Revelation 18:24
in Revelation 18And there was found in her the blood of prophets and saints, and of all who had been slain on the earth.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And in her was found the blood of prophets and of saints, and of all that have been slain upon the earth.
KJV
And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth.
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This verse in Revelation 18
Commentary
9 notes on this verseAnd he gives the reason for this. [Babylon] deceived all nations with her sorcery and was the recipient of the blood of prophets and the other saints. It is possible that this passage depicts the impious Babylon among the Persians, for at various times until …
This site's exposition
the blood of prophets and saints
The chapter ends on the charge of 17:6 and widens it to all who had been slain on the earth. The Lord laid the same reach of guilt on the leaders of His day at Matthew 23:35, from Abel onward.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
A commentator
Caesarius of ArlesEXPOSITION ON THE APOCALYPSE 18:21-24, HOMILY 17 · Written before 542.
proposed
"The blood of the prophets and the saints was found in her and of all who have been slain by [her] upon the earth." Did the same city kill the apostles that also killed the prophets and all of the rest of the martyrs? Rather, …
The Medieval Church1 voice
And in her was found the blood of prophets and saints, etc. Did the same city kill the apostles, which also killed the prophets, or all the saints? But this is the city that Cain founded with the blood of his brother, and he named …
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
And in her was found the blood of the prophets and saints - The same angel speaks still, yet he does not say "in thee," but in her, now so sunk as not to hear these last words. And of all that had been slain - Even before she was built. There is no city under the sun which has so clear a title to catholic blood-guiltiness as Rome.
And in her was found the blood of prophets and of saints,....
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
In her was found the blood of prophets, etc. - She was the persecutor and murderer of prophets and of righteous men. And of all that were slain upon the earth - This refers to her counsels and influence, exciting other nations and people to persecute and destroy the real followers of God. There is no city to which all these things are yet applicable, therefore we may presume that the prophecy remains yet to be fulfilled.
2 more voices on this verse
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
Applied by Christ (Mt 23:35) to apostate Jerusalem, which proves that not merely the literal city Rome, and the Church of Rome (though the chief representative of the apostasy), but the WHOLE of the faithless Church of both the Old and New Testament is meant by Babylon the harlot; just as the whole Church (Old and New Testament) is meant by "the woman" (Re 12:1).
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
And in her - When she came to be destroyed, and her real character was seen. Was found the blood of prophets - Of the public teachers of the true religion. On the word “prophets” see the notes on Rev 18:20. And of saints - Of the holy. See the notes on Rev 18:20. And of all that were slain upon the earth - So numerous have been the slain, so constant and bloody have been the persecutions there, that it may be said that all the blood ever shed has been poured out there. Compare the notes on Mat 23:35. No one can doubt the propriety of this representation with respect to pagan and papal Rome. In regard to the general meaning and application of this chapter the following remarks may be made: (1) It refers to papal Rome, and is designed to describe the final overthrow of that formidable anti-Christian power. The whole course of the interpretation of the previous chapters demands such an application, and the chapter itself naturally suggests it. (2) If it be asked why so much of this imagery is derived from the condition of a maritime power, or pertains to commerce, since both Babylon and Rome were at some distance from the sea, and neither could with propriety be regarded as seaport towns, it may be replied: (a) That the main idea in the mind of John was that of a rich and magnificent city; (b) That all the things enumerated were doubtless found, in fact, in both Babylon and Rome; (c) That though not properly seaport towns, they were situated on rivers that opened into seas, and were therefore not unfavorably situated for commerce; and, (d) That, in fact, they traded with all parts of the earth. The leading idea is that of a great and luxurious city, and this is filled up and decorated with images of what is commonly found in large commercial towns. […]
The words behind it
15 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| καὶ | kai | And | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| ἐν | en | in | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| αὐτῇ | autea | her | G846 → | 5565 times |
| αἷμα | haima | [the] blood | G129 → | 97 times |
| προφητῶν | propheton | of prophets | G4396 → | 144 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| ἁγίων | hagion | of saints | G40 → | 220 times |
| εὑρέθη | heurethe | was found | G2147 → | 175 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| πάντων | panton | of all | G3956 → | 1235 times |
| τῶν | ton | those | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἐσφαγμένων | esphagmenon | slain | G4969 → | 10 times |
| ἐπὶ | epi | on | G1909 → | 883 times |
| τῆς | tes | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| γῆς.¶ | ges | earth. | G1093 → | 248 times |
καὶAnd
kaiG2532 →9120 times
ἐνin
enG1722 →2738 times
αὐτῇher
auteaG846 →5565 times
αἷμα[the] blood
haimaG129 →97 times
προφητῶνof prophets
prophetonG4396 →144 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
ἁγίωνof saints
hagionG40 →220 times
εὑρέθηwas found
heuretheG2147 →175 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
πάντωνof all
pantonG3956 →1235 times
τῶνthose
tonG3588 →19766 times
ἐσφαγμένωνslain
esphagmenonG4969 →10 times
ἐπὶon
epiG1909 →883 times
τῆςthe
tesG3588 →19766 times
γῆς.¶earth.
gesG1093 →248 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Revelation 17:6I could see that the woman was drunk with the blood of the saints and witnesses for Jesus. And I was utterly amazed at the sight of her.
it leads to
- Revelation 13:15
The second beast was permitted to give breath to the image of the first beast, so that the image could speak and cause all who refused to worship it to be killed.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Revelation 16:6
For they have spilled the blood of saints and prophets, and You have given them blood to drink, as they deserve.”
- Revelation 13:15
Through
Revelation 19:2For His judgments are true and just. He has judged the great prostitute who corrupted the earth with her immorality. He has avenged the blood of His servants that was poured out by her…
it leads to
- Deuteronomy 32:43
Rejoice, O heavens, with Him, and let all God’s angels worship Him. Rejoice, O nations, with His people; for He will avenge the blood of His children. He will take vengeance on His adversaries…
- Revelation 6:10
And they cried out in a loud voice, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You avenge our blood and judge those who dwell upon the earth?”
- Deuteronomy 32:43
Through
Revelation 16:6For they have spilled the blood of saints and prophets, and You have given them blood to drink, as they deserve.”
it leads to
- Isaiah 49:26
I will make your oppressors eat their own flesh; they will be drunk on their own blood, as with wine. Then all mankind will know that I, the LORD, am your Savior and your…
- Isaiah 49:26
Through
Acts 7:52Which of the prophets did your fathers fail to persecute? They even killed those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One. And now you are His betrayers and murderers—
it leads to
- Matthew 5:12
Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets before you.
- 2 Chronicles 36:16
But they mocked the messengers of God, despising His words and scoffing at His prophets, until the wrath of the LORD against His people was stirred up beyond remedy.
- 1 Kings 19:10
“I have been very zealous for the LORD, the God of Hosts,” he replied, “but the Israelites have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I am…
- Matthew 5:12
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies3
About Revelation
This page draws on 9 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Andreas of Caesarea, COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 18:21-24; Bede, Commentary on Revelation; Caesarius of Arles, EXPOSITION ON THE APOCALYPSE 18:21-24, HOMILY 17; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.