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.
7. for she saith in her heart &c.] Isa 47:7-8: in Rev 18:8 we have a reminiscence of the next verse of Isaiah, but less verbally close.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
How much she hath glorified herself – Been proud, boastful, arrogant. This was true of ancient Babylon, that she was proud and haughty; and it has been no less true of mystical Babylon – papal Rome.
And lived deliciously – By as much as she has lived in luxury and dissoluteness, so let her suffer now. The word used here and rendered lived deliciously – estreniasen – is derived from the noun – strenos – which is used in Rev 18:3, and rendered delicacies. See the notes on that verse. It means properly, to live strenuously, rudely, as in English, to live hard; and then to revel, to live in luxury, riot, dissoluteness. No one can doubt the propriety of this as descriptive of ancient Babylon, and as little can its propriety be doubted as applied to papal Rome.
So much torment and sorrow give her – Let her punishment correspond with her sins. This is expressing substantially the same idea which occurs in the previous verse.
For she saith in her heart – This is the estimate which she forms of herself.
I sit a queen – Indicative of pride, and of an asserted claim to rule.
And am no widow – Am not in the condition of a widow – a state of depression, sorrow, and mourning. All this indicates security and self-confidence, a description in every way applicable to papal Rome.
And shall see no sorrow – This is indicative of a state where there was nothing feared, notwithstanding all the indications which existed of approaching calamity. In this state we may expect to find papal Rome, even when its last judgments are about to come upon it; in this state it has usually been; in this state it is now, notwithstanding all the indications that are abroad in the world that its power is waning, and that the period of its fall approaches.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 7. How much she hath glorified herself] By every act of transgression and sinful pampering of the body she has been preparing for herself a suitable and proportionate punishment.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: this speaketh thus much; That whenever Gods time cometh for the ruin of the papacy, the condition of all that party shall appear as miserable as it appears now splendid and happy.
For she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow; and one great reason of this so great affliction, will be the pride, presumption, and security of that faction, much after the rate of old Babylon, Isa 47:8. Old Babylon thought itself impregnable; and new mystical Babylon thinks herself infallible and impregnable too; the only church, (if we will believe her), against whom the gates of hell shall not prevail.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
7. How muchthat is inproportion as.
liveddeliciouslyluxuriously: see on Re18:3, where the Greek is akin.
sorrowGreek,“mourning,” as for a dead husband.
I sitso Vulgate.But A, B, and C prefix “that.”
I . . . am no widowforthe world power is my husband and my supporter.
shall see no sorrowGreek,“mourning.” “I am seated (this long time) . . .I am no widow . . . I shall see no sorrow,” marksher complete unconcerned security as to the past, present, and future[BENGEL]. I shall neverhave to mourn as one bereft of her husband. As Babylon was queen ofthe East, so Rome has been queen of the West, and is called onImperial coins “the eternal city.” So Papal Rome iscalled by AMMIAN MARCELLIN[15.7]. “Babylon is a former Rome, and Rome a latter Babylon.Rome is a daughter of Babylon, and by her, as by her mother, God hasbeen pleased to subdue the world under one sway” [AUGUSTINE].As the Jew’s restoration did not take place till Babylon’s fall, soR. KIMCHI on Obadiah,writes, “When Rome (Edom) shall be devastated, there shall beredemption to Israel.” Romish idolatries have been the greatstumbling-blocks to the Jews’ acceptance of Christianity.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
How much she hath glorified herself,…. And acted the proud and haughty part in exalting herself above all emperors, kings, and princes, above all kingdoms and states, and also above all churches, assuming arrogant titles, and even blasphemous names; see Re 13:1
and lived deliciously: in a very luxuriant manner, as the popes, cardinals, archbishops, bishops, priests, monks, and friars have done; some being clothed in purple and scarlet, and in gold and silver, and all living upon the fat of the land, and in rioting and drunkenness, in chambering and wantonness:
