New English Translation
Revelation 18:17
17because in a single hour such great wealth has been destroyed!” And every ship’s captain, and all who sail along the coast – seamen, and all who make their living from the sea, stood a long way off
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
15The merchants who sold these things, who got rich from her, will stand a long way off because they are afraid of her torment. They will weep and mourn, 16saying, “Woe, woe, O great city – dressed in fine linen, purple and scarlet clothing, and adorned with gold, precious stones, and pearls – because in a single hour such great wealth has been destroyed!” And every ship’s captain, and all who sail along the coast – seamen, and all who make their living from the sea, stood a long way off 18and began to shout when they saw the smoke from the fire that burned her up, “Who is like the great city?” 19And they threw dust on their heads and were shouting with weeping and mourning, “Woe, Woe, O great city – in which all those who had ships on the sea got rich from her wealth – because in a single hour she 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 18:10They will stand a long way off because they are afraid of her torment, and will say, “Woe, woe, O great city, Babylon the powerful city! For in a single hour your doom has come!”
- Isaiah 47:9Both of these will come upon you suddenly, in one day! You will lose your children and be widowed. You will be overwhelmed by these tragedies, despite your many incantations and your numerous amulets.
- Jeremiah 51:8But suddenly Babylonia will fall and be destroyed. Cry out in mourning over it! Get medicine for her wounds! Perhaps she can be healed!
- Lamentations 4:6The punishment of my people exceeded that of of Sodom, which was overthrown in a moment with no one to help her. ז (Zayin)
- Revelation 18:11Then the merchants of the earth will weep and mourn for her because no one buys their cargo any longer –
- Isaiah 23:14Wail, you large ships, for your fortress is destroyed!
- Ezekiel 27:27Your wealth, products, and merchandise, your sailors and captains, your ship’s carpenters, your merchants, and all your fighting men within you, along with all your crew who are in you, will fall into the heart of the seas on the day of your downfall.
- Jonah 1:6The ship’s captain approached him and said, “What are you doing asleep? Get up! Cry out to your god! Perhaps your god might take notice of us so that we might not 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
New English Translation — © 1996-2016 Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C.
Commentaries