Revelation 18:17
WEB
For in an hour such great riches are made desolate.’ Every ship master, and everyone who sails anywhere, and mariners, and as many as gain their living by sea, stood far away,
BSB
For in a single hour such fabulous wealth has been destroyed!” Every shipmaster, passenger, and sailor, and all who make their living from the sea, will stand at a distance
KJV
For in one hour so great riches is come to nought. And every shipmaster, and all the company in ships, and sailors, and as many as trade by sea, stood afar off,
Matthew Henry
Greek interlinear
G3754
as concerning that, as though, because (that), for (that), how (that), (in) that, though, why
Derivation: neuter of G3748 as conjunction;
demonstrative, that (sometimes redundant); causative, because
KJV: as concerning that, as though, because (that), for (that), how (that), (in) that, though, why.
See also: G3748.
G1520
a(-n, -ny, certain), + abundantly, man, one (another), only, other, some
(including the neuter (etc.) hen);
Derivation: a primary numeral;
one
KJV: a(-n, -ny, certain), + abundantly, man, one (another), only, other, some.
See also G1527, G3367, G3391, G3762.
See also: G1527, G3367, G3391, G3762.
G5610
day, hour, instant, season, X short, (even-)tide, (high) time
Derivation: apparently a primary word;
an "hour" (literally or figuratively)
KJV: day, hour, instant, season, X short, (even-)tide, (high) time.
G3588
the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc
, including the feminine ἡ , and the neuter τό in all their inflections;
Derivation: the definite article;
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
KJV: the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.
G5118
as large, so great (long, many, much), these many
Derivation: from τόσος (so much;
apparently from G3588 and G3739) and G3778 (including its variations); so vast as this, i.e. such (in quantity, amount, number of space)
KJV: as large, so great (long, many, much), these many.
See also: G3588, G3739, G3778.
G4149
riches
Derivation: from the base of G4130;
wealth (as fulness), i.e. (literally) money, possessions, or (figuratively) abundance, richness, (specially), valuable bestowment
KJV: riches.
See also: G4130.
G2532
and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet
Derivation: apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force;
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
KJV: and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.
G3956
all (manner of, means), alway(-s), any (one), X daily, + ever, every (one, way), as many as, + no(-thing), X thoroughly, whatsoever, whole, whosoever
Derivation: including all the forms of declension; apparently a primary word;
all, any, every, the whole
KJV: all (manner of, means), alway(-s), any (one), X daily, + ever, every (one, way), as many as, + no(-thing), X thoroughly, whatsoever, whole, whosoever.
G2942
(ship) master
Derivation: from the same as G2941;
helmsman, i.e. (by implication) captain
KJV: (ship) master.
See also: G2941.
G1909
about (the times), above, after, against, among, as long as (touching), at, beside, X have charge of, (be-, (where-))fore, in (a place, as much as, the time of, -to), (because) of, (up-)on (behalf of), over, (by, for) the space of, through(-out), (un-)to(-ward), with
Derivation: a primary preposition;
properly, meaning superimposition (of time, place, order, etc.), as a relation of distribution (with the genitive case), i.e. over, upon, etc.; of rest (with the dative case) at, on, etc.; of direction (with the accusative case) towards, upon, etc.
KJV: about (the times), above, after, against, among, as long as (touching), at, beside, X have charge of, (be-, (where-))fore, in (a place, as much as, the time of, -to), (because) of, (up-)on (behalf of), over, (by, for) the space of, through(-out), (un-)to(-ward), with.
In compounds it retains essentially the same import, at, upon, etc. (literally or figuratively).
G5117
coast, licence, place, X plain, quarter, + rock, room, where
Derivation: apparently a primary word;
a spot (general in space, but limited by occupancy; whereas G5561 is a large but participle locality), i.e. location (as a position, home, tract, etc.); figuratively, condition, opportunity; specially, a scabbard
KJV: coast, licence, place, X plain, quarter, + rock, room, where.
See also: G5561.
G4126
sail
, another form for πλεύω ; which is used as an alternate in certain tenses;
Derivation: probably a form of G4150 (through the idea of plunging through the water);
to pass in a vessel
KJV: sail.
See also G4130.
See also: G4150, G4130.
G3492
sailor, shipman
Derivation: from G3491;
a boatman, i.e. seaman
KJV: sailor, shipman.
See also: G3491.
G3745
all (that), as (long, many, much) (as), how great (many, much), (in-)asmuch as, so many as, that (ever), the more, those things, what (great, -soever), wheresoever, wherewithsoever, which, X while, who(-soever)
Derivation: by reduplication from G3739;
as (much, great, long, etc.) as
KJV: all (that), as (long, many, much) (as), how great (many, much), (in-)asmuch as, so many as, that (ever), the more, those things, what (great, -soever), wheresoever, wherewithsoever, which, X while, who(-soever).
See also: G3739.
G2281
sea
Derivation: probably prolonged from G251;
the sea (genitive case or specially)
KJV: sea.
See also: G251.
G2038
commit, do, labor for, minister about, trade (by), work
Derivation: middle voice from G2041;
to toil (as a task, occupation, etc.), (by implication) effect, be engaged in or with, etc.
KJV: commit, do, labor for, minister about, trade (by), work.
See also: G2041.
G575
(X here-)after, ago, at, because of, before, by (the space of), for(-th), from, in, (out) of, off, (up-)on(-ce), since, with
Derivation: a primary particle;
"off," i.e. away (from something near), in various senses (of place, time, or relation; literal or figurative)
KJV: (X here-)after, ago, at, because of, before, by (the space of), for(-th), from, in, (out) of, off, (up-)on(-ce), since, with.
In composition (as a prefix) it usually denotes separation, departure, cessation, completion, reversal, etc.
G3113
afar off, from far
Derivation: adverb from G3117;
from a distance or afar
KJV: afar off, from far.
See also: G3117.
G2476
abide, appoint, bring, continue, covenant, establish, hold up, lay, present, set (up), stanch, stand (by, forth, still, up)
Derivation: a prolonged form of a primary στάω (of the same meaning, and used for it in certain tenses);
to stand (transitively or intransitively), used in various applications (literally or figuratively)
KJV: abide, appoint, bring, continue, covenant, establish, hold up, lay, present, set (up), stanch, stand (by, forth, still, up).
Compare G5087.
See also: G5087.
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Verses 9–24
Revelation 18:9–24
Here we have,
I. A doleful lamentation made by Babylon's friends for her fall; and here observe,
1. Who are the mourners, namely, those who had been bewitched by her fornication, those who had been sharers in her sensual pleasures, and those who had been gainers by her wealth and trade - the kings and the merchants of the earth: the kings of the earth, whom she had flattered into idolatry by allowing them to be arbitrary and tyrannical over their subjects, while they were obsequious to her; and the merchants, that is, those who trafficked with her for indulgences, pardons, dispensations, and preferments; these will mourn, because by this craft they got their wealth.
2. What was the manner of their mourning. (1.) They stood afar off, they durst not come nigh her. Even Babylon's friends will stand at a distance from her fall. Though they had been partakers with her in her sins, and in her sinful pleasures and profits, they were not willing to bear a share in her plagues. (2.) They made a grievous outcry: Alas! alas! that great city, Babylon, that mighty city! (3.) They wept, and cast dust upon their heads, Rev 18:19. The pleasures of sin are but for a season, and they will end in dismal sorrow. All those who rejoice in the success of the church's enemies will share with them in their downfall; and those who have most indulged themselves in pride and pleasure are the least able to bear calamities; their sorrows will be as excessive as their pleasure and jollity were before.
3. What was the cause of their mourning; not their sin, but their punishment. They did not lament their fall into idolatry, and luxury, and persecution, but their fall into ruin - the loss of their traffic and of their wealth and power. The spirit of antichrist is a worldly spirit, and their sorrow is a mere worldly sorrow; they did not lament for the anger of God, that had now fallen upon them, but for the loss of their outward comfort. We have a large schedule and inventory of the wealth and merchandise of this city, all which was suddenly lost (Rev 18:12, Rev 18:13), and lost irrecoverably (Rev 18:14): All things which were dainty and goodly have departed from thee, and thou shalt find them no more at all. The church of God may fall for a time, but she shall rise again; but the fall of Babylon will be an utter overthrow, like that of Sodom and Gomorrah. Godly sorrow is some support under affliction, but mere worldly sorrow adds to the calamity.
II. An account of the joy and triumph there was both in heaven and earth at the irrecoverable fall of Babylon: while her own people were bewailing her, the servants of God were called to rejoice over her, Rev 18:20. Here observe, 1. How universal this joy would be: heaven and earth, angels and saints, would join in it; that which is matter of rejoicing to the servants of God in this world is matter of rejoicing to the angels in heaven. 2. How just and reasonable; and that, (1.) Because the fall of Babylon was an act of God's vindictive justice. God was then avenging his people's cause. They had committed their cause to him to whom vengeance belongs, and now the year of recompence had come for the controversies of Zion; and, though they did not take pleasure in the miseries of any, yet they had reason to rejoice in the discoveries of the glorious justice of God. (2.) Because it was an irrecoverable ruin. This enemy should never molest them any more, and of this they were assured by a remarkable token (Rev 18:21): An angel from heaven took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, "Thus shall Babylon be thrown down with violence, and be found no more at all; the place shall be no longer habitable by man, no work shall be done there, no comfort enjoyed, no light seen there, but utter darkness and desolation, as the reward of her great wickedness, first in deceiving the nations with her sorceries, and secondly in destroying and murdering those whom she could not deceive," Rev 18:24. Such abominable sins deserved so great a ruin.
Cross-references: Rev 18:19 · Rev 18:12 · Rev 18:13 · Rev 18:14 · Rev 18:20 · Rev 18:21 · Rev 18:24