Revised Literal Translation
Revelation 18:16
16And 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!
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!
- New International Version (NIV)and cry out: “ ‘Woe! Woe to you, great city, dressed in fine linen, purple and scarlet, and glittering with gold, 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!
Context of Revelation 18:16
14And the fruits that thy soul lusted after are departed from thee, and all things which were dainty and goodly are departed from thee, and thou shalt find them no more at all. 15The merchants of these things, which were made rich by her, shall stand afar off for the fear of her torment, weeping and wailing, 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! 17For 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, 18And cried when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, What city is like unto this great city!
Read all of Revelation 18Revelation 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
- ·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 18:10Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for in one hour is thy judgment come.
- Revelation 17:4And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication:
- Luke 16:19There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously 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
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
Revised Literal Translation — © 2018 Michael W. Jones, Sr. — GPL
Commentaries