Topical Encyclopedia
The concept of avenging is deeply rooted in the biblical narrative, reflecting both divine justice and human responsibility. In the Scriptures, to avenge is to inflict punishment or exact retribution for a wrong or injury, often with the aim of restoring justice and order. The term is frequently associated with God's righteous judgment as well as the actions of individuals or communities seeking justice.
Divine VengeanceIn the Bible, God is often depicted as the ultimate avenger, ensuring that justice is served. This divine vengeance is not arbitrary but is rooted in God's holiness and righteousness. In
Deuteronomy 32:35, God declares, "Vengeance is Mine; I will repay," indicating that He alone has the authority to execute perfect justice. This theme is echoed in
Romans 12:19, where believers are admonished, "Do not avenge yourselves, beloved, but leave room for God’s wrath. For it is written: 'Vengeance is Mine; I will repay, says the Lord.'"
The Book of Revelation also portrays God as the avenger of His people, particularly in the context of the end times.
Revelation 6:10 records the souls of the martyrs crying out, "How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You avenge our blood and judge those who dwell upon the earth?" This plea underscores the expectation that God will ultimately vindicate His people and punish the wicked.
Human ResponsibilityWhile God is the ultimate avenger, the Bible also acknowledges the role of human agents in carrying out justice. In the Old Testament, the concept of the "avenger of blood" is introduced, where a family member is responsible for avenging the death of a relative (
Numbers 35:19). This practice was regulated by the Mosaic Law to prevent excessive retribution and ensure that justice was served fairly.
However, the New Testament shifts the focus from personal vengeance to forgiveness and love. Jesus teaches in
Matthew 5:38-39, "You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye and tooth for tooth.' But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also." This radical call to non-retaliation emphasizes the transformative power of grace and mercy.
Justice and MercyThe tension between justice and mercy is a recurring theme in the biblical understanding of avenging. While God is just and will not leave the guilty unpunished (
Nahum 1:3), He is also merciful and desires repentance and reconciliation. This duality is beautifully expressed in
Psalm 103:8-10: "The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion. He will not always accuse, nor will He harbor His anger forever. He has not dealt with us according to our sins or repaid us according to our iniquities."
ConclusionThe biblical concept of avenging is multifaceted, encompassing divine justice, human responsibility, and the call to embody God's mercy. It serves as a reminder of the seriousness of sin, the certainty of God's justice, and the transformative power of forgiveness.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
v. t.) To take vengeance for; to exact satisfaction for by punishing the injuring party; to vindicate by inflicting pain or evil on a wrongdoer.
2. (v. t.) To treat revengefully; to wreak vengeance on.
3. (v. i.) To take vengeance.
4. (n.) Vengeance; revenge.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
AVENGE; AVENGERa-venj' a-venj'-er: Avenge.-The general idea connected with this word is that of inflicting punishment upon the wrongdoer. Since emphasis may be placed upon the deed itself, the wrongdoer, or the injured party, the verb is found an intransitive (onlyLeviticus 19:18; see below), transitive (2 Samuel 4:8 et al.); and also active (Deuteronomy 32:43), passive (Jeremiah 5:9) and reflexive (Esther 8:13). In1 Samuel 25:26 avenge is translated from yasha`, "to save" (Revised Version margin, "thine own hand saving thee"), inHosea 1:4 from paqadh, "to visit," and in2 Samuel 18:19 from shaphaT, "to judge," but the usual Hebrew word is naqam, or derivatives, "to avenge."
The translation in the Revised Version (British and American) differs in some places from King James Version:Numbers 31:3 Revised Version (British and American) "execute Yahweh's vengeance"; (compare2 Samuel 22:48Psalm 18:47Leviticus 26:25);Leviticus 19:18 Revised Version (British and American) "take vengeance";Judges 5:2 Revised Version (British and American) "for that the leaders took the lead in Israel" from para`, "to be free, to lead".
In the New Testament avenge is translated from the Greek ekdikeo, "to do justice," "to protect" (Luke 18:3 et al.) and the King James VersionRevelation 18:20, krino, "to judge" Revised Version (British and American) "God hath judged your judgment".
Avenger.-That is, the person who inflicts punishment upon the evil-doer for a wrong experienced by himself (from naqam, "to avenge";Psalm 8:2 et al.) or by someone else from ga'al, "to redeem"; (Numbers 35:12 et al.). In the New Testament avenger occurs only once; "the Lord is an avenger in all things" (1 Thessalonians 4:6). It was the duty of the nearest relative to execute vengeance upon the murderer of his kin: he became the go'el. With reference to the protective legislation and custom, see GOEL. Compare BLOOD; REVENGE, REVENGER.
A. L. Breslich
Greek
1556. ekdikeo -- to vindicate, toavenge... to vindicate, to
avenge. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: ekdikeo Phonetic
Spelling: (ek-dik-eh'-o) Short Definition: I give justice over, defend,
avenge...5097. timoreo -- to punish,avenge
... to punish,avenge. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: timoreo Phonetic Spelling:
(tim-o-reh'-o) Short Definition: I punish Definition: I punish,avenge...
4160. poieo -- to make, do
... a prolonged form of an obsolete primary; to make or do (in a very wide application,
more or less direct) -- abide, + agree, appoint, Xavenge, + band together...
2917. krima -- a judgment
... From krino; a decision (the function or the effect, for or against ("crime")) --
avenge, condemned, condemnation, damnation, + go to law, judgment....
2919. krino -- to judge, decide
... Properly, to distinguish, ie Decide (mentally or judicially); by implication, to
try, condemn, punish --avenge, conclude, condemn, damn, decree, determine...
