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Revelation 18:16

New Testament Apocalyptic ASV (1901)

What does Revelation 18:16 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “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!” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

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!
Revelation 18:16 — American Standard Version

Context — Revelation 18

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
13and cinnamon, and spice, and incense, and ointment, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and cattle, and sheep; and [merchandise] of horses and chariots and slaves; and souls of men.
14And the fruits which thy soul lusted after are gone from thee, and all things that were dainty and sumptuous are perished from thee, and [men] shall find them no more at all.
15The merchants of these things, who were made rich by her, shall stand afar off for the fear of her torment, weeping and mourning;
16saying, 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!
17for in an hour so great riches is made desolate. And every shipmaster, and every one that saileth any wither, and mariners, and as many as gain their living by sea, stood afar off,
18and cried out as they looked upon the smoke of her burning, saying, What [city] is like the great city?
19And they cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and mourning, saying, Woe, woe, the great city, wherein all that had their ships in the sea were made rich by reason of her costliness! for in one hour is she made desolate.
← Revelation 18:15Revelation 18:17 →
← Full Chapter 18 Revelation Overview

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And saying, alas, alas! that great city, etc.]. Using the same words the kings of the earth do, (<661810>Revelation 18:10) only adding, suitable to their characters as merchants, and the things they traded in with her, that was clothed in fine linen, and purple, and scarlet, and decked with gold, and precious stones, and pearls; (see Gill on “<661812>Revelation 18:12”) (see Gill on “<661704>Revelation 17:4”), see also (<262732>Ezekiel 27:32).”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“And--so Vulgate and ANDREAS. But A, B, and C omit. decked--literally, "glided." stones . . . pearls--Greek, "stone . . . pearl." B and ANDREAS read "pearls." But A and C, "pearl."”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“And saying, Alas, alas ... - notes on Revelation 18:10. That was clothed in fine linen - In the previous description Revelation 18:12-13, these are mentioned as articles of traffic; here the city, under the image of a female, is represented as clothed in the most rich and frivolous of these articles. And purple, and scarlet - See the notes on Revelation 17:3-4. Compare Revelation 18:12 of this chapter. And decked with gold, and precious stones, and pearls - notes on Revelation 17:4. return to 'Top of Page'”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“Alas: Rev 18:10, Rev 18:11, Rev 17:4; Luk 16:19-31 Revelation 18:17”
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Related study paths

Read Revelation 18 in contextBrowse Greek word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification