Revelation 18:6 kjv
Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double according to her works: in the cup which she hath filled fill to her double.
Revelation 18:6 nkjv
Render to her just as she rendered to you, and repay her double according to her works; in the cup which she has mixed, mix double for her.
Revelation 18:6 niv
Give back to her as she has given; pay her back double for what she has done. Pour her a double portion from her own cup.
Revelation 18:6 esv
Pay her back as she herself has paid back others, and repay her double for her deeds; mix a double portion for her in the cup she mixed.
Revelation 18:6 nlt
Do to her as she has done to others.
Double her penalty for all her evil deeds.
She brewed a cup of terror for others,
so brew twice as much for her.
Revelation 18 6 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Deut 19:21 | "Life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot." | Principle of righteous retribution. |
| Ps 137:8-9 | O Daughter of Babylon, doomed to destruction, happy is the one who repays you... | Retributive justice against Babylon. |
| Jer 50:29 | "Pay her back according to her deeds; do to her according to all she has done." | Direct command for proportionate judgment. |
| Jer 50:15 | "Shout against her all around... for she has risen against the LORD." | Judgment for pride against God. |
| Jer 51:24 | "I will repay Babylon and all the inhabitants of Chaldea for all the evil..." | God's direct retribution for evil. |
| Isa 60:1-2 | "Arise, shine, for your light has come... dark for peoples..." | Contrast: God's light contrasted with darkness. |
| Rom 12:19 | "Vengeance is Mine; I will repay, says the Lord." | God's exclusive right to retribution. |
| Heb 10:30 | "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay." And again, "The Lord will judge His people." | God as ultimate Judge and Avenger. |
| Nahum 1:2 | "The LORD is a jealous God and avenging..." | God's avenging nature against evil. |
| Gen 9:6 | "Whoever sheds human blood, by humans shall their blood be shed..." | Foundation of retributive justice. |
| 2 Tim 4:14 | "Alexander the coppersmith did me much harm; the Lord will repay him..." | Individual example of seeking God's justice. |
| 2 Cor 10:6 | "ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete." | God's justice, even through believers. |
| Matt 7:2 | "For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use..." | Principle of measured judgment. |
| Mark 4:24 | "Pay attention to what you hear: with the measure you use, it will be measured to you..." | Emphasizes the proportionality of judgment. |
| Isa 51:17 | "Awake, awake, stand up, O Jerusalem, you who have drunk from the hand of the LORD the cup of His wrath." | Cup of wrath symbolism applied to God's people. |
| Jer 25:15-16 | "Take this cup of the wine of My wrath from My hand, and make all the nations drink it..." | Cup as divine judgment for nations. |
| Rev 14:8 | "Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, she who made all nations drink..." | Previous declaration of Babylon's fall and intoxicating sin. |
| Rev 14:10 | "he will also drink the wine of God's fury, poured full strength..." | Unmitigated judgment, parallel to mixed cup. |
| Rev 16:19 | "God remembered Babylon the Great, to make her drink the cup of the wine of the fury of His wrath." | Reiterates Babylon drinking God's wrath. |
| Rev 17:4 | "a golden cup full of abominations and the impurities of her immorality." | Babylon's cup of spiritual pollution. |
| Job 42:10 | "The LORD restored the fortunes of Job and gave him twice as much..." | Concept of "double" can mean complete restoration. |
| Isa 40:2 | "Comfort, comfort my people... that she has received from the LORD's hand double for all her sins." | "Double" can signify complete measure of suffering, leading to full redemption. |
| Jer 16:18 | "But first I will pay back double for their wickedness and their sin..." | God paying back double for severe sin. |
Revelation 18 verses
Revelation 18 6 Meaning
Revelation 18:6 proclaims God's divine judgment against "Babylon the Great," a symbolic entity representing a global system of spiritual and commercial evil that opposes God and His people. The verse outlines a principle of precise and proportionate retribution, indicating that Babylon will be repaid in full for her wickedness. It emphasizes a strict "measure for measure" justice, where the suffering and destruction inflicted upon Babylon will be exactly what she meted out to others, even suggesting an intensified measure ("double") reflective of the depth of her rebellion and corruption. The "cup" imagery signifies her own prepared portion of divine wrath, filled with the very poison she gave others, now compounded upon her.
Revelation 18 6 Context
Revelation 18:6 follows the announcement of Babylon's complete and irreversible fall, declared by a mighty angel in verses 1-3. This "Babylon the Great" is depicted as a harlot (Chapter 17) and a great city, representing the entire system of worldly economic, political, and spiritual rebellion against God. The immediate context of Revelation 18 details the lamentations of those who profited from her global trade and influence, now devastated by her destruction. This specific verse emphasizes that Babylon's downfall is not arbitrary but a just recompense from God. Historically, for the original audience, Babylon often symbolized Rome, the oppressive imperial power which demanded allegiance and persecuted believers. The polemic is clear: Rome's power, wealth, and persecution would meet divine judgment, challenging the perceived invincibility of the imperial cult and its claims.
Revelation 18 6 Word analysis
- Pay her back / ἀπόδοτε αὐτῇ (apodote autē): From apodidomi, meaning "to give back, repay, restore." It denotes a settled and determined recompense. This is a command to angels, possibly God's agents of judgment, or a general divine decree, ensuring that justice is fully rendered. It is a fundamental principle of divine sovereignty over all actions and consequences.
- just as she has paid / ὡς καὶ αὐτὴ ἀπέδωκε (hōs kai autē apedōke): The word hōs implies "just as" or "according as." This highlights precise, retributive justice. The punishment mirrors the crime, signifying God's righteous nature, where deeds perfectly determine their consequence.
- and double / καὶ διπλάσια (kai diplasia): From diplous, meaning "two-fold," "double." This can signify an abundance or fullness of retribution rather than simply a literal two times. It implies a measure beyond simple equivalent, reflecting the enormity of Babylon's wickedness and pride. In biblical terms, "double" can sometimes mean a complete, comprehensive repayment (cf. Isa 40:2 for a different application regarding restoration after complete judgment).
- for what she did / κατὰ τὰ ἔργα αὐτῆς (kata ta erga autēs): "According to her works." Emphasizes that the judgment is strictly based on her actions. God's judgment is not arbitrary but is just, proportional, and perfectly aligned with the extent of sin.
- In the cup / ἐν τῷ ποτηρίῳ (en tō potēriō): "In the cup." A powerful biblical metaphor for a decreed portion or destiny, often referring to suffering, wrath, or judgment. This cup represents the accumulated wrath of God.
- which she mixed / ᾧ ἐκέρασεν (hō ekerasen): From kerannymi, "to mix" (wine with water/spices). This suggests Babylon herself prepared her fate by mingling her sins and corruption, making others spiritually drunk with her illicit dealings and abominations.
- mix double for her / κεράσατε αὐτῇ διπλοῦν (kerasate autē diploun): A direct parallel and command mirroring her own actions. The judgment on Babylon is a reciprocal action, intensified. The very "ingredients" she put into her spiritual and economic intoxication for others will now be poured back to her, compounded.
Words-Group Analysis:
- "Pay her back just as she has paid": This phrase underlines the "lex talionis" (law of retaliation) principle, common in ancient Near Eastern justice systems, though here it is divine justice in full measure, perfectly balanced and perfectly administered by God Himself.
- "and double... mix double for her": The repetition of "double" emphasizes an absolute and complete recompense. It is not necessarily punitive excess but a full, irreversible payment, a judgment that satisfies the righteous anger of God against profound evil, echoing the severity of her pride and spiritual defilement.
- "In the cup which she mixed, mix double for her": This metaphor ties her actions directly to her judgment. Her instrument of spiritual and moral degradation ("the cup she mixed" with her false doctrines, immorality, and illicit trade) becomes the vessel for her own consumption of God's full and unmitigated wrath.
Revelation 18 6 Bonus section
The "double" aspect of the judgment (διπλάσια / diplous) is not a departure from perfect justice but highlights the severity and complete nature of God's response to an entity like Babylon. Given Babylon's immense global influence, spiritual prostitution, and extensive persecution of the saints, the "double" signifies the full measure required to deal with such widespread wickedness and hubris. It underscores that God's justice is never insufficient. Moreover, this divine action affirms the sovereignty of God, demonstrating that no power, no matter how influential or tyrannical, can escape His ultimate reckoning. It foreshadows the eternal victory of Christ and His kingdom over all opposing forces.
Revelation 18 6 Commentary
Revelation 18:6 asserts the certainty, justice, and proportionality of God's judgment against Babylon, a symbolic representation of the world system in rebellion against Him. The divine command to "pay her back just as she has paid" assures believers that evil, however powerful and entrenched, will not go unpunished. The "double" portion indicates a complete, decisive, and even intensified repayment for her profound corruption and spiritual adultery, a measure fitting her global impact and systemic opposition to God's reign. The "cup" imagery is crucial, illustrating that the very means by which Babylon corrupted nations and martyred saints—her intoxicating influence of luxury, pride, and sin—will become the conduit for God's severe wrath. This verse stands as a powerful declaration of God's unwavering righteousness, His commitment to vindicate His people, and the inevitable downfall of every system that exalts itself against His holiness and authority. It is a source of hope and reassurance for the persecuted church, knowing that ultimate justice belongs to the Lord.