Revelation 18:9 kjv
And the kings of the earth, who have committed fornication and lived deliciously with her, shall bewail her, and lament for her, when they shall see the smoke of her burning,
Revelation 18:9 nkjv
"The kings of the earth who committed fornication and lived luxuriously with her will weep and lament for her, when they see the smoke of her burning,
Revelation 18:9 niv
"When the kings of the earth who committed adultery with her and shared her luxury see the smoke of her burning, they will weep and mourn over her.
Revelation 18:9 esv
And the kings of the earth, who committed sexual immorality and lived in luxury with her, will weep and wail over her when they see the smoke of her burning.
Revelation 18:9 nlt
And the kings of the world who committed adultery with her and enjoyed her great luxury will mourn for her as they see the smoke rising from her charred remains.
Revelation 18 9 Cross References
| Verse | Text (shortened) | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ps 2:2 | The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed... | Worldly kings opposing God |
| Ps 76:12 | He shall cut off the spirit of princes: he is terrible to the kings of the earth. | God's power over earthly kings |
| Jer 3:8-9 | And I saw, when for all the causes whereby backsliding Israel committed adultery I had put her away... she committed whoredom. | Spiritual unfaithfulness as fornication |
| Ezek 16:26 | Thou hast also committed fornication with the Egyptians thy neighbours, great of flesh... | Idolatry/alliances as spiritual harlotry |
| Ezek 23:14 | And increased her whoredoms: for when she saw men pourtrayed upon the wall... she doted upon them... | Israel's spiritual adultery |
| Isa 23:17 | And it shall come to pass after the end of seventy years, that the LORD will visit Tyre, and she shall turn to her hire, and shall commit fornication with all the kingdoms of the world... | Tyre's commercial prostitution |
| Isa 47:8 | Therefore hear now this, thou that art given to pleasures, that dwellest carelessly, that sayest in thine heart, I am, and none else beside me... | Babylon's arrogant luxury |
| Lk 16:19 | There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day... | Indulgence of the wealthy |
| 1 Tim 5:6 | But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth. | Dangers of living luxuriously |
| Jas 4:4 | Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? | Worldly alliance as spiritual adultery |
| Jas 5:5 | Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton; ye have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter. | Warning against selfish indulgence |
| Ezek 26:17 | And they shall take up a lamentation for thee, and say to thee, How art thou destroyed, that wast inhabited of seafaring men... | Lamentation over Tyre's fall |
| Ezek 27:32 | And in their wailing they shall take up a lamentation for thee... | Merchants lamenting Tyre's destruction |
| Zech 12:10 | And they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son... | Weeping and lamentation |
| Gen 19:28 | And he looked toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of the plain, and beheld, and, lo, the smoke of the country went up as the smoke of a furnace. | Smoke as evidence of divine judgment |
| Isa 34:10 | It shall not be quenched night nor day; the smoke thereof shall go up for ever... | Eternal nature of judgment's smoke |
| Judg 20:40 | But when the flame began to arise up out of the city with a pillar of smoke, the Benjamites looked behind them, and, behold, the flame of the city ascended up to heaven. | Smoke signifying burning destruction |
| Rev 14:11 | And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever... | Smoke of eternal torment |
| Rev 17:2 | With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication. | Explicit connection to Babylon's fornication |
| Rev 17:18 | And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth. | Babylon's dominion over kings |
| Rev 18:3 | For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies. | Nations/kings partaking in her sin/wealth |
| Rev 18:7 | How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously... | Babylon's self-glorification and luxury |
| Rev 19:3 | And again they said, Alleluia. And her smoke rose up for ever and ever. | Confirms Babylon's perpetual judgment |
| Rev 19:19 | And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army. | Kings opposing God's plan |
Revelation 18 verses
Revelation 18 9 Meaning
Revelation 18:9 depicts the lamentation of the world's rulers over the sudden and catastrophic fall of "Babylon the Great." These kings, who formerly benefited from their unholy alliances and luxurious indulgences through Babylon, now mourn her destruction. Their grief stems not from repentance or sorrow for their sins, but from the immense loss of the political, economic, and pleasure-filled system that supported their lavish lifestyles. They witness the irreversible judgment against this corrupt system, symbolized by the smoke rising from its burning ruins, signaling the complete eradication of their source of power and luxury.
Revelation 18 9 Context
Revelation 18 immediately follows chapter 17, which introduces "Babylon the Great" as a harlot riding a beast, representing a worldwide, apostate religious and economic system linked to a dominant political power. Chapter 18 then announces and details the sudden, definitive fall of this corrupt entity. Verse 9 is part of a series of laments over Babylon's destruction (vv. 9-10, 11-16, 17-19), spoken by various groups who benefited from her existence: the kings, the merchants, and the mariners. These laments emphasize the global impact of Babylon's collapse, particularly its economic repercussions, and contrast sharply with the rejoicing of God's people in verses 20-24. Historically, for John's original audience, "Babylon" strongly symbolized the Roman Empire, which exerted vast political, economic, and religious influence, tempting nations with its power and prosperity while persecuting believers.
