Revelation 18:16
New International Version
and cry out: “’Woe! Woe to you, great city, dressed in fine linen, purple and scarlet, and glittering with gold, precious stones and pearls!

New Living Translation
“How terrible, how terrible for that great city! She was clothed in finest purple and scarlet linens, decked out with gold and precious stones and pearls!

English Standard Version
“Alas, alas, for the great city that was clothed in fine linen, in purple and scarlet, adorned with gold, with jewels, and with pearls!

Berean Standard Bible
saying: “Woe, woe to the great city, clothed in fine linen and purple and scarlet, adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls!

Berean Literal Bible
saying: "Woe, woe, the great city, having been clothed with fine linen and purple and scarlet, and having been adorned with gold and precious stone and pearl!

King James Bible
And saying, Alas, alas, that great city, that was clothed in fine linen, and purple, and scarlet, and decked with gold, and precious stones, and pearls!

New King James Version
and saying, ‘Alas, alas, that great city that was clothed in fine linen, purple, and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls!

New American Standard Bible
saying, ‘Woe, woe, the great city, she who was clothed in fine linen and purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold, precious stones, and pearls;

NASB 1995
saying, ‘Woe, woe, the great city, she who was clothed in fine linen and purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls;

NASB 1977
saying, ‘Woe, woe, the great city, she who was clothed in fine linen and purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls;

Legacy Standard Bible
saying, ‘Woe, woe, the great city, she who was clothed in fine linen and purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls;

Amplified Bible
saying, ‘Woe, woe, for the great city that was robed in fine linen, in purple and scarlet, gilded and adorned with gold, with precious stones, and with pearls;

Christian Standard Bible
saying, Woe, woe, the great city, dressed in fine linen, purple, and scarlet, adorned with gold, jewels, and pearls;

Holman Christian Standard Bible
saying: Woe, woe, the great city, dressed in fine linen, purple, and scarlet, adorned with gold, precious stones, and pearls,

American Standard Version
saying, Woe, woe, the great city, she that was arrayed in fine linen and purple and scarlet, and decked with gold and precious stone and pearl!

Contemporary English Version
Then they shouted, "Pity the great city of Babylon! She dressed in fine linen and wore purple and scarlet cloth. She had jewelry made of gold and precious stones and pearls.

English Revised Version
saying, Woe, woe, the great city, she that was arrayed in fine linen and purple and scarlet, and decked with gold and precious stone and pearl!

GOD'S WORD® Translation
saying, 'How horrible, how horrible for that important city which was wearing fine linen, purple clothes, bright red clothes, gold jewelry, gems, and pearls.

Good News Translation
and say, "How terrible! How awful for the great city! She used to dress herself in linen, purple, and scarlet, and cover herself with gold ornaments, precious stones, and pearls!

International Standard Version
"How terrible, how terrible it is for the great city that was clothed in fine linen, purple, and scarlet and was adorned with gold, gems, and pearls,

Majority Standard Bible
saying: “Woe, woe to the great city, clothed in fine linen and purple and scarlet, adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls!

NET Bible
saying, "Woe, woe, O great city--dressed in fine linen, purple and scarlet clothing, and adorned with gold, precious stones, and pearls--

New Heart English Bible
saying, 'Woe, woe, the great city, she who was dressed in fine linen, purple, and scarlet, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls.

Webster's Bible Translation
And saying, Alas, alas, that great city, that was clothed in fine linen, and purple, and scarlet, and decked with gold, and precious stones, and pearls!

Weymouth New Testament
weeping aloud and sorrowing, and saying, 'Alas, alas, for this great city, which was brilliantly arrayed in fine linen, and purple and scarlet stuff, and beautified with gold, jewels and pearls;

World English Bible
saying, ‘Woe, woe, the great city, she who was dressed in fine linen, purple, and scarlet, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls!
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and saying, Woe, woe, the great city, that was clothed with fine linen, and purple, and scarlet, and gilded in gold, and precious stone, and pearls—

Berean Literal Bible
saying: "Woe, woe, the great city, having been clothed with fine linen and purple and scarlet, and having been adorned with gold and precious stone and pearl!

