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.
3. the wine of ] Should perhaps be omitted: it may have come in from the parallel passage, Rev 14:8.
the kings of the earth &c.] Rev 17:2.
the merchants of the earth ] Merchants are alluded to as frequenting the literal Babylon in Isa 47:15; but the prominence given to them suggests the analogy, not of Babylon but of Tyre: see on Rev 17:1. Rome was in St John’s day a wealthy and luxurious city, not a commercial city primarily, in the same sense as ancient Tyre and modern London, but a city with an immense commerce, the commerce really belonging to the city, though the port of Ostia was considerably further from the Capitol than the Docks are from Westminster. What Rome was then it may, and probably will, be again: and there is thus no need to look elsewhere than at Rome for the literal fulfilment of St John’s description, though some have thought it inappropriate to the geographical position of the city.
abundance of her delicacies ] More literally, power of her luxury.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication – See the notes on Rev 14:8. This is given as a reason why this utter ruin had come upon her. She had beguiled and corrupted the nations of the earth, leading them into estrangement from God, and into pollution and sin. See the notes on Rev 9:20-21.
And the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her – Spiritual adultery; that is, she has been the means of seducing them from God and leading them into sinful practices.
And the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies – The word rendered abundance here, means commonly power. It might here denote influence, though it may also mean number, quantity, wealth. Compare Rev 3:8, where the same word is used. The word rendered delicacies – strenous – occurs nowhere else in the New Testament. It properly means rudeness, insolence, pride; and hence revel, riot, luxury. It may be rendered here properly as luxury, or proud voluptuousness; and the reference is to such luxuries as are found commonly in a great, a frivolous, and a splendid city. These, of course, give rise to much traffic, and furnish employment to many merchants and sailors, who thus procure a livelihood, or become wealthy as the result of such traffic. Babylon – or papal Rome – is here represented under the image of such a luxurious city; and of course, when she falls, they who have thus been dependent on her, and who have been enriched by her, have occasion for mourning and lamentation. It is not necessary to expect to find a literal fulfillment of this, for it is emblematic and symbolical. The image of a great, rich, splendid, proud and luxurious city having been employed to denote that anti-Christian power, all that is said in this chapter follows, of course, on its fall. The general idea is, that she was doomed to utter desolation, and that all who were connected with her, far and near, would be involved in her ruin.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 3. The wine of the wrath] The punishment due to her transgressions, because they have partaken with her in her sins. See Clarke on Re 14:8.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication; that is, her fornications which have brought this wrath upon her.
And the kings of the earth have committed, &c.; she hath not only herself committed idolatry, but allured others to it, teaching them to break the commandments of God, and hath influenced princes to establish, and propagate, and to uphold, and maintain it; and all sorts of men have been bewitched by her, growing rich by her abundance, and being drenched in her luxury.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
3. drunk Re14:8, from which perhaps “the wine” may have beeninterpolated. They have drunk of her fornication, theconsequence of which will be wrath to themselves. But A, B,and C read, “(owing to the wrath of her fornication all nations)have fallen.” Vulgate and most versions read asEnglish Version, which may be the right reading though notsupported by the oldest manuscripts. Babylon, the whore, is destroyedbefore the beast slays the two witnesses (Re11:7), and then the beast himself is destroyed.
the wineso B, Syriac,and Coptic. But A, C, and Vulgate omit.
abundanceliterally,”power.”
delicaciesGreek,“luxury.” See on 1Ti 5:11,where the Greek verb “wax wanton” is akin to thenoun here. Translate, “wanton luxury.” The reference is notto earthly merchandise, but to spiritual wares, indulgences,idolatries, superstitions, worldly compromises, wherewith the harlot,that is, the apostate Church, has made merchandise of men.This applies especially to Rome; but the Greek, and even in aless degree Protestant churches, are not guiltless. However, theprinciple of evangelical Protestantism is pure, but theprinciple of Rome and the Greek church is not so.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication,…. That is, all the nations of the Roman empire, the European nations, otherwise the Pagan and Mahometan nations have not; but these have, being made to drink by her, and made drunk therewith, that is, with her idolatries; [See comments on Re 14:8].
And the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her; joined with her in her idolatrous worship and practices, and encouraged the same, and obliged their subjects to them in their dominions; [See comments on Re 17:2].
And the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies; or “luxury”; which is not to be understood in a literal sense; though it is true that many merchants, in all ages, have enriched themselves by sending their commodities to Rome, where, through the vast consumption and luxuriousness of the place, they have bore a good price; but this is to be interpreted of spiritual merchants; these are such who do not merchandise by sea, but are land merchants, the merchants of the earth, and are said to be the great men of the earth, Re 18:23 such as are equal to princes, lords, and nobles; such are the cardinals, archbishops, and bishops; though the inferior clergy of the Romish church, who are under these, may be included: to which may be added, that one part of their wares is said to be the souls of men, Re 18:13 which plainly shows what sort of merchants these are; they are such who make merchandise of men, and pretend to sell them heaven, and the salvation of their souls; these are they that deal in pardons and indulgences, which they sell to ignorant people, and for a sum of money say Mass to fetch souls out of purgatory: all things have been saleable at Rome, crucifixes, priests, altars, temples, prayers, heaven, Christ, yea, God himself, as the poet Mantuan expresses it; and because of these idolatries, and wicked practices, Rome will be at last destroyed.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
By (). “As a result of.” Some MSS. omit “of the wine” ( ). Cf. Rev 14:10; Rev 16:10.