Strong's Hebrew
5358. naqam -- toavenge, take vengeance... 5357, 5358. naqam. 5359 . to
avenge, take vengeance. Transliteration: naqam
Phonetic Spelling: (naw-kam') Short Definition:
avenge. Word Origin a prim.
...6544. para' -- let go, let alone
... let go, let alone. Transliteration: para' Phonetic Spelling: (paw-rah') Short
Definition:avenge.avenge, avoid, bare, go back, make naked, perish,...
5360. neqamah -- vengeance
...avenge, revenge, vengeance. Feminine of naqam; avengement, whether the act of the
passion -- +avenge, revenge(-ing), vengeance. see HEBREW naqam. 5359, 5360...
6485. paqad -- to attend to, visit, muster, appoint
... visited (6), visiting (4). appoint, at all,avenge, bestow, appoint to have
the, give a charge, commit, count,. A primitive root; to...
5414. nathan -- to give, put, set
... add, apply, appoint, ascribe, assign,avenge, be healed, bestow,. A primitive
root; to give, used with greatest latitude of application...
8199. shaphat -- to judge, govern
...avenge, that condemn, contend, defend, execute judgment, be a judgment.
A primitive root; to judge, ie Pronounce sentence (for or...
1875. darash -- to resort to, seek
... root Definition to resort to, seek NASB Word Usage ask (1),avenge (1), calls (1),
care (1), cares (3), comes the reckoning (1), consult (2), consulted by them...
5352. naqah -- to be empty or clean
... root Definition to be empty or clean NASB Word Usage acquit (3), acquitted (2),
avenge (1), avenged (1), blameless (1), by means clear (1), completely...
5162. nacham -- to be sorry, console oneself
... Breathe strongly; by implication, to be sorry, ie (in a favorable sense) to pity,
console or (reflexively) rue; or (unfavorably) toavenge (oneself) -- comfort...
Library
"Avenge Me of My Adversary. "
... "AVENGE ME OF MY ADVERSARY.".... And she came to the judge and implored him, saying,
"Give me justice;avenge me of my adversary." But he would not....
The CreaturesAvenge God's Cause.
... Homily XI. Chapter X."The CreaturesAvenge God's Cause. "But it will be
said that the cases are not parallel between God and man...
Three Kinds Op Praying
... There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man: 3. And
there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying,Avenge me of...
"Nothing is Impossible to Industry, "Said one of the Seven Sages...
... There was in a city, a judge, which feared not God, and regarded not man: and there
was a widow in that city; and she came oft unto him, saying,Avenge me of...
The Pharisee and the Publican
... widow, for a while: "But afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God,
nor regard man; yet because this widow troubleth me, I willavenge her, lest...
The Word of Jesus on Prayer.
... and shall not the living Justiceavenge his praying friends over whose injuries
he has to exercise a long-suffering patience towards their enemies?'"for so I...
Parable of the Importunate Widow.
... feared not God, and regarded not man [an utterly abandoned character]: 3 and there
was a widow in that city; and she came oft unto him, saying,Avenge me of...
The Unjust Judge.
... There was in a city a judge, who feared not God, and regarded not man: and there
was a widow in that city: and she came oft unto him, saying, 'Avenge me of...
Of the Worship of Other Gods and the True God, and of the Animals...
... you think Him powerful. For how can Heavenge the wrongs of His worshippers,
if He is unable toavenge His own? I wish therefore...
Sixteenth Lesson. Speedily, Though Bearing Long;'
... And shall not Godavenge His own elect, which cry to Him day and night, and He is
long-suffering over them?... He willavenge them speedily, the Master says....
Thesaurus
Avenge (27 Occurrences)...AVENGE; AVENGER. a-venj' a-venj'-er:
Avenge.-The general idea connected with
this word is that of inflicting punishment upon the wrongdoer.
...Avenger (18 Occurrences)
...AVENGE; AVENGER. a-venj' a-venj'-er:Avenge.-The general idea connected with
this word is that of inflicting punishment upon the wrongdoer....
Revenge (13 Occurrences)
... 1. (vt) To inflict harm in return for, as an injury, insult, etc.; to exact
satisfaction for, under a sense of injury; toavenge; -- followed either by the...
Wrongs (26 Occurrences)
... Luke 18:7 And will not Godavenge the wrongs of His own People who cry aloud to
Him day and night, although He seems slow in taking action on their behalf?...
Revenger (5 Occurrences)
... re-venj', re-venj'-er: The same Hebrew and Greek words are used to express the idea
of "toavenge" and "to revenge" (naqam, or derivative; ekdikeo, or...
Longsuffering (17 Occurrences)
... with me"). Luke 18:7 has been variously rendered; the King James Version
has "And shall not Godavenge his own elect.... though he...
Vindicate (18 Occurrences)
... 5. (vt) To liberate; to set free; to deliver. 6. (vt) Toavenge; to punish; as,
a war to vindicate or punish infidelity. Multi-Version Concordance...
Zalmunna (9 Occurrences)
... These he determined to slay toavenge the death of his own kinsmen, and called upon
his eldest son to perform this solemn public duty that he owed to the dead....
Zebah (9 Occurrences)
... These he determined to slay toavenge the death of his own kinsmen, and called upon
his eldest son to perform this solemn public duty that he owed to the dead....
Goel
... if the injured party has died (Leviticus 6:1). (5) The law of blood-revenge
(Blut-Rache) made it the sacred duty of the nearest relative toavenge the blood...
Resources
What does the Bible say about revenge? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is bloodguilt (Joel 3:21)? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is an avenger of blood in the Bible? | GotQuestions.orgAvenge: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
Bible Dictionary •
Bible Encyclopedia •
Topical Bible •
Bible Thesuarus
