18:1 {Coming down out of heaven} (katabainonta ek tou ouranou). Present active predicate participle. Not the angel of 17:1,7,15 (John's guide), but one announcing the doom of Babylon (Rome). As in 10:1; 20:1.
{Was lightened} (eph“tisthˆ). First aorist passive of ph“tiz“, old causative verb (from ph“s, light), common in N.T. as in Re 18:1; 21:23; 22:5.
{With his glory} (ek tˆs doxˆs autou). "By reason of (ek as in 8:13; 16:10) his glory." "So recently has he come from the Presence that in passing he flings a broad belt of light across the dark earth" (Swete).

18:2 {Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great} (epesen, epesen Babul“n hˆ megalˆ). The very words of 14:8: "Did fall, did fall Babylon the great." Prophetic aorists of pipt“ repeated like a solemn dirge of the damned.
{Is become} (egeneto). Prophetic aorist middle.
{A habitation of devils} (katoikˆtˆrion). Late word (from katoike“, to dwell), in N.T. only here and Eph 2:22. Devils should be demons, of course. So Isaiah prophesied of Babylon (Isa 12:21f.) and also Jeremiah (Jer 50:39) and Zephaniah of Nineveh (Zep 2:14). Both Babylon and Nineveh are ruins.
{A hold of every unclean spirit} (phulakˆ pantos pneumatos akathartou). Phulakˆ is garrison or watch-tower as in Hab 2:1, rather than a prison (20:7).
{A hold of every unclean and hateful bird} (phulakˆ pantos orneou akathartou kai memisˆmenou). Orneou is old word for bird, in N.T. only Re 18:2; 19:17,21. "The evil spirits, watching over fallen Rome like night-birds or harpies that wait for their prey, build their eyries in the broken towers which rise from the ashes of the city" (Swete). Long ago true of Babylon and Nineveh, some day to be true of Rome.

18:3 {By} (ek). "As a result of." Some MSS. omit "of the wine" (tou oinou). Cf. 14:10; 16:10.
{Have fallen} (pept“kan). Perfect active third personal of pipt“ for usual pept“kasi. Some MSS. read pep“kan (have drunk), from pin“ like the metaphor in 14:8,10; 16:19; 17:2. See 17:2 for the same charge about the kings of the earth.
{The merchants of the earth} (hoi emporoi tˆs gˆs). Old word for one on a journey for trade (from en, poros), like drummers, in N.T. only Mt 13:45; Re 18:3,11,15,23. Like emporion (Joh 2:16) and emporeuomai (Jas 4:13).
{Waxed rich} (eploutˆsan). First ingressive aorist active indicative of ploute“, to be rich (cf. 3:17). Here alone in the N.T. do we catch a glimpse of the vast traffic between east and west that made Rome rich.
{Of her wantonness} (tou strˆnous autˆs). Late word for arrogance, luxury, here alone in N.T. See strˆnia“ in verses 7,9, to live wantonly.

18:4 {Come forth, my people, out of her} (exelthate, ho laos mou, ex autˆs). Second aorist (urgency) active imperative (-a form) of exerchomai. Like Isa 48:20; 52:11; Jer 50:8; 51:6, (about Babylon). See also the call of Abram (Ge 12:1). the rescue of Lot (Ge 19:12ff.). In the N.T. see Mr 13:4; 2Co 6:14; Eph 5:11; 1Ti 5:11. Ho laos is vocative with the form of the nominative.
{That ye have no fellowship with her sins} (hina mˆ sunkoin“nˆsˆte tais hamartais autˆs). Purpose clause with hina mˆ and the first aorist active subjunctive of sunkoin“ne“, old compound (sun, together, koin“nos, partner), in N.T. only here, Php 4:14; Eph 5:11. With associative instrumental case hamartiais.
{And that ye receive not of her plagues} (kai ek t“n plˆg“n autˆs hina mˆ labˆte). Another purpose clause dependent on the preceding, with hina mˆ and the second aorist active subjunctive of lamban“, and with proleptic emphatic position of ek t“n plˆg“n autˆs before hina mˆ.

18:5 {Have reached} (ekollˆthˆsan). First aorist passive (deponent) indicative of kolla“, old verb (from kolla, gluten, glue), to cleave to, to join one another in a mass "up to heaven" (achri tou ouranou). Cf. Jer 51:9; Zec 14:5.
{Hath remembered} (emnˆmoneusen). First aorist (prophetic) active indicative of mnˆmoneu“, here with the accusative (adikˆmata, iniquities) instead of the genitive (Col 4:18).

