Life and Relationships

What Is the Wine of Babylon?

The wine of Babylon represents the corrupting influence of Babylon's spiritual fornication and false teaching. Revelation uses wine symbolically in connection with deception, spiritual unfaithfulness, and rebellion against God.

Published 2026-09-13 · Updated 2026-09-27

Written and reviewed by the Word Oasis Editorial Team. Read our editorial policy.

0 views

Biblical explanation

says: “Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication” (). describes Babylon as a woman who has: “a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication” (). The wine therefore appears within a symbolic picture of spiritual corruption. Jeremiah provides important Old Testament background: “Babylon hath been a golden cup in the LORD'S hand, that made all the earth drunken” (). Babylon's wine causes nations to become spiritually intoxicated. In Revelation's symbolic context, Babylon's wine is not merely a reference to alcoholic beverage consumption. It represents the corrupting influence of Babylon's spiritual system and its teachings, alliances, and practices. The exact content of every element of Babylon's wine must be established by comparing the passages rather than assigning arbitrary meanings to the symbol.

In brief

says: “Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication” ().

Bible references

Go deeper into this topic Bible Prophecy: A Roadmap to the Future Start the study

Editorial note

This answer is written and reviewed by the Word Oasis Editorial Team, and is presented with supporting references so you can examine each passage in context. If you notice an error or unclear statement, please suggest a correction.