Definition and Context:
Revenge, in the biblical context, refers to the act of retaliating or seeking retribution for a wrong or injury suffered. It is a response driven by the desire to inflict harm or punishment on someone who has caused offense. The concept of revenge is addressed in various parts of the Bible, where it is often contrasted with the principles of forgiveness and divine justice.

Old Testament References:
The Old Testament contains numerous instances where revenge is depicted, both in narrative and legal contexts. The principle of "an eye for an eye" is found in the Mosaic Law, specifically in Exodus 21:24, "eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot." This law was intended to limit retribution and ensure that punishment was proportional to the offense, rather than excessive.

However, personal revenge is discouraged. Leviticus 19:18 instructs, "Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against any of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD." This command emphasizes the importance of love and forgiveness over personal vendettas.

New Testament Teachings:
The New Testament further develops the theme of refraining from revenge, emphasizing forgiveness and leaving judgment to God. Jesus Christ, in His Sermon on the Mount, teaches against retaliation: "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" (Matthew 5:39). This radical teaching calls for a response of non-retaliation and love, even towards one's enemies.

The Apostle Paul echoes this sentiment in Romans 12:19, "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 passage underscores the belief that God is the ultimate judge and avenger, and that humans should not usurp His role by taking revenge into their own hands.

Theological Implications:
The biblical stance on revenge highlights the importance of trusting in God's justice and sovereignty. By refraining from personal vengeance, believers demonstrate faith in God's ability to right wrongs and administer justice in His perfect timing. This trust in divine justice is coupled with the call to love and forgive others, reflecting the character of Christ.

Practical Application:
Christians are encouraged to apply these teachings by practicing forgiveness and seeking reconciliation rather than revenge. This involves a conscious decision to let go of grudges and to respond to offenses with grace and mercy. By doing so, believers not only obey biblical commands but also serve as witnesses to the transformative power of the Gospel in their lives.

Conclusion:
While the desire for revenge is a natural human response to being wronged, the Bible consistently calls believers to a higher standard of love, forgiveness, and trust in God's justice. Through the teachings of both the Old and New Testaments, Christians are guided to reject personal vengeance and to embody the principles of mercy and grace.1. (v. t.) To inflict harm in return for, as an injury, insult, etc.; to exact satisfaction for, under a sense of injury; to avenge; -- followed either by the wrong received, or by the person or thing wronged, as the object, or by the reciprocal pronoun as direct object, and a preposition before the wrong done or the wrongdoer.

2. (v. t.) To inflict injury for, in a spiteful, wrong, or malignant spirit; to wreak vengeance for maliciously.

3. (v. i.) To take vengeance; -- with

4. (n.) The act of revenging; vengeance; retaliation; a returning of evil for evil.

5. (n.) The disposition to revenge; a malignant wishing of evil to one who has done us an injury.

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 Jeremiah 20:10 Ezekiel 25:15; Ezekiel 25:17 is an anthropomorphism), but, wherever it is synonymous with "avenge," this word is used (compare Numbers 31:2, 3 Psalm 79:10 Nahum 1:2; Jdt 13:20; Romans 13:4 2 Corinthians 7:11; 2 Corinthians 10:6 the Revised Version (British and American); the King James Version has "revenge" in all these cases). In Deuteronomy 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

1556. ekdikeo -- to vindicate, to avenge
... Definition to vindicate, to avenge NASB Word Usage avenged (1), avenging (1),
give...legal protection (2), legal protection (2), punish (1), take...revenge (1 ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1556.htm - 7k5360. 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

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

6546. pera -- perhaps leader
... avenging, revenge. Feminine of pera' (in the sense of beginning); leadership (plural
concretely, leaders) -- + avenging, revenge. see HEBREW pera'. 6545, 6546 ...
/hebrew/6546.htm - 6k

5359. naqam -- vengeance
... avenged, quarrel, vengeance. From naqam; revenge -- + avenged, quarrel, vengeance.
see HEBREW naqam. 5358, 5359. naqam. 5360 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/5359.htm - 6k

Of Revenge.
... Chapter X."Of Revenge. There is, too, another chief spur of impatience, the lust
of revenge, dealing with the business either of glory or else of malice. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/tertullian/of patience/chapter x of revenge.htm