18:6 {Render as she rendered} (apodote h“s aped“ken). Second aorist (effective) active imperative and first aorist (effective) active of apodid“mi, old and common verb for requital, to give back, the "lex talionis" which is in the O.T. (Jer 50:15,29; 51:24,56; Ps 137:8), and in the N.T. also (Mt 7:2). Here the reference is to persecutions by Rome, particularly the martyrdom of the saints (18:24; 19:2).
{Double the double} (dipl“sate ta dipla). First aorist imperative of diplo“, old verb (from diploos, double, Mt 23:15), here only in N.T. Diplƒ is simply the neuter plural accusative (cognate) contract form for diploa (not dipl“). Requite here in double measure, a full requital (Ex 22:4,7,9; Isa 40:2; Jer 16:18; 17:18; Zec 9:12). The double recompense was according to the Levitical law.
{Which she mingled} (h“i ekerasen). First aorist active indicative of kerannumi. The relative h“i is attracted to the locative case of its antecedent potˆri“i (cup), for which see 14:8,10; 17:4; 18:3.
{Mingle unto her double} (kerasate autˆi diploun). First aorist active imperative of the same verb kerannumi, with the same idea of double punishment.

18:7 {How much soever} (hosa). Indefinite quantitative relative pronoun hosos in the accusative (cognate) neuter plural object of edoxasen (first aorist active indicative of doxaz“). {Herself} (hautˆn). Reflexive pronoun, accusative also with edoxasen.
{Waxed wanton} (estrˆniasen). First aorist (ingressive) active indicative of strˆnia“ (to live luxuriously), verb in late comedy instead of trupha“ (Jas 5:5), from strˆnos (Re 18:3), only here in N.T.
{So much give her of torment and mourning} (tosouton dote autˆi basanismon kai penthos). Second aorist active imperative of did“mi, to give. The correlative pronoun tosouton is masculine singular accusative, agreeing with basanismon, for which see 9:5; 14:11, and is understood with the neuter word penthos (mourning), in N.T. only in Jas 4:9; Re 18:7ff.; 21:4 (kin to pathos, penomai).
{I sit a queen} (kathˆmai basilissa). Predicate nominative for the old form basileia (basilis), as in Mt 12:42. Babylon and Tyre had preceded Rome in such boasting (Isa 47:7-9; Eze 27:3; 28:2; Zep 2:15).
{And am no widow} (kai chˆra ouk eimi). Feminine of the adjective chˆros (barren), old word (Mr 12:40).
{Shall in no wise see mourning} (penthos ou mˆ id“). Confident boast of security with emphatic position of penthos (see above) and double negative ou mˆ with the second aorist active subjunctive of hora“ (defective verb).

18:8 {Therefore} (dia touto). Because of her presumption added to her crimes.
{In one day} (en miƒi hˆmerƒi). Symbolical term for suddenness like miƒi h“rƒi, in one hour (18:10,16,19). John has in mind still Isa 47:7-9.
{Shall come} (hˆxousin). Future active of hˆk“. Her plagues are named (death, mourning, famine).
{She shall be utterly burned} (katakauthˆsetai). Future passive of katakai“ (perfective use of kata).
{With fire} (en puri). "In fire," as in 17:16.
{Which judged her} (ho krinas autˆn). Articular first aorist active participle of krin“ referring to kurios ho theos (the Lord God). The doom of Babylon is certain because of the power of God.

18:9 {Shall weep} (klausousin). Future active of klai“, middle klausontai in Attic, as in Joh 16:20.
{And wail over her} (kai kopsontai ep' autˆn). Future direct middle of kopt“, old verb, to beat, to cut, middle to beat oneself (Re 1:7). For combination with klai“ as here see Lu 8:52. See 17:2; 18:3,7 for hoi porneusantes kai strˆniasantes).
{When they look upon} (hotan blep“sin). Indefinite temporal clause with hotan and the present active subjunctive of blep“.
{The smoke of her burning} (ton kapnon tˆs pur“se“s autˆs). Pur“sis is an old word (from puro“ to burn), in N.T. only 1Pe 4:12; Re 18:9,18. See verse 8 for other plagues on Rome, but fire seems to be the worst (17:16; 18:8,9,17; 19:3).

