Revelation 18 8

Revelation 18:8 kjv

Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her.

Revelation 18:8 nkjv

Therefore her plagues will come in one day?death and mourning and famine. And she will be utterly burned with fire, for strong is the Lord God who judges her.

Revelation 18:8 niv

Therefore in one day her plagues will overtake her: death, mourning and famine. She will be consumed by fire, for mighty is the Lord God who judges her.

Revelation 18:8 esv

For this reason her plagues will come in a single day, death and mourning and famine, and she will be burned up with fire; for mighty is the Lord God who has judged her."

Revelation 18:8 nlt

Therefore, these plagues will overtake her in a single day ?
death and mourning and famine.
She will be completely consumed by fire,
for the Lord God who judges her is mighty."

Revelation 18 verses

Revelation 18 8 Meaning

This verse unequivocally declares the imminent, sudden, and comprehensive destruction of "Babylon the Great." Her judgment will be multi-faceted, encompassing death, grief, and deprivation, and culminate in a consuming fiery end. This inevitable doom is sealed by the omnipotent and just character of the Lord God, who orchestrates her judgment.

Revelation 18 8 Context

Revelation chapter 18 details the complete and final fall of "Babylon the Great," a symbolic entity representing worldly power, pride, luxury, and idolatry that opposes God and persecutes His people. Following the visions of her spiritual fornication and bloodthirsty nature in Chapter 17, Chapter 18 focuses on her economic devastation and the lamentation of those who profited from her. Verse 8, therefore, provides the divine rationale and certainty behind this catastrophic demise, countering Babylon's self-assured boast of invincibility (Rev 18:7) by revealing God's swift and potent judgment. Historically, "Babylon" could have signified the oppressive Roman Empire of John's day, known for its immense wealth, imperial cult worship, and persecution of Christians, thus offering a polemic against Rome's perceived unchallengeable might.

Revelation 18 8 Word analysis

• Therefore (διὰ τοῦτο, dia touto): A logical connector, indicating the consequence of what was just stated—Babylon's defiant pride and boast of invincibility in Rev 18:7. Her judgment directly opposes her arrogant declaration.
• her plagues (αἱ πληγαὶ αὐτῆς, hai plēgai autēs): Refers to severe, divinely orchestrated calamities. This term evokes the Exodus plagues on Egypt, emphasizing divine power and judgment, a punishment for oppression.
• will come (ἥξουσιν, hēxousin): Future tense, active voice, indicative mood. Expresses certainty and inevitability. God's word is settled; the judgment is guaranteed.
• in a single day (ἐν μιᾷ ἡμέρᾳ, en mia hēmera): Not necessarily a literal 24-hour period, but emphasizing the suddenness, unexpectedness, and completeness of the destruction. It reflects a prophetic idiom for rapid, overwhelming judgment (cf. Isa 47:9 for ancient Babylon).
• death (θάνατος, thanatos): Loss of life. The ultimate physical consequence of God's wrath, indicating a comprehensive collapse beyond mere economic loss.
• and mourning (καὶ πένθος, kai penthos): Deep sorrow and grief. This directly contradicts Babylon's boast of never seeing mourning (Rev 18:7). The reversal is precise and ironic.
• and famine (καὶ λιμός, kai limos): A severe lack of food and provisions. Highlights the economic and material collapse that underpins her prosperity, turning her abundance into deprivation.
• and she will be burned up with fire (καὶ ἐν πυρὶ κατακαυθήσεται, kai en pyri katakauthēsetai): Fire is a frequent biblical symbol of divine judgment, purification, or complete annihilation. It signifies the utter and consuming destruction, ensuring her removal. This fiery destruction echoes previous Old Testament prophecies concerning other corrupt cities (e.g., Sodom and Gomorrah, ancient Babylon).
• for mighty (ὅτι ἰσχυρὸς, hoti ischyros): "Because He is mighty." This clause provides the divine warrant and assurance for the preceding declarations. God's immense power guarantees the execution of His judgment.
• is the Lord God (Κύριος ὁ Θεός, Kyrios ho Theos): Emphatic divine titles. "Lord" (Kyrios) signifies His sovereignty and authority as ruler, "God" (Theos) His supreme nature. Together, they stress His absolute power and divine right.
• who judges her (ὁ κρίνας αὐτήν, ho krinas autēn): "Who has judged her" or "the one judging her." The aorist participle implies a decisive, completed action in God's eyes, even though it's still future for humans. It highlights God's role as the supreme, righteous judge who has determined her fate.

Words-group by words-group analysis

• Therefore her plagues will come in a single day: Connects divine justice (plagues) directly to human pride (Babylon's boast). The immediacy and swiftness of God's response underline His decisiveness and sovereign power.
• death and mourning and famine: This triad of judgments represents a comprehensive assault on Babylon's very existence, lifestyle, and false sense of security. They are the exact opposite of the luxurious living she flaunted, proving that earthly indulgence cannot withstand divine wrath.
• and she will be burned up with fire: The means of her final judgment, signifying irreversible and utter annihilation. It conveys the complete consuming wrath of God against wickedness.
• for mighty is the Lord God who judges her: This powerful theological statement provides the unwavering foundation for the certainty of Babylon's downfall. It reassures believers that despite the apparent power of the world, God's might and justice will ultimately prevail over all rebellion and evil.

Revelation 18 8 Bonus section

• The contrast between Babylon's boast in Rev 18:7 and the judgments of Rev 18:8 serves as a striking example of divine irony and just retribution. What she claimed she would never experience, she experiences in full measure.
• The phrase "in a single day" carries prophetic weight from Old Testament judgment prophecies, signifying sudden and complete overthrow rather than a literal twenty-four-hour period. It underlines the unexpected and inescapable nature of divine judgment.
• This judgment fulfills the cry for justice from the martyred saints (Rev 6:10), demonstrating God's unwavering commitment to His people and to His righteous decrees.
• The passage serves as an eternal warning against all forms of worldly pride, greed, spiritual fornication, and persecution, showing that all power not aligned with God will eventually collapse under His supreme authority.

Revelation 18 8 Commentary

Revelation 18:8 powerfully asserts the swift and comprehensive divine judgment against Babylon. This verse shatters Babylon's self-deceiving belief in her impregnability (v. 7), countering her arrogance with a triadic calamity: death, mourning, and famine. These judgments directly contradict her boasting of perpetual luxury and pleasure. The ultimate means of destruction is "fire," signifying a complete and irreversible annihilation, purifying the earth of her corrupt influence. The entire judgment rests on the immutable character of God; His might guarantees His justice, ensuring that what He has declared will come to pass. The swiftness ("in a single day") serves as a dire warning against presumption and rebellion against divine authority, demonstrating that judgment, though delayed, is certain and devastating when it finally arrives. This provides comfort to persecuted saints, affirming God's ultimate vindication.