Greek word · G1557

ἐκδίκησις

ekdikēsis

vengeance

Built from ek ('out') and dikē ('justice, right, penalty'). Its meanings are: (1) securing justice for someone, vindication; (2) the punishment given to a wrongdoer as part of that justice. It belongs to the language of courts and judgment.

Appears 9 times in 9 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

ἐκ-δίκησις, -εως, ἡ

(ἐκδικέω), [in LXX chiefly for נָקָם ;]

vengeance, vindication: Luke 21:22, Romans 12:19 (see MM, Exp., xii), Hebrews 10:30 (LXX), 2 Corinthians 7:11; of the injured person, with genitive, Luke 18:7-8; with dative, Acts 7:24; of the offender, with genitive obj., 1 Peter 2:14; with dative, 2 Thessalonians 1:8 (cf. Sirach 12:6).†

(AS)

From G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of 2 Thessalonians 1:8

Range of meaning

Built from ek ('out') and dikē ('justice, right, penalty'). Its meanings are: (1) securing justice for someone, vindication; (2) the punishment given to a wrongdoer as part of that justice. It belongs to the language of courts and judgment. The idea is a wrong being answered and the injured party being put right.

Against the English

KJV, BSB and ESV have 'vengeance'. NASB has 'retribution'. NIV and WEB use the verb 'punish'. Today 'vengeance' suggests personal grudge and getting even. 'Punish' keeps the judicial side but loses the idea of vindicating the victims.

How it drifted

In older English, 'vengeance' was the normal word for justice imposed for a wrong, including God's lawful punishment. Modern usage has narrowed it toward private revenge and anger out of control.

Used elsewhere in the period

In the Greek Old Testament it translates Hebrew neqamah, God's justice on behalf of the wronged: Deut 32:35 ('vengeance is mine', quoted in Rom 12:19); Ps 18:47 [LXX 17:48], 'God who gives me vengeance'; Ezek 25:14, 'I will give my vengeance'; Isa 66:15 (LXX: 'to repay his vengeance in wrath'). In Luke 18:7–8 God 'will give justice' (poiēsei tēn ekdikēsin) to his chosen ones who cry to him. In Greek papyri the related verb ekdikeō is used for a legal representative obtaining redress.

From the study of 2 Corinthians 7:11

Range of meaning

Rendering justice; vindication of a wronged party; punishment of a wrongdoer; avenging (BDAG: 'vengeance, punishment'). It belongs to the δίκη ('justice, legal right') word-family and has a legal, not merely emotional, colour.

Against the English

KJV and YLT 'revenge'; BSB and WEB 'vindication'; ESV 'punishment'; NASB 'avenging of wrong'; NIV 'readiness to see justice done'. 'Revenge' suggests personal retaliation; 'vindication' can wrongly suggest vindicating themselves.

How it drifted

In 1611 'revenge' could still mean due punishment or satisfaction of justice (KJV follows the Vulgate's 'vindictam'); modern English narrows it to personal, often vindictive retaliation.

Used elsewhere in the period

LXX uses it of God's just requital (e.g. Deut 32:35). NT: Luke 18:7–8 (justice for the widow); Rom 12:19 ('vengeance is mine'); 1 Pet 2:14 (governors sent 'for the punishment of evildoers'). In Rom 13:4 the related ἔκδικος is the magistrate who administers justice.

From the study of 1 Maccabees 7:24

Range of meaning

Retribution, punishment, vengeance, and also redress or vindication for someone who has been wronged. It comes from ek ('out') and dikē ('justice, penalty'): justice that is 'exacted' or paid out. It can mean a court penalty, punishment by a king, God's judgment, or a blood-feud that restores a family's or nation's honour.

Against the English

KJV, Brenton and WEB all say 'took vengeance'. RSV/NRSV also use 'vengeance'. The word is fair, but modern English 'vengeance' leans toward private, emotional revenge. The Greek word, like the Hebrew neqamah behind it, often meant a wrong being settled by someone who claims the right to settle it.

