Revelation 18:2
What does Revelation 18:2 mean?
A plain-English look at Revelation 18:2 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Revelation 18:2 means
The angel announces Babylon’s fall as a completed certainty. Her proud city becomes a haunt for demons, unclean spirits, and hateful birds—images of spiritual corruption and desolation. What once dazzled with culture and power is revealed as spiritually filthy and abandoned, a place where evil now nests. The language signals both judgment and exposure: Babylon’s true nature was always unclean; now it is public and permanent. The repeated “fallen, fallen” underlines inevitability and totality. God’s verdict transforms the world’s elite city into a wasteland, fit only for darkness. This is what the world’s system in rebellion against God finally becomes when stripped of its glitter.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And he cried with a mighty voice, saying, Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, and is become a habitation of demons, and a hold of every unclean spirit, and a hold of every unclean and hateful bird.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And he cried with a mighty voice, saying, Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, and is become a habitation of demons, and a hold of every unclean spirit, and a hold of every unclean and hateful bird.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And he gave a loud cry, saying, Babylon the great has come down from her high place, she has come to destruction and has become a place of evil spirits, and of every unclean spirit, and a hole for every unclean and hated bird.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862and he did cry in might--a great voice, saying, `Fall, fall did Babylon the great, and she became a habitation of demons, and a hold of every unclean spirit, and a hold of every unclean and hateful bird,
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And he cried out with a strong voice, saying: Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen: and is become the habitation of devils and the hold of every unclean spirit and the hold of every unclean and hateful bird:
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And he cried with a strong voice, saying, Great Babylon has fallen, has fallen, and has become the habitation of demons, and a hold of every unclean spirit, and a hold of every unclean and hated bird;
Context
Following the angel’s brilliant appearance, the focus turns to the content of his message: Babylon’s downfall. The declaration explains what the glory-filled introduction was preparing us to hear—a definitive sentence. The description of demons and unclean creatures draws on prophetic pictures of judged cities. Next, the chapter will explain the moral and economic reasons for this fall, showing that spiritual decay and worldly excess went hand in hand. Seeing Babylon’s end up front helps readers interpret the laments that follow as the cries of those who loved her corruption.
v.1After these things I saw another angel coming down out of heaven, having great authority; and the earth was lightened with his glory.
v.2This passage
v.3For by the wine of the wrath of her fornication all the nations are fallen; and the kings of the earth committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth waxed rich by the power of her wantonness.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Jeremiah 25:30
Therefore prophesy thou against them all these words, and say unto them, Jehovah will roar from on high, and utter his voice from his holy habitation; he will mightily roar against his fold; he will give a shout, as they that tread the grapes, against all the inhabitants of the earth.
- Mark 5:3
who had his dwelling in the tombs: and no man could any more bind him, no, not with a chain;
- Revelation 16:19
And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and Babylon the great was remembered in the sight of God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath.
- Revelation 16:13
And I saw coming out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet, three unclean spirits, as it were frogs:
- Zephaniah 2:14
And herds shall lie down in the midst of her, all the beasts of the nations: both the pelican and the porcupine shall lodge in the capitals thereof; their voice shall sing in the windows; desolation shall be in the thresholds: for he hath laid bare the cedar-work.
- Revelation 14:15
And another angel came out from the temple, crying with a great voice to him that sat on the cloud, Send forth thy sickle, and reap: for the hour to reap is come; for the harvest of the earth is ripe.
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