so much torment and sorrow give her: by pulling down her pride, which goes before a fall, than which nothing could more torment and afflict her; by stripping her of her fine clothes and rich apparel; and by taking away her fat benefices from her, which will cut her to the heart; and by burning her with fire, which will be very excruciating:
for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen; a lady of kingdoms, as in
Isa 47:5 to which the reference is; having a temporal power and authority over the kings of the earth, and a spiritual jurisdiction over all churches, apostate ones, being the mother of harlots; and her “sitting” as such, as it well agrees with the whore on many waters, and the woman on the scarlet coloured beast and seven mountains, who are all the same, and is very suitable to antichrist, who pretends to sit in Peter’s chair, and does sit in the temple of God, as if he was God; so it is expressive of her empire and government over nations and churches, and of the continuance of it, as she imagines, see Isa 46:7 and so the Ethiopic version renders it, “I shall reign always”: to which she adds,
and am no widow; nor never shall be, as she flatters herself, see
Isa 47:8. Were she the true spouse of Christ, as she boasts herself, she indeed would be no widow, for Christ is an everlasting and never dying husband; but she is the whore of the kings of the earth, and though she fancies she shall be no widow, that is, bereft of people and power, see La 1:1 because she now sits on many waters, people, multitudes, and nations and tongues; yet ere long, like old Babylon, she will have no men in her, but will be inhabited by devils, foul spirits, and hateful birds:
and shall see no sorrow; through loss of children, power, and authority; see Isa 47:8 but in this also she will be mistaken; her children will be killed with death, as is threatened to Jezebel, Re 2:23 and her plagues shall come upon her at once: now these words may be considered either as spoken by her when in the height of her power and glory, as she was about three or four hundred years ago; or just before her destruction, which seems to be the case, and looks as if she would regain her power, and be in her former state before her utter ruin; [See comments on Re 11:2].
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
How much soever (). Indefinite quantitative relative pronoun in the accusative (cognate) neuter plural object of (first aorist active indicative of ).
Herself (). Reflexive pronoun, accusative also with .
Waxed wanton (). First aorist (ingressive) active indicative of (to live luxuriously), verb in late comedy instead of (Jas 5:5), from (Re 18:3), only here in N.T.
So much give her of torment and mourning ( ). Second aorist active imperative of , to give. The correlative pronoun is masculine singular accusative, agreeing with , for which see Rev 9:5; Rev 14:11, and is understood with the neuter word (mourning), in N.T. only in Jas 4:9; Rev 18:7; Rev 21:4 (kin to , ).
I sit a queen ( ). Predicate nominative for the old form (), as in Mt 12:42. Babylon and Tyre had preceded Rome in such boasting (Isa 47:7-9; Ezek 27:3; Ezek 28:2; Zeph 2:15).
And am no widow ( ). Feminine of the adjective (barren), old word (Mr 12:40).
Shall in no wise see mourning ( ). Confident boast of security with emphatic position of (see above) and double negative with the second aorist active subjunctive of (defective verb).
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
Lived deliciously [] . See on ver. 3.
Torment [] . Only in Revelation. On the kindred word, basanov torment, see on Mt 4:23, 24.
I sit a queen and am no widow. See Isa 47:8; Zep 2:15.
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1) “How much she hath glorified herself,” (hosa edoksasen euten) “By how many things she glorified herself,” set herself upon a pedestal, exalted herself, given herself over to a swinging time, like the King of Tyre, proudly demanding homage of men; This is after the order of Satan himself, Eze 28:2; Luk 9:25; Her exhalation shall bring her abasement, Mat 23:12; Luk 18:14.
2) “And lived deliciously,” (kai estreniasen) “And lived luxuriously,” lived “high on the hog”, even luxuriated, Zep 2:15. She had lived in deceit, selling for a price certain privileges of lust, fattening on pennies of the poor, for offered relief from purgatory or limbo for loved ones, laying up treasures on earth, calm in her carnal security and pride, Pro 16:18; 1Jn 2:16.
3) “So much torment and sorrow give her,” (tosouton dote aute basanismon kai penthos) “By (reason of) so much dole ye out to her torment and sorrow; this is an imprecatory prayer call from heaven, calling judgment down upon the harlot’s habitation, even Babylon.
