Topical Bible: Avenged

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Topical Encyclopedia

The concept of being avenged is a recurring theme throughout the Bible, reflecting God's justice and the moral order He has established. To avenge is to inflict harm in return for an injury or wrong, often seen as a divine prerogative or a duty of those appointed by God to execute justice.

Old Testament Context

In the Old Testament, the idea of vengeance is closely tied to God's justice. God is often depicted as the ultimate avenger who rights wrongs and punishes the wicked. In Deuteronomy 32:35, God declares, "Vengeance is Mine; I will repay." This underscores the belief that God alone has the authority to avenge, ensuring that justice is served according to His perfect will.

The avenger of blood is a specific role mentioned in the Mosaic Law, where a family member is responsible for avenging the death of a relative. Numbers 35:19 states, "The avenger of blood is to put the murderer to death; when he finds him, he is to kill him." This provision was part of the legal system to maintain justice and deter murder, while also allowing for cities of refuge to protect those who killed unintentionally (Numbers 35:11-12).

New Testament Context

In the New Testament, the concept of vengeance is transformed through the teachings of Jesus Christ. Believers are called to leave vengeance to God and to love their enemies. Romans 12:19 advises, "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.'" This reflects a shift from personal retribution to trusting in God's ultimate justice.

The Book of Revelation also speaks of divine vengeance, where God avenges the blood of His servants. Revelation 6:10 records the martyrs crying out, "How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge those who dwell on the earth and avenge our blood?" This highlights the eschatological hope that God will ultimately vindicate His people and establish His righteous kingdom.

Theological Implications

The theme of being avenged in the Bible underscores the holiness and justice of God. It serves as a reminder that while human justice systems are fallible, God's justice is perfect and will prevail. Believers are encouraged to trust in God's timing and righteousness, refraining from taking matters into their own hands.

The call to leave vengeance to God also emphasizes the transformative power of grace and forgiveness. By relinquishing the desire for personal retribution, Christians are invited to reflect the character of Christ, who forgave His persecutors and entrusted Himself to the Father’s will.

Practical Application

For Christians today, the biblical teaching on vengeance encourages a posture of humility and trust in God's justice. It challenges believers to respond to wrongs with grace and to seek reconciliation rather than retaliation. By doing so, they bear witness to the gospel's power to transform hearts and societies, pointing to the ultimate justice and peace found in Christ.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

(imp. & p. p.) of Avenge.

Greek

1556. ekdikeo -- to vindicate, to avenge
... Word Origin from ekdikos Definition to vindicate, to avenge NASB Word Usage avenged
(1), avenging (1), give...legal protection (2), legal protection (2 ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1556.htm - 7k

Strong's Hebrew

5359. naqam -- vengeance
... Word Origin from naqam Definition vengeance NASB Word Usage vengeance (16). avenged,
quarrel, vengeance. From naqam; revenge -- + avenged, quarrel, vengeance. ...
/hebrew/5359.htm - 6k

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 ...
/hebrew/5352.htm - 6k

5360. neqamah -- vengeance
... Word Origin fem. of naqam Definition vengeance NASB Word Usage avenged (1), full
vengeance (2), revenge (2), vengeance (22). avenge, revenge, vengeance. ...
/hebrew/5360.htm - 6k

3467. yasha -- to deliver
... root Definition to deliver NASB Word Usage avenged (1), avenging (2), brought salvation
(2), deliver (27), delivered (8), deliverer (3), deliverers (1 ...
/hebrew/3467.htm - 6k

5358. naqam -- to avenge, take vengeance
... root Definition to avenge, take vengeance NASB Word Usage avenge (9), avenged (5),
avenger (2), avenging (2), exact (1), execute (1), punished (1), revengeful ...
/hebrew/5358.htm - 6k

Library

On the Words of the Gospel, Matt. viii. 23, "And when He was ...
... When thou hast heard an insult, thou longest to be avenged; and, lo, avenged thou
hast been, and so rejoicing in another's harm thou hast suffered shipwreck. ...
/.../sermons on selected lessons of the new testament/sermon xiii on the words.htm

On the Words of the Gospel, John ii. 2, "And Jesus Also was Bidden ...
... For when man is told to humble himself, he disdains it; and when men are
injured, it is pride that makes them wish to be avenged. ...
/.../sermons on selected lessons of the new testament/sermon lxxiii on the words.htm

Again on the Lord's Prayer, Matt. vi. To the Competentes.
... And what is anger? The lust of vengeance. A man lusteth to be avenged, and Christ
is not yet avenged, the holy martyrs are not yet avenged. ...
/.../sermons on selected lessons of the new testament/sermon viii again on the.htm

Chapter xxii.
... for respecting that also enough has been already said: but as we read in the Apocalypse
of John of the martyrs praying that they may be avenged; [228] while ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/augustine/our lords sermon on the mount/chapter xxii.htm

Rejoicing Over Babylon's Destruction.
... For true and righteous are his judgments; for he hath judged the great harlot, who
corrupted the earth with her fornication, and hath avenged the blood of his ...
/.../a brief commentary on the apocalypse/rejoicing over babylons destruction.htm

