Revelation 18:23

18:23 Cp. Jer 25:10-11.

Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Rev 18:23 . Contrast the εὑρέθη of 24 with the εὑρήσουσιν of Rev 18:14 which in its canonical position is an erratic boulder. φαρμακίᾳ , primarily in the figurative O.T. sense already noticed (harlotry and magic spells, as in Yasna ix. 32). But a literal allusion is not to be excluded, in view of the antipathy felt by pious Jews and early Christians to magic and sorcery. As Rome represented the existing authorities under whose aegis these black arts managed to flourish, and as they were generally bound up with religion, it would not be unnatural to charge the Empire with promoting sorcery (Weinel 10). ἐπλαν . “Commerce, as having regard to purely worldly interests, is called harlotry” [Cheyne on Isa 23:17 ]. Sorcery, witchcraft, “fornication,” and the persecution of the righteous, are all manifestations of the lawlessness practised by Beliar working in men and kings (Asc. Isa. ii. 4, 5).

The Expositor's Greek Testament, edited by W. Robertson Nicoll (1897–1910) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

What a blessed contrast is Rev 22:5, respecting the city of God: "They need no candle (just as Babylon shall no more have the light of a candle, but for a widely different reason), for the Lord God giveth them light."

candle--Translate as Greek, "lamp."

bridegroom . . . bride . . . no more . . . in thee--Contrast the heavenly city, with its Bridegroom, Bride, and blessed marriage supper (Rev 19:7, Rev 19:9; Rev 21:2, Rev 21:9; Isa 62:4-5).

thy merchants were--So most of the best authorities read. But A omits the Greek article before "merchants," and then translates, "The great men of . . . were thy merchants."

sorceries--Greek, "sorcery."

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Verse 23. By thy sorceries] Political arts, state tricks, counterfeit miracles, and deceptive manoeuvres of every kind. This may be spoken of many great cities of the world, which still continue to flourish!

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

(23) For thy merchants were the great . . .—The judgment does not fall because the merchants were great: it is the sorcery of the next clause which is the true cause of her fall: the merchants are those who traded with her, as well as those who dwelt in her: by “her sorceries” we must understand her artful policy, her attractiveness, and the seductions by which she drew into the meshes of her worldliness and sin the nations around. “In thy sorcery were all the nations led astray” (Rev_13:14).

A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

23. the voice of the bridegroom &c.] Jer_7:34; Jer_16:9.

for thy merchants &c.] Isa_23:8, of Tyre. Some read “for the great men of the earth were thy merchants”, which makes the resemblance less close, but does not forbid our seeing a reference.

by thy sorceries] Compare especially Nah_3:4.

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

And in her was found the blood of prophets and of saints,.... Such as before mentioned, in Rev 18:20 this is another reason of her destruction, besides her luxury and idolatry, namely, her shedding the blood of the saints, with which she is said to be drunk, and therefore blood is now given her to drink, Rev 17:6 for she will now be found guilty of slaying the witnesses, who are meant by the prophets and saints, that have been from the beginning of the apostasy:

and of all that were slain upon the earth: not only of those that have been slain in the city of Rome, but of all those that have been slain throughout the empire; they being slain by her order, or with her consent, and she conniving at it, encouraging it, and therefore will be justly chargeable with it all; see Mat 23:31 the Ethiopic version adds, "for the name of Christ".

Next: Revelation Chapter 19

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

23 And the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee; and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee: for thy merchants were the great men of the earth; for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived.

Ver. 23. And the light of a candle] The candle of the wicked shall be put out, they that here love darkness better than light shall hereafter be thrust into σκοτος εξωτερον, outer darkness, where they shall never see the light again till they see all the world on a light fire.

For thy merchants were the great men] The pope creates his cardinals by these words, Estote fratres nostri et principes mundi, Be ye brethren to us, and princes of the world. They hold themselves the king’s companions.

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

And the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee - Another image of desolation, as if every light were put out, and there were total darkness.

And the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee - The merry and cheerful voice of the marriage procession in the streets (notes on Mat 25:1-7), or the cheerful, glad voice of the newly-married couple in their own dwelling (notes on Joh 3:29).

