The Meaning of Revelation 18:23 Explained

Revelation 18:23

KJV: 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.

YLT: and light of a lamp may not shine at all in thee any more; and voice of bridegroom and of bride may not be heard at all in thee any more; because thy merchants were the great ones of the earth, because in thy sorcery were all the nations led astray,

Darby: and light of lamp shall shine no more at all in thee, and voice of bridegroom and bride shall be heard no more at all in thee; for thy merchants were the great ones of the earth; for by thy sorcery have all the nations been deceived.

ASV: and the light of a lamp 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 princes of the earth; for with thy sorcery were all the nations deceived.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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. 

What does Revelation 18:23 Mean?

Context Summary

Revelation 18:14-24 - Fallen Like A Stone Into The Sea
This section delineates the utter desolation which will ensue when the judgments of God have finished their mission against professing but unfaithful Christendom. How near we are at the present hour to their fulfillment, we dare not say. But it often seems as if we are living in the last days of "the times of the Gentiles," and very near the fulfillment of all that is written in this book. It is the universal comment that all religious values are being altered. The church systems, as such, give signs that they are losing their hold on the vast masses of the people, while the heart of man cries out as eagerly as ever for the living God. We can only heed the Lord's command to watch, and see to it that we may be found of Him in peace, and standing patiently at our post. In the meantime events in the distant East are symptomatic of the fig tree putting forth her leaves. See Matthew 24:32. [source]

Chapter Summary: 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

Greek Commentary for Revelation 18:23

Of a lamp [λυχνου]
Old word (Matthew 5:15), again in Revelation 22:5. [source]
Shall shine no more at all [ου μη πανηι]
Fifth instance in these verses of ου μη — ou mē with the aorist subjunctive, here the active of παινω — phainō as in Revelation 8:12. It is not known whether Rome had street lights or not.The voice of the bridegroom and of the bride (πωνη νυμπιου και νυμπης — phōnē numphiou kai numphēs). See John 3:29; Jeremiah 7:34; Jeremiah 16:9. “Even the occasional flash of the torches carried by bridal processions (Matthew 25:1.) is seen no more” (Swete). The sixth instance of ου μη — ou mē in Revelation 18:21-23, occurs with ακουστηι — akousthēi (third instance of ακουστηι — akousthēi two in Revelation 18:22).Were the princes of the earth For μεγισταν — megistān see Revelation 6:15; Mark 6:21. “Thy merchants were the grandees” once, but now these merchant princes are gone.With thy sorcery (εν τηι παρμακιαι σου — en tēi pharmakiāi sou). Εν — En (instrumental use) and the locative case of παρμακια — pharmakia old word (from παρμακευω — pharmakeuō to prepare drugs, from παρμακον — pharmakon sorcery, Revelation 9:21), in N.T. only here and Galatians 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 First aorist passive indicative of πλαναω — planaō These charlatans always find plenty of victims. See Mark 12:24. [source]
The voice of the bridegroom and of the bride [πωνη νυμπιου και νυμπης]
See John 3:29; Jeremiah 7:34; Jeremiah 16:9. “Even the occasional flash of the torches carried by bridal processions (Matthew 25:1.) is seen no more” (Swete). The sixth instance of ου μη — ou mē in Revelation 18:21-23, occurs with ακουστηι — akousthēi (third instance of ακουστηι — akousthēi two in Revelation 18:22). [source]
Were the princes of the earth [ησαν οι μεγιστανες της γης]
For μεγισταν — megistān see Revelation 6:15; Mark 6:21. “Thy merchants were the grandees” once, but now these merchant princes are gone.With thy sorcery (εν τηι παρμακιαι σου — en tēi pharmakiāi sou). Εν — En (instrumental use) and the locative case of παρμακια — pharmakia old word (from παρμακευω — pharmakeuō to prepare drugs, from παρμακον — pharmakon sorcery, Revelation 9:21), in N.T. only here and Galatians 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 First aorist passive indicative of πλαναω — planaō These charlatans always find plenty of victims. See Mark 12:24. [source]
With thy sorcery [εν τηι παρμακιαι σου]
Εν — En (instrumental use) and the locative case of παρμακια — pharmakia old word (from παρμακευω — pharmakeuō to prepare drugs, from παρμακον — pharmakon sorcery, Revelation 9:21), in N.T. only here and Galatians 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. [source]
Were deceived [επλανητησαν]
First aorist passive indicative of πλαναω — planaō These charlatans always find plenty of victims. See Mark 12:24. [source]
Bridegroom - bride []
Compare Jeremiah 25:10. [source]
Great men [μεγιστᾶνες]
Rev., princes. See on Revelation 6:15. [source]
By thy sorceries [ἐν τῇ φαρμακείᾳ σου]
See on Revelation 9:21. Rev., more literally, with thy sorcery. [source]
Were deceived [ἐπλανήθησαν]
Or led astray. See on Mark 12:24. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Revelation 18:23

Mark 6:21 Lords [μεγιστᾶσιν]
Only here, and Revelation 6:15; Revelation 18:23. A late word, from μέγας , great. [source]
Mark 6:21 Made a supper [deipnon epoiēsen)]
Banquet.To his lords (γενεσιοις — tois megistāsin autou). From δειπνον εποιησεν — megistan (that from τοις μεγιστασιν αυτου — megas great), common in the lxx and later Greek. Cf. Revelation 6:15; Revelation 18:23. In the papyri. The grandees, magnates, nobles, the chief men of civil life.The high captains Military tribunes, commanders of a thousand men.The chief men of Galilee (μεγας — tois prōtois tēs Galilaias). The first men of social importance and prominence. A notable gathering that included these three groups at the banquet on Herod‘s birthday. [source]
Mark 6:21 To his lords [γενεσιοις]
From δειπνον εποιησεν — megistan (that from τοις μεγιστασιν αυτου — megas great), common in the lxx and later Greek. Cf. Revelation 6:15; Revelation 18:23. In the papyri. The grandees, magnates, nobles, the chief men of civil life. [source]
Galatians 5:20 Witchcraft [φαρμακία]
Or sorcery. Elsewhere only Revelation 18:23. From φάρμακον adrug. In lxx, see Exodus 7:11; Wisd. 12:4; Isaiah 47:9. Comp. Acts 19:19, περίεργα curiousarts, note. [source]
Galatians 5:19 Manifest [πανερα]
Opposed to “hidden” Ancient writers were fond of lists of vices and virtues. Cf. Stalker‘s sermons on The Seven Cardinal Virtues and The Seven Deadly Sins. There are more than seven in this deadly list in Galatians 5:19-21. He makes the two lists in explanation of the conflict in Galatians 5:17 to emphasize the command in Galatians 5:13. There are four groups in Paul‘s list of manifest vices:(1)Sensual sins like fornication (πορνεια — porneia prostitution, harlotry), uncleanness (ακαταρσια — akatharsia moral impurity), lasciviousness (ασελγεια — aselgeia wantonness), sexual vice of all kinds prevailed in heathenism.(2)Idolatry (ειδωλατρεια — eidōlatreia worship of idols) and witchcraft (παρμακεια — pharmakeia from παρμακον — pharmakon a drug, the ministering of drugs), but the sorcerers monopolized the word for a while in their magical arts and used it in connection with idolatry. In N.T. only here and Revelation 18:23. See note on Acts 19:19 περιεργα — perierga curious arts. [source]
Philippians 2:15 Ye shine [φαίνεσθε]
Rev., more correctly, ye are seen. Compare Matthew 24:27; Revelation 18:23, A.V., where the same error occurs. Shine would require the verb in the active voice, as John 1:5; John 5:35. [source]
Revelation 9:21 Sorceries [φαρμακειῶν]
Only here, Revelation 18:23; and Galatians 5:20, where φαρμακεία sorceriesA.V., witchcraft is enumerated among the “works of the flesh.” Used in the Septuagint of the Egyptian sorceries (Exodus 7:22. Of Babylon, Isaiah 47:9, Isaiah 47:12). From φάρμακον adrug, and thence a poison, an enchantment. Plato says: “There are two kinds of poisons used among men which cannot clearly be distinguished. There is one kind of poison which injures bodies by the use of other bodies according to a natural law … but there is another kind which injures by sorceries and incantations and magic bonds, as they are termed, and induces one class of men to injure another as far as they can, and persuades others that they, above all persons, are liable to be injured by the powers of the magicians. Now it is not easy to know the nature of all these things; nor if a man do know can he readily persuade others of his belief. And when men are disturbed at the sight of waxen images, fixed either at the doors, or in a place where three ways meet, or in the sepulchers of parents, there is no use of trying to persuade them that they should despise all such things, because they have no certain knowledge about them. But we must have a law in two parts concerning poisoning, in whichever of the two ways the attempt is made; and we must entreat and exhort and advise men not to have recourse to such practices, by which they scare the multitude out of their wits, as if they were children, compelling the legislator and the judge to heal the fears which the sorcerer arouses, and to tell them, in the first place, that he who attempts to poison or enchant others knows not what he is doing, either as regards the body (unless he have a knowledge of medicine) or as regards his enchantments, unless he happens to be a prophet or diviner” (“Laws,” xi., 933). [source]
Revelation 18:3 Have fallen [πεπτωκαν]
Perfect active third personal of πιπτω — piptō for usual πεπτωκασι — peptōkasi Some MSS. read πεπωκαν — pepōkan (have drunk), from πινω — pinō like the metaphor in Revelation 14:8, Revelation 14:10; Revelation 16:19; Revelation 17:2. See Revelation 17:2 for the same charge about the kings of the earth.The merchants of the earth (οι εμποροι της γης — hoi emporoi tēs gēs). Old word for one on a journey for trade (from εν πορος — enεμποριον — poros), like drummers, in N.T. only Matthew 13:45; Revelation 18:3, Revelation 18:11, Revelation 18:15, Revelation 18:23. Like εμπορευομαι — emporion (John 2:16) and επλουτησαν — emporeuomai (James 4:13).Waxed rich First ingressive aorist active indicative of του στρηνους αυτης — plouteō to be rich (cf. Revelation 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 (στρηνιαω — tou strēnous autēs). Late word for arrogance, luxury, here alone in N.T. See strēniaō in Revelation 18:7, Revelation 18:9, to live wantonly. [source]
Revelation 18:3 The merchants of the earth [οι εμποροι της γης]
Old word for one on a journey for trade (from εν πορος — enεμποριον — poros), like drummers, in N.T. only Matthew 13:45; Revelation 18:3, Revelation 18:11, Revelation 18:15, Revelation 18:23. Like εμπορευομαι — emporion (John 2:16) and επλουτησαν — emporeuomai (James 4:13). [source]
Revelation 18:11 The merchants [οι εμποροι]
As in Revelation 18:3, Revelation 18:15, Revelation 18:23. The dirge of the merchants follows the wail of the kings. [source]
Revelation 6:15 The princes [οι μεγιστανες]
Late word from the superlative μεγιστος — megistos in lxx, Josephus, papyri, in N.T. only in Mark 6:21; Revelation 6:15; Revelation 18:23, for the grandees, the persecuting proconsuls (Swete). [source]
Revelation 8:12 That should be darkened [ινα σκοτιστηι]
Purpose clause with ινα — hina and the first aorist passive subjunctive of σκοτιζω — skotizō from σκοτος — skotos (darkness) as in Matthew 24:29, but σκοτοω — skotoō in Revelation 9:2.And the day should not shine (και η ημερα μη πανηι — kai hē hēmera mē phanēi). Negative purpose clause with ινα μη — hina mē and the first aorist active subjunctive of παινω — phainō to shed light upon, as in Revelation 18:23, not the second aorist passive subjunctive πανηι — phanēi with different accent. The eclipse here is only partial and is kin to the ninth Egyptian plague (Exodus 10:21). [source]
Revelation 18:22 Of harpers [κιταρωιδων]
Old word (from κιταρα — kithara harp, and ωιδος — ōidos singer) as in Revelation 14:2.Of minstrels (μουσικων — mousikōn). Old word (from μουσα — mousa music), here only in N.T., one playing on musical instruments.Of flute-players Old word (from αυλεω — auleō to play on a flute, Matthew 11:17, αυλος — aulos flute, 1 Corinthians 14:7), in N.T. only here and Matthew 9:23.Of trumpeters (σαλπιστων — salpistōn). Late form for the earlier σαλπιγκτης — salpigktēs (from σαλπιζω — salpizō), here only in N.T.Shall be heard no more at all First aorist passive subjunctive of ακουω — akouō with the double negative as below, with πωνη μυλου — phōnē mulou (sound of the millstone), and as in Revelation 18:21 with ου με ευρετηι — ou me heurethēi and again with πας τεχνιτης — pās technitēs (craftsman). This old word is from τεχνη — technē art, as here in some MSS. (“of whatsoever craft,” πασης τεχνης — pasēs technēs). Τεχνιτης — Technitēs occurs also in this sense in Acts 19:24, Acts 19:38; and in Hebrews 11:10 of God as the Architect. There is power in this four-fold sonorous repetition of ου μη — ou mē and the subjunctive with two more examples in Revelation 18:23. [source]
Revelation 18:22 Of flute-players [αυλητων]
Old word (from αυλεω — auleō to play on a flute, Matthew 11:17, αυλος — aulos flute, 1 Corinthians 14:7), in N.T. only here and Matthew 9:23.Of trumpeters (σαλπιστων — salpistōn). Late form for the earlier σαλπιγκτης — salpigktēs (from σαλπιζω — salpizō), here only in N.T.Shall be heard no more at all First aorist passive subjunctive of ακουω — akouō with the double negative as below, with πωνη μυλου — phōnē mulou (sound of the millstone), and as in Revelation 18:21 with ου με ευρετηι — ou me heurethēi and again with πας τεχνιτης — pās technitēs (craftsman). This old word is from τεχνη — technē art, as here in some MSS. (“of whatsoever craft,” πασης τεχνης — pasēs technēs). Τεχνιτης — Technitēs occurs also in this sense in Acts 19:24, Acts 19:38; and in Hebrews 11:10 of God as the Architect. There is power in this four-fold sonorous repetition of ου μη — ou mē and the subjunctive with two more examples in Revelation 18:23. [source]
Revelation 18:22 Shall be heard no more at all [ου μη ακουστηι]
First aorist passive subjunctive of ακουω — akouō with the double negative as below, with πωνη μυλου — phōnē mulou (sound of the millstone), and as in Revelation 18:21 with ου με ευρετηι — ou me heurethēi and again with πας τεχνιτης — pās technitēs (craftsman). This old word is from τεχνη — technē art, as here in some MSS. (“of whatsoever craft,” πασης τεχνης — pasēs technēs). Τεχνιτης — Technitēs occurs also in this sense in Acts 19:24, Acts 19:38; and in Hebrews 11:10 of God as the Architect. There is power in this four-fold sonorous repetition of ου μη — ou mē and the subjunctive with two more examples in Revelation 18:23. [source]
Revelation 8:12 And the day should not shine [και η ημερα μη πανηι]
Negative purpose clause with ινα μη — hina mē and the first aorist active subjunctive of παινω — phainō to shed light upon, as in Revelation 18:23, not the second aorist passive subjunctive πανηι — phanēi with different accent. The eclipse here is only partial and is kin to the ninth Egyptian plague (Exodus 10:21). [source]
Revelation 9:21 Of their murders [εκ των πονων αυτων]
Heads the list, but “sorceries” (εκ των παρμακων — ek tōn pharmakōn) comes next. Παρμακον — Pharmakon was originally enchantment, as also in Revelation 21:8, then drug. For παρμακια — pharmakia see Revelation 18:23; Galatians 5:20. The two other items are fornication (πορνειας — porneias) and thefts (κλεμματων — klemmatōn old word from κλεπτω — kleptō here alone in N.T.), all four characteristic of demonic worship and idolatry. See other lists of vices in Mark 7:21; Galatians 5:20; Revelation 21:8; Revelation 22:15. Our word “pharmacy” as applied to drugs and medicine has certainly come a long way out of a bad environment, but there is still a bad odour about “patent medicines.” [source]

What do the individual words in Revelation 18:23 mean?

And [the] light of lamp no not shall shine in you any longer [the] voice of a bridegroom a bride shall be heard for the merchants of you were great ones of the earth because by the sorcery were deceived all the nations
καὶ φῶς λύχνου οὐ μὴ φάνῃ ἐν σοὶ ἔτι φωνὴ νυμφίου νύμφης ἀκουσθῇ ὅτι οἱ ἔμποροί σου ἦσαν μεγιστᾶνες τῆς γῆς ὅτι ἐν τῇ φαρμακείᾳ ἐπλανήθησαν πάντα τὰ ἔθνη

φῶς  [the]  light 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Neuter Singular
Root: φῶς  
Sense: light.
λύχνου  of  lamp 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root: λύχνος  
Sense: a lamp, candle, that is placed on a stand or candlestick.
οὐ  no 
Parse: Adverb
Root: οὐ  
Sense: no, not; in direct questions expecting an affirmative answer.
φάνῃ  shall  shine 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Subjunctive Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: φαίνω  
Sense: to bring forth into the light, cause to shine, shed light.
ἔτι  any  longer 
Parse: Adverb
Root: ἔτι  
Sense: yet, still.
φωνὴ  [the]  voice 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Feminine Singular
Root: φωνή  
Sense: a sound, a tone.
νυμφίου  of  a  bridegroom 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root: νυμφίος  
Sense: a bridegroom.
νύμφης  a  bride 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Feminine Singular
Root: νύμφη  
Sense: a betrothed woman, a bride.
ἀκουσθῇ  shall  be  heard 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Subjunctive Passive, 3rd Person Singular
Root: ἀκουστός 
Sense: to be endowed with the faculty of hearing, not deaf.
ἔμποροί  merchants 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: ἔμπορος  
Sense: one on a journey, whether by sea or by land, esp.
σου  of  you 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive 2nd Person Singular
Root: σύ  
Sense: you.
μεγιστᾶνες  great  ones 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: μεγιστάν  
Sense: the grandees, magnates, nobles, chief men.
τῆς  of  the 
Parse: Article, Genitive Feminine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
γῆς  earth 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Feminine Singular
Root: γῆ  
Sense: arable land.
ὅτι  because 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: ὅτι  
Sense: that, because, since.
φαρμακείᾳ  sorcery 
Parse: Noun, Dative Feminine Singular
Root: φαρμακεία 
Sense: the use or the administering of drugs.
ἐπλανήθησαν  were  deceived 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Passive, 3rd Person Plural
Root: πλανάω  
Sense: to cause to stray, to lead astray, lead aside from the right way.
ἔθνη  nations 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Neuter Plural
Root: ἔθνος  
Sense: a multitude (whether of men or of beasts) associated or living together.