Revelation 18:5 (KJV)

What does Revelation 18:5 mean?

Revelation 18:5 says that the sins of "her"—referring to Babylon—have piled up so high that they reach heaven, and God has not forgotten her wrongdoings. The verse emphasizes that Babylon's guilt is so great and obvious that it demands God's attention and response.

In the context of Revelation, an angel is announcing the coming judgment on Babylon, a symbol for a corrupt and powerful city or system. The language paints a vivid picture of sins accumulating like a tower, making it clear that nothing escapes God's notice. The verse sets up the certainty and justice of God's coming judgment in the following verses.

The Greek behind Revelation 18:5

• The word for "reached" is ἐκολλήθησαν (ekollēthēsan), which means "to glue" or "to join closely." Here, it suggests that the sins are stuck together and have formed a mass that climbs all the way to heaven, highlighting the overwhelming extent of the wrongdoing.
• The word for "remembered" is ἐμνήσθη (emnēsthē), which means "to recall" or "to bring to mind." In this context, it means that God is now acting on these remembered iniquities—He has not overlooked or forgotten them.

Why Revelation 18:5 matters

• The verse clears up the idea that wrongdoing can be hidden or ignored; it stresses that persistent sin will eventually demand a response from God.
• By describing sins as "reaching unto heaven," the verse connects to earlier biblical stories, like the Tower of Babel, where human pride and rebellion also "reached" toward heaven.
• This verse sets the stage for the rest of Revelation 18, explaining why Babylon faces such severe judgment and showing that God's justice is based on a complete awareness of all that has happened.