διπλ-όω G1363
To double, multiply by two, repeat twofold; to repay double the amount
This verb means to make double or to multiply by two. In Revelation 18:6, it appears in the command concerning Babylon: 'Repay her double according to her works.' The doubling represents proportional justice—she receives back twice what she dealt out, emphasizing the completeness of divine retribution. Classical Greek used it for doubling quantities, folding garments in half, or repaying debts with interest. The New Testament usage carries the sense of comprehensive, multiplied judgment matching the scale of transgression.
Senses
1. sense 1 — Revelation 18:6 commands that Babylon be repaid 'double' (doubled) for her deeds, a vivid image of comprehensive divine justice. The Greek concept involves multiplying by two or repeating something twofold. English 'double,' Spanish 'doblad,' French and German 'verdoppeln' all capture the mathematical and retributive sense: complete payback multiplied, leaving nothing unaccounted for in God's judgment against the symbolic evil city. 1×
AR["ضاعِفوا"]·ben["দ্বিগুণ-কর"]·DE["verdoppeln"]·EN["double"]·FR["verdoppeln"]·heb["הַכְפִּילוּ"]·HI["दो-गुना-करो"]·ID["gandakanlah"]·IT["diplōsate"]·jav["tikel-pindho"]·KO["배로-갚으라"]·PT["duplicai"]·RU["удвойте"]·ES["doblad"]·SW["rudiisheni"]·TR["ikileştirin"]·urd["دوگنا-کرو"]
Related Senses
H3605 1. all, every, whole (5352×)H0259 1. one (cardinal numeral) (940×)H8147 1. cardinal number two (666×)G3956 1. all (collective plural) (616×)H3967 1. cardinal numeral hundred (550×)H1419a 1. great, large (general quality) (486×)H7969 1. cardinal number three (431×)H0505 1. cardinal number thousand (427×)H7651 1. seven (cardinal number) (393×)G1520 1. cardinal number one (339×)H6240 1. ten (cardinal number) (334×)H6242 1. twenty (cardinal number) (315×)H2568 1. cardinal number five (309×)H0702 1. four (cardinal number) (277×)G3956 2. every, each (distributive) (227×)H8337 1. six (cardinal number) (215×)G3956 3. all things, everything (substantive) (211×)G3956 4. (187×)H6235 1. ten (177×)G3173 1. great in size or extent (176×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
διπλ-όω, repeat a process, Refs 4th c.BC+; double, τρίβωνα, of philosophers, Refs 3rd c.AD+; multiply by two, Refs 2nd c.AD+:—passive, ἐδεδίπλωτο ἡ φάλαγξ Refs 5th c.BC+; of swords, to be bent double, Refs 1st c.AD+; of a bow-string, Refs 3rd c.AD+; of fevers (compare διπλοῦς), Refs 2nd c.AD+; δεδιπλωμένον ἔμβρυον, of position of foetus at birth, Aspasia cited in Refs 2nd c.AD+ __II repay twofold, δ. διπλᾶ κατὰ τὰ ἔργα αὐτῆς NT