Devine Scripture

Revelation 18:17

What does Revelation 18:17 mean?

A plain-English look at Revelation 18:17 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Revelation 18:17 means

“In one hour” great riches become a wasteland. Even those who sail—the shipmasters, mariners, and all who make their living by the sea—stand afar off, stunned. The sea, symbol of far-reaching commerce, can no longer deliver Babylon’s wealth. Distance and astonishment again dominate the scene. The swiftness of the collapse topples not only the city but the networks that served it. This verse highlights the global scale of Babylon’s economy and the breadth of the impact when God judges it. Those who thought they were merely carriers discover they were deeply tied to her fate and now share in the shock of her end.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

for in one hour so great riches is made desolate. And every shipmaster, and every one that saileth any whither, and mariners, and as many as gain their living by sea, stood afar off,

KJV

King James Version · 1611

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,

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

for in one hour so great riches is made desolate. And every shipmaster, and every one that saileth any whither, and mariners, and as many as gain their living by sea, stood afar off,

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

For in one hour such great wealth has come to nothing. And every shipmaster, and all who are sailing on the sea, and sailors and all who get their living by the sea, were watching from far away,

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

`And every shipmaster, and all the company upon the ships, and sailors, and as many as work the sea, far off stood,

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

For in one hour are so great riches come to nought. And every shipmaster and all that sail into the lake, and mariners, and as many as work in the sea, stood afar off,

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

for in one hour so great riches has been made desolate. And every steersman, and every one who sailed to any place, and sailors, and all who exercise their calling on the sea, stood afar off,

Context

After the merchants, attention turns to the third group: seafarers and all connected to maritime trade. The refrain of “one hour” continues, keeping the focus on the suddenness of the disaster. Their distance mirrors the posture of kings and merchants, uniting the laments in tone and content. The next verse will add their cry of astonishment, asking who could compare with the great city. Understanding this progression shows that Babylon’s fall is not local but global, not slow but abrupt.

v.16saying, Woe, woe, the great city, she that was arrayed in fine linen and purple and scarlet, and decked with gold and precious stone and pearl!

v.17This passage

v.18and cried out as they looked upon the smoke of her burning, saying, What city is like the great city?

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Lamentations 4:6

    For the iniquity of the daughter of my people is greater than the sin of Sodom, That was overthrown as in a moment, and no hands were laid upon her.

  • Jonah 1:6

    So the shipmaster came to him, and said unto him, What meanest thou, O sleeper? arise, call upon thy God, if so be that God will think upon us, that we perish not.

  • Ezekiel 27:27

    Thy riches, and thy wares, thy merchandise, thy mariners, and thy pilots, thy calkers, and the dealers in thy merchandise, and all thy men of war, that are in thee, with all thy company which is in the midst of thee, shall fall into the heart of the seas in the day of thy ruin.

  • Revelation 18:10

    standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Woe, woe, the great city, Babylon, the strong city! for in one hour is thy judgment come.

  • Isaiah 23:14

    Howl, ye ships of Tarshish; for your stronghold is laid waste.

  • Jeremiah 51:8

    Babylon is suddenly fallen and destroyed: wail for her; take balm for her pain, if so be she may be healed.

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