Revelation 18:17

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,
• 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
• New Living Translation (NLT)In a single moment all the wealth of the city is gone!” And all the captains of the merchant ships and their passengers and sailors and crews will stand at a distance.

Context of Revelation 18:17

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 16and cry out: “ ‘Woe! Woe to you, great city, dressed in fine linen, purple and scarlet, and glittering with gold, precious stones and pearls! 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. 18When they see the smoke of her burning, they will exclaim, ‘Was there ever a city like this great city?’ 19They will throw dust on their heads, and with weeping and mourning cry out: “ ‘Woe! Woe to you, great city, where all who had ships on the sea became rich through her wealth! In one hour she has been brought to ruin!’

Revelation 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 18:10Terrified 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!’
• Isaiah 47:9Both of these will overtake you in a moment, on a single day: loss of children and widowhood. They will come upon you in full measure, in spite of your many sorceries and all your potent spells.
• Jeremiah 51:8Babylon will suddenly fall and be broken. Wail over her! Get balm for her pain; perhaps she can be healed.
• Lamentations 4:6The punishment of my people is greater than that of Sodom, which was overthrown in a moment without a hand turned to help her.
• Revelation 18:11“The merchants of the earth will weep and mourn over her because no one buys their cargoes anymore—
• Isaiah 23:14Wail, you ships of Tarshish; your fortress is destroyed!
• Ezekiel 27:27Your wealth, merchandise and wares, your mariners, sailors and shipwrights, your merchants and all your soldiers, and everyone else on board will sink into the heart of the sea on the day of your shipwreck.
• Jonah 1:6The captain went to him and said, “How can you sleep? Get up and call on your god! Maybe he will take notice of us so that we will not perish.”

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

• Fill
• Foul
• Mighty
• Thy
• Babylon in the New Testament
• Israel, History of
• Israel, Religion of
• Judges, Period of
• Lively; Living
• Maccabees, Books 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