Revelation 18:6
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This isn't just about getting even; the command is to "pay her back as she herself has paid back others," and the "double" isn't necessarily twice her sin, but a full, fitting retribution for her deeply stained wickedness. What she mixed in her cup of luxury and deception, now becomes the measure for the cup of God's wrath that she will be forced to drink to the dregs.
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.
English Standard Version (ESV)
A mighty angel announces Babylon's impending doom and calls God's people out of her to avoid sharing in her punishment. This verse is a divine command to the agents of judgment, instructing them to repay Babylon in kind for her cruelty and excess, mixing a double portion of wrath in the cup of judgment she herself prepared. The imagery echoes Old Testament pronouncements against nations that had oppressed God's people, signifying a full and complete retribution.
How can judgment be both 'double' and 'as she herself has paid back'? What does this say about God's justice?
This verse calls for a precise and complete justice. It's not about random vengeance, but about God ensuring that what was inflicted is fully repaid.
The Principle of Retribution
The command to 'pay her back as she herself has paid back others' echoes an ancient principle of justice. It means her own actions are the measure of her judgment. She's being judged by the very standards she set.
The 'Double' Portion
The 'double' aspect isn't arbitrary. In Old Testament thought, 'double' often signifies completeness or fullness, especially in punishment for severe sin or in restoration after suffering. Here, it emphasizes the thoroughness of Babylon's judgment, reflecting her deep corruption and the magnitude of her transgressions. It's about ensuring justice is fully served, leaving nothing undone.
Babylon 'mixed her own cup.' What happens when the mixer becomes the drinker?
The imagery of the 'cup' is powerful here, linking Babylon's corrupt practices to her ultimate fate.
Her Own Mixture
Revelation repeatedly links Babylon to a 'cup' – a cup of seduction, luxury, and impurity (Revelation 17:4, 18:3). She actively 'mixed' this cup, inviting others to drink and participate in her sin. This wasn't passive; it was an active enticement and corruption of the world.
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The Reversal
Now, the command is to 'mix a double portion for her in the cup she mixed.' This signifies a complete reversal. The very means by which she ensnared others – her deceptive allure and corrupting influence – become the vehicle of her judgment. She who forced others to drink her poisoned cup must now drink it herself, to the dregs, and doubly so.
Understand the original words
apodidomi · Greek Verb
To render a return for actions done, often in the context of divine justice or retribution. In scripture, it signifies the principle that one reaps what one sows under the governance of a righteous God.
poterion · Greek Noun
A metaphor used throughout Scripture to represent a portion of divine wrath or judgment, which must be consumed or experienced by the recipient. It conveys the idea of an inescapable consequence administered by God.
The concept of 'double' recompense for sin is deeply rooted in Old Testament law and prophetic warnings against injustice. This verse echoes ancient calls for a just retribution, applying it to the ultimate judgment of oppressive systems depicted as 'Babylon'.
c. 700s BC
Assyrian Empire's Height
The powerful Assyrian Empire exerted immense influence and military might across the ancient Near East, often leading to the subjugation and deportation of conquered peoples. This sets a backdrop for understanding empires that oppress.
605 BC
First Babylonian Deportation
King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon begins deporting Judeans to Babylon, including elites like Daniel. This event marks the beginning of the Babylonian exile, a period of intense suffering and displacement for God's people.
586 BC
Destruction of Jerusalem and Temple
The Babylonians, under Nebuchadnezzar, destroy Jerusalem and its Temple, scattering the remaining population. This catastrophic event signifies a profound loss and judgment for Israel.
c. 500s BC
Prophets Denounce Idolatry and Oppression
Prophets like Jeremiah and Ezekiel vehemently condemn the idolatry and social injustice prevalent in Judah and surrounding nations, foreshadowing divine judgment. They speak of God's righteous retribution.
c. 1st Century AD
Roman Empire Dominance
The Roman Empire controlled the Mediterranean world, known for its vast economic power, military strength, and often harsh rule. Its systems of trade and governance provide a context for the 'merchandise' and authority of Babylon.
c. AD 95— this verse
Book of Revelation Written
John writes the Book of Revelation, likely while exiled on the island of Patmos, addressing persecuted Christian churches throughout the Roman province of Asia. The book's visions speak of judgment on oppressive systems.
This passage speaks of God repaying people 'double for their iniquity and for their sin,' which directly parallels the command for Babylon to be repaid double for her deeds.
Psalm 137:8This lament over Babylon's fall echoes the sentiment by stating, 'O daughter of Babylon, you devastator! Happy shall he be who pays you back for what you have done to us!' mirroring the call for retribution.
Isaiah 40:2This prophetic word to Jerusalem declares that she has 'received from the Lord's hand double for all her sins,' setting a precedent for receiving a full and intensified recompense, similar to Babylon's judgment.
Revelation 14:10This verse describes the fate of those who worship the beast, stating they 'will drink the wine of God's wrath, which is poured full strength into the cup of his anger,' directly linking the 'cup' imagery with divine judgment and retribution.
ellicottRevelation 18:6: "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."
(6) Reward her even as she rewarded . . . —The same voice which bids the people of God come forth, summons the agents of vengeance. Revelation 17:16 tells whence these may arise. Read, Give back to her, as she herself also gave back (the word “you” should be omitted; it is not the saints, or those who have suffered from her, that are cal…
vincentRevelation 18:6: "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."
Double (διπλώσατε)Only here in the New Testament. Compare Isaiah 40:2; Jeremiah 16:18; Zechariah 9:12. The Levitical law insisted on the double recompense. See Exodus 22:4, Exodus 22:7, Exodus 22:9.
This isn't just about getting even; the command is to "pay her back as she herself has paid back others," and the "double" isn't necessarily twice her sin, but a full, fitting retribution for her deeply stained wickedness. What she mixed in her cup of luxury and deception, now becomes the measure for the cup of God's wrath that she will be forced to drink to the dregs.
A mighty angel announces Babylon's impending doom and calls God's people out of her to avoid sharing in her punishment. This verse is a divine command to the agents of judgment, instructing them to repay Babylon in kind for her cruelty and excess, mixing a double portion of wrath in the cup of judgment she herself prepared. The imagery echoes Old Testament pronouncements against nations that had oppressed God's people, signifying a full and complete retribution.
A mighty angel announces Babylon's impending doom and calls God's people out of her to avoid sharing in her punishment. This verse is a divine command to the agents of judgment, instructing them to repay Babylon in kind for her cruelty and excess, mixing a double portion of wrath in the cup of judgment she herself prepared. The imagery echoes Old Testament pronouncements against nations that had oppressed God's people, signifying a full and complete retribution.
"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." — This isn't just about getting even; the command is to "pay her back as she herself has paid back others," and the "double" isn't necessarily twice her sin, but a full, fitting retribution for her dee…
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Last reviewed October 2026
