Revelation 18 3

Revelation 18:3 kjv

For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies.

Revelation 18:3 nkjv

For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth have become rich through the abundance of her luxury."

Revelation 18:3 niv

For all the nations have drunk the maddening wine of her adulteries. The kings of the earth committed adultery with her, and the merchants of the earth grew rich from her excessive luxuries."

Revelation 18:3 esv

For all nations have drunk the wine of the passion of her sexual immorality, and the kings of the earth have committed immorality with her, and the merchants of the earth have grown rich from the power of her luxurious living."

Revelation 18:3 nlt

For all the nations have fallen
because of the wine of her passionate immorality.
The kings of the world
have committed adultery with her.
Because of her desires for extravagant luxury,
the merchants of the world have grown rich."

Revelation 18 verses

Revelation 18 3 Meaning

Revelation 18:3 unveils the comprehensive reach of Babylon's corrupting influence and the basis for her impending judgment. It states that all the nations have consumed the intoxicating, wrath-inducing "wine of her fornication," implying their deep involvement in her spiritual apostasy and immoral ways. This illicit relationship is further highlighted by the "kings of the earth" who engaged in "fornication with her," signifying their political and religious allegiance to Babylon's idolatrous and ungodly system. Finally, it exposes the material consequences of this partnership: the "merchants of the earth" accumulated vast wealth through "the abundance of her delicacies" or luxuries, showcasing Babylon's role as a center of excessive materialism and spiritual defilement that entangled the entire world's economic elite.

Revelation 18 3 Context

Revelation chapter 18 describes the dramatic and irreversible fall of "Babylon the Great," an apocalyptic symbol for a global system (often understood as a composite of oppressive political, economic, and false religious power) that stands against God and His people. Following her judgment by God's angels and the previous declarations of her downfall in chapters 14 and 17, chapter 18 details the reasons for this ruin and the lamentations of those who profited from her. Verse 3 specifically articulates the extent of her seductive influence, outlining how her pervasive idolatry, spiritual depravity (symbolized by "fornication"), and opulent materialism corrupted nations, their rulers, and the world's commercial elite, making them complicit in her sins and therefore deserving of judgment alongside her. This verse serves as a crucial foundation for the subsequent verses that narrate the weeping of kings and merchants over Babylon's demise, directly linking their previous involvement to their future loss. Historically, Babylon likely had connotations of the Roman Empire for John's original audience, representing its imperial cult, economic power, and persecution of Christians, but its symbolic nature extends to any future global system characterized by idolatry, luxury, and oppression.

Revelation 18 3 Word analysis

• For (Gar, γάρ): Connective particle, indicates a reason or explanation. It introduces the justification for Babylon's imminent judgment.

• all the nations (panta ta ethnē, πάντα τὰ ἔθνη): Literally, "all the Gentiles" or "all the peoples." Emphasizes the global scope of Babylon's influence, reaching every part of humanity outside of God's covenant people.

• have drunk (pepokan, πεπωκασιν): A perfect active indicative verb. Indicates a completed action with continuing effects. The nations have willingly consumed and are still affected by what Babylon offered. It's a settled state.

• of the wine (ek tou oinou, ἐκ τοῦ οἴνου): "From the wine." Wine often symbolizes intoxication, revelry, but also wrath or judgment in the Bible. Here, it refers to an intoxicating influence leading to spiritual stupefaction and moral depravity.

• of the wrath (tou thymou, τοῦ θυμοῦ): "Of wrath," specifically intense anger or passion. This "wrath" is unusual here; it might refer to the intoxicating, passionate desire that Babylon generates (a furious, passionate indulgence in her sins) which, paradoxically, also provokes God's wrath, or the cup itself is infused with divine wrath because of Babylon's actions. Scholars debate if it refers to the nations' "passionate craving" or the wrath of God against these illicit actions.