4) “For she saith in her heart,” (hoti en te kardia autes legei) “Because she (yet) says in her heart,” even till now she assures herself in her heart, Isa 47:1-15.
5) “I sit a queen, and am no widow,” (hoti kathemai basilissa kai chera ouk eimi) “I sit of my own accord, will, or making, (as) a queen, and a widow I am not, or do not exist as a widow, do not sit alone,” unattended, Isa 47:7-8; She claims no cause for grief, but that she has plenty, Luk 12:20-21.
6) “And shall see no sorrow,” (kai penthos ou me ido) “And I shall see sorrow, by any means,” or “I see no way that I shall see sorrow.” She was saying, “There exists no God of judgment for me; Psa 14:1; Pro 25:14.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
(7) The thought of retribution is carried on in this verse. It should not read, How much . . ., but, In as many things as she glorified herself and luxuriated, so much give to her torment and grief; because in her heart she saith (comp. Psa. 49:11; Luk. 14:30), I sit a queen, and am not a widow, and shall never see sorrow. The words are echoes of prophecies against old Babylon (Isa. 47:7-9) and Tyre (Eze. 28:2).
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
7. I sit a queen Quoted from Isa 47:7-8.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
(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. (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.
I beg the Reader to attend to what is here said, for, in my view, it throws a great light upon the events going on in the present day. Let the Reader recollect, or look back to the observations made in Rev 17:13 , after verse the 13th, and connect what is here said with those remarks. And in addition I would desire to say, that when it be considered, the late ascendency the Pontiff hath gained in those dominions, he had for a while, seemingly lost, and the strides which are still making by him and his agents, to get back to his interest certain powers, which once protested against him, and I think he will be somewhat inclined to think with me, if he be not altogether of my opinion, that Popery, before the total overthrow of it, will be more elevated than ever.
Let the Reader consider, and reconsider those two verses. She is said to be living deliciously, and to say in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow, when, in the moment, her plagues shall come upon her in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; yea, she shall be utterly burned with fire. If language conveys anything, here is great prosperity succeeded by great woe. And, what shall prevent the power of the Pope from being greater than it ever hath been. What shall come between the present indifferency in some, and the cordial affection of others, to a more extensive toleration, and by a transition then hardly perceivable, exalting the whore of Rome to her former splendor, yea, greater splendor than ever; when the loose doctrines, and looser conduct of the great mass of men, are already so ripe for it.
It is the mercy of the Lord’s people, that by his grace, they are kept from all danger. And it is no less their mercy, to have come out from among her. But this scripture explained by present events, leaves in my view no question, but that this Anti-Christian heresy will have a lifting up, just before her final overthrow, in possessing again some of her long-lost territories, and be the queen, as she herself saith of them and all her dependencies in the very hour, the Lord pours out her plagues in one day, and death, everlasting mourning, famine, and fire will be her portion.
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
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.
Ver. 7. She hath glorified herself ] As mother of Churches, queen of nations. Steuchus (one of her parasites) saith, That kings have but the use and administration of their kingdoms; the right and property belongs to her. Pope Boniface wrote thus to Philip the Fair, king of France: Volumus te scire te in temporali et spirituali nobis subiacere, &c. Contra sentientes pro insanis habemus: We would ye should know, that ye are to be subject unto us both in temporals and spirituals; and that none that are in their right minds can be otherwise minded. The king thus answered him again, Sciat tua maxima fatuitas, &c., I would your singular foolishness should know that I acknowledge no such subjection, &c. (Alsted. Chron.) It was tartly and trimly replied by one Leonard to Rustandus the pope’s envoy, claiming all the churches here in England to be the pope’s, Omnes Ecclesias Papae esse, tuitione non fruitione, defensione non dissipatione; That if the pope had such right to all the churches, it was to defend them, not to devour them. (Jac. Rev. de Vit. Pontif., p. 178.)
