Hebrew word · H5358

נָקַם

nekom

to avenge

To avenge, take vengeance, punish, retaliate for a wrong. It can describe legitimate retribution by proper authority, such as a court punishing the death of a slave (Exod 21:20, 'he shall surely be avenged') or God's vindication of his people (Deut 32:35, 43).

Appears 35 times in 31 verses of the Hebrew Old Testament. ·

What it means

1) to avenge, take vengeance, revenge, avenge oneself, be avenged, be punished

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to avenge, take vengeance

1a2) to entertain revengeful feelings

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to avenge oneself

1b2) to suffer vengeance

1c) (Piel) to avenge

1d) (Hophal) to be avenged, vengeance be taken (for blood)

1e) (Hithpael) to avenge oneself

Abridged from Brown, Driver and Briggs, A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament (1906), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of Leviticus 19:18

Range of meaning

To avenge, take vengeance, punish, retaliate for a wrong. It can describe legitimate retribution by proper authority, such as a court punishing the death of a slave (Exod 21:20, 'he shall surely be avenged') or God's vindication of his people (Deut 32:35, 43). It can also describe private score-settling (Judg 15:7; 1 Sam 18:25).

Against the English

'Revenge' in English is almost wholly negative and emotional. Naqam can be just and legal when it belongs to God or a lawful process. What this verse forbids is the individual taking it into his own hands against a fellow member of the community.

Used elsewhere in the period

G. Mendenhall argued that naqam is basically 'vindication' by a legitimate authority. H. G. L. Peels (The Vengeance of God, 1995) qualifies this but agrees that the word sits within ideas of justice, not only rage. Deut 32:35, 'Vengeance is mine', is quoted in Rom 12:19 alongside this very idea. The Damascus Document (CD 9:2–8) applies 'you shall not take vengeance or keep a grudge' to members who bring accusations without first giving proper private reproof.

From the study of Psalm 8:2

Range of meaning

The reflexive (Hithpael) form of nāqam: to take vengeance for oneself, to be vindictive. The plain root covers both legitimate redress and personal revenge.

Against the English

KJV, WEB, ESV, BSB "avenger"; YLT "self-avenger"; NASB "revengeful." NLT drops the specific idea.

How it drifted

Modern "avenger" sounds heroic, someone who rights wrongs. The Hebrew form describes a hostile figure who pursues his own revenge.

Used elsewhere in the period

The exact pair ʾôyēv ûmitnaqqēm appears in Ps 44:16 for the taunting foe who shames Israel. The reflexive form of the verb is also used of the Philistines' grudge-driven revenge in Ezek 25:15 (with a related phrase).

From the study of Jeremiah 5:9

Range of meaning

To take vengeance, avenge, or exact redress for a wrong. In the Hebrew Bible it is mostly the act of a legitimate authority setting right a violation: a legal penalty (Exod 21:20, a master who kills a slave 'shall surely be avenged', i.e. punished), a ruler acting against an enemy who has wronged his people (Num 31:2), and above all God acting as sovereign and judge (Deut 32:35, 41, 43). Private revenge among Israelites is forbidden (Lev 19:18), which shows the word could mean personal retaliation but that legitimate naqam belonged to the rightful authority. The reflexive form used here ('avenge oneself') is rare. It appears in Ps 8:2 [8:3 Heb.] and 44:16 [44:17] ('the enemy and the avenger') and in Jeremiah's refrain (5:9, 29; 9:8).

Against the English

English 'avenge'/'vengeance' now suggests getting even, a grudge, or out-of-control rage. Hebrew naqam has an emotional side, but it is mainly about restoring a violated order by someone entitled to do so. 'Rightful redress' or 'retribution' is often closer.

How it drifted

In modern English 'revenge' and 'vengeance' are almost always negative, words for private retaliation that society disapproves of. Older English 'avenge' carried more of the sense of rightful punishment.

Used elsewhere in the period

Lev 26:25 speaks of 'a sword executing the vengeance of the covenant' (neqam berit), which ties naqam directly to enforcing covenant curses. Deut 32:35, 'Vengeance is mine', is quoted in Rom 12:19 and Heb 10:30. G. E. Mendenhall argued that naqam basically means the lawful use of sovereign power. H. G. L. Peels's monograph largely agrees that it is legal retribution, but he stresses that it also has a punitive and emotional side. The LXX here uses ekdikeō ('to vindicate, punish, exact justice'), and the Vulgate uses ulciscor.

Where it appears

Genesis · 2

  1. Genesis 4:15 יֻקָּ֑ם he will be avenged

    “Not so!” replied the LORD. “If anyone slays Cain, then Cain will be avenged sevenfold.” And the LORD placed a mark on Cain, so that no one who found him would kill him.

  2. Genesis 4:24 יֻקַּם־ he will be avenged

    If Cain is avenged sevenfold, then Lamech seventy-sevenfold.”

Exodus · 3

  1. Exodus 21:20 נָקֹ֖ם יִנָּקֵֽם׃ certainly <to avenge>, he will be avenged

    If a man strikes his manservant or maidservant with a rod, and the servant dies by his hand, he shall surely be punished.

