Revelation 18:3
What does Revelation 18:3 mean?
A plain-English look at Revelation 18:3 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Revelation 18:3 means
The angel gives the reasons for Babylon’s fall. The nations drank her intoxicating wine—the allure of idolatry and immoral compromise. Kings joined her in spiritual adultery, aligning with her values instead of God’s. Merchants grew rich through her luxury and excess. Babylon’s power was not merely political; it was seductive, drawing rulers and economies into corrupt partnerships. The language of “fornication” links greed and idolatry, showing how worship and commerce can both become entangled with sin. Babylon’s influence was global, her reach total, and her prosperity depended on moral compromise. God’s judgment, therefore, addresses a whole system that deceived and enriched itself by drawing others into its sins.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000For by the wine of the wrath of her fornication all the nations are fallen; and the kings of the earth committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth waxed rich by the power of her wantonness.
KJV
King James Version · 1611For 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.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901For by the wine of the wrath of her fornication all the nations are fallen; and the kings of the earth committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth waxed rich by the power of her wantonness.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949For through the wine of the wrath of her evil desires all the nations have come to destruction; and the kings of the earth made themselves unclean with her, and the traders of the earth had their wealth increased by the power of her evil ways.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862because of the wine of the wrath of her whoredom have all the nations drunk, and the kings of the earth with her did commit whoredom, and merchants of the earth from the power of her revel were made rich.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Because 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 have been made rich by the power of her delicacies.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890because all the nations have drunk of the wine of the fury of her fornication; and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth have been enriched through the might of her luxury.
Context
After announcing the fall, the angel explains why it happens. Verse 3 shifts from the fact of judgment to its causes: widespread, willing participation in Babylon’s sinful economy and values. The triple focus—nations, kings, and merchants—anticipates the three groups who will later lament her fall. This sets the structure for the chapter: indictment, then a call to separate, then descriptions of sudden judgment, followed by the earth’s mourning and heaven’s rejoicing. Understanding Babylon’s seductive reach prepares readers for the repeated refrain of sudden destruction that follows.
v.2And he cried with a mighty voice, saying, Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, and is become a habitation of demons, and a hold of every unclean spirit, and a hold of every unclean and hateful bird.
v.3This passage
v.4And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come forth, my people, out of her, that ye have no fellowship with her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues:
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Revelation 18:9
And the kings of the earth, who committed fornication and lived wantonly with her, shall weep and wail over her, when they look upon the smoke of her burning,
- Proverbs 23:1
When thou sittest to eat with a ruler, Consider diligently him that is before thee;
- Luke 7:25
But what went ye out to see? a man clothed in soft raiment? Behold, they that are gorgeously apparelled, and live delicately, are in kings’ courts.
- Isaiah 47:15
Thus shall the things be unto thee wherein thou hast labored: they that have trafficked with thee from thy youth shall wander every one to his quarter; there shall be none to save thee.
- Ezekiel 27:9
The old men of Gebal and the wise men thereof were in thee thy calkers: all the ships of the sea with their mariners were in thee to deal in thy merchandise.
- Revelation 14:8
And another, a second angel, followed, saying, Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, that hath made all the nations to drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.
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