762. Verse 6. Render unto her even as she hath rendered unto you, double unto her double according to her works, in the cup which she hath mingled, mingle to her double, signifies the just retribution and punishment of them after death, that then the evils and falsities by which they have seduced and destroyed others will return upon them according to their quantity and quality, which is called the law of retaliation. "Render unto her even as she hath rendered unto you," signifies the just retribution and punishment of them after death. "Double unto her double according to her works," signifies that the evils by which they have seduced and destroyed others will return upon them according to their quantity and quality. "In the cup which she hath mingled, mingle to her double," signifies that the falsities will return in like manner; for by "a cup" or wine falsities are signified (n. 316, 635, 649, 672). Nearly the same things are said of Babel in the prophets:
Recompense unto Babel according to her work, according to all that she hath done, do unto her, for she hath acted insolently against Jehovah, against the Holy One of Israel (Jer. 50:29).
This is the vengeance of Jehovah; take ye vengeance on Babel; as she hath done, do unto her (Jer. 50:15).
The daughter of Babel is devastated; happy is he that rendereth to thee thy retribution which thou hast rendered unto us (Ps. 137:8).
[2] It is according to the sense of the letter, that those whom they have seduced and destroyed will bring retribution on them; but it is according to the spiritual sense, that they will not do this to them, but these do it to themselves; because every evil brings its own punishment with itself. This is similar to what is said frequently in the Word, that God will bring retribution and vengeance for injustices and injuries done to Himself, and from anger and wrath will destroy them; when yet the evils themselves which they have committed against God do this; thus they do it to themselves; for this is the law of retaliation, which draws its very origin from this Divine law:
All things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them; for this is the Law and the Prophets (Matt. 7:12; Luke 6:31).
This law in heaven is the law of mutual love or charity, from which it becomes the opposite in hell, which is, that to everyone it is done as he had done to another; not that they who are in heaven do this, but that they do it to themselves; for the retribution of retaliation is from opposition to that law of life in heaven, as if inscribed on their evils.
[3] By "double" is signified much according to quantity and quality in this passage also:
Let my persecutors be ashamed, bring upon them the day of evil, and break them with a double breaking (Jer. 17:18).
Also much according to the quantity and quality of their turning away from evils, in these:
Comfort ye My people, because her warfare* is fulfilled, and her iniquity is expiated; for she hath received from the hand of Jehovah double (Isa. 40:1-2).
Return to the stronghold, ye prisoners of hope; this day I announce, I will recompense unto thee double (Zech. 9:12).
For your shame ye shall have double, and in their land they shall possess the double, everlasting joy shall be unto them (Isa. 61:7).
* The original Latin has "malitia" for "militia," "wickedness" for "warfare."