The Meaning of Revelation 18:8 Explained

Revelation 18:8

KJV: Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her.

YLT: because of this, in one day, shall come her plagues, death, and sorrow, and famine; and in fire she shall be utterly burned, because strong is the Lord God who is judging her;

Darby: for this reason in one day shall her plagues come, death and grief and famine, and she shall be burnt with fire; for strong is the Lord God who has judged her.

ASV: Therefore in one day shall her plagues come, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire; for strong is the Lord God who judged her.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Therefore  shall  her  plagues  come  in  one  day,  death,  and  mourning,  and  famine;  and  she shall be utterly burned  with  fire:  for  strong  [is] the Lord  God  who  judgeth  her. 

What does Revelation 18:8 Mean?

Verse Meaning

The "one day" may very well be literal (cf. Daniel 5:1; Daniel 5:3-5; Daniel 5:30). "One day" also expresses suddenness, as does the "one hour" in Revelation 18:10; Revelation 18:16; Revelation 18:19 (cf. Isaiah 47:9). Likewise we could interpret the burning literally (cf. Isaiah 47:14). Rebuilt Babylon and the cities that are the centers for this worldwide network of political, commercial activity will evidently burn up in the great earthquake ( Revelation 16:18-19). She will collapse suddenly, like the World Trade Center towers in New York City in2001 , not decline gradually. The strength of the Lord God will accomplish this destruction, but He will use means ( Revelation 17:16-17).

Context Summary

Revelation 18:1-13 - "her Sins Have Reached Unto Heaven"
We have seen that the scarlet woman represents the false religion of human wit and fashion. It is found in every age. There is not a city, town, or village where it does not seek to allure men from Christ. The mischief is that so many really godly people are misled by it. In this they resemble Obadiah, who hid the prophets in a cave and fed them but was hand and glove with Ahab. To all such, who are endeavoring to keep in touch with the true Bride and with the apostate Church, the summons of Revelation 18:4 has a very profound significance.
It was the unanimous verdict of the reformers that the great city here described, Revelation 18:10, was intended to represent Rome, as the seat of the great apostasy. If that be the case, the merchandise described here does not refer to literal commerce, but to the carnal delights which are often permitted and fostered by false religious systems to win the adhesion of the worldly and unclean. [source]

Chapter Summary: Revelation 18

1  Babylon is fallen
4  People commanded to depart out of her
9  The kings of the earth, with the merchants and mariners, lament over her
20  The saints rejoice for the judgments of God upon her

Greek Commentary for Revelation 18:8

Therefore [δια τουτο]
Because of her presumption added to her crimes. [source]
In one day [εν μιαι ημεραι]
Symbolical term for suddenness like μιαι ωραι — miāi hōrāi in one hour (Revelation 18:10, Revelation 18:16, Revelation 18:19). John has in mind still Isaiah 47:7-9.Shall come (ηχουσιν — hēxousin). Future active of ηκω — hēkō Her plagues are named (death, mourning, famine).She shall be utterly burned Future passive of κατακαιω — katakaiō (perfective use of κατα — kata).With fire (εν πυρι — en puri). “In fire,” as in Revelation 17:16.Which judged her Articular first aorist active participle of κρινω — krinō referring to κυριος ο τεος — kurios ho theos (the Lord God). The doom of Babylon is certain because of the power of God. [source]
Shall come [ηχουσιν]
Future active of ηκω — hēkō Her plagues are named (death, mourning, famine). [source]
She shall be utterly burned [κατακαυτησεται]
Future passive of κατακαιω — katakaiō (perfective use of κατα — kata).With fire (εν πυρι — en puri). “In fire,” as in Revelation 17:16.Which judged her Articular first aorist active participle of κρινω — krinō referring to κυριος ο τεος — kurios ho theos (the Lord God). The doom of Babylon is certain because of the power of God. [source]
With fire [εν πυρι]
“In fire,” as in Revelation 17:16. [source]
Which judged her [ο κρινας αυτην]
Articular first aorist active participle of κρινω — krinō referring to κυριος ο τεος — kurios ho theos (the Lord God). The doom of Babylon is certain because of the power of God. [source]
Therefore shall her plagues come, etc. []
See Isaiah 47:8, Isaiah 47:9. [source]
Who judgeth [ὁ κρίνων]
Read κρίνας judgedi0. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Revelation 18:8