Young's Literal Translation
and saying, Woe, woe, the great city, that was arrayed with fine linen, and purple, and scarlet, and gilded in gold, and precious stone, and pearls -- because in one hour so much riches were made waste!

Smith's Literal Translation
And saying, Woe, woe, the great city, surrounded with fine linen, and purple, and scarlet, and adorned with gold, and precious stones, and pearls! for in one hour was so great riches laid waste.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And saying: Alas! alas! that great city, which was clothed with fine linen, and purple, and scarlet, and was gilt with gold, and precious stones, and pearls.

Catholic Public Domain Version
and saying: ‘Woe! Woe! to that great city, which was clothed with fine linen and purple and scarlet, and which was adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls.’

New American Bible
they cry out: “Alas, alas, great city, wearing fine linen, purple and scarlet, adorned [in] gold, precious stones, and pearls.

New Revised Standard Version
“Alas, alas, the great city, clothed in fine linen, in purple and scarlet, adorned with gold, with jewels, and with pearls!
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Saying, Woe, woe, that great city, which was clothed with fine linen and purple, and scarlet, inlaid with gold, and precious stones and pearls! for in one hour these great riches are destroyed.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And saying, “Alas alas, the great city that wore fine linen and purple and scarlet gilt in gold and precious stones and pearls!
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
saying: Alas, alas, that great city, that was clothed in fine linen and purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls! for in one hour, so great riches have been brought to ruin.

Godbey New Testament
saying, Alas, alas, the great city, clothed in fine linen, and purple, and scarlet, and gilded with gold, and precious stone, and pearl! because in one hour so great riches have come to desolation.

Haweis New Testament
and saying, Alas, alas, the great city, which was clothed in fine linen, and purple, and scarlet, and overlaid with gold, and precious stones, and pearls! how in one hour is so great wealth laid waste!

Mace New Testament
crying, alas, alas, that great city, that was cloathed in fine linnen, purple, and scarlet: decked with gold, precious stones and pearls:

Weymouth New Testament
weeping aloud and sorrowing, and saying, 'Alas, alas, for this great city, which was brilliantly arrayed in fine linen, and purple and scarlet stuff, and beautified with gold, jewels and pearls;

Worrell New Testament
saying, 'Woe, woe, the great city, which was attired in fine linen, and purple, and scarlet, and was gilded with gold, and precious stone, and pearl;

Worsley New Testament
and saying, Alas, alas, the great city, that was clothed in fine linen, and purple, and scarlet, and adorned with gold, and precious stones, and pearls!

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Lament over Babylon
15The merchants who sold these things and grew their wealth from her will stand at a distance, in fear of her torment. They will weep and mourn, 16saying: “Woe, woe to the great city, clothed in fine linen and purple and scarlet, adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls! 17For in a single hour such fabulous wealth has been destroyed!” Every shipmaster, passenger, and sailor, and all who make their living from the sea, will stand at a distance…

Cross References
Ezekiel 27:32
As they wail and mourn over you, they will take up a lament for you: ‘Who was ever like Tyre, silenced in the middle of the sea?

Isaiah 47:8-9
So now hear this, O lover of luxury who sits securely, who says to herself, ‘I am, and there is none besides me. I will never be a widow or know the loss of children.’ / These two things will overtake you in a moment, in a single day: loss of children, and widowhood. They will come upon you in full measure, in spite of your many sorceries and the potency of your spells.

Jeremiah 51:8-9
Suddenly Babylon has fallen and been shattered. Wail for her; get her balm for her pain; perhaps she can be healed. / “We tried to heal Babylon, but she could not be healed. Abandon her! Let each of us go to his own land, for her judgment extends to the sky and reaches to the clouds.”

Isaiah 13:19
And Babylon, the jewel of the kingdoms, the glory of the pride of the Chaldeans, will be overthrown by God like Sodom and Gomorrah.

Ezekiel 28:13
You were in Eden, the garden of God. Every kind of precious stone adorned you: ruby, topaz, and diamond, beryl, onyx, and jasper, sapphire, turquoise, and emerald. Your mountings and settings were crafted in gold, prepared on the day of your creation.

