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
But these two things shall come to thee in a moment in one day, the loss of children, and widowhood: …
And thou saidst, I shall be a lady for ever: so that thou didst not lay these things to thy …
Take the millstones, and grind meal: uncover thy locks, make bare the leg, uncover the thigh, pass over the rivers.
Come down, and sit in the dust, O virgin daughter of Babylon, sit on the ground: there is no throne, …
And it was revealed in mine ears by the Lord of hosts, Surely this iniquity shall not be purged from …
And in that day did the Lord God of hosts call to weeping, and to mourning, and to baldness, and …
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 …
Thou shalt die the deaths of the uncircumcised by the hand of strangers: for I have spoken it, saith the …
Son of man, say unto the prince of Tyrus, Thus saith the Lord God; Because thine heart is lifted up, …