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Saturday, July 12th, 2025
the Week of Proper 9 / Ordinary 14
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The Holy Bible, Berean Study Bible

Revelation 18:21

Then a mighty angel picked up a stone the size of a great millstone and cast it into the sea, saying: "With such violence the great city of Babylon will be cast down, never to be seen again.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Thompson Chain Reference - Destruction;   Millstones;   The Topic Concordance - Judges;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Blasphemy;   Martyrdom;   Mills;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Angel;   Babylon;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - City;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Mill;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Vessels and Utensils;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Babylon;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Arts;   Mill-Stone ;   Millstone ;   Peter Epistles of;   Sea ;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Babylon the Great ;   Mill, Millstone;   The Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary - Babel;   Babylon;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Angel;   Babylon;   Rome;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Angels;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Babylon in the New Testament:;   Mill;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
Then a mighty angel picked up a stone like a large millstone and threw it into the sea, saying,
King James Version (1611)
And a mightie Angel tooke vp a stone like a great milstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with violence shall that great citie Babylon bee throwen downe, and shall bee found no more at all.
King James Version
And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all.
New American Standard Bible
Then a strong angel picked up a stone like a great millstone and threw it into the sea, saying, "So will Babylon, the great city, be thrown down with violence, and will never be found again.
New Century Version
Then a powerful angel picked up a large stone, like one used for grinding grain, and threw it into the sea. He said: "In the same way, the great city of Babylon will be thrown down, and it will never be found again.
THE MESSAGE
A strong Angel reached for a boulder—huge, like a millstone—and heaved it into the sea, saying, Heaved and sunk, the great city Babylon, sunk in the sea, not a sign of her ever again. Silent the music of harpists and singers— you'll never hear flutes and trumpets again. Artisans of every kind—gone; you'll never see their likes again. The voice of a millstone grinding falls dumb; you'll never hear that sound again. The light from lamps, never again; never again laughter of bride and groom. Her traders robbed the whole earth blind, and by black-magic arts deceived the nations. The only thing left of Babylon is blood— the blood of saints and prophets, the murdered and the martyred.
English Standard Version
Then a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone and threw it into the sea, saying, "So will Babylon the great city be thrown down with violence, and will be found no more;
New American Standard Bible (1995)
Then a strong angel took up a stone like a great millstone and threw it into the sea, saying, "So will Babylon, the great city, be thrown down with violence, and will not be found any longer.
Contemporary English Version
A powerful angel then picked up a huge stone and threw it into the sea. The angel said, "This is how the great city of Babylon will be thrown down, never to rise again.
Complete Jewish Bible
Then a mighty angel picked up a boulder the size of a great millstone, and hurled it into the sea, saying, "With violence like this will the great city Bavel be hurled down, never to be found again!
Darby Translation
And a strong angel took up a stone, as a great millstone, and cast [it] into the sea, saying, Thus with violence shall Babylon the great city be cast down, and shall be found no more at all;
Easy-to-Read Version
Then a powerful angel picked up a large rock. This rock was as big as a large millstone. The angel threw the rock into the sea and said, "That is how the great city of Babylon will be thrown down. It will never be found again.
Geneva Bible (1587)
Then a mightie Angell tooke vp a stone like a great milstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, With such violence shall that great citie Babylon be cast, and shalbe found no more.
George Lamsa Translation
And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, So shall that great city Babylon be overthrown with violence, and shall be found no more at all.
Good News Translation
Then a mighty angel picked up a stone the size of a large millstone and threw it into the sea, saying, "This is how the great city Babylon will be violently thrown down and will never be seen again.
Lexham English Bible
And one powerful angel picked up a stone like a great millstone and threw it into the sea, saying, "In this way Babylon the great city will be thrown down with violence, and will never be found again!
Literal Translation
And one strong angel lifted a stone like a great millstone, and threw it into the sea, saying, This way, on a violent impulse, Babylon the great city will be thrown down, and it will never more still be found.
Amplified Bible
Then a single powerful angel picked up a boulder like a great millstone and flung it into the sea, saying, "With such violence will Babylon the great city be hurled down [by the sudden, spectacular judgment of God], and will never again be found.
American Standard Version
And a strong angel took up a stone as it were a great millstone and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with a mighty fall shall Babylon, the great city, be cast down, and shall be found no more at all.
