Revenge

Revenge [nave]

REVENGE
Forbidden, Lev. 19:18; Prov. 24:29; Rom. 12:17, 19; 1 Thess. 5:15; 1 Pet. 3:9.
Jesus an example of forbearing, 1 Pet. 2:23.
Rebuked by Jesus, Luke 9:54, 55.
Inconsistent with a Christian spirit, Luke 9:55.
Proceeds from a spiteful heart, Ezek. 25:15.
Punishment for, Ezek. 25:15-17; Amos 1:11, 12.
Exemplified
By Simeon and Levi, Gen. 34:25.
By Samson, Judg. 15:7, 8; 16:28-30.
By Joab, 2 Sam. 3:27.
By Absalom, 2 Sam. 13:23-29.
By Jezebel, 1 Kin. 19:2.
By Ahab, 1 Kin. 22:27.
By Haman, Esth. 3:8-15.
By the Edomites, Ezek. 25:12.
By the Philistines, Ezek. 25:15.
By Herodias, Mark 6:19-24.
By James and John, Luke 9:54.
By the chief priests, Acts 5:33.
By the Jews, Acts 7:54-59; 23:12.
- Bible Text-Book.
See: Retaliation.

REVENGE; REVENGER [isbe]

REVENGE; REVENGER - re-venj', re-venj'-er: The same Hebrew and Greek words are used to express the idea of "to avenge" and "to revenge" (naqam, or derivative; ekdikeo, or derivative). In English these words are synonymous in that they are both used to express the infliction of punishment upon the wrongdoer, but "to take revenge" may also imply a spiteful, wrong or malignant spirit. In the latter case, the Revised Version (British and American) preserves "revenge" (compare Jer 20:10; Ezek 25:15; 25:17 is an anthropomorphism), but, wherever it is synonymous with "avenge," this word is used (compare Nu 31:2,3; Ps 79:10; Nah 1:2; Judith 13:20; Rom 13:4; 2 Cor 7:11; 10:6 the Revised Version (British and American); the King James Version has "revenge" in all these cases). In Dt 32:42, the King James Version "revenge" is a wrong translation. Read with the Revised Version (British and American) "from the head of the leaders of the enemy" or the Revised Version margin "the hairy head of the enemy."

Compare AVENGE, AVENGER; BLOOD; GOEL.

A. L. Breslich

REVENGE [bridgeway]

Whether in Old or New Testaments, the Bible teaches that people are not to take personal revenge for what they consider to be wrong done to them. They should forgive the offender and allow God to deal with the person as he sees fit (Lev 19:18; Deut 32:35; Rom 12:19; Rev 5:9-11; see WRATH). In the law of Moses, as in the teachings of Jesus, God’s people are taught not even to bear a grudge against their enemies. Far from returning evil for evil, they must positively do good to those who do evil to them (Exod 23:4-5; Lev 19:17-18; Matt 5:44-48; 18:35; see FORGIVENESS).

Although individuals have no God-given right to pay back wrongdoers, civil governments have. They are to execute judgments fairly, and not give a light punishment for a serious offence or a heavy punishment for a minor offence. The punishment must be in proportion to the crime – ‘an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, a bruise for a bruise, a scratch for a scratch’ (Exod 21:22-24; Rom 13:4; see GOVERNMENT; CITY OF REFUGE; JUDGE).

When Jesus rebuked people for living according to this rule, he was not criticizing the law of Moses. Jesus supported the law of Moses (Matt 5:17), but he opposed people who used the principle of civil justice (‘an eye for an eye’, etc.) as an excuse for personal revenge. The spirit that rules in the hearts of God’s people is not the same as that which rules in the code of legal justice (Matt 5:38-42).

Also see definition of "Revenge" in Word Study