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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.comRobertson Word Pictures - Revelation 18:23 - 18:23
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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
Of a lamp (luchnou). Old word (Mat 5:15), again in Rev 22:5.
Shall shine no more at all (ou mē phanēi). Fifth instance in these verses of ou mē with the aorist subjunctive, here the active of phainō as in Rev 8:12. It is not known whether Rome had street lights or not.
The voice of the bridegroom and of the bride (phōnē numphiou kai numphēs). See Joh 3:29; Jer 7:34; Jer 16:9. “Even the occasional flash of the torches carried by bridal processions (Mat 25:1.) is seen no more” (Swete). The sixth instance of ou mē, in Rev 18:21-23, occurs with akousthēi (third instance of akousthēi, two in Rev 18:22).
Were the princes of the earth (ēsan hoi megistānes tēs gēs). For megistān see Rev 6:15; Mar 6:21. “Thy merchants were the grandees” once, but now these merchant princes are gone.
With thy sorcery (en tēi pharmakiāi sou). En (instrumental use) and the locative case of pharmakia, old word (from pharmakeuō, to prepare drugs, from pharmakon, sorcery, Rev 9:21), in N.T. only here and Gal 5:20 for sorcery and magical arts. If one is puzzled over the connection between medicine and sorcery as illustrated by this word (our pharmacy), he has only to recall quackery today in medicine (patent medicines and cure-alls), witch-doctors, professional faith-healers, medicine-men in Africa. True medical science has had a hard fight to shake off chicanery and charlatanry.
Were deceived (eplanēthēsan). First aorist passive indicative of planaō. These charlatans always find plenty of victims. See Mar 12:24.