KJV: And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all.
YLT: And one strong messenger did take up a stone as a great millstone, and did cast it to the sea, saying, 'Thus with violence shall Babylon be cast, the great city, and may not be found any more at all;
Darby: And a strong angel took up a stone, as a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with violence shall Babylon the great city be cast down, and shall be found no more at all;
ASV: And a strong angel took up a stone as it were a great millstone and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with a mighty fall shall Babylon, the great city, be cast down, and shall be found no more at all.
| ἦρεν | took up |
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Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular Root: αἴρω Sense: to raise up, elevate, lift up. |
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| εἷς | one |
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Parse: Adjective, Nominative Masculine Singular Root: εἷς Sense: one. |
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| ἄγγελος | angel |
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Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular Root: ἄγγελος Sense: a messenger, envoy, one who is sent, an angel, a messenger from God. |
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| ἰσχυρὸς | a mighty |
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Parse: Adjective, Nominative Masculine Singular Root: ἰσχυρός Sense: strong, mighty. |
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| λίθον | stone |
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Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Singular Root: λίθος Sense: a stone. |
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| ὡς | like |
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Parse: Adverb Root: ὡς Sense: as, like, even as, etc. |
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| μύλινον | a millstone |
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Parse: Adjective, Accusative Masculine Singular Root: μύλινος Sense: a mill stone. |
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| μέγαν | great |
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Parse: Adjective, Accusative Masculine Singular Root: μέγας Sense: great. |
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| ἔβαλεν | cast [it] |
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Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular Root: βάλλω Sense: to throw or let go of a thing without caring where it falls. |
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| εἰς | into |
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Parse: Preposition Root: εἰς Sense: into, unto, to, towards, for, among. |
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| θάλασσαν | sea |
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Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Singular Root: θάλασσα Sense: the sea. |
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| λέγων | saying |
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Parse: Verb, Present Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Singular Root: λέγω Sense: to say, to speak. |
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| Οὕτως | Thus |
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Parse: Adverb Root: οὕτως Sense: in this manner, thus, so. |
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| ὁρμήματι | with violence |
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Parse: Noun, Dative Neuter Singular Root: ὅρμημα Sense: a rush, impulse. |
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| βληθήσεται | will be cast down |
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Parse: Verb, Future Indicative Passive, 3rd Person Singular Root: βάλλω Sense: to throw or let go of a thing without caring where it falls. |
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| Βαβυλὼν | Babylon |
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Parse: Noun, Nominative Feminine Singular Root: Βαβυλών Sense: a very large and famous city, the residence of the Babylonian kings, situated on both banks of the Euphrates. |
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| μεγάλη | great |
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Parse: Adjective, Nominative Feminine Singular Root: μέγας Sense: great. |
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| πόλις | city |
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Parse: Noun, Nominative Feminine Singular Root: πόλις Sense: a city. |
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| οὐ | no |
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Parse: Adverb Root: οὐ Sense: no, not; in direct questions expecting an affirmative answer. |
