Revelation 18:15

Translations

Modern

The merchants who sold these things and gained their wealth from her will stand at a distance, in fear of her torment. They will weep and mourn,

Traditional

The merchants of these things, which were made rich by her, shall stand afar off for the fear of her torment, weeping and wailing,

Literal

The merchants of these things, those having become rich from her, will stand from afar, weeping and mourning because of the fear of her torment,

Latin

Mercatores horum, qui divites facti sunt, ab ea longe stabunt propter timorem tormentorum ejus, flentes, ac lugentes,

Original

Greek

English

The merchants who sold these things and gained their wealth from her will stand at a distance, in fear of her torment. They will weep and mourn,

Notes

Revelation 18:14–17

The 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.

Revelation 18:11–17

The merchants of the world sing the second lament (Revelation 18:14; see study note on Revelation 18:9–19). They made money from the Roman economy (Revelation 18:12–13), but their trade stopped when the great city was quickly destroyed.

Revelation 18:9–19

These three laments show the sadness of those who gained the most from the sinful city's wealthy lifestyle (compare Ezekiel 27).

Revelation 18:1–24

This chapter includes seven poetic responses to the fall of Babylon or Rome (refer to the study note on Revelation 17:5).

Revelation 17:1–19:10

The main drama in this section shows the powers that stand against God and cause the persecution and suffering of God’s people. Rome’s power attracted and impressed many people (Revelation 17:6). John clearly describes Rome's sins and shares God's judgment (Revelation 17:3–18) before he describes Rome’s fall (18:1–24) and heaven’s response to that fall (19:1–10).

Theme notes and profiles

Babylon Messages Against the Nations Visions

Related verses

Revelation 18:3
All the nations have drunk the wine of the passion of her immorality. The kings of the earth were immoral with her, and the merchants of the earth have grown wealthy from the extravagance of her luxury.”
Acts 19:24–27
It began with a silversmith named Demetrius who made silver shrines of Artemis, bringing much business to the craftsmen.
Revelation 18:10–11
In fear of her torment, they will stand at a distance and cry out: “Woe, woe to the great city, the mighty city of Babylon! For in a single hour your judgment has come.”
Ezekiel 27:31
They will shave their heads for you and wrap themselves in sackcloth. They will weep over you with anguish of soul and bitter mourning.
Acts 16:19
When the girl’s owners saw that their hope of making money was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them before the authorities in the marketplace.
Zechariah 11:5
…whose buyers slaughter them without remorse. Those who sell them say, ‘Blessed be the LORD, for I am rich!’ Even their own shepherds have no compassion on them.
Amos 5:16–17
Therefore this is what the LORD, the God of Hosts, the Lord, says: “There will be wailing in all the public squares and cries of ‘Alas! Alas!’ in all the streets. The farmer will be summoned to mourn, and the mourners to wail.
Hosea 12:7–8
A merchant loves to defraud with dishonest scales in his hands.
Mark 11:17
Then Jesus began to teach them, and He declared, “Is it not written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all the nations’? But you have made it ‘a den of robbers.’”
Judges 18:23–24
When they called out after them, the Danites turned to face them and said to Micah, “What is the matter with you that you have called out such a company?”

Glossary

Babylon as a Symbol Book of Revelation Lucifer Pearl Peter, First Letter of

Topics

Commerce: Illustrative of Intercourse with the Apostasy

Revelation 18:15

Translations?

Original?

Notes?

Related verses?

Glossary?

Topics?