King James Version

What Does Revelation 18:15 Mean?

Revelation 18:15 in the King James Version says “The merchants of these things, which were made rich by her, shall stand afar off for the fear of her torment, weeping an...” — study this verse from Revelation chapter 18 with commentary, cross-references, and original Greek word analysis.

“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 18:15 · KJV

Fear & Courage

Context

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. slaves: or, bodies

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,

Read Revelation 18 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
The merchants standing afar off for fear of her torment reveals self-preservation overcoming commercial loyalty. Their weeping and wailing demonstrates grief over financial loss, not moral conviction. The distance they maintain shows fear of sharing her judgment. Reformed theology recognizes that worldly relationships ultimately prove shallow—based on mutual benefit, not covenant love. The merchants' response contrasts heaven's rejoicing (v. 20), revealing different value systems. Their tears are for lost profits, not lost souls or justice served.

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Historical & Cultural Context

Rome's merchant class enriched themselves through trade networks. The vision depicts their horror at sudden economic collapse destroying their wealth. Their distant stance reflects both physical danger (city burning) and moral separation—unwilling to risk association with fallen Babylon. This fulfills prophetic patterns where allies abandon doomed cities (Ezekiel 27:29-36 on Tyre).

Reflection Questions

  1. How do the merchants' selfish grief and fearful distance challenge you to evaluate whether your relationships are based on mutual benefit or genuine covenant love?
  2. What does their weeping over financial loss rather than moral issues reveal about misplaced priorities?

Original Language Analysis

Greek · 19 words
τοῦ1 of 19

“which”

G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

ἔμποροι2 of 19

“The merchants”

G1713

a (wholesale) tradesman

τούτων3 of 19

“of these things”

G5130

of (from or concerning) these (persons or things)

τοῦ4 of 19

“which”

G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

πλουτήσαντες5 of 19

“were made rich”

G4147

to be (or become) wealthy (literally or figuratively)

ἀπὸ6 of 19

“by”

G575

"off," i.e., away (from something near), in various senses (of place, time, or relation; literal or figurative)

αὐτῆς7 of 19

“her”

G846

the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons

ἀπὸ8 of 19

“by”

G575

"off," i.e., away (from something near), in various senses (of place, time, or relation; literal or figurative)

μακρόθεν9 of 19

“afar”

G3113

from a distance or afar

στήσονται10 of 19

“shall stand”

G2476

to stand (transitively or intransitively), used in various applications (literally or figuratively)

διὰ11 of 19

“for”

G1223

through (in very wide applications, local, causal, or occasional)

τοῦ12 of 19

“which”

G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

φόβον13 of 19

“the fear”

G5401

alarm or fright

τοῦ14 of 19

“which”

G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

βασανισμοῦ15 of 19

“torment”

G929

torture

αὐτῆς16 of 19

“her”

G846

the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons

κλαίοντες17 of 19

“weeping”

G2799

to sob, i.e., wail aloud (whereas 1145 is rather to cry silently)

καὶ18 of 19

“and”

G2532

and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words

πενθοῦντες19 of 19

“wailing”

G3996

to grieve (the feeling or the act)

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Revelation. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Revelation 18:15 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Revelation 18:15 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Revelation 18:3Acts 19:24-27Revelation 18:10-11Ezekiel 27:31Hosea 12:7-8Amos 5:16-17

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