A.T. Robertson Commentary Revelation 18:3

"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 wantonness." — Revelation 18:3 (ASV)

By (εκ). "As a result of." Some MSS. omit "of the wine" (του οινου). Cf. 14:10; 16:10.

Have fallen (πεπτωκαν). Perfect active third personal of πιπτω for usual πεπτωκασ. Some MSS. read πεπωκαν (have drunk), from πινω like the metaphor in 14:8,10; 16:19; 17:2. See 17:2 for the same charge about the kings of the earth.

The merchants of the earth (ο εμπορο της γης). Old word for one on a journey for trade (from εν, πορος), like drummers, in N.T. only Mt 13:45; Revelation 18:3,11,15,23. Like εμποριον (John 2:16) and εμπορευομα (James 4:13).

Waxed rich (επλουτησαν). First ingressive aorist active indicative of πλουτεω, 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 (του στρηνους αυτης). Late word for arrogance, luxury, here alone in N.T. See στρηνιαω in verses 7,9, to live wantonly.