1After these things John saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth was illuminated by his glory. [18:2] He cried out with a mighty voice, saying: "Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great! She has become a dwelling place of demons, a prison of every unclean spirit, a prison of every unclean bird and every unclean and detested beast. [18:3] For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the passion of her immorality, and the kings of the earth committed sexual immorality with her, and the merchants of the earth grew rich from the power of her wanton excess." [18:4] Then another voice from heaven said: "Come out of her, my people, so that you do not share in her sins and so that you do not receive from her plagues; [18:5] for her sins have piled up as high as heaven, and God has remembered her acts of injustice. [18:6] Give back to her what she has given, and pay her back double for her deeds. Mix her a double portion in the cup she mixed. [18:7] As much as she glorified herself and lived in wanton excess, give her the same amount of torment and grief. Because in her heart she says: 'I sit as a queen; I am no widow, and I will never see grief.' [18:8] For this reason her plagues will come in a single day — death and grief and famine — and she will be burned with fire, for the Lord God who judges her is mighty."
REV 18:1-8
Babylon Is Fallen
In the world it was spoken into
In the 1st-century Roman Empire, Babylon symbolized imperial excess, moral corruption, and oppressive power. For Jewish and early Christian audiences, Babylon evoked the historical destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonians and, more broadly, the archetype of a city that defied God. The angel’s proclamation of Babylon’s fall would resonate with those living under Roman domination, where cities like Rome itself were centers of wealth, exploitation, and idolatry. The description of Babylon as a 'habitation of demons' and a 'prison of every unclean spirit' aligns with Jewish apocalyptic literature, where unclean spirits signify moral and spiritual corruption. The accusation that Babylon’s 'wine of wrath' intoxicated nations and kings reflects the Roman Empire’s economic exploitation and moral decay, particularly through trade networks that enriched elites at the expense of the vulnerable. Merchants, often seen as complicit in this system, are implicated in Babylon’s downfall. The imagery of Babylon as a widow underscores her sudden vulnerability, contrasting her former arrogance with her impending desolation.
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How other translations render this
REV 18:1
- KJV
- And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory.
- BSB
- After this I saw another angel descending from heaven with great authority, and the earth was illuminated by his glory.
- Koinōnos
- After these things John saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth was illuminated by his glory.
REV 18:2
- KJV
- And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.
- BSB
- And he cried out in a mighty voice: “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great! She has become a lair for demons and a haunt for every unclean spirit, every unclean bird, and every detestable beast.
- Koinōnos
- He cried out with a mighty voice, saying: "Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great! She has become a dwelling place of demons, a prison of every unclean spirit, a prison of every unclean bird and every unclean and detested beast.
REV 18:3
- KJV
- For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies.
- BSB
- All the nations have drunk the wine of the passion of her immorality. The kings of the earth were immoral with her, and the merchants of the earth have grown wealthy from the extravagance of her luxury.”
- Koinōnos
- For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the passion of her immorality, and the kings of the earth committed sexual immorality with her, and the merchants of the earth grew rich from the power of her wanton excess.
REV 18:4
- KJV
- And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.
- BSB
- Then I heard another voice from heaven say: “Come out of her, My people, so that you will not share in her sins or contract any of her plagues.
- Koinōnos
- Then another voice from heaven said: "Come out of her, my people, so that you do not share in her sins and so that you do not receive from her plagues;
REV 18:5
- KJV
- For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.
- BSB
- For her sins are piled up to heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities.
- Koinōnos
- for her sins have piled up as high as heaven, and God has remembered her acts of injustice.
REV 18:6
- KJV
- Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double according to her works: in the cup which she hath filled fill to her double.
- BSB
- Give back to her as she has done to others; pay her back double for what she has done; mix her a double portion in her own cup.
- Koinōnos
- Give back to her what she has given, and pay her back double for her deeds. Mix her a double portion in the cup she mixed.
REV 18:7
- KJV
- How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow.
- BSB
- As much as she has glorified herself and lived in luxury, give her the same measure of torment and grief. In her heart she says, ‘I sit as queen; I am not a widow and will never see grief.’
- Koinōnos
- As much as she glorified herself and lived in wanton excess, give her the same amount of torment and grief. Because in her heart she says: 'I sit as a queen; I am no widow, and I will never see grief.
REV 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.
- BSB
- Therefore her plagues will come in one day— death and grief and famine— and she will be consumed by fire, for mighty is the Lord God who judges her.”
- Koinōnos
- For this reason her plagues will come in a single day — death and grief and famine — and she will be burned with fire, for the Lord God who judges her is mighty.
Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.
Translator's notes
REV 18:2
- she has become:The word translated 'she has become' here refers to a dwelling place or habitation, emphasizing that Babylon has become a permanent residence for unclean spirits and birds.
REV 18:3
- wrath:The word translated 'wrath' here describes a passionate, intense outburst of anger, often with a sense of boiling indignation, rather than a settled, enduring anger.
- sensuality:The word translated 'sensuality' carried a stronger sense of insolence, arrogance, and wanton excess, often stemming from luxurious living, rather than just general sensuality.
REV 18:7
- a widow:The word translated 'a widow' specifically denotes a woman who has lost her husband, often implying a state of vulnerability and dependence in ancient society.