Isaiah 23:8-9
Who planned this against Tyre, the bestower of crowns, whose traders are princes, whose merchants are renowned on the earth? / The LORD of Hosts planned it, to defile all its glorious beauty, to disgrace all the renowned of the earth.

Jeremiah 50:31-32
“Behold, I am against you, O arrogant one,” declares the Lord GOD of Hosts, “for your day has come, the time when I will punish you. / The arrogant one will stumble and fall with no one to pick him up. And I will kindle a fire in his cities to consume all those around him.”

Isaiah 34:11-15
The desert owl and screech owl will possess it, and the great owl and raven will dwell in it. The LORD will stretch out over Edom a measuring line of chaos and a plumb line of destruction. / No nobles will be left to proclaim a king, and all her princes will come to nothing. / Her towers will be overgrown with thorns, her fortresses with thistles and briers. She will become a haunt for jackals, an abode for ostriches. ...

Ezekiel 26:16-17
All the princes of the sea will descend from their thrones, remove their robes, and strip off their embroidered garments. Clothed with terror, they will sit on the ground, trembling every moment, appalled over you. / Then they will lament for you, saying, “How you have perished, O city of renown inhabited by seafaring men—she who was powerful on the sea, along with her people, who imposed terror on all peoples!

Isaiah 21:9
Look, here come the riders, horsemen in pairs.” And one answered, saying: “Fallen, fallen is Babylon! All the images of her gods lie shattered on the ground!”

Jeremiah 25:12-13
But when seventy years are complete, I will punish the king of Babylon and that nation, the land of the Chaldeans, for their guilt, declares the LORD, and I will make it an everlasting desolation. / I will bring upon that land all the words I have pronounced against it, all that is written in this book, which Jeremiah has prophesied against all the nations.

Isaiah 14:4-5
you will sing this song of contempt against the king of Babylon: How the oppressor has ceased, and how his fury has ended! / The LORD has broken the staff of the wicked, the scepter of the rulers.

Ezekiel 27:30-31
They will raise their voices for you and cry out bitterly. They will throw dust on their heads and roll in ashes. / They will shave their heads for you and wrap themselves in sackcloth. They will weep over you with anguish of soul and bitter mourning.

Isaiah 24:10-12
The city of chaos is shattered; every house is closed to entry. / In the streets they cry out for wine. All joy turns to gloom; rejoicing is exiled from the land. / The city is left in ruins; its gate is reduced to rubble.

Jeremiah 50:46
At the sound of Babylon’s capture the earth will quake; a cry will be heard among the nations.


Treasury of Scripture

And saying, Alas, alas that great city, that was clothed in fine linen, and purple, and scarlet, and decked with gold, and precious stones, and pearls!

Alas.

Revelation 18:10,11
Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for in one hour is thy judgment come…

Revelation 17:4
And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication:

Luke 16:19
There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:

Jump to Previous
Adorned Alas Aloud Arrayed Beautified Bedecked Brilliantly City Clothed Cry Decked Delicate Dressed Fine Gold Great Jewels Linen Ornaments Pearl Pearls Precious Price Purple Red Scarlet Sorrow Sorrowing Stone Stones Stuff Weeping Wo Woe
Jump to Next
Adorned Alas Aloud Arrayed Beautified Bedecked Brilliantly City Clothed Cry Decked Delicate Dressed Fine Gold Great Jewels Linen Ornaments Pearl Pearls Precious Price Purple Red Scarlet Sorrow Sorrowing Stone Stones Stuff Weeping Wo Woe
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.














and cry out
This phrase indicates a vocal expression of lamentation and mourning. In the context of Revelation 18, it is the reaction of those who witness the fall of Babylon, a symbol of worldly power and corruption. The Greek word used here, "kraugazō," conveys a loud, public outcry, often associated with deep emotional distress. Historically, such cries were common in ancient Near Eastern cultures during times of disaster or judgment, reflecting the profound impact of Babylon's fall on those who benefited from its wealth and influence.