So much torment, &c. ] Thus the sinner’s cup of honey endeth in the dregs of gall; as Herodotus writeth of the river Hypanis, that the first day’s journey from the fountain and head of it the water is sweet and wholesome; but after that, exceeding bitter. Pleasure and pain are tied together with chains of adamant. Oh, how short is the wicked man’s Hilary term! a
a
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Rev 18:7 . It is probably at this point that the passage drifts over from the conception of a voice heard (Rev 18:4 ) to that of direct utterance on the part of the prophet; unless we are to suppose that the voice speaks till the close of Rev 18:20 (a similar instance in ch. 11). Imperial Rome is imperious and insolent; haughty self-confidence is the sin of the second Babylon as of the first (see Isa 47:5 ; Isa 47:7-8 , imitated in this passage). Cf. (bef. 80 A.D.) Sibyll. ver. 173, where the impious and doomed city is upbraided for vaunting “I am by myself, and none shall overthrow me”. A similar charge of arrogance was brought by Ezekiel against the prince of Tyre (Eze 28:2 f., cf. Eze 28:26 , 27 throughout with the present passage), and by the Jewish author of Apoc. Bar. xii. 3 against Rome. To the Semitic as to the Hellenic conscience, the fall of a haughty spirit always afforded moral relief. Nothing so shocked the ancient conscience as overweening presumption in a state or an individual, which was certain ultimately to draw down upon itself the crashing anger of heaven.
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
hath. Omit.
glorified. Seep. 1511.
lived deliciously. See Rev 18:3 above.
torment. Greek. basanismos. Here; verses: Rev 18:10, Rev 18:15. See Rev 9:5.
I sit, &c. See Isa 47:8.
queen. A queen who is not a widow, implies a king-consort. Greek. “no widow” may be Figure of speech Tapeinosis. App-6.
no. App-105.
see. App-133.
no. App-105.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Rev 18:7. – – ) , from , a present, has the force of a perfect, from , as from , and from the same . Therefore Babylon displays the most unconcerned security as respects the past, the present, and the future time. She calls herself Queen: and Bossuet is in error, when he thinks that a corrupt church only, and not also a royal city, is sought by us in Rome. Both are had in view. See ch. Rev 17:5; Rev 17:18.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
much she: Isa 22:12-14, Isa 47:1, Isa 47:2, Isa 47:7-9, Eze 28:2-10, Zep 2:15, 2Th 2:4-8
I sit: Psa 45:9, Jer 13:18
no widow: Isa 47:7, Isa 47:8, Lam 1:1
Reciprocal: Jdg 18:7 – how they 1Sa 15:32 – Agag said Est 6:10 – Make haste Job 20:22 – the fulness Job 36:11 – spend Pro 14:13 – General Ecc 2:1 – I will Isa 14:13 – thou Isa 32:13 – General Isa 47:5 – for Jer 48:7 – because Jer 49:4 – gloriest Jer 50:24 – and thou wast Jer 51:57 – I will Lam 4:5 – that did Eze 23:34 – and pluck Oba 1:3 – saith Zec 1:15 – General Mar 8:36 – what Luk 6:25 – mourn Luk 9:25 – what Luk 12:19 – take Luk 12:45 – to eat Luk 16:19 – clothed Joh 16:20 – but the Rom 11:20 – Be 1Co 7:30 – that weep Phi 3:19 – whose glory 1Th 5:3 – then 1Ti 5:6 – she 1Ti 6:17 – that they Heb 11:25 – the pleasures Jam 4:9 – let Jam 4:16 – General Jam 5:5 – have lived Rev 17:4 – arrayed Rev 18:9 – the kings
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Rev 18:7. The leaders in Rome or Babylon had been living a selfish life at the expense of their helpless dupes. Now that they have been undeceived by the workers in the Reformation, they are urged to make their condemnation all the more severe upon her. A queen would be in good circumstances in that she would have one on whom to depend for support and would have no sorrow or anxiety.
Rev 18:8. One day cannot be restricted to a period of 24 hours, but the things predicted of her will come on the same day or by the same cause. That will be the effects of opening the eyes of the nations that have been oppressed by her. The mourning will be literal and it will be over the loss of her former power- Utterly burned with fire denotes that the fire of God’s jealousy will bring utter (complete) destruction to the combination of church and state–not to each separately, but the combination will be dissolved for ever.
Verses 7-8.
