Revelation 18:19 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Revelation 18:9-24

Here we have, I. A doleful lamentation made by Babylon's friends for her fall; and here observe, 1. Who are the mourners, namely, those who had been bewitched by her fornication, those who had been sharers in her sensual pleasures, and those who had been gainers by her wealth and trade?the kings and the merchants of the earth: the kings of the earth, whom she had flattered into idolatry by allowing them to be arbitrary and tyrannical over their subjects, while they were obsequious to her; and... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Revelation 18:17-19

18:17-19 And every shipmaster and everyone who sails the sea, and sailors who gain their living from the sea, stood afar off and cried, when they saw the smoke of her burning. "What city was like the great city!" they said, and they flung dust upon their heads, and cried weeping and lamenting: "Alas! Alas! for the great city, in which all who had ships on the sea grew rich from her wealth, because in one hour she has been desolated." First, the kings uttered their lament over Rome; then,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Revelation 18:19

And they cast dust on their heads ,.... As the seafaring men on account of Tyre, Ezekiel 27:30 this was a gesture used in mourning when persons were in afflicted and distressed circumstances, denoting disorder, confusion, and debasement; see Joshua 7:6 and cried, weeping and wailing, saying, alas, alas! that great city ; as in Revelation 18:10 so it was once, though now in flames: wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea ; not only the merchants of the earth, as in ... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Revelation 18:19

They cast dust on their heads - They showed every sign of the sincerest grief. The lamentation over this great ruined city, Revelation 18:9-19 , is exceedingly strong and well drawn. Here is no dissembled sorrow; all is real to the mourners, and affecting to the spectators. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 18:1-24

The overthrow of wickedness. This, in symbolic form, is the real subject of this chapter. Wickedness shall be utterly and forever destroyed. I. A GLORIOUS ANGEL PROCLAIMS THIS . (Cf. Revelation 18:1 as to this angel.) Then such overthrow must be: 1 . Righteous. 2 . Blessed. 3 . Divine. Had it been possible for men to affect this, it would have been done long since. II. GOD 'S PEOPLE RECEIVE COMMAND . 1 . To separate themselves from sin. From... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 18:9-24

Lamentations over the fall of Babylon. In our previous study of "Babylon the great," we had occasion to remark that there were three forms under which a great Babylon might be recognized. 1 . In that worldwide spirit of alienation from God which has corrupted every form of human life everywhere. 2 . In any Church which, allying itself with the world power, fornicates therewith, and puts itself on the throne instead of God. 3 . Most manifestly of all in the papal Church, where... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 18:9-24

The fall of the corrupt in human life. "And the kings of the earth, who have committed fornication and lived deliciously with her," etc. All along through my remarks on the Apocalyptic visions of this book I have not only discarded any attempt at a literal interpretation, but have affirmed that, as a rule, such interpretations of dreams or visions can seldom, if ever, from the nature of the case, be correct; and more especially so with the visions and dreams recorded in this book. The... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 18:19

And they cast dust on their heads. This continues the description as given in Ezekiel 27:30 , "Shall cast up dust upon their heads." And cried, weeping and wailing, saying, Alas, alas that great city! Weeping and mourning, saying, Woe, woe! etc.; an exact repetition of Ezekiel 27:15 , Ezekiel 27:16 . Wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea by reason of her costliness. Like the merchants, the men here described regret the loss of their wealth (cf. Ezekiel 27:11 , ... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Revelation 18:19

And they cast dust on their heads - A common sign of lamentation and mourning among the Orientals. See the notes on Job 2:12.By reason of her costliness - The word rendered “costliness” - τιμιότητος timiotētos - means, properly, “preciousness, costliness”; their magnificence, costly merchandise. The luxury of a great city enriches many individuals, however much it may impoverish itself.For in one hour is she made desolate - So it seemed to them. See the notes on Revelation 18:17. read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Revelation 18:15-21

Revelation 18:15-21. The merchants, ship-masters, and sailors, and as many as trade by sea, weep and wail For they can no longer import or export commodities for her, or convey strangers to and fro, for there is an end of all her gains, wealth, and glory. These lamentations are copied from the like lamentations over Tyre, (Ezekiel 26:0. and 27.,) and are equal to the most mournful strains of the Greek tragedians over Thebes or Troy. In all, they stand afar off In a mixture of terror and... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Revelation 18:9-24

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Revelation 18:17-19

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Revelation 18:19

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Revelation 18:19

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 18:1-24

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 18:9-24

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 18:9-24

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 18:19

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Revelation 18:19

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Revelation 18:15-21

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