  2. Exodus 21:21 יֻקַּ֔ם he will be avenged

    However, if the servant gets up after a day or two, the owner shall not be punished, since the servant is his property.

Leviticus · 2

  1. Leviticus 19:18 תִקֹּ֤ם you will avenge yourself

    Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against any of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD.

    Here: To pay someone back for a wrong, to settle the score yourself. With 'not' it forbids private retaliation against a fellow member of the community.

  2. Leviticus 26:25 נֹקֶ֙מֶת֙ [which will] avenge

    And I will bring a sword against you to execute the vengeance of the covenant. Though you withdraw into your cities, I will send a plague among you, and you will be delivered into the hand of the enemy.

    Here: A participle ('one that avenges') describing the sword. The sword is cast as the officer who carries out a legal penalty.

Numbers · 1

  1. Numbers 31:2 נְקֹ֗ם avenge

    “Take vengeance on the Midianites for the Israelites. After that, you will be gathered to your people.”

    Here: A direct command to Moses (masculine singular). It opens the verse sharply: the first word is the demand that a wrong be answered and set right by punishment.

Deuteronomy · 1

  1. Deuteronomy 32:43 יִקּ֑וֹם he will avenge

    Rejoice, O heavens, with Him, and let all God’s angels worship Him. Rejoice, O nations, with His people; for He will avenge the blood of His children. He will take vengeance on His adversaries and repay those who hate Him; He will cleanse His land and His people.

    Here: 'He will avenge.' This is the lawful sovereign settling accounts for blood that was wrongly shed, not a private grudge. The tense can be read as future ('will avenge') or as something God habitually does ('avenges').

Joshua · 1

  1. Joshua 10:13 יִקֹּ֥ם it avenged itself on

    So the sun stood still and the moon stopped until the nation took vengeance upon its enemies. Is this not written in the Book of Jashar? “So the sun stopped in the middle of the sky and delayed going down about a full day.”

    Here: "Took vengeance" or "exacted redress". The verb is imperfect, used after "until" for an action still to come. It refers to the justified punishment of the coalition that had attacked Israel's sworn ally Gibeon, not to private spite.

Judges · 2

  1. Judges 15:7 נִקַּ֥מְתִּי I have avenged myself

    And Samson told them, “Because you have done this, I will not rest until I have taken vengeance upon you.”

  2. Judges 16:28 וְאִנָּקְמָ֧ה so let me avenge myself

    Then Samson called out to the LORD: “O Lord GOD, please remember me. Strengthen me, O God, just once more, so that with one vengeful blow I may pay back the Philistines for my two eyes.”

    Here: A 'let me' form (first person, expressing intent) that, after the requests, states their purpose: 'so that I may take vengeance / get redress'. The verb form points back at Samson: 'avenge myself, get satisfaction for myself'.

1 Samuel · 3

  1. 1 Samuel 14:24 וְנִקַּמְתִּי֙ and I will avenge myself

    Now the men of Israel were in distress that day, for Saul had placed the troops under an oath, saying, “Cursed is the man who eats any food before evening, before I have taken vengeance on my enemies.” So none of the troops tasted any food.

    Here: First person singular: 'I'. Saul sets the end of the fast at the moment *he* has his revenge. This sits awkwardly beside v. 23, where it is the LORD who saves Israel.

  2. 1 Samuel 18:25 לְהִנָּקֵ֖ם to avenge himself

    Saul replied, “Say to David, ‘The king desires no other dowry but a hundred Philistine foreskins as revenge on his enemies.’” But Saul intended to cause David’s death at the hands of the Philistines.

  3. 1 Samuel 24:12 וּנְקָמַ֥נִי and he will avenge me

    May the LORD judge between you and me, and may the LORD take vengeance on you, but my hand will never be against you.

    Here: A verb form that carries on the wish of the first verb: 'and may he avenge me.' The object is 'me'. Yahweh is asked to take up David's cause and get him redress as the wronged party. This is a call for lawful vindication, not a hope for private payback.

2 Kings · 1

  1. 2 Kings 9:7 וְנִקַּמְתִּ֞י and I will avenge

    And you are to strike down the house of your master Ahab, so that I may avenge the blood of My servants the prophets and the blood of all the servants of the LORD shed by the hand of Jezebel.

    Here: God is the subject. He will 'take vengeance for', meaning he will exact redress for wrongful bloodshed as the rightful judge. Jehu's striking is the means and God's avenging is the result: 'so that I may avenge'. This intensive verb form of naqam appears only here in the Hebrew Bible.

Esther · 1

  1. Esther 8:13 לְהִנָּקֵ֖ם to avenge themselves

    A copy of the text of the edict was to be issued in every province and published to all the people, so that the Jews would be ready on that day to avenge themselves on their enemies.

Psalms · 3

  1. Psalm 8:2 וּמִתְנַקֵּֽם׃ and an avenger

    From the mouths of children and infants You have ordained praise on account of Your adversaries, to silence the enemy and avenger.

