Revelation 18:12

cargo of gold, silver, precious stones, and pearls; of fine linen, purple, silk, and scarlet; of all kinds of citron wood and every article of ivory, precious wood, bronze, iron, and marble;

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The vision addresses the merchants of the earth, cataloging the collapse of Babylon’s trade network so that no buyer remains for their goods.

The words — γόμον (gomon) denotes the loaded cargo, while χρυσοῦ (chrusou) and τιμίου (timiou) specify the gold and precious materials that constitute its inventory.

The thread — The itemized wealth mirrors the adornments of the woman in Revelation 17:4 and recalls the royal shipments of 1 Kings 10:11, standing in direct contrast to the Proverbs 8:10 command to prioritize instruction over silver and knowledge over gold.

Why it lands — The catalogue requires the reader to see that human prosperity and social standing rest entirely on a temporary economic system that will abruptly fail.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Greek words

γόμονgomoncargo χρυσοῦchrusouof gold καὶkaiand ἀργύρουargurouof silver καὶkaiand λίθουlithouof stone τιμίουtimiouprecious καὶkaiand μαργαριτῶνmargaritōnof pearls καὶkaiand βυσσίνουbussinouof fine linen [things]καὶkaiand πορφύραςporphurasof purple cloth καὶkaiand σιρικοῦsirikouof silk καὶkaiand κοκκίνουkokkinouof scarlet καὶkaiand πᾶνpanall ξύλονxulonwood θύϊνονthuinoncitron καὶkaiand πᾶνpanevery σκεῦοςskeuosarticle ἐλεφάντινονelephantinonof ivory καὶkaiand πᾶνpanevery σκεῦοςskeuosarticle ἐκekof ξύλουxulouwood τιμιωτάτουtimiōtatoumost precious καὶkaiand χαλκοῦchalkouof bronze καὶkaiand σιδήρουsidērouof iron καὶkaiand μαρμάρουmarmarouof marble

King James Version

The merchandise of gold, and silver, and precious stones, and of pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet, and all thyine wood, and all manner vessels of ivory, and all manner vessels of most precious wood, and of brass, and iron, and marble,

Cross-references

Revelation 17:4 The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls. She held in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the impurities of her sexual immorality.
1 Kings 10:11 (The fleet of Hiram that brought gold from Ophir also brought from Ophir a great cargo of almug wood and precious stones.
Proverbs 8:10 Receive my instruction instead of silver, and knowledge rather than pure gold.
Ezekiel 27:5 They constructed all your planking with cypress from Senir. They took a cedar from Lebanon to make a mast for you.
2 Chronicles 2:8 Send me also cedar, cypress, and algum logs from Lebanon, for I know that your servants have skill to cut timber there. And indeed, my servants will work with yours