Revelation 18:16

Revelation 18:16 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And saying, Alas, alas, that great city, that was clothed in fine linen, and purple, and scarlet, and decked with gold, and precious stones, and pearls!
• English Standard Version (ESV)"Alas, alas, for the great city that was clothed in fine linen, in purple and scarlet, adorned with gold, with jewels, and with pearls!
• New King James Version (NKJV)and saying, ‘Alas, alas, that great city that was clothed in fine linen, purple, and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls!
• New Living Translation (NLT)“How terrible, how terrible for that great city! She was clothed in finest purple and scarlet linens, decked out with gold and precious stones and pearls!

Context of Revelation 18:16

14“They will say, ‘The fruit you longed for is gone from you. All your luxury and splendor have vanished, never to be recovered.’ 15The merchants who sold these things and gained their wealth from her will stand far off, terrified at her torment. They will weep and mourn and cry out: “ ‘Woe! Woe to you, great city, dressed in fine linen, purple and scarlet, and glittering with gold, precious stones and pearls! 17In 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. 18When they see the smoke of her burning, they will exclaim, ‘Was there ever a city like this great city?’

Revelation 18:16 word by word

λέγοντες· οὐαὶ οὐαὶ ἡ πόλις ἡ μεγάλη, ἡ περιβεβλημένη βύσσινον καὶ πορφυροῦν καὶ κόκκινον καὶ κεχρυσωμένη ἐν χρυσίῳ καὶ λίθῳ τιμίῳ καὶ μαργαρίτῃ,Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Andκαίkai · andG2532
• sayingλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
• Alasοὐαίouai · woe!G3759
• that greatμέγαςmegas · greatG3173
• cityπόλιςpolis · cityG4172
• that was clothedπεριβάλλωperiballō · to clotheG4016
• in fine linenβύσσινοςbussinos · fine linenG1039
• purpleπορφύρεοςporphurous · purpleG4210
• scarletκόκκινοςkokkinos · scarletG2847
• deckedχρυσόωchrusoō · to gildG5558
• withἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• goldχρυσόςchrusos · goldG5557
• preciousτίμιοςtimios · preciousG5093
• stonesλίθοςlithos · stoneG3037
• pearlsμαργαρίτηςmargaritēs · pearlG3135

Cross-references for Revelation 18:16

• Revelation 18:10Terrified at her torment, they will stand far off and cry: “ ‘Woe! Woe to you, great city, you mighty city of Babylon! In one hour your doom has come!’
• Revelation 17:4The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, and was glittering with gold, precious stones and pearls. She held a golden cup in her hand, filled with abominable things and the filth of her adulteries.
• Luke 16:19“There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day.

Commentaries on Revelation 18:16

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 16Clothed in fine linen, and purple, etc. - The verb , which we here translate clothed, signifies often to abound, be enriched, laden with, and is so used by the best Greek writers; see many examples in Kypke. These articles are not to be considered here as personal ornaments, but as articles of trade or merchandise, in which this city trafficked.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 16And saying, Alas, alas … - notes on Revelation 18:10. That was clothed in fine linen - In the previous description Revelation 18:12-13, these are mentioned as articles of traffic; here the city, under the image of a female, is represented as clothed in the most rich and frivolous of these articles. And purple, and scarlet - See the notes on Revelation 17:3-4. Compare Revelation 18:12 of this chapter. And decked with gold, and precious stones, and pearls…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. 14-17The merchants would mourn the fall of Rome (see study note on Revelation 18:1–3) because it would permanently end their usual luxuries. Material goods can disappear in an instant.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1616. And--so Vulgate and Andreas. But A, B, and C omit. decked--literally, "glided." stones ... pearls--Greek, "stone ... pearl." B and Andreas read "pearls." But A and C, "pearl."Read the comment

Topics related to Revelation 18:16

• Colors
• Pearl

In the dictionaries

• Precious Stones
• Fill
• Foul
• Mighty
• Stones, Precious
• Thy
• Babylon in the New Testament
• Color; Colors
• Fine
• 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