Epistle Lxiv. To Rogatianus, Concerning the Deacon who Contended ...
... who were their companions in boldness, were consumed by a fire breaking forth from
the Lord, that it might be proved that God's priests are avenged by Him who ...
/.../cyprian/the epistles of cyprian/epistle lxiv to rogatianus concerning.htm

The Wail of a Broken Heart
... Then said Ahimaaz the son of Zadok, Let me now run, and bear the king tidings, how
that the Lord hath avenged him of his enemies.20. And Joab said unto him. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/the wail of a broken.htm

The Israelites yet Again Turned to Idols; And, Being Deprived of ...
... ashes. He was thus seen to have avenged the injury done him in taking away
his wife, by a great loss inflicted on the Philistines. ...
/.../life and writings of sulpitius severus /chapter xxvii the israelites yet.htm

Concerning the Prosperity which God Granted to the Christian ...
... But in his case there was far more mitigation of the calamity than in the case of
the great Pompey, for he could not be avenged by Cato, whom he had left, as ...
/.../augustine/city of god/chapter 25 concerning the prosperity which.htm

Whether the Object of Anger is Good or Evil?
... It is the same with anger; for when a man is angry, he wishes to be avenged
on someone. ... the noxious person, on whom it seeks to be avenged. ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether the object of anger.htm

Thesaurus

Avenged (34 Occurrences)
...Avenged (34 Occurrences). Acts 7:24 Seeing one of them suffer wrong, he defended
him, and avenged him who was oppressed, striking the Egyptian. ...
/a/avenged.htm - 17k

Avenge (27 Occurrences)
... For he has judged the great prostitute, who corrupted the earth with her sexual
immorality, and he has avenged the blood of his servants at her hand." (Root in ...
/a/avenge.htm - 17k

Vengeance (63 Occurrences)
... (WEB KJV WEY ASV WBS YLT NAS RSV). Acts 7:24 Seeing one of them suffer wrong, he
defended him, and avenged him who was oppressed, striking the Egyptian. ...
/v/vengeance.htm - 26k

Revenge (13 Occurrences)
... I am Yahweh. (See NIV). Judges 15:7 Samson said to them, "If you behave like this,
surely I will be avenged of you, and after that I will cease." (See NAS NIV). ...
/r/revenge.htm - 12k

Punish (84 Occurrences)
... saith Jehovah; and shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this? ... saith
Jehovah; shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this? ...
/p/punish.htm - 33k

Freed (32 Occurrences)
... 2 Samuel 18:19 Then Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said, "Let me now run, and bear the
king news, how that Yahweh has avenged him of his enemies." will not prevail ...
/f/freed.htm - 15k

Visit (97 Occurrences)
... says Yahweh; and shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this? ... says
Yahweh; shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this? ...
/v/visit.htm - 36k

Samson (37 Occurrences)
... the "standing corn of the Philistines" (15:1-8), who, in their turn, in revenge
"burnt her and her father with fire." Her death he terribly avenged (15:7-19). ...
/s/samson.htm - 37k

Avenger (18 Occurrences)

/a/avenger.htm - 17k

You've (3 Occurrences)
... (See NIV). Judges 15:7 And Samson said unto them: 'If ye do after this manner, surely
I will be avenged of you, and after that I will cease.' (See NIV). ...
/y/you've.htm - 7k

Resources

What is bloodguilt (Joel 3:21)? | GotQuestions.org

What is an avenger of blood in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

Is it true that the sun stood still? | GotQuestions.org

Avenged: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus

Concordance

Avenged (34 Occurrences)

Acts 7:24
Seeing one of them suffer wrong, he defended him, and avenged him who was oppressed, striking the Egyptian.
(WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS RSV NIV)

Revelation 18:20
Rejoice over her, thou heaven, and ye holy apostles and prophets; for God hath avenged you on her.
(KJV WBS)

Revelation 19:2
for true and righteous are his judgments. For he has judged the great prostitute, who corrupted the earth with her sexual immorality, and he has avenged the blood of his servants at her hand."
(WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Genesis 4:24
If Cain will be avenged seven times, truly Lamech seventy-seven times."
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Exodus 21:20
And if a man strike his bondman or his handmaid with a staff, and he die under his hand, he shall certainly be avenged.
(DBY YLT)

Exodus 21:21
Only, if he continue to live a day or two days, he shall not be avenged; for he is his money.
(DBY YLT)

Joshua 10:13
The sun stood still, and the moon stayed, until the nation had avenged themselves of their enemies. Isn't this written in the book of Jashar? The sun stayed in the midst of the sky, and didn't hurry to go down about a whole day.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS NAS NIV)

Judges 9:24
So that punishment for the violent attack made on the seventy sons of Jerubbaal, and for their blood, might come on Abimelech, their brother, who put them to death, and on the townsmen of Shechem who gave him their help in putting his brothers to death.
(See NIV)