• of her fornication (tēs porneias autēs, τῆς πορνείας αὐτῆς): "Her fornication." Porneia broadly signifies immorality, often spiritual unfaithfulness, idolatry, or illicit alliances. Here, it is symbolic of Babylon's spiritual apostasy and system of idolatry and corruption that draws others into rebellion against God. It signifies a betrayal of true spiritual loyalty.

• and the kings of the earth (kai hoi basileis tēs gēs, καὶ οἱ βασιλεῖς τῆς γῆς): Represents the political powers, rulers, and governmental authorities globally. They are key players seduced by Babylon's system.

• have committed fornication with her (eporneusan met’ autēs, ἐπόρνευσαν μετ’ αὐτῆς): Also a perfect tense verb, showing completed action with enduring consequences. This implies illicit spiritual, political, and economic alliances formed with Babylon's idolatrous and ungodly system. It's not just a passing engagement but a deep, consensual union.

• and the merchants of the earth (kai hoi emporoi tēs gēs, καὶ οἱ ἔμποροι τῆς γῆς): Represents the economic and commercial powers. They are attracted to Babylon's wealth and profit from her system.

• are waxed rich (eploutēsan, ἐπλούτησαν): "Grew rich" or "became wealthy." An aorist verb, indicating a past completed action of becoming rich through specific means, highlighting their prosperity from Babylon's dealings.

• through the abundance of her delicacies (ek tēs dynameōs tou strēnous autēs, ἐκ τῆς δυνάμεως τοῦ στρήνους αὐτῆς): Literally "out of the power/strength of her luxury/wantonness." Strēnos means luxuriant living, opulent indulgence, sensual pleasure, and excessive wealth, often implying arrogance and unrestrained pomp. The "power/strength" (dynamis) indicates the compelling force of her vast luxury and sumptuousness, which enriched the merchants.

Revelation 18 3 Bonus section

• The dual imagery of "wine": In this verse, "wine of her fornication" acts as a sedative for the nations, blinding them to Babylon's true nature and leading them into complicity. This is juxtaposed with the "wine of the wrath of God" that Babylon herself will later drink (Rev 14:10, 16:19), indicating a righteous divine reciprocation of judgment. The intoxication for sin will lead to the intoxication of judgment.
• "Fornication" as covenant infidelity: In Old Testament prophecy, God's people engaging in idolatry or trusting in foreign alliances is consistently depicted as "harlotry" or "fornication" against Him, their divine husband (e.g., Jer 3, Eze 16, Hos 4). This rich theological backdrop in Revelation deepens the understanding of Babylon's "fornication" as a profound betrayal of the one true God and a widespread system of idolatrous loyalties.
• The connection between "kings" and "merchants" shows that Babylon's influence is holistic, spanning both political authority and economic might. The downfall of one directly impacts the other, revealing the interconnectedness of world systems built on godlessness and materialism. Their lamentations in subsequent verses emphasize that their alliance was fundamentally for personal gain and worldly power rather than spiritual truth or righteousness.

Revelation 18 3 Commentary

Revelation 18:3 profoundly exposes the reasons for Babylon's imminent fall, rooted in her pervasive moral and spiritual corruption that contaminates global society. The "wine of her fornication" signifies the intoxicating influence of her idolatrous system, leading nations into a state of spiritual intoxication, confusion, and participation in her wickedness. This spiritual harlotry is not merely a metaphor for religious deception but encapsulates any alliance with worldly powers that deviates from absolute fidelity to God. Kings are specifically implicated as they forge political and strategic bonds with Babylon's system, thereby partaking in its spiritual unfaithfulness and opposing divine sovereignty. Simultaneously, the verse indicts the economic sphere, revealing that global merchants amass immense wealth directly from Babylon's excessive materialism and "delicacies" – the lavish goods, services, and self-indulgent lifestyles that characterize her rebellion against God. Thus, this single verse outlines the global reach of Babylon's seductive power, highlighting how she corrupts both political leaders and economic powers through spiritual illicit alliances and materialism, thereby drawing them into a shared condemnation.