Revelation 18:15
New International Version
The merchants who sold these things and gained their wealth from her will stand far off, terrified at her torment. They will weep and mourn

New Living Translation
The merchants who became wealthy by selling her these things will stand at a distance, terrified by her great torment. They will weep and cry out,

English Standard Version
The merchants of these wares, who gained wealth from her, will stand far off, in fear of her torment, weeping and mourning aloud,

Berean Standard Bible
The merchants who sold these things and gained their wealth from her will stand at a distance, in fear of her torment. They will weep and mourn,

Berean Literal Bible
The merchants of these things having been enriched from her will stand from afar, weeping and mourning because of the fear of her torment,

King James Bible
The merchants of these things, which were made rich by her, shall stand afar off for the fear of her torment, weeping and wailing,

New King James Version
The merchants of these things, who became rich by her, will stand at a distance for fear of her torment, weeping and wailing,

New American Standard Bible
The merchants of these things, who became rich from her, will stand at a distance because of the fear of her torment, weeping and mourning,

NASB 1995
“The merchants of these things, who became rich from her, will stand at a distance because of the fear of her torment, weeping and mourning,

NASB 1977
“The merchants of these things, who became rich from her, will stand at a distance because of the fear of her torment, weeping and mourning,

Legacy Standard Bible
The merchants of these things, who became rich from her, will stand at a distance because of the fear of her torment, crying and mourning,

Amplified Bible
The merchants who handled these articles, who grew wealthy from [their business with] her, will stand a long way off in fear of her torment, weeping and mourning aloud,

Christian Standard Bible
The merchants of these things, who became rich from her, will stand far off in fear of her torment, weeping and mourning,

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The merchants of these things, who became rich from her, will stand far off in fear of her torment, weeping and mourning,

American Standard Version
The merchants of these things, who were made rich by her, shall stand afar off for the fear of her torment, weeping and mourning;

Contemporary English Version
The merchants had become rich because of her. But when they saw her sufferings, they were terrified. They stood at a distance, crying and mourning.

English Revised Version
The merchants of these things, who were made rich by her, shall stand afar off for the fear of her torment, weeping and mourning;

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"Frightened by her torture, the merchants who had become rich by selling these things will stand far away. They will cry and mourn,

Good News Translation
The merchants, who became rich from doing business in that city, will stand a long way off, because they are afraid of sharing in her suffering. They will cry and mourn,

International Standard Version
Frightened by the severity of her punishment, businesses that had become rich because of her will stand at a distance, crying and mourning:

Majority Standard Bible
The merchants who sold these things and gained their wealth from her will stand at a distance, in fear of her torment. They will weep and mourn,

NET Bible
The merchants who sold these things, who got rich from her, will stand a long way off because they are afraid of her torment. They will weep and mourn,

New Heart English Bible
The merchants of these things, who were made rich by her, will stand far away for the fear of her torment, weeping and mourning;

Webster's Bible Translation
The merchants of these things who were made rich by her, shall stand afar off, for the fear of her torment, weeping and wailing,

Weymouth New Testament
Those who traded in these things, who grew wealthy through her, will stand afar off, struck with terror at her punishment,

World English Bible
The merchants of these things, who were made rich by her, will stand far away for the fear of her torment, weeping and mourning,
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
The merchants of these things, who were made rich by her, will stand far off because of the fear of her torment, weeping, and mourning,

Berean Literal Bible
The merchants of these things having been enriched from her will stand from afar, weeping and mourning because of the fear of her torment,

Young's Literal Translation
The merchants of these things, who were made rich by her, far off shall stand because of the fear of her torment, weeping, and sorrowing,

Smith's Literal Translation
The wholesale merchants of these things, having been rich from her, shall stand from far off for fear of her torture, weeping and mourning,
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
The merchants of these things, who were made rich, shall stand afar off from her, for fear of her torments, weeping and mourning.

