John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 5. For her sins have reached unto heaven , etc.] Or have followed unto heaven; one after another, in one age after another, until they have been as it were heaped up together, and have reached the heavens; the phrase denotes the multitude of them, God's knowledge and notice of them, and the cry of them to him; (see Genesis 18:20 Jon 1:2) the Alexandrian copy and Complutensian edition read, have cleaved, or glued, and so the Syriac and Arabic versions seem to have read; her sins were as it were soldered together, and stuck fast to her, and being joined and linked together, made a long chain, and reached to heaven, and cleaved to that, and cried for vengeance: and God hath remembered her iniquities ; and is about to punish her for them; for as forgiveness of sin is signified by a non-remembrance of it, so punishment of sin by a remembrance of it, and of the persons that commit it; (see Revelation 16:19).
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-8 - The downfall and destruction of the mystical Babylon are determined in the counsels of God. Another angel comes from heaven. This seems to be Christ himself, coming to destroy his enemies, and to shed abroad the light of his gospel through all nations. The wickedness of this Babylo was very great; she had forsaken the true God, and set up idols, an had drawn all sorts of men into spiritual adultery, and by her wealt and luxury kept them in her interest. The spiritual merchandise, by which multitudes have wickedly lived in wealth, by the sins and follie of mankind, seems principally intended. Fair warning is given to all that expect mercy from God, that they should not only come out of thi Babylon, but assist in her destruction. God may have a people even in Babylon. But God's people shall be called out of Babylon, and calle effectually, while those that partake with wicked men in their sins must receive of their plagues. (Rev 18:9-19)
Greek Textus Receptus
οτι 3754 CONJ {VAR1: ηκολουθησαν 190 5656 V-AAI-3P } {VAR2: εκολληθησαν 2853 5681 V-API-3P } αυτης 846 P-GSF αι 3588 T-NPF αμαρτιαι 266 N-NPF αχρι 891 PREP του 3588 T-GSM ουρανου 3772 N-GSM και 2532 CONJ εμνημονευσεν 3421 5656 V-AAI-3S ο 3588 T-NSM θεος 2316 N-NSM τα 3588 T-APN αδικηματα 92 N-APN αυτης 846 P-GSF
Vincent's NT Word Studies
5. Have reached (hkolouqhsan). Lit., followed. But the best texts read ejkollhqhsan clave. Compare Jer. li. 9. For different applications of the verb see on Matt. xix. 5; Luke xv. 15; Acts v. 13. Compare the classical phrase for following up closely a fleeing foe, hoerere in terga hostium, to cleave to the backs of the enemy. See also Zech. xiv. 5 (Sept.), "The valley of the mountains shall reach (egkollhqhsetai) unto Azal." The radical idea of the metaphor is that of following or reaching after so as to be joined to.
