Revelation 18:13-19 - Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

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Bible Comments

Revelation 18:13. cinnamon: probably not the spice now called by that name but an unguent or cosmetic used as a perfume. chariots: a fashionable kind of equipage much used in Rome by the wealthy classes. souls of men: the Gr. phrase does not refer to what we mean when we use the term soul. It denotes simply the natural life. Lives of men would be the more exact rendering. The writer is alluding to the traffic in human life, whether in the form of slavery or immorality, or the brutal sports of the amphitheatre.

Revelation 18:14. And the fruits: lit. and the ripe fruit of the desire of thy soul is gone from thee (Swete) and all thy rich and sumptuous things have perished. Just when the fruit of the labour of many generations seemed ready to fall into the mouth it had vanished like a dream (Swete).

Revelation 18:17. The dirge of the shipmasters and mariners follows that of the merchants.

Revelation 18:17-19. There are many reminiscences in this passage of the lament over the fall of Tyre in Ezekiel 27.

Related Commentaries of Revelation 18:13

Revelation 18:13-19

13 And cinnamon, and odours, and ointments, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and beasts, and sheep, and horses, and chariots, and slaves,c and souls of men.

14 And the fruits that thy soul lusted after are departed from thee, and all things which were dainty and goodly are departed from thee, and thou shalt find them no more at all.

15 The merchants of these things, which were made rich by her, shall stand afar off for the fear of her torment, weeping and wailing,

16 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!

17 For in one hour so great riches is come to nought. And every shipmaster, and all the company in ships, and sailors, and as many as trade by sea, stood afar off,

18 And cried when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, What city is like unto this great city!

19 And they cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and wailing, saying, Alas, alas, that great city, wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea by reason of her costliness! for in one hour is she made desolate.