Catholic Public Domain Version
The merchants of these things, who were made wealthy, shall stand far away from her, out of fear of her torments, weeping and mourning,

New American Bible
The merchants who deal in these goods, who grew rich from her, will keep their distance for fear of the torment inflicted on her. Weeping and mourning,

New Revised Standard Version
The merchants of these wares, who gained wealth from her, will stand far off, in fear of her torment, weeping and mourning aloud,
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
The merchants of these things, who were made rich by her, shall stand afar off for the fear of her torment, and they shall weep and wail,

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And the merchants of these things, who grew rich by her, will not find them, and they will stand opposite from fear of her punishment, weeping and lamenting,
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
Those who traded in these things, who were made rich by her, Shalt stand far off for fear of her torment, weeping and mourning and

Godbey New Testament
The merchants of these things, who have grown rich from her, will stand a long way off on account of the fear of her torment, weeping and mourning;

Haweis New Testament
The merchants of these things who enriched themselves by her, shall stand afar off through terror of her torment, weeping and wailing,

Mace New Testament
of these wares who were enrich'd by her, shall stand afar off, under the dread of her torments, with tears and lamentations,

Weymouth New Testament
Those who traded in these things, who grew wealthy through her, will stand afar off, struck with terror at her punishment,

Worrell New Testament
The merchants of these things, who became rich by her, shall stand afar off because of the fear of her torment, weeping and mourning,

Worsley New Testament
The merchants of these things, who grew rich by their trade with her, shall stand afar off for fear of her torment, weeping and mourning,

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Lament over Babylon
14And they will say: “The fruit of your soul’s desire has departed from you; all your luxury and splendor have vanished, never to be seen again.” 15The merchants who sold these things and grew their wealth from her will stand at a distance, in fear of her torment. They will weep and mourn, 16saying: “Woe, woe to the great city, clothed in fine linen and purple and scarlet, adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls!…

Cross References
Ezekiel 27:31-36
They will shave their heads for you and wrap themselves in sackcloth. They will weep over you with anguish of soul and bitter mourning. / As they wail and mourn over you, they will take up a lament for you: ‘Who was ever like Tyre, silenced in the middle of the sea? / When your wares went out to sea, you satisfied many nations. You enriched the kings of the earth with your abundant wealth and merchandise. ...

Isaiah 47:15
This is what they are to you—those with whom you have labored and traded from youth—each one strays in his own direction; not one of them can save you.

Jeremiah 51:8-9
Suddenly Babylon has fallen and been shattered. Wail for her; get her balm for her pain; perhaps she can be healed. / “We tried to heal Babylon, but she could not be healed. Abandon her! Let each of us go to his own land, for her judgment extends to the sky and reaches to the clouds.”

Ezekiel 27:27-29
Your wealth, wares, and merchandise, your sailors, captains, and shipwrights, your merchants and all the warriors within you, with all the other people on board, will sink into the heart of the sea on the day of your downfall. / The countryside will shake when your sailors cry out. / All who handle the oars will abandon their ships. The sailors and all the captains of the sea will stand on the shore.

Jeremiah 50:46
At the sound of Babylon’s capture the earth will quake; a cry will be heard among the nations.

Isaiah 13:19-22
And Babylon, the jewel of the kingdoms, the glory of the pride of the Chaldeans, will be overthrown by God like Sodom and Gomorrah. / She will never be inhabited or settled from generation to generation; no nomad will pitch his tent there, no shepherd will rest his flock there. / But desert creatures will lie down there, and howling creatures will fill her houses. Ostriches will dwell there, and wild goats will leap about. ...

Jeremiah 51:13
You who dwell by many waters, rich in treasures, your end has come; the thread of your life is cut.

Isaiah 34:10-12
It will not be quenched—day or night. Its smoke will ascend forever. From generation to generation it will lie desolate; no one will ever again pass through it. / The desert owl and screech owl will possess it, and the great owl and raven will dwell in it. The LORD will stretch out over Edom a measuring line of chaos and a plumb line of destruction. / No nobles will be left to proclaim a king, and all her princes will come to nothing.

Jeremiah 50:13
Because of the wrath of the LORD, she will not be inhabited; she will become completely desolate. All who pass through Babylon will be horrified and will hiss at all her wounds.

Ezekiel 26:16-18
All the princes of the sea will descend from their thrones, remove their robes, and strip off their embroidered garments. Clothed with terror, they will sit on the ground, trembling every moment, appalled over you. / Then they will lament for you, saying, “How you have perished, O city of renown inhabited by seafaring men—she who was powerful on the sea, along with her people, who imposed terror on all peoples! / Now the coastlands tremble on the day of your downfall; the islands in the sea are dismayed by your demise.”’

Isaiah 23:1-9
This is the burden against Tyre: Wail, O ships of Tarshish, for Tyre is laid waste, without house or harbor. Word has reached them from the land of Cyprus. / Be silent, O dwellers of the coastland, you merchants of Sidon, whose traders have crossed the sea. / On the great waters came the grain of Shihor; the harvest of the Nile was the revenue of Tyre; she was the merchant of the nations. ...

Jeremiah 51:64
Then you are to say, ‘In the same way Babylon will sink and never rise again, because of the disaster I will bring upon her. And her people will grow weary.’” Here end the words of Jeremiah.

Isaiah 24:10-12
The city of chaos is shattered; every house is closed to entry. / In the streets they cry out for wine. All joy turns to gloom; rejoicing is exiled from the land. / The city is left in ruins; its gate is reduced to rubble.

Ezekiel 28:18-19
By the multitude of your iniquities and the dishonesty of your trading you have profaned your sanctuaries. So I made fire come from within you, and it consumed you. I reduced you to ashes on the ground in the eyes of all who saw you. / All the nations who know you are appalled over you. You have come to a horrible end and will be no more.’”

Isaiah 14:11
Your pomp has been brought down to Sheol, along with the music of your harps. Maggots are your bed and worms your blanket.


Treasury of Scripture

The merchants of these things, which were made rich by her, shall stand afar off for the fear of her torment, weeping and wailing,

which.

Revelation 18:3,11
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…

Hosea 12:7,8
He is a merchant, the balances of deceit are in his hand: he loveth to oppress…

Zechariah 11:5
Whose possessors slay them, and hold themselves not guilty: and they that sell them say, Blessed be the LORD; for I am rich: and their own shepherds pity them not.

shall.

Revelation 18:11
And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buyeth their merchandise any more:

Judges 18:23,24
And they cried unto the children of Dan. And they turned their faces, and said unto Micah, What aileth thee, that thou comest with such a company? …

Ezekiel 27:31
And they shall make themselves utterly bald for thee, and gird them with sackcloth, and they shall weep for thee with bitterness of heart and bitter wailing.

Jump to Previous
Afar Aloud Crying Distance Enriched Far Fear Gained Grew Grieving Increased Merchants Mourn Mourning Punishment Rich Sorrowing Stand Struck Terrified Terror Torment Traded Traders Wailing Wares Watching Wealthy Weep Weeping
Jump to Next
Afar Aloud Crying Distance Enriched Far Fear Gained Grew Grieving Increased Merchants Mourn Mourning Punishment Rich Sorrowing Stand Struck Terrified Terror Torment Traded Traders Wailing Wares Watching Wealthy Weep Weeping
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.














The merchants who sold these things
The term "merchants" in this context refers to those who engaged in commerce and trade, particularly with the city of Babylon, which symbolizes a system of worldly wealth and corruption. In the ancient world, merchants were often seen as powerful figures due to their control over goods and resources. The Greek word for "merchants" is "emporoi," which implies those who travel for trade. This highlights the global influence and reach of Babylon's economic system. Historically, Babylon was a center of trade and wealth, and this imagery is used to depict the pervasive and seductive nature of materialism and greed.

and grew their wealth from her
This phrase indicates that the merchants' prosperity was directly tied to their association with Babylon. The Greek word for "wealth" is "ploutos," which signifies not just material riches but also abundance and opulence. The merchants' wealth was not merely financial but also symbolic of their participation in Babylon's corrupt practices. This reflects a broader biblical theme where reliance on worldly wealth is contrasted with spiritual poverty. The merchants' wealth is portrayed as fleeting and ultimately destructive, as it is rooted in a system that is destined for judgment.