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| εὑρεθῇ | shall be found |
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Parse: Verb, Aorist Subjunctive Passive, 3rd Person Singular Root: εὑρίσκω Sense: to come upon, hit upon, to meet with. |
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| ἔτι | any longer |
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Parse: Adverb Root: ἔτι Sense: yet, still. |
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Greek Commentary for Revelation 18:21
Here εις heis = a, just an indefinite article, not “one” as a numeral. [source]
First aorist active indicative of αιρω airō it were a great millstone Late adjective, in inscriptions, here only in N.T., made of millstone Second aorist active of βαλλω ballō to hurl.With a mighty fall Instrumental case (manner) of ορμημα hormēma a rush, old word from ορμαω hormaō to rush (Matthew 8:32), here only in N.T.Shall be cast down (βλετησεται blethēsetai). Future (first) passive of βαλλω ballō the same verb (εβαλεν ebalen), effective punctiliar future. Like a boulder hurled into the sea.Shall be found no more at all Double negative with first aorist passive subjunctive of ευρισκω heuriskō See Revelation 9:6 for ου μη ou mē with the active voice of ευρισκω heuriskō Already the old Babylon was a desert waste (Strabo, XVI. 1073). [source]
Second aorist active of βαλλω ballō to hurl. [source]
Instrumental case (manner) of ορμημα hormēma a rush, old word from ορμαω hormaō to rush (Matthew 8:32), here only in N.T.Shall be cast down (βλετησεται blethēsetai). Future (first) passive of βαλλω ballō the same verb (εβαλεν ebalen), effective punctiliar future. Like a boulder hurled into the sea.Shall be found no more at all Double negative with first aorist passive subjunctive of ευρισκω heuriskō See Revelation 9:6 for ου μη ou mē with the active voice of ευρισκω heuriskō Already the old Babylon was a desert waste (Strabo, XVI. 1073). [source]
Future (first) passive of βαλλω ballō the same verb (εβαλεν ebalen), effective punctiliar future. Like a boulder hurled into the sea. [source]
Double negative with first aorist passive subjunctive of ευρισκω heuriskō See Revelation 9:6 for ου μη ou mē with the active voice of ευρισκω heuriskō Already the old Babylon was a desert waste (Strabo, XVI. 1073). [source]
Lit., “one strong angel.” [source]
See on Matthew 18:6. [source]
Lit. with an impulse or rush. Only here in the New Testament. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Revelation 18:21
Now called Patmo and Palmosa. In the Aegean, one of the group of the Sporades, about twenty-eight miles S. S.W. of Samos. It is about ten miles long by six in breadth. The island is volcanic, and is bare and rocky throughout; the hills, of which the highest rises to nearly a thousand feet, commanding a magnificent view of the neighboring sea and islands. The bay of La Scala, running into the land on the east, divides the island into two nearly equal parts, a northern and a southern. The ancient town, remains of which are still to be seen, occupied the isthmus which separates La Scala from the bay of Merika on the western coast. The modern town is on a hill in the southern half of the island, clustered at the foot of the monastery of St. John. A grotto is shown called “the grotto of the Apocalypse,” in which the apostle is said to have received the vision. “The stern, rugged barrenness of its broken promontories well suits the historical fact of the relegation of the condemned Christian to its shores, as of a convict to his prison. The view from the topmost peak, or, indeed, from any lofty elevation in the islands, unfolds an unusual sweep such as well became the Apocalypse, the unveiling of the future to the eyes of the solitary seer. Above, there was always the broad heaven of a Grecian sky; sometimes bright with its 'white cloud' (Revelation 14:14), sometimes torn with 'lightnings and thunderings,' and darkened by 'great hail,' or cheered with 'a rainbow like unto an emerald' (Revelation 4:3; Revelation 8:7; Revelation 11:19; Revelation 16:21). Over the high tops of Icaria, Samos, and Naxos rise the mountains of Asia Minor; amongst which would lie, to the north, the circle of the Seven Churches to which his addresses were to be sent. Around him stood the mountains and islands of the Archipelago (Revelation 6:14; Revelation 16:20). When he looked round, above or below, 'the sea' would always occupy the foremost place … the voices of heaven were like the sound of the waves beating on the shore, as 'the sound of many waters' (Revelation 14:2; Revelation 19:6); the millstone was 'cast into the sea' (Revelation 18:21); the sea was to 'give up the dead which were in it' (Revelation 20:13)” (Stanley, “Sermons in the East”). [source]