Have fallen (). Perfect active third personal of for usual . Some MSS. read (have drunk), from like the metaphor in Rev 14:8; Rev 14:10; Rev 16:19; Rev 17:2. See 17:2 for the same charge about the kings of the earth.
The merchants of the earth ( ). Old word for one on a journey for trade (from , ), like drummers, in N.T. only Matt 13:45; Rev 18:3; Rev 18:11; Rev 18:15; Rev 18:23. Like (Joh 2:16) and (Jas 4:13).
Waxed rich (). First ingressive aorist active indicative of , to be rich (cf. 3:17). Here alone in the N.T. do we catch a glimpse of the vast traffic between east and west that made Rome rich.
Of her wantonness ( ). Late word for arrogance, luxury, here alone in N.T. See in verses Rev 18:7; Rev 18:9, to live wantonly.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
Have drunk [ ] . Some, however, read peptwkan have fallen. So Rev.
Of the wine [ ] . Thus if we read have drunk. If we adopt have fallen, ejk is instrumental, by. So Rev.
Of the wrath. The wine of fornication has turned to wrath against herself. Merchants [] . The word originally means one on a journey by sea or land, especially for traffic. Hence a merchant as distinguished from kaphlov a retailer or huckster.
The abundance of her delicacies [ ] . Lit., as Rev., the power of her luxury. Strhnov is akin to stereov firm, hard, stubborn (see on steadfast, 1Pe 5:9). Hence over – strength, luxury, wantonness. Only here in the New Testament. The kindred verb strhniaw to live deliciously occurs ch. 18 7, 9.
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1) “For all nations have drunk,” (hoti pepokan panta to ethne) “Because all the nations (races of people) have drunk; have satisfied their thirst craving or thirst desire of the flesh.
2) “Of the wine of the wrath of her fornication,” (ek tou omou tou thurou tes porneias autes) “out of (from) the wine of her impassioned anger of her fornication;” Rev 14:8.
3) “And the kings of the earth,” (kai hoi basileis tes ges) “Even the kings (royal rulers) of the earth; the provincial princes or kingly rulers who had come under her influence had derided the true God of heaven, drinking wine in derision against the true God to the gods of their provinces, Dan 5:1-4; Dan 5:23; Dan 5:30.
4) “Have committed fornication with her,” (met’ autes eporneusan) “Practiced or repeatedly (habitually) committed fornication with her; Rev 17:2; Rev 17:4-5.
5) “And the merchants of the earth,” (kai hoi emporoi tes ges) “And (even) the merchants of the earth; as well as kings; those dealing in business exchange have been shook down” by this Babylonish harlot in business transactions of financial kick-backs, Rev 18:11-15.
6) “Are waxed rich, through the abundance of her delicacies,” (ek tes dunameos tou strenous autes eploutesan) “Became rich, (wealthy) out of the power of her luxury;” Isa 47:15. Few question that the final Babylon and Rome of this Gentile age is personified in the Romish – Protestant collusion and collaboration with each other to form and advance a one world church and religio-state church with riches, glamour, and worldly power Eze 27:9-25; Joh 5:43; Rev 18:9-12.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
(3) For all nations have drunk . . .Better, Because by the wrath of her fornication (comp. Rev. 14:8, and Note there) all the nations have drunk (or, according to another reading, have fallen; the readings are akin: the drinking of it leads to their degradation and fall), and the kings of the earth committed (not have committed) fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth waxed rich out of the strength of her luxury. She has been an enemy to mankind viewed in three great aspects: nations, kings, and merchants. She has brought delirium upon nations; she has reduced kings; she has bribed merchants: her sins are strong sins; with both hands earnestly has she sinned.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
‘For 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 wanton luxurious living.’
Her love of idolatry, sexual deviancy and the occult have brought on her the wrath of God and their participation in this, with its consequences, is depicted as wine drunk by the nations. The rulers of the earth sought to please her and gain her favours and the merchants of the earth prospered by reason of her propensities. All sought to benefit from her evil ways. This applied to Rome in John’s day and it applies to many centres of ‘civilisation’ in our own. The people to whom John wrote would see the woman as Rome. We may see it as many cities, centres of great empires, for men always tend to establish their own empires. Then it was done by blatant conquest, now it is done by assimilation. They may pay lip service to God but at heart they oppose all He stands for.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
3 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.
Ver. 3. For all nations ] All Roman Catholics.
The merchants of the earth ] . The Popish emissaries that huckster the word and make merchandise of men’s souls, 2Pe 2:3 , after they have taken them prisoners, and made prizes of them, 2Ti 3:6 , .