For thy merchants were the great men of the earth - Those who dealt with thee were the rich, and among them were even nobles and princes; and now that they trade with thee no more there is occasion for lamentation and sorrow. The contrast is great between the time when distinguished foreigners crowded thy marts, and now, when none of any kind come to traffic with thee. The origin of this representation is probably the description of Tyre in Ezek. 27.

For by thy sorceries were all nations deceived - This is stated as a reason for the ruin that had come upon her. It is a common representation of papal Rome that she has deceived or deluded the nations of the earth (see the notes on Rev 13:14), and no representation ever made accords more with facts as they have occurred. The word “sorceries” here refers to the various arts the tricks impostures, and false pretences by which this has been done. See the notes on Rev 9:21.

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

23. No lamp shall illuminate the wedding chamber.

For—The double for assigns reason for different things. First for implies how great the desolation; for Babylon’s merchants were once princes; the second for implies the justice of the downfall; for she was the world’s corruptress.

Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

And the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee; and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee; of a lamp. (cf. Jer_25:10, "I will take from them the voice of mirth, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride, the sound of the millstones, and the light of the candle For thy merchants were the great men of the earth; were the princes. The cause of this overthrow is thus again stated. It is a repetition of the idea in vers. 7, 15, 19, "I sit a queen;" "The merchants which were made rich by her;" "That great city, wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea". (cf. Isa_23:8, "Whose merchants were princes;" also Eze_27:20-22) For by thy sorceries were all nations deceived. The judgment is the result of the non-repentance of Rev_9:21.

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

For thy merchants were the great men of the earth - A circumstance which was in itself indifferent, and yet led them into pride, luxury, and numberless other sins.

John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.

23. For with thy sorcery were all the nations deceived. This accounts for the fact that all nations poured their treasures into her lap.

B. W. Johnson's The People's New Testament with Notes (1889–1891) — public domain. Electronic text from the Christian Classics Ethereal Library (CCEL) ThML edition.

Connecting Statement:

The angel who threw the millstone finishes talking.

General Information:

The words "you," "your," and "her" refer to Babylon.

The voices of the bridegroom and the bride will not be heard in you anymore

This can be stated in active form. AT: "No one will ever again hear in Babylon the happy voices of a bridegroom and a bride" (See: Active or Passive)

will not be heard in you anymore

Not being heard here means that they will not be there. AT: "will not be in your city anymore" (See: Metonymy)

your merchants were the princes of the earth

The angel speaks of important and powerful people as if they were princes. AT: "your merchants were like princes of the earth" or "your merchants were the most important men in the world" (See: Metaphor)

the nations were deceived by your sorcery

This can be stated in active form. AT: "you deceived the people of the nations with your magic spells" (See: Active or Passive)

In her the blood of prophets and saints was found, and the blood of all who have been killed on the earth

Blood being found there means that the people there were guilty of killing people. AT: "Babylon is guilty of killing the prophets and believers and all the other people in the world who were killed" (See: Active or Passive and Metonymy)

translationWords

light

lamp

bridegroom

bride

prince

nation

deceive

sorcerer

blood

prophet

saint

unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.

23. καὶ φῶς … ἐν σοὶ ἔτι. A and some MSS. of vg[682] omit.

[682] Vulgate.

οἱ ἔμποροι. Lach and Treg[683] omit οἱ with A 95.

[683] Tregelles.

23. φωνὴ νυμφίου. Jer 7:34; Jer 16:9. Weiss suggests that Rev 18:14 originally stood here, having dropped out between ἔτι and ὄτι, and been replaced in the margin: it would certainly interrupt the connexion less here than where it stands.

ὄτι οἱ ἔμποροί σου κ.τ.λ. Isa 23:8, of Tyre. See crit. note. The reading of the text though doubtful makes the reference still closer.

ἐν τῇ φαρμακίᾳ σου. Compare especially Nah 3:14.

Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges (Cambridge University Press, 1896; 21 vols, various authors incl. Carr, Maclear, Plummer, Farrar, Lumby, Moule, M. R. James, Simcox) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Bridegroom - bride. Compare Jer 25:10.

Great men [μεγιστανες] . Rev., princes. See on ch. Rev 6:15.

By thy sorceries [εν τη φαρμακεια σου] . See on ch. Rev 9:21. Rev., more literally, with thy sorcery.

Were deceived [επλανηθησαν] . Or led astray. See on Mr 12:24.

Marvin R. Vincent, Word Studies in the New Testament (1887–1900) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.