Revelation 13:8 From the foundation of the world []
These words may be construed with slain or with written. In favor of the latter is Revelation 18:8; of the former, 1 Peter 1:19, 1 Peter 1:20. Alford, pertinently as I think, urges the position of the words in favor of the connection with slain, and says that had it not been for the apparent difficulty of the sense thus conveyed, no one would have thought of going so far back as to hath been written for a connection. Render, as Rev., the lamb that hath been slain from the foundation of the world. Καταβολή foundationis literally a throwing or laying down, from καταβάλλω tothrow down; hence a laying down of a foundation. [source]
Revelation 12:12 Therefore [δια τουτο]
“For this reason” as in Revelation 7:15; Revelation 18:8 (15 times in John‘s Gospel, Charles notes). It points back to Revelation 12:10. [source]
Revelation 18:9 And wail over her [και κοπσονται επ αυτην]
Future direct middle of κοπτω — koptō old verb, to beat, to cut, middle to beat oneself (Revelation 1:7). For combination with κλαιω — klaiō as here see Luke 8:52. See Revelation 17:2; Revelation 18:3, Revelation 18:7 for οι πορνευσαντες και στρηνιασαντες — hoi porneusantes kai strēniasantes).When they look upon (οταν βλεπωσιν — hotan blepōsin). Indefinite temporal clause with οταν — hotan and the present active subjunctive of βλεπω — blepō smoke of her burning (τον καπνον της πυρωσεως αυτης — ton kapnon tēs purōseōs autēs). Πυρωσις — Purōsis is an old word (from πυροω — puroō to burn), in N.T. only 1 Peter 4:12; Revelation 18:9, Revelation 18:18. See Revelation 18:8 for other plagues on Rome, but fire seems to be the worst (Revelation 17:16; Revelation 18:8, Revelation 18:9, Revelation 18:17; Revelation 19:3). [source]
Revelation 18:9 When they look upon [οταν βλεπωσιν]
Indefinite temporal clause with οταν — hotan and the present active subjunctive of βλεπω — blepō smoke of her burning Πυρωσις — Purōsis is an old word (from πυροω — puroō to burn), in N.T. only 1 Peter 4:12; Revelation 18:9, Revelation 18:18. See Revelation 18:8 for other plagues on Rome, but fire seems to be the worst (Revelation 17:16; Revelation 18:8, Revelation 18:9, Revelation 18:17; Revelation 19:3). [source]
Revelation 18:10 Woe, woe, the great city [ουαι ουαι η πολις η μεγαλη]
Only example in the Apocalypse of the nominative with μιαι ωραι — ouai except Revelation 18:16, Revelation 18:19, though in Luke 6:25 and common in lxx (Isa 5:7, 11, etc.). For the dative see Revelation 8:13, once so “strong” Repeated in Revelation 18:16, Revelation 18:19, and like ποιαν ωραν — miāi hēmerāi (in one day) in Revelation 18:8. Some MSS. have here ο κρινας — mian hōran like η κρισις σου — poian hōran (accusative of extent of time) in Revelation 3:3. See Revelation 18:8 (ho krinas) for hē krisis sou (thy judgment). This is the dirge of the kings. [source]
Revelation 18:10 In one hour [μιαν ωραν]
Repeated in Revelation 18:16, Revelation 18:19, and like ποιαν ωραν — miāi hēmerāi (in one day) in Revelation 18:8. Some MSS. have here ο κρινας — mian hōran like η κρισις σου — poian hōran (accusative of extent of time) in Revelation 3:3. See Revelation 18:8 This is the dirge of the kings. [source]
Revelation 19:3 They say [ειρηκαν]
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]
Revelation 19:3 Goeth up [αναβαινει]
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]
Revelation 9:18 By these three plagues [απο των τριων πληγων τουτων]
Our “plague” or stroke from πλησσω — plēssō as in Luke 10:30 and often in Rev (Revelation 9:20; Revelation 11:6; Revelation 15:1, Revelation 15:6, Revelation 15:8; Revelation 16:9; Revelation 18:4, Revelation 18:8; Revelation 22:18). It is used in Exodus 11:1. for the plagues in Egypt. The three plagues here are the fire, smoke, and brimstone which proceed from the mouths of the horses. [source]

What do the individual words in Revelation 18:8 mean?

Because of this in one day will come the plagues of her death and misery famine with fire she will be burned up because mighty [is the] Lord - God the [One] having judged her
διὰ τοῦτο ἐν μιᾷ ἡμέρᾳ ἥξουσιν αἱ πληγαὶ αὐτῆς θάνατος καὶ πένθος λιμός ἐν πυρὶ κατακαυθήσεται ὅτι ἰσχυρὸς Κύριος Θεὸς κρίνας αὐτήν

διὰ  Because  of 
Parse: Preposition
Root: διά  
Sense: through.
τοῦτο  this 
Parse: Demonstrative Pronoun, Accusative Neuter Singular
Root: οὗτος  
Sense: this.
μιᾷ  one 
Parse: Adjective, Dative Feminine Singular
Root: εἷς  
Sense: one.
ἡμέρᾳ  day 
Parse: Noun, Dative Feminine Singular
Root: ἡμέρα  
Sense: the day, used of the natural day, or the interval between sunrise and sunset, as distinguished from and contrasted with the night.
ἥξουσιν  will  come 
Parse: Verb, Future Indicative Active, 3rd Person Plural
Root: ἥκω  
Sense: to have come, have arrived, be present.
πληγαὶ  plagues 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Feminine Plural
Root: πληγή  
Sense: a blow, stripe, a wound.
αὐτῆς  of  her 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive Feminine 3rd Person Singular
Root: αὐτός  
Sense: himself, herself, themselves, itself.
θάνατος  death 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: θάνατος 
Sense: the death of the body.
πένθος  misery 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Neuter Singular
Root: πένθος  
Sense: mourning.
λιμός  famine 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: λιμός  
Sense: scarcity of harvest, famine.
πυρὶ  fire 
Parse: Noun, Dative Neuter Singular
Root: πῦρ  
Sense: fire.
κατακαυθήσεται  she  will  be  burned  up 
Parse: Verb, Future Indicative Passive, 3rd Person Singular
Root: κατακαίω  
Sense: to burn up, consume by fire.
ὅτι  because 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: ὅτι  
Sense: that, because, since.
ἰσχυρὸς  mighty  [is  the] 
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: ἰσχυρός  
Sense: strong, mighty.
Κύριος  Lord 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: κύριος  
Sense: he to whom a person or thing belongs, about which he has power of deciding; master, lord.
  - 
Parse: Article, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
Θεὸς  God 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: θεός  
Sense: a god or goddess, a general name of deities or divinities.
  the  [One] 
Parse: Article, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
κρίνας  having  judged 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: κρίνω  
Sense: to separate, put asunder, to pick out, select, choose.
αὐτήν  her 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Accusative Feminine 3rd Person Singular
Root: αὐτός  
Sense: himself, herself, themselves, itself.