will stand at a distance
The phrase "stand at a distance" suggests a sense of fear and helplessness. The Greek word "histemi" means to stand or to be set in place, and in this context, it conveys the idea of being unable to intervene or change the impending doom. The merchants' distance is both physical and emotional, as they are unable to save Babylon or themselves from the consequences of their actions. This imagery is reminiscent of the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, where onlookers could only watch from afar as judgment was executed.

weeping and mourning
The response of "weeping and mourning" indicates profound grief and lamentation. The Greek words "klaio" (to weep) and "pentheo" (to mourn) are often used in the New Testament to describe deep sorrow, typically associated with loss or death. This emotional response underscores the merchants' realization of the futility of their pursuits and the ultimate loss of their source of wealth. In a broader biblical context, this mourning is contrasted with the joy and hope found in Christ, emphasizing the transient nature of earthly riches compared to eternal spiritual treasures.

(15-17) The merchants of these things . . .--The description is resumed. The merchants stand like the kings (see Revelation 18:10) afar off, because of the fear of her torment, saying, "Woe! woe! (or, alas! alas!) the great city, because in one hour so great wealth was desolated." The words of this lamentation are parallel to the lament of the kings, the only difference is characteristic--they bewail the sudden decay of the wealth. On the fine linen and purple, comp. Revelation 18:12, and Luke 16:19.

Verse 15. - The merchants of these things, which were made rich by her (cf. ver. 11), shall stand afar off for the fear of her torment. The future tense is now used (see on ver. 9); cf. ver. 10, where the same thing is related of' the kings. Weeping and wailing (cf. ver. 9, where, however, we have κόψονται, "wail," instead of, as here, πενθοῦντες, "mourn:" cf. also ver. 11).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
The
Οἱ (Hoi)
Article - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

merchants
ἔμποροι (emporoi)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 1713: A merchant, trader; one on a journey. From en and the base of poreuomai; a tradesman.

who sold these things
τούτων (toutōn)
Demonstrative Pronoun - Genitive Neuter Plural
Strong's 3778: This; he, she, it.

[and] grew their wealth
πλουτήσαντες (ploutēsantes)
Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 4147: To become rich, be rich, abound in. From ploutizo; to be wealthy.

from
ἀπ’ (ap’)
Preposition
Strong's 575: From, away from. A primary particle; 'off, ' i.e. Away, in various senses.

her
αὐτῆς (autēs)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Feminine 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

will stand
στήσονται (stēsontai)
Verb - Future Indicative Middle - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 2476: A prolonged form of a primary stao stah'-o; to stand, used in various applications.

at
ἀπὸ (apo)
Preposition
Strong's 575: From, away from. A primary particle; 'off, ' i.e. Away, in various senses.

a distance,
μακρόθεν (makrothen)
Adverb
Strong's 3113: From a (long) distance, afar. Adverb from makros; from a distance or afar.

in
διὰ (dia)
Preposition
Strong's 1223: A primary preposition denoting the channel of an act; through.

fear
φόβον (phobon)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 5401: (a) fear, terror, alarm, (b) the object or cause of fear, (c) reverence, respect. From a primary phebomai; alarm or fright.

of
τοῦ (tou)
Article - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

her
αὐτῆς (autēs)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Feminine 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

torment.
βασανισμοῦ (basanismou)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 929: Torture, torment. From basanizo; torture.

They will weep
κλαίοντες (klaiontes)
Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 2799: To weep, weep for, mourn, lament. Of uncertain affinity; to sob, i.e. Wail aloud.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

mourn,
πενθοῦντες (penthountes)
Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3996: To mourn, lament, feel guilt. From penthos; to grieve.


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NT Prophecy: Revelation 18:15 The merchants of these things who were (Rev. Re Apocalypse)
Revelation 18:14
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