Revelation 18:21

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.

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.

Berean Standard Bible
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.

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;

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

⁹ And the kings of the earth, who have committed fornication and lived in delicacies with her, shall weep and bewail themselves over her, when they shall see the smoke of her burning: ¹⁰ Standing afar off for fear of her torments, saying: Alas! alas! that great city, Babylon, that mighty city: for in one hour is thy judgment come. ¹¹ And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her: for no man shall buy their merchandise any more. ¹² 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 of vessels of ivory: and all manner of vessels of precious stone and of brass and of iron and of marble: ¹³ And cinnamon and odours and ointment 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 of the desire of thy soul are departed from thee: and all fat and goodly things are perished from thee. And they shall find them no more at all. ¹⁵ The merchants of these things, who were made rich, shall stand afar off from her, for fear of her torments, weeping and mourning, ¹⁶ And saying: Alas! alas! that great city, which was clothed with fine linen and purple and scarlet and was gilt with gold and precious stones and pearls. ¹⁷ For in one hour are so great riches come to nought. And every shipmaster and all that sail into the lake, and mariners, and as many as work in the sea, stood afar off, ¹⁸ And cried, seeing the place of her burning, saying: What city is like to 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
And the Lord came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of Adam were building.

Genesis 11:7
Come ye, therefore, let us go down, and there confound their tongue, that they may not understand one another’s speech.

Genesis 18:1
And the Lord appeared to him in the vale of Mambre as he was sitting at the door of his tent, in the very heat of the day.

Genesis 18:24
If there be fifty just men in the city, shall they perish withal? and wilt thou not spare that place for the sake of the fifty just, if they be therein?

Exodus 3:8
And knowing their sorrow, I am come down to deliver them out of the hands of the Egyptians, and to bring them out of that land into a good and spacious land, into a land that floweth with milk and honey, to the places of the Chanaanite, and Hethite, and Amorrhite, and Pherezite, and Hevite, and Jebusite.

Exodus 33:5
And the Lord said to Moses: Say to the children of Israel: Thou art a stiffnecked people, once I shall come up in the midst of thee, and shall destroy thee. Now presently lay aside thy ornaments, that I may know what to do to thee.

Deuteronomy 8:2
And thou shalt remember all the way through which the Lord thy God hath brought thee for forty years through the desert, to afflict thee and to prove thee, and that the things that were known in thy heart might be made known, whether thou wouldst keep his commandments or no.

Deuteronomy 13:3
Thou shalt not hear the words of that prophet or dreamer: for the Lord your God trieth you, that it may appear whether you love him with all your heart, and with all your soul, or not.

Joshua 22:22
The Lord the most mighty God, the Lord the most mighty God, he knoweth, and Israel also shall understand: If with the design of transgression we have set up this altar, let him not save us, but punish us immediately:

Job 34:22
There is no darkness, and there is no shadow of death, where they may be hid who work iniquity.

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!