‘Woe, woe to the great city
The repetition of "woe" emphasizes the severity of the judgment and the depth of sorrow. In biblical literature, "woe" is a term of lament and impending doom. The "great city" refers to Babylon, representing the epitome of human pride and rebellion against God. This phrase echoes the prophetic tradition found in the Old Testament, where cities like Nineveh and Tyre were similarly denounced for their wickedness and eventual destruction.

clothed in fine linen and purple and scarlet
These materials symbolize wealth, luxury, and royal status. In the ancient world, fine linen was a costly fabric, and purple dye was rare and expensive, often associated with royalty and nobility. Scarlet, too, was a color of opulence. The description highlights Babylon's external splendor and allure, which ultimately masks its moral and spiritual corruption. This imagery serves as a warning against the seductive nature of materialism and the fleeting nature of earthly riches.

adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls!
The adornment with gold, precious stones, and pearls further underscores the city's immense wealth and the allure of its material prosperity. In biblical symbolism, such treasures often represent human achievement and the temptation to prioritize worldly success over spiritual fidelity. The use of these elements in Revelation contrasts with the New Jerusalem, which is also described with similar imagery but represents eternal, divine glory rather than temporal, corruptible wealth.

Verse 16. - And saying, Alas, alas that great city! Most authorities omit "and." Woe, woe, the great city! (nominative case); exactly as in ver. 10. That was clothed in fine linen, and purple, and scarlet, and decked with gold, and precious stones, and pearls. She that was clothed, etc. Decked; "gilded," as in the Revised Version margin, as in Revelation 17:4. The identity of description of the woman and Babylon is another proof of the essentially identical nature of the two (see on Revelation 17:1; cf. also ver. 12).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
saying:
λέγοντες (legontes)
Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3004: (a) I say, speak; I mean, mention, tell, (b) I call, name, especially in the pass., (c) I tell, command.

“Woe,
Οὐαὶ (Ouai)
Interjection
Strong's 3759: Woe!, alas!, uttered in grief or denunciation. A primary exclamation of grief; 'woe'.

woe
οὐαί (ouai)
Interjection
Strong's 3759: Woe!, alas!, uttered in grief or denunciation. A primary exclamation of grief; 'woe'.

to the
(hē)
Article - Vocative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

great
μεγάλη (megalē)
Adjective - Vocative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3173: Large, great, in the widest sense.

city,
πόλις (polis)
Noun - Vocative Feminine Singular
Strong's 4172: A city, the inhabitants of a city. Probably from the same as polemos, or perhaps from polus; a town.

clothed in
περιβεβλημένη (peribeblēmenē)
Verb - Perfect Participle Middle or Passive - Vocative Feminine Singular
Strong's 4016: From peri and ballo; to throw all around, i.e. Invest.

fine linen
βύσσινον (byssinon)
Adjective - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 1039: Of fine linen, cotton. From bussos; made of linen.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

purple
πορφυροῦν (porphyroun)
Adjective - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 4210: Purple. From porphura; purpureal, i.e. Bluish red.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

scarlet,
κόκκινον (kokkinon)
Adjective - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 2847: Crimson, scarlet, dyed with Kermes (coccum), the female coccus of the Kermes oak. From kokkos; crimson-colored.

adorned
κεχρυσωμένη (kechrysōmenē)
Verb - Perfect Participle Middle or Passive - Vocative Feminine Singular
Strong's 5558: To gild, adorn with gold. From chrusos; to gild, i.e. Bespangle with golden ornaments.

with
ἐν (en)
Preposition
Strong's 1722: In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc.

gold
χρυσίῳ (chrysiō)
Noun - Dative Neuter Singular
Strong's 5553: A piece of gold, golden ornament. Diminutive of chrusos; a golden article, i.e. Gold plating, ornament, or coin.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

precious
τιμίῳ (timiō)
Adjective - Dative Masculine Singular
Strong's 5093: Of great price, precious, honored.

stones
λίθῳ (lithō)
Noun - Dative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3037: A stone; met: of Jesus as the chief stone in a building. Apparently a primary word; a stone.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

pearls!
μαργαρίτῃ (margaritē)
Noun - Dative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3135: A pearl. From margaros; a pearl.


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NT Prophecy: Revelation 18:16 Saying 'Woe woe the great city she (Rev. Re Apocalypse)
Revelation 18:15
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