Revelation 18:7
How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow.
Study Note
Study Note
Babylon's self-exaltation — 'I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow' — is a direct inversion of Isaiah 47:7–8, where historical Babylon makes exactly this claim and is then addressed with the same reversal judgment: 'widowhood and loss of children shall come upon thee.' The specific pride of claiming non-widowhood is theologically significant: in ancient society a widow was stripped of the protective identity of her husband's name and status — Babylon's claim asserts permanent relational security based on her own power rather than on a lord's protection. The principle of proportional judgment — 'so much torment and sorrow give her' as she gave herself glory — enacts the lex talionis at the cosmic eschatological level. Luke 12:16–21's parable of the rich fool who said 'I have laid up goods for many years' operates within the same theological pattern of self-securing pride meeting sudden reversal.
Other Translations
How much soever she glorified herself, and waxed wanton, so much give her of torment and mourning: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall in no wise see mourning.
`As much as she did glorify herself and did revel, so much torment and sorrow give to her, because in her heart she saith, I sit a queen, and a widow I am not, and sorrow I shall not see;
As she gave glory to herself, and became more evil in her ways, in the same measure give her pain and weeping: for she says in her heart, I am seated here a queen, and am no widow, and will in no way see sorrow.
Cross References
Kings’ daughters were among thy honourable women: upon thy right hand did stand the queen in gold of Ophir.
And in that day did the Lord God of hosts call to weeping, and to mourning, and to baldness, and …
And it was revealed in mine ears by the Lord of hosts, Surely this iniquity shall not be purged from …
Come down, and sit in the dust, O virgin daughter of Babylon, sit on the ground: there is no throne, …
Take the millstones, and grind meal: uncover thy locks, make bare the leg, uncover the thigh, pass over the rivers.
And thou saidst, I shall be a lady for ever: so that thou didst not lay these things to thy …
But these two things shall come to thee in a moment in one day, the loss of children, and widowhood: …
Say unto the king and to the queen, Humble yourselves, sit down: for your principalities shall come down, even the …
How doth the city sit solitary, that was full of people! how is she become as a widow! she that …
Son of man, say unto the prince of Tyrus, Thus saith the Lord God; Because thine heart is lifted up, …