Revelation 18 9 Word analysis
- And the kings (καὶ οἱ βασιλεῖς - kai hoi basileis): "Kings" refers not just to literal monarchs but broadly to worldly political rulers and authorities who hold significant power and influence over nations. In Revelation, they often represent those who align with the "Beast" and worldly systems, opposing God's sovereignty.
- of the earth (τῆς γῆς - tēs gēs): Signifies their worldly origin and allegiance, contrasting with the "kings of heaven" or God's spiritual kingdom. It highlights their connection to the global political and economic order represented by Babylon.
- who committed fornication (οἵτινες ἐπόρνευσαν - hoitines eporneusan): From the Greek verb πορνεύω (porneuo), meaning "to commit sexual immorality." Biblically, "fornication" or "adultery" often refers metaphorically to spiritual unfaithfulness, idolatry, or illicit alliances. Here, it denotes their idolatrous devotion to Babylon's worldly power and wealth, their spiritual apostasy, and their complicity in her corrupt practices.
- and lived deliciously (καὶ ἐστρηνίασαν - kai estrēniasan): From στρηνιάω (strēniaō), meaning "to live luxuriously, sensuously, wantonly." It conveys extreme indulgence, extravagant living, and an insolent disregard for moral restraint due to abundance. It points to their participation in the decadent pleasures and immense material prosperity facilitated by Babylon.
- with her (μετ’ αὐτῆς - met' autēs): Explicitly identifies Babylon (the great harlot/city) as the source and partner in their sinful pleasure and illicit alliances, underscoring their shared culpability.
- shall bewail her (κλαύσονται αὐτὴν - klausontai autēn): From κλαίω (klaio), meaning "to weep aloud, lament with deep grief." It denotes outward expressions of profound sorrow and mourning, indicating the visible display of their distress.
- and lament for her (καὶ κόψονται - kai kopsontai): From κόπτω (koptō), meaning "to beat, strike (one's breast), mourn." This signifies a more intense and often self-afflicting form of mourning, reflecting great distress and despair.
- when they shall see (ὅταν βλέπωσιν - hotan blepōsin): Emphasizes the visual and undeniable evidence of Babylon's destruction, triggering their sorrow. Their reaction is based on what they see—the completed judgment.
- the smoke (τὸν καπνὸν - ton kapnon): A potent biblical image of complete and irreversible destruction by fire, particularly divine judgment (e.g., Sodom and Gomorrah, Isa 34:10). It signifies the finality and totality of the destruction.
- of her burning (τῆς πυρώσεως αὐτῆς - tēs pyrōseōs autēs): From πύρωσις (pyrōsis), meaning "burning, conflagration." It confirms that Babylon's end is through fire, signifying a purification through divine wrath, leading to utter desolation.
Revelation 18 9 Bonus section
The lament of the kings in Revelation 18:9 is one of three distinct laments in this chapter (vv. 9-10, 11-16, 17-19), forming a dramatic pause that underscores the vast and tragic consequences of Babylon's fall from a human, earthly perspective, even as heavenly rejoicing is noted elsewhere. The structure of these laments draws upon Old Testament prophetic laments over fallen cities like Tyre (Ezekiel 26-27), anticipating similar economic and social collapse. The fact that the kings lament from afar (Rev 18:10) emphasizes their powerlessness and fear; they cannot intervene to save Babylon, nor dare they approach the consuming fire of God's wrath, indicating the terrifying and complete nature of this divine judgment.
Revelation 18 9 Commentary
Revelation 18:9 powerfully illustrates the stark reality of divine judgment and its impact on those entwined with ungodly worldly systems. The "kings of the earth" represent not only political leaders but also all who align their lives and loyalties with the spirit of the world—its pursuit of power, luxury, and self-indulgence at the expense of righteousness. Their "fornication" signifies their spiritual adultery, choosing allegiance to earthly wealth and corrupt power over fidelity to God. Their "living deliciously" underscores a life of extravagant pleasure and self-gratification made possible by their partnership with "Babylon," a symbol of the pervasive, seductive, and oppressive anti-God world system.
Their lament, however, is devoid of repentance. They do not mourn their sins or the injustices they perpetuated, but rather the sudden cessation of their profitable and luxurious lifestyle. The sight of the "smoke of her burning" is the ultimate confirmation of their loss. This passage serves as a sobering warning: worldly alliances and the pursuit of fleeting pleasures, however seemingly beneficial or enduring, are ultimately vulnerable to God's inevitable and decisive judgment. Those who find their security and satisfaction in such systems will ultimately share in their desolation, highlighting the imperative for believers to discern and separate themselves from the spiritual and material entanglements of "Babylon."