Revelation 18:17

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

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The shipmasters, passengers, and all who earn a living from the sea stand at a distance while declaring the sudden ruin of a wealthy city. This exclamation occurs immediately after the announcement of judgment on the "great city" adorned in fine linen, purple, and gold.

The words — The phrase μιᾷ ὥρᾳ (mia hōra) translates literally as "in one hour," marking the abruptness of the event. The participle ἠρημωμένη (ērēmōmenē) means "brought to desolation," describing the complete loss of the city's τοσοῦτος πλοῦτος (tosoutos ploutos), or "such great wealth."

The thread — The collapse of maritime trade under judgment mirrors Isaiah 23:14, where the harbor of Tarshish is destroyed, and Ezekiel 27:27, which details the loss of wealth, captains, and sailors. It also aligns with Revelation 17:16, where hostile powers strip the prostitute of her riches and leave her desolate.

Why it lands — The text requires the reader to acknowledge that global economic networks and commercial wealth can be erased without warning. It asks the reader to measure earthly prosperity against the certainty of divine judgment rather than trusting in temporary material security.

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

King James Version

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,

Cross-references

Isaiah 23:14 Wail, O ships of Tarshish, for your harbor has been destroyed!
Ezekiel 27:27 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.
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 they will eat her flesh and burn her with fire.
Jeremiah 51:8 Suddenly Babylon has fallen and been shattered. Wail for her; get her balm for her pain; perhaps she can be healed.
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.”
Revelation 18:10 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.”
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.”
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.
Lamentations 4:6 The punishment of the daughter of my people is greater than that of Sodom, which was overthrown in an instant without a hand turned to help her.