Through the abundance of her delicacies ] , or, of her insolencies. Proh pudor! haec res est tote notissima caelo, sang Petrarch 200 years since, speaking of the luxury and insolency of the court of Rome.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
nations = the nations.
wine . . . wrath = furious wine. Figure of speech. Antimereia (of Noun). App-6.
have. Omit.
are. Omit.
through = by. Greek. ek. App-104.
abundance. App-172.1; Rev 176:1.
delicacies = luxury. Greek. strenos. Only here in NT.; its verb only in verses: Rev 7:9. This identifies the city with that of Rev 17. In addition, it is here implied that Babylon will become the head-quarters of Spiritism, the habitation of demons, and the hold of every unclean spirit. Jer 50and Jer 51should be carefully studied in connection with these two chapters, as many of the things predicted there await fulfillment in the coming evil days.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
all: Rev 18:9, Rev 14:8, Rev 17:2, Jer 51:7
the merchants: Rev 18:11-17, Rev 18:23, Isa 47:15, 2Pe 2:1-3
abundance: or, power, Pro 23:1-3
her delicacies: Jer 51:34, Lam 4:5, Luk 7:25
Reciprocal: Deu 20:18 – General 2Ki 9:22 – the whoredoms Pro 7:12 – General Isa 2:7 – land Isa 13:11 – I will punish Isa 25:2 – palace Isa 26:14 – dead Isa 32:14 – for Isa 45:20 – escaped Isa 47:8 – given Isa 57:5 – Enflaming Isa 63:6 – make Jer 25:16 – General Eze 17:4 – into Eze 27:3 – a merchant Eze 27:33 – thy wares Mic 1:7 – for Nah 3:4 – the mistress Nah 3:19 – upon Hab 2:15 – unto Act 19:25 – ye know Gal 3:1 – who Eph 4:19 – with 1Ti 6:5 – supposing Rev 2:22 – and them Rev 9:21 – nor of their fornication Rev 14:10 – drink Rev 18:15 – which Rev 19:2 – judged
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Rev 18:3. Wine of the wrath of her fornication. This combines several symbolical thoughts. Wine suggests drunkenness and that is used figuratively sometimes to mean being beside oneself through the influence of false doctrine, which certainly was an outstanding characteristic of Rome. It also stands for the wrath of God upon evildoers, and fornication refers to intimacy with unlawful organizations. Kings and merchants all reaped personal advantages from their subjects and customers, because they were duped into thinking they should submit to the wishes of their superiors.
Comments by Foy E. Wallace
Verse 3.
The repetition in verse three of the harlot’s winecup, representing her multiplied forms of seduction. The reference to the kings of the earth was used in the sense of the rulers and authorities of Judea and Palestine; and the reference to the nations was a designation for the heathen.
They were all particeps criminus, having drunk of the harlot’s seductive wine-cup of abominations. The language was symbolic of Jerusalem’s heathen affiliations. Thus the proud capital of the Jews, once the dwelling place of God and the depository of the Oracles and the center of Judaism, by apostasy had come to destruction and was reduced to a haunt of the demon-world of heathenism, the habitat of the diabolical agents of the satanic beast.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Rev 18:3. The cause of the citys fall is again stated in the words of this verse.
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
The Spirit of God is placed here to assign the reason and cause of Babylon’s fatal ruin and final desolation; namely,
1. Because all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornications.
All nations, that is, very many; the generality of the Roman empire have been allured to, and intoxicated by, her idolatries, which have brought all this wrath upon her and them.
Where note, 1. How idolatry is compared to wine, because very pleasing to corrupt nature, and also very enticing and ensnaring, overtaking, like wine, a person unawares; and it is called wine of wrath, because it exciteth and provoketh God’s wrath against a person or people guilty of it.
2. Because the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, that is, joined with her in her idolatrous worship.
Where note, The policy of Babylon in drawing kings and princes to the bed of her fornications, well knowing how fast their example would be followed by inferiors. The example of superiors in doing evil is strangely powerful; Jeroboam made Israel to sin, not by commanding them to worship the golden calves, but commending that idolatrous worship to them in his own person.
3. Because the merchants of the earth were waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies. By the merchants, understand all such as trade in Babylon’s wares, her pleasing and costly wares of pardons, as masses and indulgences, by which so many were enriched. All things are vendible at Rome, any sin may be forgiven for silver, and a license for any thing that is unlawful for money. These are the reasons here assigned for Babylon’s ruin. The nations were made drunk by her, kings committed fornication with her, and the merchants enriched through the abundance of her delicacies.
Fuente: Expository Notes with Practical Observations on the New Testament
This verse is very similar to Rev 17:2. However it seems that in view of the description God gave of Babylon in the rest of chapter 18 it is not exactly the same Babylon pictured in chapter 17. The political, economic, commercial system that originated in Babylon and that leaves God out seems to be in view here. Her philosophy has influenced all the nations that have acted immorally as a result and grown rich at the expense of and in defiance of others. Babylon’s influence has been worldwide. Political self-interest and materialism are its chief sins (cf. Rev 18:23). [Note: Wall, p. 213.]