January the Twenty-Ninth Noble Revenge
... JANUARY The Twenty-ninth NOBLE REVENGE. ... That is the noblest revenge, and in those
moments David had intimate knowledge of the spirit of his Lord. ...
/.../january the twenty-ninth noble revenge.htm

Fulfilling of the Law in the Higher Sense. --Particular Examples ...
... Fulfilling of the Law in the Higher Sense."Particular Examples, viz., (1.) Murder;
(2.) Adultery; (3.) Divorce; (4.) Perjury; (5.) Revenge; (6.) National ...
/.../section 155 fulfilling of the.htm

The Seventh Season,
... The spirit that is in us lusteth to revenge; but it must not be so. ... 1. Urge upon
your heart the severe prohibitions of revenge contained in the law of God. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/flavel/on keeping the heart/vii the seventh season.htm

Whether the virtues Annexed to Justice are Suitably Enumerated?
... ii, 53] reckons six, viz. "religion, piety, gratitude, revenge, observance, truth."
Now revenge is seemingly a species of commutative justice whereby revenge ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether the virtues annexed to.htm

Whether There was Anger in Christ?
... Hence anger is a passion composed of sorrow and the desire of revenge. Now
it was said [4039](A[6]) that sorrow could be in Christ. ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether there was anger in.htm

Whether the Philosopher Suitably Assigns the Species of Anger?
... iv, 5) that "ill-tempered" or "stern" persons "are those whose anger is not appeased
without revenge, or punishment." Now this also pertains to the ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether the philosopher suitably assigns.htm

Whether it is Lawful to be Angry?
... not hate thy brother in thy heart." Now it would seem unlawful to desire vengeance,
since this should be left to God, according to Dt.32:35, "Revenge is Mine ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether it is lawful to 26.htm

Whether Vengeance is Lawful?
... But vengeance belongs to God, for it is written (Dt.32:35, Rom.12:19): "Revenge
to Me, and I will repay." Therefore all vengeance is unlawful. ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether vengeance is lawful.htm

Whether Anger is a Sin?
... First, in relation to the appetible object to which anger tends, and that
is revenge. Wherefore if one desire revenge to be taken ...
//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether anger is a sin.htm

Revenge (13 Occurrences)
... 5. (n.) The disposition to revenge; a malignant wishing of evil to one who has done
us an injury. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. REVENGE; REVENGER. ...
/r/revenge.htm - 12k

Blood-revenge
Blood-revenge. Bloodrevenge, Blood-revenge. Bloodshed . Int. Standard
Bible Encyclopedia BLOOD-REVENGE. blud-re-venj': See AVENGER. ...
/b/blood-revenge.htm - 6k

Revenger (5 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (n.) One who revenges. Int. Standard Bible
Encyclopedia. REVENGE; REVENGER. re-venj', re-venj'-er: The same ...
/r/revenger.htm - 9k

Revengeful (3 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (a.) Full of, or prone to, revenge; vindictive; malicious;
revenging; wreaking revenge. Multi-Version Concordance ...
/r/revengeful.htm - 7k

Samson (37 Occurrences)
... For this Samson took revenge by burning the "standing corn of the Philistines"
(15:1-8), who, in their turn, in revenge "burnt her and her father with fire ...
/s/samson.htm - 37k

Vengeance (63 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) Punishment inflicted in return for an injury or an offense; retribution; --
often, in a bad sense, passionate or unrestrained revenge. ...
/v/vengeance.htm - 26k

Onias
... Being unable to get the better of Onias and thirsting for revenge, Simon went to
Apollonius, governor of Coele-Syria and Phoenicia, and informed him of the ...
/o/onias.htm - 10k

Wreak (1 Occurrence)
... 2. (vi) To reck; to care. 3. (vt) To revenge; to avenge. 4. (vt) Revenge; vengeance;
furious passion; resentment. Multi-Version Concordance ...
/w/wreak.htm - 6k

Tamar (28 Occurrences)
... This promise was not fulfilled, and hence Tamar's revenge and Judah's great guilt
(38:12-30). ... This brought upon Amnon the terrible revenge of Absalom. ...
/t/tamar.htm - 21k

Bloodrevenge
Bloodrevenge. Blood-red, Bloodrevenge. Blood-revenge . Int. ... BLOOD-REVENGE.
blud-re-venj': See AVENGER. Blood-red, Bloodrevenge. Blood-revenge . ...
/b/bloodrevenge.htm - 6k

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