How it drifted

Over time English 'vengeance/revenge' came to mean mainly personal retaliation, which moral teaching views as illegitimate. In biblical Greek and Hebrew the idea was also about public justice and restoring order. Translating it 'vengeance' brings in the private-grudge feel.

Used elsewhere in the period

In the Greek Old Testament (the Septuagint, or LXX) it regularly translates Hebrew neqamah. Examples: Num 31:2 ('avenge the vengeance of the Israelites on the Midianites'), Deut 32:35 ('in the day of vengeance'), and Ps 149:7 (LXX 'to execute vengeance among the nations', almost the same wording as here). In 1 Maccabees it is a theme of the family's mission. On his deathbed Mattathias says 'avenge the wrong done to your people' (2:67). Jonathan and Simon later avenge their brother's blood (9:42). Simon vows to 'avenge my nation' (13:6). The New Testament keeps the same phrase: Moses 'carried out vengeance (epoiēsen ekdikēsin) for the oppressed man' by striking the Egyptian (Acts 7:24); see also Luke 18:7–8 and Rom 12:19.

Similar words

Where it appears

Luke · 3

  1. Luke 18:7 ἐκδίκησιν avenging

    Will not God bring about justice for His elect who cry out to Him day and night? Will He delay in helping them?

    Here: Legal redress: the wronged party gets a verdict in their favour against an adversary. It repeats the widow's plea 'ekdikēson me' (v. 3) and the judge's 'ekdikēsō autēn' (v. 5).

  2. Luke 18:8 ἐκδίκησιν avenging

    I tell you, He will promptly carry out justice on their behalf. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on earth?”

    Here: A legal remedy: settling a case in favor of the wronged party and against the wrongdoer. It echoes the widow's plea 'give me justice against my adversary' (v.3, 5).

  3. Luke 21:22 ἐκδικήσεως of avenging

    For these are the days of vengeance, to fulfill all that is written.

    Here: Legal retribution carried out by a rightful authority, here God. It is 'days of justice being carried out,' taken word for word from prophetic warnings such as Hosea 9:7 and Deuteronomy 32:35 in the Greek Old Testament. It does not suggest a burst of personal spite.

Acts · 1

  1. Acts 7:24 ἐκδίκησιν vengeance

    And when he saw one of them being mistreated, Moses went to his defense and avenged him by striking down the Egyptian who was oppressing him.

Romans · 1

  1. Romans 12:19 ἐκδίκησις, vengeance,

    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.”

    Here: The noun from the verb earlier in the verse: the act of exacting justice, punishing the wrongdoer and vindicating the wronged. It belongs to a lawful authority, not to private spite.

2 Corinthians · 1

  1. 2 Corinthians 7:11 ἐκδίκησιν; vindication?

    Consider what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what zeal, what vindication! In every way you have proved yourselves to be innocent in this matter.

    Here: Their action to see the wrong properly dealt with — the disciplinary penalty imposed on the offender by the majority (2:6). Justice done, not a personal vendetta.

2 Thessalonians · 1

  1. 2 Thessalonians 1:8 ἐκδίκησιν vengeance

    in blazing fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.

    Here: Justice carried out to put a wrong right, especially on behalf of people who have been wronged. Here it is the other side of the 'relief' promised to the persecuted believers in v.7. It is a judge's ruling, not personal spite.

Hebrews · 1

  1. Hebrews 10:30 ἐκδίκησις, [is] vengeance ,

    For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is Mine; I will repay,” and again, “The Lord will judge His people.”

    Here: Justice exacted for a wrong: punishment handed down, or a wronged party's rights upheld, by the one who has authority to do it. Here it points to God's punishment of the covenant-breaker described in verse 29.

1 Peter · 1

  1. 1 Peter 2:14 ἐκδίκησιν vengeance

    or to governors as those sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to praise those who do right.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.