God’s Word Translation
Revelation 18:17
17In one moment all this wealth has been destroyed!’ Every ship’s captain, everyone who traveled by ship, sailors, and everyone who made their living from the sea stood far away.
Revelation 18:17 in other versions
- King James Version (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,
- New International Version (NIV)In one hour such great wealth has been brought to ruin!’ “Every sea captain, and all who travel by ship, the sailors, and all who earn their living from the sea, will stand far off.
- English Standard Version (ESV)For in a single hour all this wealth has been laid waste." And all shipmasters and seafaring men, sailors and all whose trade is on the sea, stood far off
- New King James Version (NKJV)For in one hour such great riches came to nothing.’ Every shipmaster, all who travel by ship, sailors, and as many as trade on the sea, stood at a distance
Context of Revelation 18:17
15“Frightened by her torture, the merchants who had become rich by selling these things will stand far away. They will cry and mourn, 16saying, ‘How horrible, how horrible for that important city which was wearing fine linen, purple clothes, bright red clothes, gold jewelry, gems, and pearls. In one moment all this wealth has been destroyed!’ Every ship’s captain, everyone who traveled by ship, sailors, and everyone who made their living from the sea stood far away. 18When they saw the smoke rise from her raging fire, they repeatedly cried out, ‘Was there ever a city as important as this?’ 19Then they threw dust on their heads and shouted while crying and mourning, ‘How horrible, how horrible for that important city. Everyone who had a ship at sea grew rich because of that city’s high prices. In one moment it has been destroyed!’
Read all of Revelation 18Revelation 18:17 word by word
ὅτι μιᾷ ὥρᾳ ἠρημώθη ὁ τοσοῦτος πλοῦτος.¶ Καὶ πᾶς κυβερνήτης καὶ πᾶς ὁ ἐπὶ τόπον πλέων καὶ ναῦται καὶ ὅσοι τὴν θάλασσαν ἐργάζονται ἀπὸ μακρόθεν ἔστησανRead the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- Forὅτιhoti · that/since: sinceG3754
- in oneεἷςheis · oneG1520
- hourὥραhōra · hourG5610
- so greatτοσοῦτοςtosoutos · so greatG5118
- richesπλοῦτοςploutos · richesG4149
- is come to noughtἐρημόωerēmoō · to lay wasteG2049
- Andκαίkai · andG2532
- everyπᾶςpas · allG3956
- shipmasterκυβερνήτηςkubernētēs · captainG2942
- the companyὅμιλοςhomilos · crowdG3658
- inἐπίepi · upon/to/againstG1909
- shipsπλοῖονploion · boatG4143
- sailorsναύτηςnautēs · sailorG3492
- as many asὅσοςhosos · just as/how muchG3745
- trade byἐργάζομαιergazomai · to workG2038
- seaθάλασσαthalassa · seaG2281
- stoodἵστημιhistēmi · to standG2476
- afarμακρόθενmakrothen · from afarG3113
- offἀπόapo · away fromG575
Cross-references for Revelation 18:17
- Revelation 18:10Frightened by her torture, they will stand far away and say, ‘How horrible, how horrible it is for that important city, the powerful city Babylon! In one moment judgment has come to it!’
- Isaiah 47:9In one day both of these will happen to you instantly: the loss of your children and your husband. All this will happen to you in spite of your evil magic and your many spells.
- Jeremiah 51:8Babylon will suddenly fall and be shattered. Cry for it. Bring medicine for its pain. Maybe it can be healed.
- Lamentations 4:6The punishment for my people’s wickedness has been more severe than the punishment for the sins of Sodom. Sodom was destroyed instantly, without one human hand touching it.
- Revelation 18:11“The merchants of the earth cry and mourn over her, because no one buys their cargo anymore.
- Isaiah 23:14Cry loudly, you ships of Tarshish, because your fortress will be destroyed.
- Ezekiel 27:27Your wealth, your merchandise, and the goods you sell, your mariners and your sailors, your caulkers and your merchants, your soldiers and everyone else on board sank into the sea when your ship was wrecked.
- Jonah 1:6The captain of the ship went to him and asked, “How can you sleep? Get up, and pray to your God. Maybe he will notice us, and we won’t die.”
Commentaries on Revelation 18:17
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 17Every shipmaster - Captains of vessels; some think pilots are meant, and this is most likely to be the meaning of the original word . This description appears to be at least partly taken from Ezekiel 27:26-28. And all the company in ships - ̔ ̔· The crowd or passengers aboard. But the best MSS, and versions have ̔ , those who sail from place to place, or such as stop at particular places on the coast, without performing the whole voyage. This sufficiently…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 17For in one hour - In a very brief period - so short, that it seemed to them to be but one hour. In the prediction Revelation 18:8, it is said that it would be “in one day” (see the notes on that place); here it is said that, to the on-lookers, it seemed to be but an hour. There is no inconsistency, therefore, between the two statements. So great riches is come to nought - All the accumulated wealth of so great and rich a city. This should have been united…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. 1717. is come to naught--Greek, "is desolated." shipmaster--Greek, "steersman," or "pilot." all the company in ships--A, C, Vulgate, and Syriac read, "Every one who saileth to a place" (B has "... to the place"), every voyager. Vessels were freighted with pilgrims to various shrines, so that in one month (A.D. 1300) two hundred thousand pilgrims were counted in Rome [D'Aaubigne, Histoire de la Reformation]: a source of gain, not only to the Papal see, but…Read the comment
In the dictionaries
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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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