Revelation 18:19

Revelation 18:19 in other versions

• King James Version (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.
• New International Version (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!’
• English Standard Version (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.
• New King James Version (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.’

Context of Revelation 18:19

17For 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 18and cry out at the sight of the smoke rising from the fire that consumes her. “What city was ever like this great city?” they will exclaim. Then they will throw dust on their heads as they weep and mourn and cry out: “Woe, woe to the great city, where all who had ships on the sea were enriched by her wealth! For in a single hour she has been destroyed.” 20Rejoice over her, O heaven, and you saints and apostles and prophets, because God has pronounced for you His judgment against her. 21Then a mighty angel picked up a stone the size of a great millstone and cast it into the sea, saying: “With such violence the great city of Babylon will be cast down, never to be seen again.

Revelation 18:19 word by word

καὶ ἔβαλον χοῦν ἐπὶ τὰς κεφαλὰς αὐτῶν καὶ ἔκραζον κλαίοντες καὶ πενθοῦντες λέγοντες· οὐαὶ οὐαὶ ἡ πόλις ἡ μεγάλη, ἐν ᾗ ἐπλούτησαν πάντες οἱ ἔχοντες τὰ πλοῖα ἐν τῇ θαλάσσῃ ἐκ τῆς τιμιότητος αὐτῆς, ὅτι μιᾷ ὥρᾳ ἠρημώθη.Read the interlinear

• Thenκαίkai · andG2532
• they will throwβάλλωballō · to throw: throwG906
• dustχόοςchoos · dustG5522
• onἐπίepi · upon/to/againstG1909
• theirαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• headsκεφαλήkephalē · headG2776
• as they weepκλαίωklaiō · to weepG2799
• mournπενθέωpentheō · to mournG3996
• cry outκράζωkrazō · to cryG2896
• cry outλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
• Woeοὐαίouai · woe!G3759
• greatμέγαςmegas · greatG3173
• cityπόλιςpolis · cityG4172
• ·ἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• ·ὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
• allπᾶςpas · allG3956
• hadἔχωechō · to have/beG2192
• shipsπλοῖονploion · boatG4143
• seaθάλασσαthalassa · seaG2281
• were enrichedπλουτέωplouteō · be richG4147
• byἐκek ex · out fromG1537
• wealthτιμιότηςtimiotēs · wealthG5094
• Forὅτιhoti · that/since: sinceG3754
• in a singleεἷςheis · oneG1520
• hourὥραhōra · hourG5610
• she has been destroyedἐρημόωerēmoō · to lay wasteG2049

Cross-references for Revelation 18:19

• Joshua 7:6Then Joshua tore his clothes and fell facedown before the ark of the LORD until evening, as did the elders of Israel; and they all sprinkled dust on their heads.
• 1 Samuel 4:12That same day a Benjamite ran from the battle line all the way to Shiloh, with his clothes torn and dirt on his head.
• 2 Samuel 13:19And Tamar put ashes on her head and tore her robe. And putting her hand on her head, she went away crying aloud.
• Nehemiah 9:1On the twenty-fourth day of the same month, the Israelites gathered together, fasting and wearing sackcloth, with dust on their heads.
• Job 2:12When they lifted up their eyes from afar, they could barely recognize Job. They began to weep aloud, and each man tore his robe and threw dust in the air over his head.
• Ezekiel 27:30They will raise their voices for you and cry out bitterly. They will throw dust on their heads and roll in ashes.
• Revelation 18:10In fear of her torment, they will stand at a distance and cry out: “Woe, woe to the great city, the mighty city of Babylon! For in a single hour your judgment has come.”
• Revelation 18:8Therefore her plagues will come in one day— death and grief and famine— and she will be consumed by fire, for mighty is the Lord God who judges her.”

Commentaries on Revelation 18:19

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 19They cast dust on their heads - They showed every sign of the sincerest grief. The lamentation over this great ruined city, Revelation 18:9-19, is exceedingly strong and well drawn. Here is no dissembled sorrow; all is real to the mourners, and affecting to the spectators.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 19And they cast dust on their heads - A common sign of lamentation and mourning among the Orientals. See the notes on Job 2:12. By reason of her costliness - The word rendered “costliness” - ́ timiotētos- means, properly, “preciousness, costliness”; their magnificence, costly merchandise. The luxury of a great city enriches many individuals, however much it may impoverish itself. For in one hour is she made desolate - So it seemed to them. See the notes on…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 9-19Verses 9-19 The mourners had shared Babylon's sensual pleasures, and gained by her wealth and trade. The kings of the earth, whom she flattered into idolatry, allowing them to be tyrannical over their subjects, while obedient to her; and the merchants, those who trafficked for her indulgences, pardons, and honours; these mourn. Babylon's friends partook her sinful pleasures and profits, but are not willing to share her plagues. The spirit of antichrist is…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 17-19every shipmaster: Seafarers sing the third lament (see study note on Revelation 18:9–19). They mourn the breakdown of communication and transportation. During Julius Caesar's reign, the Mediterranean was cleared of pirates, and trade flourished under Roman law enforcement. The quick loss of Roman authority would disrupt the trade system.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1919. wailing--"mourning." that had ships--A, B, and C read, "that had their ships": literally, "the ships." costliness--her costly treasures: abstract for concrete.Read the comment

Topics related to Revelation 18:19

• Commerce

In the dictionaries

• the sea, the Great Sea, the western sea
• Costliness
• Fill
• Foul
• Mighty
• Thy
• Ass
• Babylon in the New Testament
• Dust
• Israel, History of

Commentaries on Revelation 18

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings