The Meaning of Revelation 18:22 Explained

Revelation 18:22

KJV: And the voice of harpers, and musicians, and of pipers, and trumpeters, shall be heard no more at all in thee; and no craftsman, of whatsoever craft he be, shall be found any more in thee; and the sound of a millstone shall be heard no more at all in thee;

YLT: and voice of harpers, and musicians, and pipers, and trumpeters, may not be heard at all in thee any more; and any artisan of any art may not be found at all in thee any more; and noise of a millstone may not be heard at all in thee any more;

Darby: and voice of harp-singers and musicians and flute-players and trumpeters shall not be heard any more at all in thee, and no artificer of any art shall be found any more at all in thee, and voice of millstone shall be heard no more at all in thee,

ASV: And the voice of harpers and minstrels and flute-players and trumpeters shall be heard no more at all in thee; and no craftsman, of whatsoever craft, shall be found any more at all in thee; and the voice of a mill shall be heard no more at all in thee;

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And  the voice  of harpers,  and  musicians,  and  of pipers,  and  trumpeters,  shall be heard  no more  at all  in  thee;  and  no  craftsman,  of whatsoever  craft  [he be], shall be found  any more  in  thee;  and  the sound  of a millstone  shall be heard  no more  at all  in  thee; 

What does Revelation 18:22 Mean?

Study Notes

voice
Cf. Isaiah 24:8 contra, Revelation 14:1-3 .

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 18:22

The voice [πωνη]
Cf. Ezekiel 26:13. Or “sound” as in 1 Corinthians 14:8 with σαλπιγχ — salpigx (trumpet). For this song of judgment see Jeremiah 25:10. [source]
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]
Of minstrels [μουσικων]
Old word (from μουσα — mousa music), here only in N.T., one playing on musical instruments. [source]
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]
Of trumpeters [σαλπιστων]
Late form for the earlier σαλπιγκτης — salpigktēs (from σαλπιζω — salpizō), here only in N.T. [source]
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]
Harpers []
See on Revelation 14:2. [source]
Musicians [μουσικῶν]
Only here in the New Testament. There seems to be no special reason for changing the rendering to minstrels, as Rev. The term music had a much wider signification among the Greeks than that which we attach to it. “The primitive education at Athens consisted of two branches: gymnastics for the body, music for the mind. Music comprehended from the beginning everything appertaining to the province of the nine Muses; not merely learning the use of the lyre or how to bear part in a chorus, but also the hearing, learning, and repeating of poetical compositions, as well as the practice of exact and elegant pronunciation - which latter accomplishment, in a language like the Greek, with long words, measured syllables, and great diversity of accentuation between one word and another, must have been far more difficult to acquire than it is in any modern European language. As the range of ideas enlarged, so the words music and musical teachers acquired an expanded meanings so as to comprehend matter of instruction at once ampler and more diversified. During the middle of the fifth century b.c. at Athens, there came thus to be found among the musical teachers men of the most distinguished abilities and eminence, masters of all the learning and accomplishments of the age, teaching what was known of Astronomy, Geography, and Physics, and capable of holding dialectical discussions with their pupils upon all the various problems then afloat among intellectual men” (Grote, “History of Greece,” vi., ch. lxvii.). [source]
Pipers [αὐλητῶν]
Rev., flute-players. Only here and Matthew 9:23. The female flute-players, usually dissolute characters, were indispensable attendants at the Greek banquets. Plato makes Eryximachus in “the Symposium,” say: “I move that the flute-girl who has just made her appearance, be told to go away and play to herself, or, if she likes, to the women who are within. Today let us have conversation instead” (“Symposium,” 176). Again, Socrates says: “The talk about the poets seems to me like a commonplace entertainment to which a vulgar company have recourse; who, because they are not able to converse and amuse one another, while they are drinking, with the sound of their own voices and conversation, by reason of their stupidity, raise the price of flute-girls in the market, hiring for a great sum the voice of a flute instead of their own breath, to be the medium of intercourse among them” (“Protagoras,” 347). Compare Isaiah 24:8; Ezekiel 26:13. [source]
Millstone []
Compare Jeremiah 25:10; Matthew 24:41. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Revelation 18:22

Hebrews 11:10 Builder and maker [τεχνίτης καὶ δημιουργὸς]
Τεχνίτης artificerarchitect. Comp. Acts 19:24(note), Acts 19:28; Revelation 18:22, and lxx, 1 Chronicles 29:5; Song of Solomon 7:1; Wisd. 8:6; 14:2; Sirach 9:17 Δημιουργὸς N.T.ooriginally a workman for the public ( δῆμος ); generally, framer, builder. It is used by Xenophon and Plato of the maker of the world (Xen. Mem. i. 4,9; Plato, Tim. 40 C; Repub. 530 A). It was appropriated by the Neo Platonists as the designation of God. To the Gnostics, the Demiurge was a limited, secondary God, who created the world; since there was no possibility of direct contact between the supreme, incommunicable God and the visible world. [source]
Revelation 14:2 Of a great thunder [βροντης μεγαλης]
For which see Revelation 6:1; Revelation 19:6. For this voice out of heaven see Revelation 10:4; Revelation 14:15; Revelation 18:4 and note accusative with ηκουσα — ēkousa the voice of harpers harping with their harps Triple use of κιταρα — kithara (Revelation 5:8), κιταρωιδων — kitharōidōn (Revelation 18:22), κιταριζοντων — kitharizontōn (old verb κιταριζω — kitharizō in N.T. only here and 1 Corinthians 14:7). Wonderful melody in this chorus by the angels, not by the 144,000. [source]
Revelation 18:23 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]
Revelation 18:23 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]

What do the individual words in Revelation 18:22 mean?

And sound of harpists musicians flute players trumpeters no not shall be heard in you any longer any craftsmen of any craft shall be found [the] sound of a millstone
καὶ φωνὴ κιθαρῳδῶν μουσικῶν αὐλητῶν σαλπιστῶν οὐ μὴ ἀκουσθῇ ἐν σοὶ ἔτι πᾶς τεχνίτης πάσης τέχνης εὑρεθῇ φωνὴ μύλου

φωνὴ  sound 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Feminine Singular
Root: φωνή  
Sense: a sound, a tone.
κιθαρῳδῶν  of  harpists 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Plural
Root: κιθαρῳδός  
Sense: a harper, one who plays the harp and accompanies it with his voice.
μουσικῶν  musicians 
Parse: Adjective, Genitive Masculine Plural
Root: μουσικός  
Sense: devoted to and skilled in the arts sacred to the muses.
αὐλητῶν  flute  players 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Plural
Root: αὐλητής  
Sense: a flute player.
σαλπιστῶν  trumpeters 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Plural
Root: σαλπιστής  
Sense: a trumpeter.
οὐ  no 
Parse: Adverb
Root: οὐ  
Sense: no, not; in direct questions expecting an affirmative answer.
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.
ἔτι  any  longer 
Parse: Adverb
Root: ἔτι  
Sense: yet, still.
πᾶς  any 
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: πᾶς  
Sense: individually.
τεχνίτης  craftsmen 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: τεχνίτης  
Sense: an artificer, craftsman.
πάσης  of  any 
Parse: Adjective, Genitive Feminine Singular
Root: πᾶς  
Sense: individually.
τέχνης  craft 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Feminine Singular
Root: τέχνη  
Sense: of the plastic art.
εὑρεθῇ  shall  be  found 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Subjunctive Passive, 3rd Person Singular
Root: εὑρίσκω  
Sense: to come upon, hit upon, to meet with.
φωνὴ  [the]  sound 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Feminine Singular
Root: φωνή  
Sense: a sound, a tone.
μύλου  of  a  millstone 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root: μύλινος 
Sense: a mill stone.