The great city: that is, Babylon (see 14.8). Some commentators take it to be Jerusalem.

Split into three parts: the picture here is of an earthquake that causes large cracks in the earth, thus dividing the city into three separate sections. In certain languages it will be helpful to begin this verse in the following way: “The earthquake split the city…” or “When the ground shook, the city split (or, divided) into three parts.”

The cities of the nations fell: this refers to all the cities in the world. For the verb fell see 14.8. One may also translate “and all the other cities in the world were destroyed” or “the earthquake … also destroyed all the other cities in the world.”

God remembered great Babylon: the Greek text avoids naming God as subject by the use of the passive form of the verb: “Babylon … was remembered before God.” The meaning here is that God now fixes his attention on Babylon and punishes her. In some languages it may be better to say “God did not forget Babylon; he made her drink….”

To make her drain the cup of the fury of his wrath: the Greek text says “to give her the cup of the wine of the fury of his wrath.” Here the verb “to give” does not mean that God simply offered Babylon this cup. So instead of New Revised Standard Version “to give her,” it is better to translate “to make her drink.” Revised Standard Version omits “the wine”; New Revised Standard Version has “the wine-cup of the fury of his wrath.” Again it seems better to say that God “forced Babylon to drink the wine of his furious wrath that was in the cup” or “… the wine that represents (or, brings) his wrath (or, punishment).” The phrase “of his furious wrath” modifies “the wine” and not “the cup.” It is the wine that stands for God’s wrath. See 14.10 for “the wine of God’s wrath” and “the cup of his anger.”

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on The Revelation to John. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1993. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .