God’s Word Translation
Revelation 18:23
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 18:23 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee; and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee: for thy merchants were the great men of the earth; for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived.
- New International Version (NIV)The light of a lamp will never shine in you again. The voice of bridegroom and bride will never be heard in you again. Your merchants were the world’s important people. By your magic spell all the nations were led astray.
- English Standard Version (ESV)and the light of a lamp will shine in you no more, and the voice of bridegroom and bride will be heard in you no more, for your merchants were the great ones of the earth, and all nations were deceived by your sorcery.
- New King James Version (NKJV)The light of a lamp shall not shine in you anymore, and the voice of bridegroom and bride shall not be heard in you anymore. For your merchants were the great men of the earth, for by your sorcery all the nations were deceived.
Context of Revelation 18:23
21Then 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. Light 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. 24“The blood of prophets, God’s people, and everyone who had been murdered on earth was found in it.”
Read all of Revelation 18Revelation 18:23 word by word
καὶ φῶς λύχνου οὐ μὴ φάνῃ ἐν σοὶ ἔτι, καὶ φωνὴ νυμφίου καὶ νύμφης οὐ μὴ ἀκουσθῇ ἐν σοὶ ἔτι, ὅτι οἱ ἔμποροί σου ἦσαν οἱ μεγιστᾶνες τῆς γῆς, ὅτι ἐν τῇ φαρμακείᾳ σου ἐπλανήθησαν πάντα τὰ ἔθνη.Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Andκαίkai · andG2532
- the lightφῶςphōs · lightG5457
- of a candleλύχνοςluchnos · lampG3088
- shall shineφαίνωphainō · to shine/appearG5316
- noοὐou · noG3756
- moreἔτιeti · stillG2089
- at allμήmē · notG3361
- inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
- theeσύsu · youG4771
- the voiceφωνήphōnē · voice/sound: voiceG5456
- of the bridegroomνυμφίοςnumphios · bridegroomG3566
- of the brideνύμφηnumphē · brideG3565
- shall be heardἀκούωakouō · to hearG191
- forὅτιhoti · that/since: sinceG3754
- merchantsὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- merchantsἔμποροςemporos · trader/merchantG1713
- wereεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
- the great menμεγιστάνmegistanes · great manG3175
- of the earthγῆgē · earth: planetG1093
- sorceriesφαρμακείαpharmakeia · sorceryG5331
- wereπλανάωplanaō · to lead astrayG4105
- allπᾶςpas · allG3956
- nationsἔθνοςethnos · GentilesG1484
Cross-references for Revelation 18:23
- Revelation 22:5There will be no more night, and they will not need any light from lamps or the sun because the Lord God will shine on them. They will rule as kings forever and ever.
- Job 21:17“How often is the lamp of the wicked snuffed out? How often does disaster happen to them? How often does an angry God give them pain?
- Proverbs 4:18But the path of righteous people is like the light of dawn that becomes brighter and brighter until it reaches midday.
- Proverbs 24:20because an evil person has no future, and the lamps of wicked people will be snuffed out.
- 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 18:3All the nations fell because of the wine of her sexual sins. The kings of the earth had sex with her. Her luxurious wealth has made the merchants of the earth rich.”
- Isaiah 23:8Who planned such a thing against Tyre, the city that produced kings? Its merchants are princes. Its traders are among the honored people of the world.
- Ezekiel 27:24In your marketplace they traded for beautiful clothes, purple robes, embroidered cloth, and many multicolored rugs with woven and twisted cords.
- Revelation 12:9The huge serpent was thrown down. That ancient snake, named Devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world, was thrown down to earth. Its angels were thrown down with it.
- Revelation 13:13The second beast performs spectacular signs. It even makes fire come down from heaven to earth in front of people.
- Revelation 17:2The kings of the earth had sex with her, and those living on earth became drunk on the wine of her sexual sins.”
- Revelation 21:8But cowardly, unfaithful, and detestable people, murderers, sexual sinners, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars will find themselves in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.”
- Revelation 22:15Outside are dogs, sorcerers, sexual sinners, murderers, idolaters, and all who lie in what they say and what they do.
- 2 Kings 9:22When Joram saw Jehu, he asked, “Is everything alright, Jehu?” Jehu answered, “How can everything be alright as long as your mother continues her idolatry and witchcraft?”
- 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.
- Nahum 3:4because of Nineveh’s constant prostitution, this very charming mistress of evil magic. She used to sell nations her prostitution and people her evil magic.
Commentaries on Revelation 18:23
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 23By thy sorceries - Political arts, state tricks, counterfeit miracles, and deceptive maneuvers of every kind. This may be spoken of many great cities of the world, which still continue to flourish!Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 23And the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee - Another image of desolation, as if every light were put out, and there were total darkness. And the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee - The merry and cheerful voice of the marriage procession in the streets (notes on Matthew 25:1-7), or the cheerful, glad voice of the newly-married couple in their own dwelling (notes on John 3:29). For thy merchants…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. 23Compare Jeremiah 25:10–11.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2323. What a blessed contrast is Re 22:5, respecting the city of God: "They need no candle (just as Babylon shall no more have the light of a candle, but for a widely different reason), for the Lord God giveth them light." candle--Translate as Greek, "lamp." bridegroom ... bride ... no more ... in thee--Contrast the heavenly city, with its Bridegroom, Bride, and blessed marriage supper (Re 19:7, 9; 21:2, 9; Is 62:4, 5). thy merchants were--So most of the…Read the comment
Topics related to Revelation 18:23
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
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