Bible in Basic English
And a strong angel took up a stone like the great stone with which grain is crushed, and sent it into the sea, saying, So, with a great fall, will Babylon, the great town, come to destruction, and will not be seen any more at all.
Hebrew Names Version
A mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone and cast it into the sea, saying, "Thus with violence will Bavel, the great city, be thrown down, and will be found no more at all.
International Standard Version
Then a powerful angel picked up a stone that was like a large millstone and threw it into the sea, saying,Jeremiah 51:64; Revelation 12:8; 16:20;">[xr] "The great city Babylon will be thrown down with violent force - and will never be found again.
Etheridge Translation
And an angel took a stone, as a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with force is cast down Babel the great city, and to be found no more.
Murdock Translation
And an angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying: So shall Babylon, the great city, be thrown down with violence, and shall no more be found:
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And a myghtie angell toke vp a stone lyke a great mylstone, and cast it into the sea, saying: With suche violence shall that great citie Babylon be cast, & shalbe founde no more.
English Revised Version
And a strong angel took up a stone as it were a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with a mighty fall shall Babylon, the great city, be cast down, and shall be found no more at all.
World English Bible
A mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone and cast it into the sea, saying, "Thus with violence will Babylon, the great city, be thrown down, and will be found no more at all.
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great mill-stone, and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with violence shall Babylon, the great city, be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all.
Weymouth's New Testament
Then a single angel of great strength took a stone which resembled a huge millstone, and hurled it into the sea, saying, "So shall Babylon, that great city, be violently hurled down and never again be found.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And o stronge aungel took vp a stoon, as a greet mylne stoon, and keste in to the see, and seide, In this bire thilke greet citee Babiloyn schal be sent, and now it schal no more be foundun.
Update Bible Version
And a strong angel took up a stone as it were a great millstone and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with a mighty fall shall Babylon, the great city, be cast down, and shall be found no more at all.
Webster's Bible Translation
And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast [it] into the sea, saying, Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be no more found.
New English Translation
Then one powerful angel picked up a stone like a huge millstone, threw it into the sea, and said, "With this kind of sudden violent force Babylon the great city will be thrown down and it will never be found again!
New King James Version
Then a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone and threw it into the sea, saying, "Thus with violence the great city Babylon shall be thrown down, and shall not be found anymore.
New Living Translation
Then a mighty angel picked up a boulder the size of a huge millstone. He threw it into the ocean and shouted, "Just like this, the great city Babylon will be thrown down with violence and will never be found again.
New Life Bible
Then a strong angel picked up a large stone like those used for grinding wheat. He threw it into the sea, saying, "The big and strong city of Babylon will be thrown down like this. It will never be found again.
New Revised Standard
Then a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone and threw it into the sea, saying, "With such violence Babylon the great city will be thrown down, and will be found no more;
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And one mighty messenger lifted a stone, as it were a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying - Thus, with main force, shall be cast down, Babylon the great city, - and in nowise be found any more;
Douay-Rheims Bible
And a mighty angel took up a stone, as it were a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying: With such violence as this, shall Babylon, that great city, be thrown down and shall be found no more at all.
Revised Standard Version
Then a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone and threw it into the sea, saying, "So shall Babylon the great city be thrown down with violence, and shall be found no more;
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
And a myghty angell toke vp a stone lyke a grett mylstone and cast it into the see sayinge: with suche violence shall that gret cite Babilon be cast and shallbe founde no more.
Young's Literal Translation
And one strong messenger did take up a stone as a great millstone, and did cast [it] to the sea, saying, `Thus with violence shall Babylon be cast, the great city, and may not be found any more at all;
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
And a mighty angell toke vp a greate stone lyke a mylstone, and cast it in to the see, sayenge: with suche violece shal that greate cite Babylon be cast, and shalbe founde no more.
Mace New Testament (1729)
Then a mighty angel took up a stone like a great milstone, and threw it into the sea, saying, "thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, never to be found any more.
Simplified Cowboy Version
Then a huge angel picked up a boulder that looked like a millstone and threw it into the sea. He said, "This is how Babylon will be thrown down and never seen again.