But the seventh trumpet does not sound till Revelation 11:15. This angel is not one of the seven or of the four, but like the other strong angel in Revelation 5:2; Revelation 18:21 or the other angel in Revelation 14:6, Revelation 14:15. The sixth trumpet of Revelation 9:13 ends in Revelation 9:21. The opening of the seventh seal was preceded by two visions (chapter Rev 7) and so here the sounding of the seventh trumpet (Revelation 11:15) is preceded by a new series of visions (10:1-11:14). [source]
“Upon,” as in Revelation 11:6, with genitive Clearly Jerusalem in view of the closing clause (οπουεσταυρωτη hopou- ητις estaurōthē), though not here called “the holy city” as in Revelation 11:2, and though elsewhere in the Apocalypse Babylon (Rome) is so described (Revelation 14:8; Revelation 16:19; Revelation 17:5; Revelation 18:2, Revelation 18:10, Revelation 18:16, Revelation 18:18, Revelation 18:19, Revelation 18:21).Which Which very city, not “whichever.”Spiritually (πνευματικος pneumatikōs). This late adverb from πνευματικος pneumatikos (spiritual) occurs in the N.T. only twice, in 1 Corinthians 2:14 for the help of the Holy Spirit in interpreting God‘s message and here in a hidden or mystical (allegorical sense). For this use of οπου και ο κυριος αυτων εσταυρωτη pneumatikos see 1 Corinthians 10:3. Judah is called Sodom in Isaiah 1:9.; Ezekiel 16:46, Ezekiel 16:55. See also Matthew 10:15; Matthew 11:23. Egypt is not applied to Israel in the O.T., but is “an obvious symbol of oppression and slavery” (Swete).Where also their Lord was crucified First aorist passive indicative of stauroō to crucify, a reference to the fact of Christ‘s crucifixion in Jerusalem. This item is one of the sins of Jerusalem and the disciple is not greater than the Master (John 15:20). [source]
Clearly Jerusalem in view of the closing clause (οπουεσταυρωτη hopou- ητις estaurōthē), though not here called “the holy city” as in Revelation 11:2, and though elsewhere in the Apocalypse Babylon (Rome) is so described (Revelation 14:8; Revelation 16:19; Revelation 17:5; Revelation 18:2, Revelation 18:10, Revelation 18:16, Revelation 18:18, Revelation 18:19, Revelation 18:21). [source]
The adjective πεποτικεν megalē occurs with ποτιζω Babulōn each time in the Apocalypse (Revelation 14:8; Revelation 16:19; Revelation 17:5; Revelation 18:2, Revelation 18:10, Revelation 18:21) as a reminder of Nebuchadrezzar. There is no doubt that Rome is meant by Babylon, as is probably seen already in 1 Peter 5:13. As a prisoner in Patmos John can speak his mind by this symbolism. [source]
See John 3:29; Jeremiah 7:34; Jeremiah 16:9. “Even the occasional flash of the torches carried by bridal processions (Matthew 25:1.) is seen no more” (Swete). The sixth instance of ου μη ou mē in Revelation 18:21-23, occurs with ακουστηι akousthēi (third instance of ακουστηι akousthēi two in Revelation 18:22). [source]
Perfect active indicative of ειπον eipon “They have said,” not an “aoristic” perfect for “they say,” but vivid dramatic perfect as in Revelation 5:7 and the form in αν ̇an instead of ασιν ̇asin as in Revelation 18:3; Revelation 21:6.Goeth up (αναβαινει anabainei). Linear present active indicative of αναβαινω anabainō “keeps on going up,” “a last touch to the description already given (Revelation 18:21.) of Babylon‘s utter collapse” (Swete). The smoke of the city‘s ruin (Revelation 14:11; Revelation 18:8., and Revelation 18:18) instead of incense (Revelation 8:4). Cf. Isaiah 34:9. [source]
Linear present active indicative of αναβαινω anabainō “keeps on going up,” “a last touch to the description already given (Revelation 18:21.) of Babylon‘s utter collapse” (Swete). The smoke of the city‘s ruin (Revelation 14:11; Revelation 18:8., and Revelation 18:18) instead of incense (Revelation 8:4). Cf. Isaiah 34:9. [source]
Like εις heis in Revelation 18:21, just “an,” not “one.” [source]
One needed (Revelation 10:1; Revelation 18:21) “whose call could reach to the farthest limits of the universe” (Beckwith) and so “with a great voice” See εν ισχυραι πωνηι en ischurāi phōnēi (Revelation 18:2). [source]
Prophetic aorist active indicative of πεπτωκεν πεπτωκεν piptō repeated as a solemn dirge announcing the certainty of the fall. The English participle “fallen, fallen” is more musical and rhythmical than the literal rendering “fell, fell.” The language is an echo of Isaiah 21:9, though B in the lxx has αβυλων η μαγαλη peptōkenμεγαλη peptōken (perfect).Babylon the great (αβυλων Babulōn hē magalē). The adjective πεποτικεν megalē occurs with ποτιζω Babulōn each time in the Apocalypse (Revelation 14:8; Revelation 16:19; Revelation 17:5; Revelation 18:2, Revelation 18:10, Revelation 18:21) as a reminder of Nebuchadrezzar. There is no doubt that Rome is meant by Babylon, as is probably seen already in 1 Peter 5:13. As a prisoner in Patmos John can speak his mind by this symbolism.Hath made to drink Perfect active indicative of potizō old causative verb (from potos drinking, 1 Peter 4:3), as in Matthew 25:35. The remarkable phrase that follows seems based on Jeremiah 51:8 (Jeremiah 25:15). It is a combination also of Revelation 14:10 (the wine of God‘s wrath, also in Revelation 16:19; Revelation 19:15) and Revelation 17:2. There is no doubt of the dissoluteness of the old Babylon of Jeremiah‘s day as of the Rome of John‘s time. Rome is pictured as the great courtesan who intoxicates and beguiles the nations to fornication (Revelation 17:2, Revelation 17:4, Revelation 17:6), but the cup of God‘s wrath for her and her paramours is full (Revelation 14:10; Revelation 16:19; Revelation 18:2). [source]
Old word (from κιταρα kithara harp, and ωιδος ōidos singer) as in Revelation 14:2.Of minstrels (μουσικων mousikōn). Old word (from μουσα mousa music), here only in N.T., one playing on musical instruments.Of flute-players Old word (from αυλεω auleō to play on a flute, Matthew 11:17, αυλος aulos flute, 1 Corinthians 14:7), in N.T. only here and Matthew 9:23.Of trumpeters (σαλπιστων salpistōn). Late form for the earlier σαλπιγκτης salpigktēs (from σαλπιζω salpizō), here only in N.T.Shall be heard no more at all First aorist passive subjunctive of ακουω akouō with the double negative as below, with πωνη μυλου phōnē mulou (sound of the millstone), and as in Revelation 18:21 with ου με ευρετηι ou me heurethēi and again with πας τεχνιτης pās technitēs (craftsman). This old word is from τεχνη technē art, as here in some MSS. (“of whatsoever craft,” πασης τεχνης pasēs technēs). Τεχνιτης Technitēs occurs also in this sense in Acts 19:24, Acts 19:38; and in Hebrews 11:10 of God as the Architect. There is power in this four-fold sonorous repetition of ου μη ou mē and the subjunctive with two more examples in Revelation 18:23. [source]
Old word (from αυλεω auleō to play on a flute, Matthew 11:17, αυλος aulos flute, 1 Corinthians 14:7), in N.T. only here and Matthew 9:23.Of trumpeters (σαλπιστων salpistōn). Late form for the earlier σαλπιγκτης salpigktēs (from σαλπιζω salpizō), here only in N.T.Shall be heard no more at all First aorist passive subjunctive of ακουω akouō with the double negative as below, with πωνη μυλου phōnē mulou (sound of the millstone), and as in Revelation 18:21 with ου με ευρετηι ou me heurethēi and again with πας τεχνιτης pās technitēs (craftsman). This old word is from τεχνη technē art, as here in some MSS. (“of whatsoever craft,” πασης τεχνης pasēs technēs). Τεχνιτης Technitēs occurs also in this sense in Acts 19:24, Acts 19:38; and in Hebrews 11:10 of God as the Architect. There is power in this four-fold sonorous repetition of ου μη ou mē and the subjunctive with two more examples in Revelation 18:23. [source]
First aorist passive subjunctive of ακουω akouō with the double negative as below, with πωνη μυλου phōnē mulou (sound of the millstone), and as in Revelation 18:21 with ου με ευρετηι ou me heurethēi and again with πας τεχνιτης pās technitēs (craftsman). This old word is from τεχνη technē art, as here in some MSS. (“of whatsoever craft,” πασης τεχνης pasēs technēs). Τεχνιτης Technitēs occurs also in this sense in Acts 19:24, Acts 19:38; and in Hebrews 11:10 of God as the Architect. There is power in this four-fold sonorous repetition of ου μη ou mē and the subjunctive with two more examples in Revelation 18:23. [source]
Fifth instance in these verses of ου μη ou mē with the aorist subjunctive, here the active of παινω phainō as in Revelation 8:12. It is not known whether Rome had street lights or not.The voice of the bridegroom and of the bride (πωνη νυμπιου και νυμπης phōnē numphiou kai numphēs). See John 3:29; Jeremiah 7:34; Jeremiah 16:9. “Even the occasional flash of the torches carried by bridal processions (Matthew 25:1.) is seen no more” (Swete). The sixth instance of ου μη ou mē in Revelation 18:21-23, occurs with ακουστηι akousthēi (third instance of ακουστηι akousthēi two in Revelation 18:22).Were the princes of the earth For μεγισταν megistān see Revelation 6:15; Mark 6:21. “Thy merchants were the grandees” once, but now these merchant princes are gone.With thy sorcery (εν τηι παρμακιαι σου en tēi pharmakiāi sou). Εν En (instrumental use) and the locative case of παρμακια pharmakia old word (from παρμακευω pharmakeuō to prepare drugs, from παρμακον pharmakon sorcery, Revelation 9:21), in N.T. only here and Galatians 5:20 for sorcery and magical arts. If one is puzzled over the connection between medicine and sorcery as illustrated by this word (our pharmacy), he has only to recall quackery today in medicine (patent medicines and cure-alls), witch-doctors, professional faith-healers, medicine-men in Africa. True medical science has had a hard fight to shake off chicanery and charlatanry.Were deceived First aorist passive indicative of πλαναω planaō These charlatans always find plenty of victims. See Mark 12:24. [source]