18:10 {Standing afar off} (apo makrothen hestˆkotes). Perfect active (intransitive) participle of histˆmi. Vivid picture of the terrible scene, fascinated by the lurid blaze (cf. Nero's delight in the burning of Rome in A.D. 64), and yet afraid to draw near. On apo makrothen see Mr 5:6. There is a weird charm in a burning city. They feared the same fate (cf. verse 7 for basanismou, torment).
{Woe, woe, the great city} (ouai, ouai, hˆ polis hˆ megalˆ). Only example in the Apocalypse of the nominative with ouai except verses 16,19, though in Lu 6:25 and common in LXX (Isa 5:7,11, etc.). For the dative see Re 8:13, once so "strong" (hˆ ischura)! {In one hour} (miƒi h“rƒi). Repeated in verses 16,19, and like miƒi hˆmerƒi (in one day) in verse 8. Some MSS. have here mian h“ran, like poian h“ran (accusative of extent of time) in 3:3. See verse 8 (ho krinas) for hˆ krisis sou (thy judgment). This is the dirge of the kings.

18:11 {The merchants} (hoi emporoi). As in 18:3,15,23. The dirge of the merchants follows the wail of the kings.
{Weep and mourn} (klaiousin kai penthousin). Present active indicatives of klai“ and penthe“ as in verses 9 (for klai“), 15,19. {For no man buyeth their merchandise any more} (hoti ton gomon aut“n oudeis agorazei ouketi). Reason enough for their sorrow over Rome's fall. Gomos is old word (from gem“ to be full) for a ship's cargo (Ac 21:3) and then any merchandise (Re 18:11f.). Galen, Pliny, Aristides tell of the vastness of the commerce and luxury of Rome, the world's chief market. Many of the items here are like those in the picture of the destruction of Tyre in Eze 26; 27. There are twenty-nine items singled out in verses 12,13 of this merchandise or cargo (gomon), imports into the port of Rome. Only a few need any comment.

18:12 {Of fine linen} (bussinou). Genitive case after gomon, as are all the items to kokkinou. Old adjective from bussos (linen, Lu 16:19), here a garment of linen, in N.T. only Re 18:12,16; 19:8,14.
{Purple} (porphuras). Fabric colored with purple dye (porphureos, 17:4; 18:16), as in Mr 15:17,20; Lu 16:19.
{Silk} (sirikou). So the uncials here. To sˆrikon (the silken fabric) occurs in Plutarch, Strabo, Arrian, Lucian, only here in N.T. Probably from the name of the Indian or Chinese people (hoi Sˆres) from whom the fabric came after Alexander invaded India. Silk was a costly article among the Romans, and for women as a rule.
{Scarlet} (kokkinou). See 17:4; 18:16. {All thyine wood} (pan xulon thuinon). Now accusative again without gomon dependence. An odoriferous North African citrus tree, prized for the colouring of the wood for dining-tables, like a peacock's tail or the stripes of a tiger or panther. Here only in N.T.
{Of ivory} (elephantinon). Old adjective (from elephas elephant) agreeing with skeuos (vessel), here only in N.T. Cf. Ahab's ivory palace (1Ki 22:39).
{Of marble} (marmarou). Old word (from marmair“, to glisten), genitive after skeuos (vessel), here only in N.T.

18:13 {Cinnamon} (kinnam“mon). Old word transliterated into English, here only in N.T. Of Phoenician origin (Herodotus) as to name and possibly from South China.
{Spice} (am“mon). A fragrant plant of India, amomum, for perfume.
{Incense} (thumiamata). See 5:8; 8:3.
{Ointment} (muron). See Mt 26:7.
{Frankincense} (libanon). See 8:3.
{Fine flour} (semidalin). Old word for finest wheaten flour, here only in N.T.
{Of horses} (hipp“n). Here then is a return to the construction of the genitive after gomon in verse 12, though not used here, an anomalous genitive construction (Charles).
{Of chariots} (red“n). A Gallic word for a vehicle with four wheels, here only in N.T.
{Of slaves} (somat“n). "Of bodies," treated as animals or implements, like the horses and the chariots (cf. "rickshaw" men in China). This use of s“ma for slave occurs in Ge 34:29; Tob 10:11 (s“mata kai ktˆnˆ, slaves and cattle); II Macc. 8:11.
{Souls of men} (psuchas anthr“p“n). Deissmann ("Bible Studies", p. 160) finds this use of s“ma for slave in the Egyptian Delta. Return to the accusative psuchas. From Nu 31:35; 1Ch 5:21; Eze 27:13. This addition is an explanation of the use of s“mata for slaves, "human live stock" (Swete), but slaves all the same. Perhaps kai here should be rendered "even," not "and": "bodies even souls of men." The slave merchant was called s“matemporos (body merchant).

