Revelation 18:11 Meaning and Explanation
“And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buyeth their merchandise any more:”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The merchants of the earth weep over Babylon, because with her fall no one is left to buy their goods.
What Does Revelation 18:11 Mean?
The second group of mourners steps forward: the merchants of the earth. They too weep and mourn, but the cause is named plainly: 'no man buyeth their merchandise any more.' Their grief is for lost trade. With Babylon gone, the great marketplace has collapsed, and their wealth has nowhere to go.
The merchants mourn a closed market, not a fallen people. Their sorrow exposes a heart set on profit, where even catastrophe is measured by the ledger. Scripture sets this before us so we can examine where our own security rests. Riches gathered from a doomed city share its doom. The reader is steered toward treasure that no failed market can touch, the lasting wealth of knowing God and being known by him, which neither rust nor ruin can take away.
Revelation 18:11 in the Original Language
emporos (ἔμπορος), 'merchant' -- a traveling trader who deals in goods for profit.
Frequently Asked Questions About Revelation 18:11
What does Revelation 18:11 mean?
The merchants of the earth weep over Babylon, because with her fall no one is left to buy their goods.