Revelation 18:17

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

16 saying: “Woe, woe to the great city, clothed in fine linen and purple and scarlet, adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls!

For in a single hour such fabulous wealth has been destroyed!” Every shipmaster, passenger, and sailor, and all who make their living from the sea, will stand at a distance

18 and cry out at the sight of the smoke rising from the fire that consumes her. “What city was ever like this great city?” they will exclaim.

19 Then they will throw dust on their heads as they weep and mourn and cry out: “Woe, woe to the great city, where all who had ships on the sea were enriched by her wealth! For in a single hour she has been destroyed.”

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
For in a single hour such fabulous wealth has been destroyed!” Every shipmaster, passenger, and sailor, and all who make their living from the sea, will stand at a distance
KJV
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,
WEB
For in an hour such great riches are made desolate.’ Every ship master, and everyone who sails anywhere, and mariners, and as many as gain their living by sea, stood far away,
ASV
for in an hour so great riches is made desolate. And every shipmaster, and every one that saileth any wither, and mariners, and as many as gain their living by sea, stood afar off,
DARBY
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,
BLB
For in one hour such great wealth was brought to desolation!” And every shipmaster, and all those sailing to a place, and sailors, and as many as work the sea, stood from afar,
ÅB
Og hver styrmann og hver skipsfører og alle sjøfolk og alle de som ferdes på havet, sto langt borte
OTB
for på én time er slik stor rikdom lagt øde!' Hver skipsfører, hver passasjer, sjømann, og alle som lever av havet skal stå på avstand,
B1930
Og hver styrmann og hver skibsfører og alle sjøfolk og alle de som ferdes på havet, stod langt borte

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Ezekiel 27:27–36

    Your wealth, wares, and merchandise, your sailors, captains, and shipwrights, your merchants and all the warriors within you, with all the other people on board, will sink into the heart of the sea on the day of your downfall.

    Read in context
  • Revelation 17:16

    And the ten horns and the beast that you saw will hate the prostitute. They will leave her desolate and naked, and will eat her flesh and burn her with fire.

    Read in context
  • Isaiah 23:14

    Wail, O ships of Tarshish, for your harbor has been destroyed!

    Read in context
  • Jeremiah 51:8

    Suddenly Babylon has fallen and been shattered. Wail for her; get her balm for her pain; perhaps she can be healed.

    Read in context
  • Jonah 1:6

    The captain approached him and said, “How can you sleep? Get up and call upon your God. Perhaps this God will consider us, so that we may not perish.”

    Read in context
  • Revelation 18:19

    Then they will throw dust on their heads as they weep and mourn and cry out: “Woe, woe to the great city, where all who had ships on the sea were enriched by her wealth! For in a single hour she has been destroyed.”

    Read in context
  • 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.”

    Read in context
  • Isaiah 47:9

    These two things will overtake you in a moment, in a single day: loss of children, and widowhood. They will come upon you in full measure, in spite of your many sorceries and the potency of your spells.

    Read in context