Revelation 18:3

Translations

Modern

All the nations have drunk the wine of the passion of her immorality. The kings of the earth were immoral with her, and the merchants of the earth have grown wealthy from the extravagance of her luxury.”

Traditional

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.

Literal

For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her sexual immorality; and the kings of the earth committed sexual immorality with her; and the merchants of the earth became rich through the power of her luxury.”

Latin

…quia de vino iræ fornicationis ejus biberunt omnes gentes: et reges terræ cum illa fornicati sunt: et mercatores terræ de virtute deliciarum ejus divites facti sunt.

Original

Greek

English

All the nations have drunk the wine of the passion of her immorality. The kings of the earth were immoral with her, and the merchants of the earth have grown wealthy from the extravagance of her luxury.”

Notes

Revelation 18:3

Rome took wealth from conquered nations, living in extreme luxury, before facing God's justice.

Revelation 18:1–3

The angel's powerful taunt song is the first poetic response. Ancient taunt songs mocked a defeated enemy (see Isaiah 13:19–22; 34:10–17). These taunts describe the fall of Babylon (or Rome; see study note on Revelation 14:8) as a traumatic event for dependent kingdoms and especially for those who had benefited from her wealth. The Goths and Visigoths attacked Rome in the AD 400s, ending the prosperous empire.

Revelation 18:1–24

This chapter includes seven poetic responses to the fall of Babylon or Rome (refer to the study note on Revelation 17:5).

Revelation 17:1–19:10

The main drama in this section shows the powers that stand against God and cause the persecution and suffering of God’s people. Rome’s power attracted and impressed many people (Revelation 17:6). John clearly describes Rome's sins and shares God's judgment (Revelation 17:3–18) before he describes Rome’s fall (18:1–24) and heaven’s response to that fall (19:1–10).

Theme notes and profiles

Babylon Messages Against the Nations Visions

Related verses

Revelation 17:2
The kings of the earth were immoral with her, and those who dwell on the earth were intoxicated with the wine of her immorality.”
Revelation 14:8
Then a second angel followed, saying, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, who has made all the nations drink the wine of the passion of her immorality.”
Revelation 18:9
Then the kings of the earth who committed sexual immorality and lived in luxury with her will weep and wail at the sight of the smoke rising from the fire that consumes her.
Revelation 18:23
The light of a lamp will never shine in you again, and the voices of a bride and bridegroom will never call out in you again. For your merchants were the great ones of the earth, because all the nations were deceived by your sorcery.”
Jeremiah 51:7
Babylon was a gold cup in the hand of the LORD, making the whole earth drunk. The nations drank her wine; therefore the nations have gone mad.
Lamentations 4:5
Those who once ate delicacies are destitute in the streets; those brought up in crimson huddle in ash heaps.
2 Peter 2:1–3
Now there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves.
Revelation 18:11–17
And the merchants of the earth will weep and mourn over her, because there is no one left to buy their cargo—
Isaiah 47:15
This is what they are to you—those with whom you have labored and traded from youth—each one strays in his own direction; not one of them can save you.
Jeremiah 51:34
“Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon has devoured me; he has crushed me. He has set me aside like an empty vessel; he has swallowed me like a monster; he filled his belly with my delicacies and vomited me out.
Luke 7:25
Otherwise, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? Look, those who wear elegant clothing and live in luxury are found in palaces.
Ezekiel 27:9–25
The elders of Gebal were aboard as shipwrights, repairing your leaks. All the ships of the sea and their sailors came alongside to barter for your merchandise.

Revelation 18:3

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Related verses

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Glossary

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