Revelation 18:19
What does Revelation 18:19 mean?
A plain-English look at Revelation 18:19 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Revelation 18:19 means
They throw dust on their heads, a traditional sign of deep mourning, and cry, “Woe, woe.” Their lament centers again on wealth—everyone with ships grew rich by her costliness—now ruined “in one hour.” The grief is intense but telling: it is about profit, not repentance. Babylon’s collapse unmasks a world economy bound to her extravagance. The gesture of dust also hints at mortality—what is from dust returns to dust. The verse warns that when riches are idolized, their loss feels like death, yet such gods cannot save. The repetition of sudden desolation underlines the certainty and completeness of God’s judgment.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And they cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and mourning, saying, Woe, woe, the great city, wherein all that had their ships in the sea were made rich by reason of her costliness! for in one hour is she made desolate.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And they cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and wailing, saying, Alas, alas, that great city, wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea by reason of her costliness! for in one hour is she made desolate.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And they cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and mourning, saying, Woe, woe, the great city, wherein all that had their ships in the sea were made rich by reason of her costliness! for in one hour is she made desolate.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And they put dust on their heads, and were sad, weeping and crying, and saying, Sorrow, sorrow for the great town, in which was increased the wealth of all who had their ships on the sea because of her great stores! for in one hour she is made waste.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862and they did cast dust upon their heads, and were crying out, weeping and sorrowing, saying, Woe, woe, the great city! in which were made rich all having ships in the sea, out of her costliness--for in one hour was she made waste.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And they cast dust upon their heads and cried, weeping and mourning, saying: Alas! alas! that great city, wherein all were made rich, that had ships at sea, by reason of her prices. For, in one hour she is made desolate.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890and cast dust upon their heads, and cried, weeping and grieving, saying, Woe, woe, the great city, in which all that had ships in the sea were enriched through her costliness! for in one hour she has been made desolate.
Context
This completes the triad of laments from earth’s power brokers: kings, merchants, and mariners. Each group repeats the themes of distance, fear, remembrance of Babylon’s greatness, and shock at her swift end. With the earthly mourning exhausted, the scene will pivot heavenward to a very different response—rejoicing over just judgment. This contrast is crucial to the chapter’s message, inviting readers to align their sympathies with God’s verdict rather than with the world’s lost luxury.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Job 2:12
And when they lifted up their eyes afar off, and knew him not, they lifted up their voice, and wept; and they rent every one his robe, and sprinkled dust upon their heads toward heaven.
- Revelation 17:16
And the ten horns which thou sawest, and the beast, these shall hate the harlot, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and shall burn her utterly with fire.
- Joshua 7:6
And Joshua rent his clothes, and fell to the earth upon his face before the ark of Jehovah until the evening, he and the elders of Israel; and they put dust upon their heads.
- Revelation 18:8
Therefore in one day shall her plagues come, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire; for strong is the Lord God who judged her.
- 2 Samuel 13:19
And Tamar put ashes on her head, and rent her garment of divers colors that was on her; and she laid her hand on her head, and went her way, crying aloud as she went.
- Revelation 18:15
The merchants of these things, who were made rich by her, shall stand afar off for the fear of her torment, weeping and mourning;
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