar with such empires.

Revelation 18 7 Word analysis

• In proportion as she glorified herself (ὅσα ἐδόξασεν ἑαυτὴν):
  • ὅσα (hosa): "as many as," "in proportion as," emphasizing the exact correlation or degree.
  • ἐδόξασεν (edoxasen): Aorist active indicative of doxazo, meaning "to glorify," "to esteem," "to honor." Here, "glorified herself" (ἑαυτὴν) signifies self-exaltation, pride, attributing all honor and greatness to her own achievements and power rather than to God. This directly contradicts the biblical principle that glory belongs to God alone (Isa 42:8, Rev 4:11).
• and lived luxuriously (καὶ ἐστρηνίασεν):
  • ἐστρηνίασεν (estrēniasen): Aorist active indicative of strēniaō, meaning "to live in wanton luxury," "to revel in sensual pleasures," "to be licentious." It speaks of arrogant defiance in unrestrained opulence and self-indulgence, often associated with spiritual impurity or rebellion (cf. 1 Tim 5:11 where it describes wanton desires against Christ).
• in the same proportion torment and grief give her (τοσοῦτον δότε αὐτῇ βάσανον καὶ πένθος):
  • τοσοῦτον (tosouton): "so much," "to the same extent." It reinforces the proportionate nature of the divine judgment to her sin, underscoring God's righteous retribution (Rev 13:10, 2 Thess 1:6).
  • δότε (dote): Aorist active imperative, "give ye," a command from God or an angelic instruction to those executing judgment, implying a direct, divinely ordained action.
  • βάσανον (basanosthor): "torment," "torture," severe pain, distress, affliction. This stands in stark contrast to her luxurious living.
  • πένθος (penthos): "grief," "mourning," "sorrow," deep lamentation. This directly opposes her earlier state of not seeing grief.
• For she says in her heart (ὅτι ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ αὐτῆς λέγει):
  • ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ (en tē kardia): "in her heart." This highlights that her boast is not merely an outward profession but a deeply ingrained, private conviction and a secret disposition, revealing the core of her spiritual pride and presumption. What is held internally often manifests externally (Prov 23:7).
• ‘I sit as a queen’ (Κάθημαι βασίλισσα):
  • Κάθημαι (Kathēmai): "I sit," indicating established rule, authority, a fixed and powerful position (as a sovereign on a throne). It signifies undisputed and perpetual dominion.
  • βασίλισσα (basilissa): "queen," emphasizing royalty, power, dignity, and independent reign. This is a claim to absolute and unchallenged sovereignty.
• ‘I am no widow’ (καὶ χήρα οὐκ εἰμί):
  • χήρα (chēra): "widow," a state of vulnerability, helplessness, lack of protection, loss, and dependency (cf. Lam 1:1, Isa 47:8). Her declaration defiantly denies any such weakness, asserting her self-sufficiency and secure "protector" (be it her wealth, power, or human alliances). It contrasts with God's people, who are often portrayed as widows seeking His protection.
  • οὐκ εἰμί (ouk eimi): "I am not." A strong negation of vulnerability.
• ‘and I will never see grief’ (καὶ πένθος οὐ μὴ ἴδω):
  • πένθος (penthos): Again, "grief," "sorrow," "mourning."
  • οὐ μὴ ἴδω (ou mē idō): A very strong double negative construction in Greek (οὐ μή + aorist subjunctive), which emphatically denies the possibility of future event. It translates as "never ever," "by no means will I see." This conveys her absolute, self-assured certainty and delusion that she is permanently immune to suffering or sorrow.

Revelation 18 7 Bonus section

• Echoes of Babylon's Pride: The language in Rev 18:7 is remarkably similar to the oracle against Babylon in Isa 47:8-9, reinforcing the spiritual lineage of this "Babylon the Great" with its Old Testament prototype, linking it to any power that exalts itself in defiance of God.
• Contrast with the Church: Babylon's declaration of being "no widow" sharply contrasts with the state of the true church. The church, in the absence of her Lord (Jesus Christ, the true Bridegroom), can be seen as in a form of spiritual "widowhood," eagerly awaiting His return. Babylon's claim to self-sufficiency is therefore antithetical to the church's dependence on Christ.
• Judgement on Materialism and Secularism: This verse speaks to the consequences of a societal system that prioritizes material wealth, sensuous gratification, and secular humanism (which declares itself as its own god and master of its destiny) above reverence and obedience to the Creator. Its downfall serves as a prophetic condemnation of such godless ideology.

Revelation 18 7 Commentary

Revelation 18:7 is a profound disclosure of the character of the world system in rebellion against God. It exposes Babylon's deep-seated pride, her excessive indulgence in materialism and sensuality, and her ultimate self-delusion. Her boast – "I sit as a queen, I am no widow, and I will never see grief" – encapsulates a spirit of invincibility, self-sufficiency, and utter contempt for divine sovereignty. This echoes similar prideful pronouncements from ancient empires and figures who ultimately faced God's judgment (e.g., Pharaoh, King of Tyre, Nebuchadnezzar).

The verse highlights the principle of divine justice: the judgment God pours out is perfectly commensurate with the sin committed. The very proportion of her self-glorification and luxury dictates the proportion of her coming torment and grief. This is not arbitrary punishment but a righteous reflection of her deeds and, more importantly, her heart's defiant stance. The severity of her "torment and grief" will directly correspond to the extravagance of her former pleasures and her lofty self-estimation. Her claim of never experiencing widowhood or grief becomes bitterly ironic as her judgment will bring precisely that state of desolation and mourning.

This serves as a timeless warning against any nation, institution, or individual that places ultimate confidence in earthly power, wealth, or self-importance, rather than in the Living God. It teaches that true security comes only from humility and dependence on the Lord, not from accumulated riches or perceived invulnerability. The example illustrates that internal spiritual arrogance is as culpable, if not more so, than external acts of sin, because it is the root from which many ungodly behaviors spring.