Revelation 18:20

Rejoice over her, O heaven, and you saints and apostles and prophets, because God has pronounced for you His judgment against her.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The narrator addresses heaven, the saints, apostles, and prophets immediately after the merchants mourn Babylon's sudden destruction.

The words — The imperative εὐφραῖνου (euphrainou) commands "do rejoice," paired with ἐπ᾽ αὐτῆς (ep' autēs) indicating the object "over her."

The thread — This call to rejoice over divine judgment echoes the cry of martyrs in Revelation 6:10 and the heavenly rejoicing over the devil's defeat in Revelation 12:12.

Why it lands — The text demands a direct response of joy to God's executed judgment, requiring the reader to align their moral stance with divine justice rather than worldly loss.

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

Rejoice over her, thou heaven, and ye holy apostles and prophets; for God hath avenged you on her.

Cross-references

Revelation 6:10 And they cried out in a loud voice, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge those who dwell upon the earth and avenge our blood?”
Luke 18:7 Will not God bring about justice for His elect who cry out to Him day and night? Will He delay in helping them?
Revelation 12:12 Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! But woe to the earth and the sea; with great fury the devil has come down to you, knowing he has only a short time.”
Revelation 19:1 After this I heard a sound like the roar of a great multitude in heaven, shouting: “Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God!
Isaiah 26:21 For behold, the LORD is coming out of His dwelling to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity. The earth will reveal her bloodshed and will no longer conceal her slain.
2 Peter 3:2 by recalling what was foretold by the holy prophets and commanded by our Lord and Savior through your apostles.
Psalms 58:10 The righteous will rejoice when they see they are avenged; they will wash their feet in the blood of the wicked.
Psalms 94:1 O LORD, God of vengeance, O God of vengeance, shine forth.
Psalms 109:28 Though they curse, You will bless. When they rise up, they will be put to shame, but Your servant will rejoice.
Proverbs 11:10 When the righteous thrive, the city rejoices, and when the wicked perish, there are shouts of joy.