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Revelation 18:12-15

King James Version (KJV)

“In our prayers we talk to God, in our Bible study God talks to us, and we had better let God do most of the talking.”
— D.L. Moody

Scripture focus

12. The merchandise of gold, and silver, and precious stones, and of pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet, and all thyine wood, and all manner vessels of ivory, and all manner vessels of most precious wood, and of brass, and iron, and marble, 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, 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,

Revelation 18:12-15 — KJV

Commentary

Commentary on Revelation 18:12

Theological / Devotional

Merchandise of gold. Attempts to classify the 28 items of trade listed in vs. 12, 13 and to draw some hidden meaning from them are without exegetical value. The highly diffuse and poetic character of ch. 18 suggests that the purpose of the list here given is to highlight the extensive commercial interests of Babylon, if the first interpretation mentioned in comment on v. 11 be accepted, or, according to the second, to stress the comprehensiveness of her corrupt doctrines and policies (see on chs. 16:13, 14; 17:2, 4). For a similar list of “merchandise” see Eze. 27:3–25, 33.

Thyine wood. Literally, “scented wood,” that is, odoriferous wood used for incense.

Brass. Rather, “bronze” (see on Ex. 25:3).

By SdaBc