Devine Scripture

Revelation 18:6

What does Revelation 18:6 mean?

A plain-English look at Revelation 18:6 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Revelation 18:6 means

Heaven commands that Babylon be repaid in kind, even doubled according to her deeds. The cup she mixed for others is now mixed doubly for her. This is the law of retribution applied by God’s court—justice mirrored and magnified. The doubling underscores completeness and certainty of punishment, matching the scale of her crimes. She brewed intoxication and exploitation; she will drink a stronger draught of judgment. The point is not personal vengeance, but divine equity: what she inflicted returns upon her head. Those who trafficked in others’ ruin will face a ruin as thorough as their schemes. God’s justice gives back what sin has given out, with holy thoroughness.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

Render unto her even as she rendered, and double unto her the double according to her works: in the cup which she mingled, mingle unto her double.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

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.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

Render unto her even as she rendered, and double unto her the double according to her works: in the cup which she mingled, mingle unto her double.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

Give to her as she gave, even an increased reward for her works; in the cup which was mixed by her, let there be mixed as much again for herself.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

Render to her as also she did render to you, and double to her doubles according to her works; in the cup that she did mingle mingle to her double.

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

Render to her as she also hath rendered to you: and double unto her double, according to her works. In the cup wherein she hath mingled, mingle ye double unto her.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

Recompense her even as she has recompensed; and double [to her] double, according to her works. In the cup which she has mixed, mix to her double.

Context

After establishing guilt and summoning God’s people to separate, the passage turns to the sentence. Verse 6 sets the principle: measured payback that corresponds to Babylon’s works, intensified to reflect the breadth of her harm. This prepares the reader for the next verse, which will target Babylon’s inner posture—her pride—and the matching torment she will receive. The judicial language forms the backbone of the chapter: reasons, verdict, and consequences, followed by the world’s shocked lament. Seeing the justice as proportional helps frame the coming details of her swift fall.

v.5for her sins have reached even unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.

v.6This passage

v.7How much soever she glorified herself, and waxed wanton, so much give her of torment and mourning: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall in no wise see mourning.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Isaiah 40:2

    Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem; and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned, that she hath received of Jehovah’s hand double for all her sins.

  • Exodus 21:23

    But if any harm follow, then thou shalt give life for life,

  • Revelation 17:4

    And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and decked with gold and precious stone and pearls, having in her hand a golden cup full of abominations, even the unclean things of her fornication,

  • Zechariah 9:12

    Turn you to the stronghold, ye prisoners of hope: even to-day do I declare that I will render double unto thee.

  • 2 Timothy 4:14

    Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord will render to him according to his works:

  • Revelation 16:5

    And I heard the angel of the waters saying, Righteous art thou, who art and who wast, thou Holy One, because thou didst thus judge:

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