Revelation 18:8
Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her.
Study Note
Study Note
The announcement that Babylon's plagues — death, mourning, famine, fire — will come 'in one day' functions as a dramatic compression of divine judgment, emphasizing both its totality and its suddenness. The phrase echoes Isaiah 47:9's oracle against historical Babylon, where 'in one day' her losses of children and widowhood arrive simultaneously, but Revelation's Babylon is a theological cipher for any imperial system that makes itself god. The refrain of lament by kings, merchants, and sailors in verses 9-19 mirrors Ezekiel 26-27's lamentation over Tyre, indicating John is reading Tyre and Babylon as composite archetypes of idolatrous commercial power. The verse reassures persecuted believers that divine sovereignty over history is absolute — however invincible human empires appear.
Other Translations
Therefore in one day shall her plagues come, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire; for strong is the Lord God who judged her.
because of this, in one day, shall come her plagues, death, and sorrow, and famine; and in fire she shall be utterly burned, because strong <FI>is<Fi> the Lord God who is judging her;
For this reason in one day will her troubles come, death and sorrow and need of food; and she will be completely burned with fire; for strong is the Lord God who is her judge.
Cross References
If I speak of strength, lo, he is strong: and if of judgment, who shall set me a time to …
God hath spoken once; twice have I heard this; that power belongeth unto God.
In that day the Lord with his sore and great and strong sword shall punish leviathan the piercing serpent, even …
But these two things shall come to thee in a moment in one day, the loss of children, and widowhood: …
Therefore shall evil come upon thee; thou shalt not know from whence it riseth: and mischief shall fall upon thee; …
Behold, I am against thee, O thou most proud, saith the Lord God of hosts: for thy day is come, …
Their Redeemer is strong; the Lord of hosts is his name: he shall throughly plead their cause, that he may …
Flee out of the midst of Babylon, and deliver every man his soul: be not cut off in her iniquity; …
Thus saith the Lord of hosts; The broad walls of Babylon shall be utterly broken, and her high gates shall …
Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he?