    Here: A reflexive form of "avenge": someone who takes revenge for himself, the vindictive, grudge-driven foe. This is not a lawful avenger of blood or a champion of justice. The same pair, "enemy and avenger," appears in Psalm 44:16.

  2. Psalm 44:16 וּמִתְנַקֵּֽם׃ and an avenger

    at the voice of the scorner and reviler, because of the enemy, bent on revenge.

  3. Psalm 99:8 וְ֝נֹקֵ֗ם and avenging yourself

    O LORD our God, You answered them. You were a forgiving God to them, yet an avenger of their misdeeds.

Isaiah · 1

  1. Isaiah 1:24 וְאִנָּקְמָ֖ה and I will avenge myself

    Therefore the Lord GOD of Hosts, the Mighty One of Israel, declares: “Ah, I will be relieved of My foes and avenge Myself on My enemies.

    Here: 'And let me take vengeance' or 'settle accounts', a form expressing firm resolve. It means the rightful authority punishing a wrong done against him and his dependants. Its sound echoes ʾennāḥēm in the line before.

Jeremiah · 7

  1. Jeremiah 5:9 תִתְנַקֵּ֖ם will it avenge itself

    Should I not punish them for these things?” declares the LORD. “Should I not avenge Myself on such a nation as this?

    Here: A reflexive verb form ('take vengeance for itself'), feminine because its grammatical subject is nefesh. It means exacting rightful redress for a wrong done to oneself. It is not petty spite.

  2. Jeremiah 5:29 תִתְנַקֵּ֖ם will it avenge itself

    Should I not punish them for these things?” declares the LORD. “Should I not avenge Myself on such a nation as this?

  3. Jeremiah 9:9 תִתְנַקֵּ֖ם will it avenge itself

    Should I not punish them for these things? declares the LORD. Should I not avenge Myself on such a nation as this?”

  4. Jeremiah 15:15 וְהִנָּ֤קֶם and avenge yourself

    You understand, O LORD; remember me and attend to me. Avenge me against my persecutors. In Your patience, do not take me away. Know that I endure reproach for Your honor.

    Here: 'And take vengeance.' The verb form means acting for oneself: 'avenge yourself.' Jeremiah asks God, the rightful judge, to give him legal redress. He does not take it into his own hands.

  5. Jeremiah 46:10 לְהִנָּקֵ֣ם to avenge himself

    For that day belongs to the Lord GOD of Hosts, a day of vengeance against His foes. The sword will devour until it is satisfied, until it is quenched with their blood. For the Lord GOD of Hosts will hold a sacrifice in the land of the north by the River Euphrates.

    Here: The verb form points back to the subject: YHWH gets redress for himself. The wrong was done to him, so he is the one who settles it.

  6. Jeremiah 50:15 הִנָּ֣קְמוּ avenge yourself

    Raise a war cry against her on every side! She has thrown up her hands in surrender; her towers have fallen; her walls are torn down. Since this is the vengeance of the LORD, take out your vengeance upon her; as she has done, do the same to her.

    Here: A command to many people: 'take vengeance' or 'get satisfaction.' The armies are told to carry out the vengeance just named as the LORD's. The noun and verb come from the same root, so the sound echoes: niqmat … hinnāqəmû.

  7. Jeremiah 51:36 וְנִקַּמְתִּ֖י and I will avenge

    Therefore this is what the LORD says: “Behold, I will plead your case and take vengeance on your behalf; I will dry up her sea and make her springs run dry.

    Here: 'And I will avenge.' God acts as the lawful authority who enforces the penalty for wrongdoing, not as a private party getting even.

Ezekiel · 4

  1. Ezekiel 24:8 לִנְקֹ֣ם to avenge

    In order to stir up wrath and take vengeance, I have placed her blood on the bare rock, so that it would not be covered.’

  2. Ezekiel 25:12 בִּנְקֹ֥ם וְנִקְּמ֥וּ by avenging itself, and they have avenged themselves

    This is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Because Edom acted vengefully against the house of Judah, and in so doing incurred grievous guilt,

    Here: 'In avenging': Edom's action is described as settling a score, exacting payment for wrongs it believed Judah had done it.

  3. Ezekiel 25:15 וַיִּנָּקְמ֤וּ and they avenged themselves

    This is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Because the Philistines acted in vengeance, taking vengeance with malice of soul to destroy Judah with ancient hostility,

    Here: A reflexive form: 'they avenged themselves', paying back on their own behalf. They claimed for themselves a role the surrounding verses give to God.

Nahum · 3

  1. Nahum 1:2 וְנֹקֵם֙ נֹקֵ֥ם נֹקֵ֤ם and avenging, [is] avenging

    The LORD is a jealous and avenging God; the LORD is avenging and full of wrath. The LORD takes vengeance on His foes and reserves wrath for His enemies.

    Here: 'And' plus a participle (a verb form used like an adjective or noun): 'one who avenges'. The form describes a lasting trait, not a single act. It means calling wrongdoing to account and setting things right, as a ruler or judge does.

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