¹tn Grk “glory”; but often in the sense of splendor, brightness, or radiance (see L&N 14.49).
²tn Here kaiv (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style
³tn Or “It” (the subject is embedded in the verb in Greek; the verb only indicates that it is third person). Since the city has been personified as the great prostitute, the feminine pronoun was used in the translation.
⁴tn Here BDAG 1067 s.v. fulakhv 3 states, “a place where guarding is done, prison…Of the nether world or its place of punishment (pneu'ma 2 and 4c) 1 Pt 3:19 (BReicke, The Disobedient Spirits and Christian Baptism ’46, 116f). It is in a f. in the latter sense that Satan will be rendered harmless during the millennium Rv 20:7. The fallen city of Babylon becomes a fulakhv haunt for all kinds of unclean spirits and birds 18:2ab.”
⁵tc There are several problems in this verse. It seems that according to the ms evidence the first two phrases (i.e., “and a haunt for every unclean spirit, and a haunt for every unclean bird” [kaiV fulakhV pantoV" pneuvmato" ajkaqavrtou kaiV fulakhV pantoV" ojrnevou ajkaqavrtou, kai fulakh panto" pneumato" akaqartou kai fulakh panto" orneou akaqartou]) are to be regarded as authentic, though there are some ms discrepancies. The similar beginnings (kaiV fulakhV pantov") and endings (ajkaqavrtou) of each phrase would easily account for some mss omitting one or the other phrase. The third phrase (“a haunt for every unclean animal” [kaiV fulakhV pantoV" qhrivou ajkaqavrtou, kai fulakh panto" qhriou akaqartou]), however, is more problematic since it is missing in several important mss (Í C 051 Ï). The passage as a whole, including the third phrase, seems to be an allusion to Isa 13:21 and 34:11. It seems reasonable, in such a case, to assume that since there is good ms evidence to support the third phrase (A 1611 2329 al), it probably dropped out of certain mss because of its similarity to the two preceding clauses. It is the presence of all three phrases in the original that most likely gave rise to the divergent ms evidence extant today.
⁶tn Or “all the Gentiles” (the same Greek word may be translated “Gentiles” or “nations”).
⁷tc ‡ Several mss (Í A C 1006* 1611 1841 2030 Ï^K), including the best witnesses, read “have fallen” (peptwvkasin or pevptwkan [peptwkasin or peptwkan]). The singular pevptwken (peptwken), which is better grammatically with the neuter plural subject pavnta taV e[qnh (panta ta eqnh, “all the nations”), is read by 1854 2062 pc; 2042 pc read pepovtiken (pepotiken). A few mss (1006^c 2329 pc latt sy^h) read “have drunk” (pevpwkan/pepwvkasin, pepwkan/pepwkasin); the singular pevpwken (pepwken) is read by P 051 1 2053* al. The more difficult reading and that which has the best ms support is “have fallen.” That it is not too difficult is evidenced by the fact that the great majority of Byzantine minuscules, which have a tendency to smooth out problems, left it stand as is. Nonetheless, it is somewhat difficult (TCGNT 683 says that this reading is “scarcely suitable in the context”), and for that reason certain mss seem to have changed it to “have drunk” to agree with the idea of “wine” (oi[nou, oinou). One can understand how this could happen: A scribe coming to the text and seeing the term “wine” expects a verb of drinking. When he sees “have fallen” and knows that in Greek the verbs “have fallen” and “have drunk” are spelled similarly, he concludes that there has been a slip of the pen in the ms he is using, which he then seeks to correct back to the “have drunk” reading. This appears to be more reasonable than to conclude that three early uncials (i.e., Í A C) as well as a great number of other witnesses all felt the need to change “have drunk” (pevpwkan) to “have fallen” (pevptwkan), even if “fallen” occurs in the immediate context (“fallen, fallen, [e[pesen e[pesen, epesen epesen] Babylon the great” in the preceding verse). The preferred reading, on both external and internal grounds, is “have fallen,” and thus the Seer intends to focus on the effects of wine, namely, a drunken stupor.
⁸tn See the notes on the words “passion” in Rev 14:8 and “wrath” in 16:19.
⁹tn According to BDAG 949 s.v. strh'no" and strhniavw, these terms can refer either to luxury or sensuality. In the context of Rev 18, however (as L&N 88.254 indicate) the stress is on gratification of the senses by sexual immorality, so that meaning was emphasized in the translation here.
¹⁰tn Here kaiv (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence within the narrative.
¹¹tn On ejkollhvqhsan (ekollhqhsan) BDAG 556 s.v. kollavw 2.a.b states, “fig. cling to = come in close contact with (cp. Ps 21:16; 43:26 ejkollhvqh eij" gh'n hJ gasthVr hJmw'n. The act.=‘bring into contact’ PGM 5, 457 kollhvsa" t. livqon tw'/ wjtivw/) ejkollhvqhsan aiJ aJmartivai a[cri t. oujranou' the sins have touched the heaven = reached the sky (two exprs. are telescoped) Rv 18:5.”
¹²tn Or “up to the sky” (the same Greek word means both “heaven” and “sky”).
¹³tn That is, remembered her sins to execute judgment on them.
¹⁴tn Or “her sins.”
¹⁵tn The word “others” is not in the Greek text, but is implied. Direct objects were frequently omitted in Greek when clear from the context.
¹⁶tn On this term BDAG 252 s.v. diplovw states, “to double taV dipla' pay back double Rv 18:6.”
¹⁷tn “As much as” is the translation of o{sa (Josa).
¹⁸tn On the term ejstrhnivasen (estrhniasen) BDAG 949 s.v. strhniavw states, “live in luxury, live sensually Rv 18:7. W. porneuvein vs. 9.”
¹⁹tn Grk “said in her heart,” an idiom for saying something to oneself.
²⁰tn Grk “For this reason, her plagues will come.”
²¹tn Grk “death.” qavnato" (qanatos) can in particular contexts refer to a manner of death, specifically a contagious disease (see BDAG 443 s.v. 3; L&N 23.158).
²²tn This is the same Greek word (pevnqo", penqo") translated “grief” in vv. 7-8.
²³tn Here “burned down” was used to translate katakauqhvsetai (katakauqhsetai) because a city is in view.
²⁴tn Here kaiv (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision.
²⁵tn On the term ejstrhnivasen (estrhniasen) BDAG 949 s.v. strhniavw states, “live in luxury, live sensually Rv 18:7. W. porneuvein vs. 9.”
²⁶tn Grk “from the burning of her.” For the translation “the smoke from the fire that burns her up,” see L&N 14.63.
²⁷tn Or “judgment,” condemnation,” “punishment.” BDAG 569 s.v. krivsi" 1.a.b states, “The word oft. means judgment that goes against a person, condemnation, and the sentence that follows…hJ k. sou your judgment Rv 18:10.”
²⁸tn Here kaiv (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision.
²⁹tn On govmo" (gomos) BDAG 205 s.v. states, “load, freight…cargo of a ship…Ac 21:3. W. gen. of the owner Rv 18:11. W. gen. of content…g. crusou' a cargo of gold vs. 12.”
³⁰tn Grk “and silver,” but kaiv (kai) has not been translated before most of these terms since English normally uses a coordinating conjunction only between the last two elements in a series of three or more
³¹tn On this term BDAG 924-25 s.v. sirikov" states, “per. to silk from Ser, subst. toV sirikovn silk cloth or garments w. other costly materials Rv 18:12.”
³²tn On the translation of kovkkinon (kokkinon) as “scarlet cloth” see L&N 6.170.
³³tn On the phrase pa'n xuvlon quvi>non (pan xulon quinon) L&N 3.63 states, “pertaining to being made or consisting of citron wood (that is, from a citron tree) —‘of citron wood.’ kaiV pa'n xuvlon quvi>non kaiV pa'n skeu'o" ejlefavntinon ‘and all kinds of things made of citron wood and all kinds of objects made of ivory’ Re 18:12. The citron tree belongs to the citrus family of plants, and it produces a pale yellow fruit somewhat larger than a lemon, the rind of which is often candied. In Re 18:12, however, the focus is upon the fine quality of the wood.”
³⁴tn On the term a[mwmon (amwmon) L&N 5.23 states, “a generic term for any kind of spice, though often a specific reference to amomum, an Indian type of spice—‘spice, amomum.’ kinnavmwmon kaiV a[mwmon kaiV qumiavmata ‘cinnamon and spice and incense’ Re 18:13. In most translations a[mwmon is interpreted as spice in general.”
³⁵tn Or “myrrh,” a strong aromatic ointment often used to prepare a body for burial (L&N 6.205).
³⁶tn The Greek term livbano" (libano") refers to the aromatic resin of a certain type of tree (L&N 6.212).
³⁷tn On semivdali" (semidali") L&N 5.10 states, “a fine grade of wheat flour—‘fine flour.’ oi\non kaiV e[laion kaiV semivdalin kaiV si'ton ‘wine and oil and fine flour and wheat’ Re 18:13. In some languages ‘fine flour’ may be best expressed as ‘expensive flour.’ Such a rendering fits well the context of Re 18:13.”
³⁸tn Or “and wagons.” On the term rJevdh (rJedh) see L&N 6.53: “a four-wheeled carriage or wagon used for travel or the transportation of loads—‘carriage, wagon.’ The term rJevdh occurs only in Re 18:13 in a list of products bought and sold by merchants.”
³⁹tn Grk “and bodies and souls of men.” This could be understood (1) as a hendiadys (two things mentioned = one thing meant), referring only to slave trade; (2) it could be referring to two somewhat different concepts: slavery (bodies) and the cheapness of human life—some of the items earlier in the list of merchandise were to be obtained only at great cost of human life; or (3) a somewhat related idea, that the trade is in not just physical bodies (slavery) but human souls (people whose lives are destroyed through this trade).
⁴⁰tn On ojpwvra (opwra) L&N 3.34 states, “hJ ojpwvra sou th'" ejpiqumiva" th'" yuch'" ‘the ripe fruit for which you longed’ Re 18:14. In this one occurrence of ojpwvra in the NT, ‘ripe fruit’ is to be understood in a figurative sense of ‘good things.’”
⁴¹tn Grk “you desired in your soul.”
⁴²tn On liparov" (liparo") BDAG 597 s.v. states, “luxury Rv 18:14.”
⁴³tn On taV lamprav (ta lampra) BDAG 585 s.v. lamprov" 4 states, “splendor…in which a rich man takes delight (cp. Jos., Ant. 12, 220 dwreaV" douV" lamprav") Rv 18:14.”
⁴⁴tn Verse 14 is set in parentheses because in it the city, Babylon, is addressed directly in second person.
sn This verse forms a parenthetical aside in the narrative.
⁴⁵tn Grk “the merchants [sellers] of these things.”
⁴⁶tn Grk “her torment, weeping.” Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, a new sentence was started in the translation by supplying the words “They will” here.
⁴⁷tn The word “clothing” is supplied to clarify that the words “purple” and “scarlet” refer to cloth or garments rather than colors.
⁴⁸tn Grk “gilded with gold” (an instance of semantic reinforcement, see L&N 49.29).
⁴⁹tn On hjrhmwvqh (hrhmwqh) L&N 20.41 states, “to suffer destruction, with the implication of being deserted and abandoned —‘to be destroyed, to suffer destruction, to suffer desolation.’ ejrhmovomai: mia'/ w{ra/ hjrhmwvqh oJ tosou'to" plou'to" ‘such great wealth has been destroyed within a single hour’ Re 18:17.”
⁵⁰tn On kubernhvth" (kubernhth") BDAG 574 s.v. 1 states, “one who is responsible for the management of a ship, shipmaster, lit. Rv 18:17.”
⁵¹tn Or perhaps, “everyone who sails as a passenger.” On plevwn (plewn) BDAG 825 s.v. plevw states, “pa'" oJ ejpiV tovpon plevwn everyone who sails to a place = seafarer, sea traveler…Rv 18:17. The vv.ll.…have led to various interpretations. Some render: everyone who sails along the coast…See EbNestle, Einführung in das Griech. NT 1909, 182; AFridrichsen, K. Hum. Vetensk.-Samf. i Upps. Årsb. ’43, 31 note oJ ejpivtopon plevwn=one who sails occasionally, a passenger.—S. also IHeikel, StKr 106, ’34/’35, 317).”
⁵²tn Grk “and as many as.”
⁵³tn Here the imperfect e[krazon (ekrazon) has been translated ingressively.
⁵⁴tn Grk “from the burning of her, saying.” For the translation “the smoke from the fire that burned her up,” see L&N 14.63. Here the participle levgonte" (legontes, “saying”) has not been translated because it is redundant in contemporary English.
⁵⁵tn Grk “with weeping and mourning, saying.” Here the participle levgonte" (legontes) has not been translated because it is redundant in contemporary English.
⁵⁶tn On hJrhmwvqh (Jhrhmwqh) L&N 20.41 states, “to suffer destruction, with the implication of being deserted and abandoned —‘to be destroyed, to suffer destruction, to suffer desolation.’ ejrhmovomai: mia'/ w{ra/ hjrhmwvqh oJ tosou'to" plou'to" ‘such great wealth has been destroyed within a single hour’ Re 18:17.”
⁵⁷tn On the phrase “pronounced judgment” BDAG 567 s.v. krivma 4.b states, “The OT is the source of the expr. krivnein toV kr. (cp. Zech 7:9; 8:16; Ezk 44:24) e[krinen oJ qeoV" toV krivma uJmw'n ejx aujth'" God has pronounced judgment for you against her or God has pronounced on her the judgment she wished to impose on you (HHoltzmann, Hdb. 1893 ad loc.) Rv 18:20.”
⁵⁸tn Grk “God has judged a judgment of you of her.” Verse 20 is set in parentheses because in it the saints, etc. are addressed directly in the second person.
sn This verse forms a parenthetical aside in the narrative.
⁵⁹tn Here kaiv (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence within the narrative.
⁶⁰tn On o{rmhma ({ormhma) BDAG 724 s.v. states, “violent rush, onset oJrmhvmati blhqhvsetai Babulwvn Babylon will be thrown down with violence Rv 18:21.” L&N 68.82 refers to the suddenness of the force or violence.
⁶¹sn Thrown down is a play on both the words and the action. The angel’s action with the stone illustrates the kind of sudden violent force with which the city will be overthrown.
⁶²tn The shift to a second person pronoun here corresponds to the Greek text.
⁶³tn Here kaiv (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
⁶⁴tn On this term BDAG 1001 s.v. tecnivth" states, “craftsperson, artisan, designer…Of a silversmith Ac 19:24, 25 v.l., 38….Of a potter 2 Cl 8:2 (metaph., cp. Ath. 15:2). pa'" tecnivth" pavsh" tevcnh" Rv 18:22.”
⁶⁵tn This is a different Greek word (muvlo", mulos) from the one for the millstone in v. 21 (muvlino", mulinos). See L&N 7.68.
⁶⁶tn Or “all the Gentiles” (the same Greek word may be translated “Gentiles” or “nations”).
⁶⁷tn On the term farmakeiva (farmakeia, “magic spells”) see L&N 53.100: “the use of magic, often involving drugs and the casting of spells upon people—‘to practice magic, to cast spells upon, to engage in sorcery, magic, sorcery.’ farmakeiva: ejn th'/ farmakeiva/ sou ejplanhvqhsan pavnta taV e[qnh ‘with your magic spells you deceived all the peoples (of the world)’ Re 18:23.”
⁶⁸tn Here kaiv (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
⁶⁹tn The shift in pronouns from second to third person corresponds to the Greek text.
⁷⁰tn Grk “and of all.” The phrase “along with the blood” has been repeated from the previous clause for stylistic reasons.