Contextual Overview

9Then the kings of the earth who committed sexual immorality and lived in luxury with her will weep and wail at the sight of the smoke rising from the fire that consumes her. 10In fear of her torment, they will stand at a distance and cry out: "Woe, woe to the great city, the mighty city of Babylon! For in a single hour your judgment has come." 11And the merchants of the earth will weep and mourn over her, because there is no one left to buy their cargo- 12cargo of gold, silver, precious stones, and pearls; of fine linen, purple, silk, and scarlet; of all kinds of citron wood and every article of ivory, precious wood, bronze, iron, and marble; 13of cinnamon, spice, incense, myrrh, and frankincense; of wine, olive oil, fine flour, and wheat; of cattle, sheep, horses, and chariots; of slaves and souls of men: 14"The fruit of your soul's desire has departed from you; all your luxury and splendor have vanished, never to be seen again." 15The merchants who sold these things and grew their wealth from her will stand at a distance, in fear of her torment. They will weep and mourn, 16saying: "Woe, woe to the great city, clothed in fine linen and purple and scarlet, adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls! 17For in a single hour such fabulous wealth has been destroyed!" Every shipmaster, passenger, and sailor, and all who make their living from the sea, will stand at a distance 18and cry out at the sight of the smoke rising from the fire that consumes her, saying, 'What city was ever like this great city?'

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

a mighty: This was to represent the violence of her fall, and that she should never rise again; which is further illustrated by varied emphatic expressions taken from the ancient prophets. But Rome is still standing and flourishing, and honoured by many nations as the metropolis of the Christian world; she still resounds with singers and musicians; she still excels in arts, which serve for pomp and luxury; she still abounds with candles, and lamps, and torches, burning even by day, as well as by night; and consequently this prophecy has not been, but remains to fulfilled.

Thus: Exodus 15:5, Nehemiah 9:11, Jeremiah 51:63, Jeremiah 51:64

and shall: Revelation 18:22, Revelation 12:8, Revelation 16:20, Revelation 20:11, Job 20:8, Psalms 37:36, Ezekiel 26:21, Daniel 11:19

Reciprocal: Joshua 6:21 - utterly 2 Kings 21:13 - I will wipe Psalms 85:5 - draw Proverbs 24:16 - but Isaiah 10:34 - by a mighty one Isaiah 13:20 - General Isaiah 14:23 - make Isaiah 21:9 - Babylon Isaiah 24:20 - and it Isaiah 25:12 - the fortress Isaiah 32:19 - the city shall be low Isaiah 34:11 - cormorant Isaiah 43:14 - For Isaiah 47:5 - silent Isaiah 47:9 - they shall come Isaiah 47:14 - there shall Isaiah 63:6 - I will bring Jeremiah 43:9 - great Jeremiah 49:18 - no man Jeremiah 49:33 - a dwelling Jeremiah 50:3 - which Jeremiah 50:12 - a wilderness Jeremiah 50:26 - destroy Jeremiah 50:39 - General Jeremiah 51:29 - every Jeremiah 51:37 - become Ezekiel 28:19 - thou shalt Ezekiel 30:21 - it shall not Daniel 4:30 - great Joel 3:2 - will plead Nahum 2:10 - empty Zechariah 6:8 - quieted Revelation 11:8 - the great Revelation 14:8 - because Revelation 16:10 - upon Revelation 16:19 - the great Revelation 17:5 - Babylon