18:14 {The fruits} (hˆ op“ra). The ripe autumn fruit (Jer 40:10,12). Here only in N.T. Of uncertain etymology (possibly opos, sap, h“ra, hour, time for juicy sap). See Jude 1:12 for dendra phthinop“rinos (autumn trees).
{Which thy soul lusteth after} (sou tˆs epithumias tˆs psuchˆs). "Of the lusting of thy soul."
{Are gone from thee} (apˆlthen apo sou). Prophetic aorist active indicative of aperchomai with repetition of apo.
{All things that were dainty and sumptuous} (panta ta lipara kai ta lampra). "All the dainty and the gorgeous things." Liparos is from lipos (grease) and so fat, about food (here only in N.T.), while lampros is bright and shining (Jas 2:2f.), about clothing.
{Are perished from thee} (ap“leto apo sou). Prophetic second aorist middle indicative of apollumi (intransitive).
{Shall find them no more at all} (ouketi ou mˆ auta heurˆsousin). Doubled double negative with future active, as emphatic a negation as the Greek can make.

18:15 {Of these things} (tout“n). Listed above in verses 12-14.
{Who were made rich by her} (hoi ploutˆsantes ap' autˆs). "Those who grew rich (ingressive aorist active participle of ploute“, for which see verses 3,13) from her." {Shall stand afar off} (apo makrothen stˆsontai). Future middle of histˆmi. Repeating the picture in verse 10. Again in verse 17. See verse 11 for the two participles klaiontes kai penthountes.

18:16 For the Woe see verses 10,19. For the next clause see 17:4 with the addition here of bussinon (18:12).
{For in one hour so great riches is made desolate} (hoti miƒi h“rƒi ˆrˆm“thˆ ho tosoutos ploutos). The reason (hoti) for the "woe." First aorist passive indicative of erˆmo“, for which verb see 17:16; 18:19. This is the dirge of the merchants.

18:17 {Shipmaster} (kubernˆtˆs). Old word (from kuberna“, to steer), helmsman, sailing-master, in N.T. only here and Ac 27:11. Subordinate to the nauklˆros (supreme commander).
{That saileth any whither} (ho epi topon ple“n). "The one sailing to a place." See Ac 27:2, tous kata tˆn Asian pleontas (those sailing down along Asia). Nestle suggests ponton (sea) here for topon (place), but it makes sense as it is.
{Mariners} (nautai). Old word (from naus, ship), in N.T. only here and Ac 27:27,30.
{Gain their living by the sea} (tˆn thalassan ergazontai). "Work the sea." This idiom is as old as Hesiod for sailors, fishermen, etc. See verses 10,15.

18:18 {As they looked} (blepontes). Present active participle of blep“. See hotan blep“sin in verse 10.
{What city is like the great city?} (tis homoia tˆi polei tˆi megalˆi;). No polis with tis, but implied. Associative instrumental case, as usual, with homoia. "The eternal city" is eternal no longer.

18:19 {They cast dust} (ebalon choun). Second aorist active of ball“. Chous is old word (from che“ to pour) for heap of earth, dust, in N.T. only here and Mr 6:11. Cf. Eze 27:30; Lu 10:13. This is the dirge of the sea-folk (cf. verses 10,16). {By reason of her costliness} (ek tˆs timiotˆtos autˆs). Occasionally in later literary Greek, though here only in N.T. and not in LXX. The same use of timˆ appears in 1Pe 2:7. Common in the papyri as a title like "Your Honor" (Moulton and Milligan's "Vocabulary").

18:20 {Rejoice over her} (Euphrainou ep' autˆi). Present middle imperative of euphrain“, for which verb see 11:10, used there of the joy of the wicked over the death of the two witnesses, just the opposite picture to this. "The song of doom" (Charles) here seems to be voiced by John himself.
{God hath judged your judgment} (ekrinen ho theos to krima). First aorist (prophetic) active of krin“ and cognate accusative krima, here a case for trial (Ex 18:22; 1Co 6:7), not a sentence as in 17:1. God has approved the case of heaven.

18:21 {A strong angel} (heis aggelos ischuros). Here heis = a, just an indefinite article, not "one" as a numeral.
{Took up} (ˆren). First aorist active indicative of air“.
{As it were a great millstone} (h“s mulinon megan). Late adjective, in inscriptions, here only in N.T., made of millstone (mulos, Mt 18:6; Re 18:22), while mulikos (Lu 17:2) means belonging to a mill. This is not a small millstone turned by women (Mt 24:41), but one requiring an ass to turn it (Mr 9:42), and so "a great" one.
{Cast} (ebalen). Second aorist active of ball“, to hurl.
{With a mighty fall} (hormˆmati). Instrumental case (manner) of hormˆma, a rush, old word from horma“, to rush (Mt 8:32), here only in N.T.
{Shall be cast down} (blethˆsetai). Future (first) passive of ball“, the same verb (ebalen), effective punctiliar future. Like a boulder hurled into the sea.
{Shall be found no more at all} (ou mˆ heurethˆi eti). Double negative with first aorist passive subjunctive of heurisk“. See 9:6 for ou mˆ with the active voice of heurisk“. Already the old Babylon was a desert waste (Strabo, XVI. 1073).

18:22 {The voice} (ph“nˆ). Cf. Eze 26:13. Or "sound" as in 1Co 14:8 with salpigx (trumpet). For this song of judgment see Jer 25:10.
{Of harpers} (kithar“id“n). Old word (from kithara, harp, and “idos, singer) as in 14:2.
{Of minstrels} (mousik“n). Old word (from mousa, music), here only in N.T., one playing on musical instruments.
{Of flute-players} (aulˆt“n). Old word (from aule“, to play on a flute, Mt 11:17, aulos, flute, 1Co 14:7), in N.T. only here and Mt 9:23.
{Of trumpeters} (salpist“n). Late form for the earlier salpigktˆs (from salpiz“), here only in N.T.
{Shall be heard no more at all} (ou mˆ akousthˆi). First aorist passive subjunctive of akou“ with the double negative as below, with ph“nˆ mulou (sound of the millstone), and as in verse 21 with ou me heurethˆi and again with pƒs technitˆs (craftsman). This old word is from technˆ, art, as here in some MSS. ("of whatsoever craft," pasˆs technˆs). Technitˆs occurs also in this sense in Ac 19:24,38; and in Heb 11:10 of God as the Architect. There is power in this four-fold sonorous repetition of ou mˆ and the subjunctive with two more examples in verse 23.

18:23 {Of a lamp} (luchnou). Old word (Mt 5:15), again in Re 22:5.
{Shall shine no more at all} (ou mˆ phanˆi). Fifth instance in these verses of ou mˆ with the aorist subjunctive, here the active of phain“ as in Re 8:12. It is not known whether Rome had street lights or not.
{The voice of the bridegroom and of the bride} (ph“nˆ numphiou kai numphˆs). See Joh 3:29; Jer 7:34; 16:9. "Even the occasional flash of the torches carried by bridal processions (Mt 25:1ff.) is seen no more" (Swete). The sixth instance of ou mˆ, in verses 21-23, occurs with akousthˆi (third instance of akousthˆi, two in verse 22).
{Were the princes of the earth} (ˆsan hoi megistƒnes tˆs gˆs). For megistƒn see Re 6:15; Mr 6:21. "Thy merchants were the grandees" once, but now these merchant princes are gone.
{With thy sorcery} (en tˆi pharmakiƒi sou). En (instrumental use) and the locative case of pharmakia, old word (from pharmakeu“, to prepare drugs, from pharmakon, sorcery, Re 9:21), in N.T. only here and Ga 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} (eplanˆthˆsan). First aorist passive indicative of plana“. These charlatans always find plenty of victims. See Mr 12:24.

18:24 {In her} (en autˆi). In Rome.
{Was found} (heurethˆ). First aorist passive indicative of heurisk“. See 16:6; 17:6 for the blood already shed by Rome. Rome "butchered to make a Roman holiday" (Dill, "Roman Society", p. 242) not merely gladiators, but prophets and saints from Nero's massacre A.D. 64 to Domitian and beyond.
{Of all that have been slain} (pant“n t“n esphagmen“n). Perfect passive articular participle genitive plural of sphaz“, the verb used of the Lamb slain (5:9,12; 13:8). Cf. Mt 23:35 about Jerusalem.