Revenge

Bridgeway Bible Dictionary

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 ( Leviticus 19:18;  Deuteronomy 32:35;  Romans 12:19;  Revelation 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 ( Exodus 23:4-5;  Leviticus 19:17-18;  Matthew 5:44-48;  Matthew 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’ ( Exodus 21:22-24;  Romans 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 ( Matthew 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 ( Matthew 5:38-42).

King James Dictionary

REVENGE, revenj'. L. vindex, vindico. See Vindicate.

1. To inflict pain or injury in return for an injury received.

Note. this word and avenge were formerly used as synonymous, and it is so used in the common version of the Scripture, and applied to the Supreme Being. "O Lord - revenge me of my persecutors."  Jeremiah 15 . In consequence of a distinction between avenge and revenge which modern usage has introduced, the application of this word to the Supreme Being appears extremely harsh, irreverent and offensive. Revenge is now used in an sense, for the infliction of pain maliciously or illegally avenge for inflicting just punishment.

2. According to modern usage, to inflict pain deliberately and maliciously, contrary to the laws of justice and humanity, in return for injury, pain or evil received to wreak vengeance spitefully on one who injures or offends. We say, to revenge an injury or insult, or with the reciprocal pronoun, to revenge ourselves on an enemy or for an injury, that is, to take vengeance or satisfaction. 3. To vindicate by punishment of an enemy.

The gods are just and will revenge our cause.

According to modern usage, avenge should here be substituted for revenge.

REVENGE, n. revenj'.

1. Return of an injury the deliberate infliction of pain or injury or a person in return for an injury received from him. 2. According to modern usage, a malicious or spiteful infliction of pain or injury, contrary to the laws of justice and christianity, in return for an injury or offense. Revenge is dictated by passion vengeance by justice. 3. The passion which is excited by an injury done or an affront given the desire of inflicting pain on one who has done an injury as, to glut revenge.

Revenge, as the word is now understood, is always contrary to the precepts of Christ.

The indulgence of revenge tends to make men more savage and cruel.

Webster's Dictionary

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

(2): ( v. i.) To take vengeance; - with

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

(4): ( 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.

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

Charles Buck Theological Dictionary

Means the return of injury for injury, or the infliction of pain on another in consequence of an injury received from him, farther than the just ends of reparation or punishment require. Revenge differs materially from resentment, which rises in the mind immediately on being injured; but revenge is a cool and deliberate wickedness, and is often executed years after the offence is given. By some it is considered as a perversion of anger. Anger, it is said, is a passion given to man for wise and proper purposes, but revenge is the corruption of anger; is unnatural, and therefore ought to be suppressed. It is observable that the proper object of anger is vice; but the object in general of revenge is man. It transfers the hatred due to the vice to the man, to whom it is not due. It is forbidden by the Scriptures, and is unbecoming the character and spirit of a peaceful follower of Jesus Christ.

See Anger

Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible

REVENGE . See Avenger of Blood, Kin [Next of].

Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament

See Vengeance.

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

( נְקָמָה , Ἐκδίκησις ) means the return of injury for injury, or the infliction of pain on another in consequence of an injury received from him further than the just ends of reparation or punishment require. Revenge differs materially from resentment, which rises in the mind immediately on being injured; but revenge is a cool and deliberate wickedness, and is often executed years after the offence is given. By some it is considered as a perversion of anger. Anger, it is said, is a passion given to man for wise and proper purposes, but revenge is the corruption of anger, is unnatural, and therefore ought to be suppressed. It is observable that the proper object of anger is vice; but the object, in general, of revenge, is man. It transfers the hatred due to the vice to the man, to whom it is not due. It is forbidden by the Scriptures, and is unbecoming the character and spirit of a peaceful follower of Jesus Christ. (See Anger).