Cross-References

Genesis 11:5
Then the LORD came down to see the city and the tower that the sons of men were building.
Genesis 11:7
Come, let Us go down and confuse their language, so that they will not understand one another's speech."
Genesis 18:1
Then the LORD appeared to Abraham by the oaks of Mamre in the heat of the day, while he was sitting at the entrance to his tent.
Genesis 18:24
What if there are fifty righteous ones in the city? Will You really sweep it away and not spare the place for the sake of the fifty righteous ones who are there?
Exodus 3:8
I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land to a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey-the home of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites.
Exodus 33:5
For the LORD had said to Moses, "Tell the Israelites, 'You are a stiff-necked people. If I should go with you for a single moment, I would destroy you. Now take off your jewelry, and I will decide what to do with you.'"
Deuteronomy 8:2
Remember that these forty years the LORD your God led you all the way in the wilderness, so that He might humble you and test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep His commandments.
Deuteronomy 13:3
you must not listen to the words of that prophet or dreamer. For the LORD your God is testing you to find out whether you love Him with all your heart and with all your soul.
Joshua 22:22
"The LORD, the Mighty One, is God! The LORD, the Mighty One, is God! He knows, and may Israel also know. If this was in rebellion or breach of faith against the LORD, do not spare us today.
Job 34:22
There is no darkness or deep shadow where the workers of iniquity can hide.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And a mighty angel,.... Not Christ, nor one of the ministering spirits, but some man or set of men, perhaps the same with him in Revelation 18:1

took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea; just as Jeremiah took a stone and bound it to his book after he had read it, and cast it into the river Euphrates, as a sign and token of the destruction of old Babylon, Jeremiah 51:63

saying, thus with violence shall that great city be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all; which is expressive of the utter destruction of Rome, and of the violence, force, and power with which it will be destroyed, and of the suddenness and swiftness of its destruction, and of the irrecoverableness of its state and condition.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

And a mighty angel - See the notes on Revelation 18:1. This seems, however, to have been a different angel from the one mentioned in Revelation 18:1, though, like that, he is described as having great power.

Took up a stone like a great millstone - On the structure of mills among the ancients see the notes on Matthew 24:41.

And cast it into the sea - As an emblem of the utter ruin of the city; an indication that the city would be as completely destroyed as that stone was covered by the waters.

Saying, Thus with violence - With force, as the stone was thrown into the sea. The idea is, that it would not be by a gentle and natural decline, but by the application of foreign power. This accords with all the representations in this book, that violence will be employed to overthrow the papal power. See Revelation 17:16-17. The origin of this image is probably Jeremiah 51:63-64; “And it shall be, when thou hast made an end of reading this book, that thou shalt bind a stone to it, and cast it into the midst of Euphrates; and thou shalt say, Thus shall Babylon sink, and shall not rise from the evil that I will bring on her.”

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Revelation 18:21. Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down — This action is finely and forcibly expressed by the original words: Οὑτως ὁρμηματι βληθησεται Βαβυλων ἡ μεγαλη πολις. The millstone will in falling have not only an accelerated force from the law of gravitation, but that force will be greatly increased by the projectile force impressed upon it by the power of the destroying angel.

Shall be found no more at all. — In her government, consequence, or influence. This is true of ancient Babylon; we are not certain even of the place where it stood. It is also true of Jerusalem; her government, consequence, and influence are gone. It is not true of Rome pagan; nor, as yet, of Rome papal: the latter still exists, and the former is most intimately blended with it; for in her religions service Rome papal has retained her language, and many of her heathen temples has she dedicated to saints real or reputed, and incorporated many of her superstitions and absurdities in a professedly Christian service. It is true also that many idols are now restored under the names of Christian saints!


 
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