The description of the proud, and presumptuous city of David, which for centuries had enjoyed the admiration expressed in verse seven, to sit as queen, employed symbols of glory. The old city declared that she was no widow and would see no sorrow (of widowhood), for she was the Jerusalem of the Israel which was wedded to the God of the Jews. But verse eight bluntly decreed that destruction would come upon her in one day, as suddenly as the Lord’s statement in Mat 24:16-18 : “Then let them which be in Judea flee . . . let him which is on the housetop not come down to take anything out of his house: neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes.” Hence, the expression one day symbolized the suddenness of the impending judgment against Jerusalem and the shortness of time for the faithful to respond to the call to come out of her. The extended application, as in 2Co 6:17, meant to come out of the evils and the errors of Jerusalem’s apostasies and of heathendom’s idolatries. The last line of verse eight, for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her, meant that God’s word was inexorable, and without change of purpose he would destroy the apostate city.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Rev 18:7. In this verse the lex talionis is still administered both in extent and in severity. The humiliation of Babylon shall be the counterpart of her glorying. For she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am not a widow, and shall in no wise see mourning. The spirit of her glorying is expressed in three clauses, of which the second is peculiarly worthy of our notice. Commentators who see in Babylon the world-city are compelled to think of the beast and of the kings associated with it as the husband by the loss of whom Babylon had been reduced to widowhood. Such an interpretation is impossible. That husband had not been lost; the kings were not dead, they had only turned against her; while the words imply that she really is a widow although she does not feel it. If so, her boast can only be that she does not need the Lord for her husband. She has found another husband and many lovers. That she says these things in her heart can hardly be intended to exclude the idea of loud boastings. The words rather lead us to think of the deep-seated nature of that spirit of glorying by which she is possessed (comp. Isa 47:7-8).
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
Many scriptures warn of the dangers of pride. ( 2Sa 22:28 ; Provers 11:2; 16:18; 29:23) The wicked city, like her ancient counterpart ( Isa 47:7-8 ), boasted of her high position, the fact that she was no widow and would see no sorrow. Of course she was a queen of wickedness and, like allharlots, could not be a widow, but the end of her reigh and beginning of her sorrow was upon her.
Fuente: Gary Hampton Commentary on Selected Books
Rev 18:7-8. How much she hath glorified herself By pride, and pomp, and arrogant boasting; and lived deliciously In all kinds of elegance, luxury, and wantonness; so much torment and sorrow give her Proportioning the punishment to the sin; for, or because, she saith in her heart As did ancient Babylon, Isa 47:8-9; I sit Her usual style. Hence those expressions, the chair, the see of Rome. She sat so many years as a queen, over many kings, mistress of all churches; the supreme, the infallible, the only spouse of Christ; a church out of which there is no salvation: and am no widow But the spouse of Christ; and shall see no sorrow From the death of my children, or any other calamity, for God himself will defend the church. Therefore As both the natural and judicial consequence of this proud security; shall her plagues come in one day All at once, in full extremity; death The death of her children, with an incapacity of bearing more; mourning , sorrow, or lamentation, instead of carnal pleasure and delights; and famine In the room of luxurious plenty; the very things from which she imagined herself to be most safe; and she shall be utterly burned with fire Even ancient Rome, which gloried in the name of the eternal city; for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her Expressions these which, as Bishop Newton observes, can imply no less than a total destruction by fire; but Rome hath never yet been totally destroyed by fire. The most that Alaric and Totilas did was burning some parts of the city: but if only some parts of the city were burned, it was not an event important enough to be ascribed to the Lord God particularly, and to be considered as a strong exertion of his judgment.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
18:7 How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she saith {b} in her heart, I sit a queen, and am {c} no widow, and shall {d} see no sorrow.
(b) With herself.
(c) I am full of people and mighty.
(d) I shall taste of none.
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes
Luxurious living provides another reason for Babylon’s judgment. Her claims of superiority and self-sufficiency echo those of ancient Babylon (cf. Isa 47:7-9; Eze 27:3; Eze 28:2; Zep 2:15). They also recall the words of the Laodicean church (Rev 3:17).