Revelation 18:21

Revelation 18:21 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all.
• New International Version (NIV)Then a mighty angel picked up a boulder the size of a large millstone and threw it into the sea, and said: “With such violence the great city of Babylon will be thrown down, never to be found again.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Then a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone and threw it into the sea, saying, "So will Babylon the great city be thrown down with violence, and will be found no more;
• New King James Version (NKJV)Then a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone and threw it into the sea, saying, “Thus with violence the great city Babylon shall be thrown down, and shall not be found anymore.

Context of Revelation 18:21

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!’ 20“Gloat over it, heaven, God’s people, apostles, and prophets. God has condemned it for you.” Then a powerful angel picked up a stone that was like a large millstone. He threw it into the sea and said, “The important city Babylon will be thrown down with the same force. It will never be found again. 22The sound of harpists, musicians, flutists, and trumpeters will never be heard in it again. A skilled craftsman—regardless of the type of craft— will never be found in it again. The sound of a millstone will never be heard in it again. 23Light from lamps will never shine in it again. Voices of brides and grooms will never be heard in it again. Its merchants were the important people of the world, because all the nations were deceived by its witchcraft.

Revelation 18:21 word by word

Καὶ ἦρεν εἷς ἄγγελος ἰσχυρὸς λίθον ὡς μύλινον μέγαν καὶ ἔβαλεν εἰς τὴν θάλασσαν λέγων· οὕτως ὁρμήματι βληθήσεται Βαβυλὼν ἡ μεγάλη πόλις καὶ οὐ μὴ εὑρεθῇ ἔτι.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Andκαίkai · andG2532
• aεἷςheis · oneG1520
• mightyἰσχυρόςischuros · strongG2478
• angelἄγγελοςaggelos · angelG32
• took upαἴρωairō · to take upG142
• a stoneλίθοςlithos · stoneG3037
• likeὡςhōs · as/whenG5613
• a greatμέγαςmegas · greatG3173
• millstoneμύλοςmulos · millstoneG3458
• castβάλλωballō · to throw: throwG906
• intoεἰςeis · towardG1519
• the seaθάλασσαthalassa · seaG2281
• sayingλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
• Thusοὕτωςhoutō · thus(-ly)G3779
• with violenceὅρμημαhormēma · sudden violenceG3731
• cityπόλιςpolis · cityG4172
• BabylonΒαβυλώνBabulōn · BabylonG897
• shall be foundεὑρίσκωheuriskō · to find/meetG2147
• noοὐou · noG3756
• moreἔτιeti · stillG2089
• at allμήmē · notG3361

Cross-references for Revelation 18:21

• Exodus 15:5The deep water covered them. They sank to the bottom like a rock.
• Nehemiah 9:11You divided the sea in front of them so that they could walk through the sea on dry ground. You threw into deep water those who pursued your people as someone throws a stone into raging water.
• Jeremiah 51:63When you finish reading this scroll, tie a stone to it and throw it into the middle of the Euphrates River.
• Revelation 18:22The sound of harpists, musicians, flutists, and trumpeters will never be heard in it again. A skilled craftsman—regardless of the type of craft— will never be found in it again. The sound of a millstone will never be heard in it again.
• Revelation 12:8But it was not strong enough, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven.
• Revelation 16:20Every island vanished, and the mountains could no longer be seen.
• Revelation 20:11I saw a large, white throne and the one who was sitting on it. The earth and the sky fled from his presence, but no place was found for them.
• Job 20:8He will fly away like a dream and not be found. He will be chased away like a vision in the night.
• Psalms 37:36But he moved on, and now there is no trace of him. I searched for him, but he could not be found.
• Ezekiel 26:21I will turn you into a terror, and you will no longer exist. People will look for you, but they will never see you again,” declares the Almighty Lord.
• Daniel 11:19He will turn back toward the fortresses in his own country, but he will stumble, fall, and disappear.

Commentaries on Revelation 18:21

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 21Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down - This action is finely and forcibly expressed by the original words: ̔ ̔ ̔ . The millstone will in falling have not only an accelerated force from the law of gravitation, but that force will be greatly increased by the projectile force impressed upon it by the power of the destroying angel. Shall be found no more at all - In her government, consequence, or influence. This is true of ancient…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 21And a mighty angel - See the notes on Revelation 18:1. This seems, however, to have been a different angel from the one mentioned in Revelation 18:1, though, like that, he is described as having great power. Took up a stone like a great millstone - On the structure of mills among the ancients see the notes on Matthew 24:41. And cast it into the sea - As an emblem of the utter ruin of the city; an indication that the city would be as completely destroyed…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 20-24Verses 20-24 That which is matter of rejoicing to the servants of God on earth, is matter of rejoicing to the angels in heaven. The apostles, who are honoured and daily worshipped at Rome in an idolatrous manner, will rejoice in her fall. The fall of Babylon was an act of God's justice. And because it was a final ruin, this enemy should never molest them any more; of this they were assured by a sign. Let us take warning from the things which brought…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 21a stone the size of a great millstone: People used heavy millstones, shaped for grinding olives or grain, throughout the ancient world. Jesus also mentioned using such stones for judgment (see Matthew 18:6). The dramatically thrown boulder symbolized that Rome's power was permanently destroyed.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2121. a--Greek, "one." millstone--Compare the judgment on the Egyptian hosts at the Red Sea, Ex 15:5, 10; Ne 9:11, and the foretold doom of Babylon, the world power, Jr 51:63, 64. with violence--Greek, "with impetus." This verse shows that this prophecy is regarded as still to be fulfilled.Read the comment

In the dictionaries

• Babylon
• Babylon, Babylonia, Babylonian
• the sea, the Great Sea, the western sea
• Fill
• Foul
• Mighty
• Thy
• Ass
• Babylon in the New Testament
• 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