Judges 11:36
And she said to him, "My father, if you have opened your mouth to the LORD, do to me according to what has gone forth from your mouth, now that the LORD has avenged you on your enemies, on the Ammonites."
(DBY NAS RSV NIV)

Judges 15:7
Samson said to them, "If you behave like this, surely I will be avenged of you, and after that I will cease."
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT RSV)

Judges 16:28
Samson called to Yahweh, and said, "Lord Yahweh, remember me, please, and strengthen me, please, only this once, God, that I may be at once avenged of the Philistines for my two eyes."
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

1 Samuel 14:24
The men of Israel were distressed that day; for Saul had adjured the people, saying, "Cursed is the man who eats any food until it is evening, and I am avenged of my enemies." So none of the people tasted food.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

1 Samuel 18:25
Saul said, "You shall tell David,'The king desires no dowry except one hundred foreskins of the Philistines, to be avenged of the king's enemies.'" Now Saul thought to make David fall by the hand of the Philistines.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT RSV)

1 Samuel 24:12
Jehovah doth judge between me and thee, and Jehovah hath avenged me of thee, and my hand is not on thee;
(YLT)

1 Samuel 25:31
that this shall be no grief to you, nor offense of heart to my lord, either that you have shed blood without cause, or that my lord has avenged himself. When Yahweh has dealt well with my lord, then remember your handmaid."
(WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS NAS NIV)

1 Samuel 25:39
When David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, "Blessed is Yahweh, who has pleaded the cause of my reproach from the hand of Nabal, and has kept back his servant from evil. Yahweh has returned the evildoing of Nabal on his own head." David sent and spoke concerning Abigail, to take her to him as wife.
(See RSV)

2 Samuel 4:8
They brought the head of Ishbosheth to David to Hebron, and said to the king, "Behold, the head of Ishbosheth, the son of Saul, your enemy, who sought your life! Yahweh has avenged my lord the king this day of Saul, and of his seed."
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS RSV NIV)

2 Samuel 16:8
The Lord has sent punishment on you for all the blood of the family of Saul, whose kingdom you have taken; and the Lord has given the kingdom to Absalom, your son: now you yourself are taken in your evil, because you are a man of blood.
(See RSV)

2 Samuel 18:19
Then Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said, "Let me now run, and bear the king news, how that Yahweh has avenged him of his enemies." will not prevail against it.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS)

2 Samuel 18:31
Behold, the Cushite came. The Cushite said, "News for my lord the king; for Yahweh has avenged you this day of all those who rose up against you."
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS)

2 Samuel 22:48
The ?God who hath avenged me, And hath brought the peoples under me.
(DBY)

Esther 8:13
a copy of the writing to be made law in every province and province is revealed to all the peoples, and for the Jews being ready at this day to be avenged of their enemies.
(YLT)

Psalms 18:47
The ?God who hath avenged me, and hath subjected the peoples to me;
(DBY)

Psalms 58:10
The righteous shall rejoice when he sees the vengeance. He shall wash his feet in the blood of the wicked;
(See NIV)

Isaiah 1:24
Therefore -- the affirmation of the Lord -- Jehovah of Hosts, the Mighty One of Israel: Ah, I am eased of Mine adversaries, And I am avenged of Mine enemies,
(YLT)

Jeremiah 5:9
Shall I not visit for these things? says Yahweh; and shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this?
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS)

Jeremiah 5:29
Shall I not visit for these things? says Yahweh; shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this?
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS)

Jeremiah 9:9
Shall I not visit them for these things? says Yahweh; shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this?
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS)

Jeremiah 46:10
For this is the day of the Lord Jehovah of hosts, a day of vengeance, that he may be avenged of his adversaries; and the sword shall devour, and it shall be sated and made drunk with their blood; for the Lord Jehovah of hosts hath a sacrifice in the north country, by the river Euphrates.
(DBY YLT)

Jeremiah 50:15
Shout against her round about, She hath given forth her hand, Fallen have her foundations, Thrown down have been her walls, For it 'is' the vengeance of Jehovah, Be avenged of her, as she did -- do ye to her.
(YLT)

Jeremiah 51:36
Therefore, thus said Jehovah: Lo, I am pleading thy cause, And I have avenged thy vengeance, And dried up its sea, and made its fountains dry.
(YLT)

Ezekiel 5:13
And completed hath been Mine anger, And I have caused My fury to rest on them, And I have been comforted, And they have known that I, Jehovah, have spoken in My zeal, In My completing My fury on them.
(See NIV)

Ezekiel 25:12
Thus said the Lord Jehovah: Because of the doings of Edom, In taking vengeance on the house of Judah, Yea, they are very guilty, And they have taken vengeance on them.
(See NAS)

Joel 3:21
And I have declared their blood innocent, 'That' I did not declare innocent, And Jehovah is dwelling in Zion!
(See NAS)

Subtopics

Avenged

Related Terms

Self-avenger (2 Occurrences)

Manslayer (20 Occurrences)

Slayer (23 Occurrences)

Accused (29 Occurrences)

Refuge (111 Occurrences)

Avenge (27 Occurrences)

Unintentionally (20 Occurrences)

Goel