Hebrew word · H5360

נְקָמָה

nekamah

vengeance

Vengeance, avenging, redress. In the Hebrew Bible the root nqm most often has God or a lawful authority as its subject. The word is about rightful requital. It is not the private grudge of modern "revenge", but it does include real punishment of the guilty.

Appears 27 times in 22 verses of the Hebrew Old Testament. ·

What it means

1) vengeance

1a) vengeance (by God, by Israel, by enemies of Israel)

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 Jeremiah 11:20

Range of meaning

Vengeance, avenging, redress. In the Hebrew Bible the root nqm most often has God or a lawful authority as its subject. It means punishing wrongdoing in a way that also restores or rescues the injured party: "Vengeance is mine" (Deuteronomy 32:35), God avenging his servants' blood (Deuteronomy 32:43), Jeremiah 50:15, 28. The word is about rightful requital. It is not the private grudge of modern "revenge", but it does include real punishment of the guilty.

Against the English

Every major English version has "vengeance". The word is not wrong. Modern English "vengeance" or "revenge" suggests personal spite and getting even, while the Hebrew word sits in the world of the court and the king.

How it drifted

In modern English "vengeance" has moved toward private, emotional retaliation, and it is usually something we disapprove of. The idea that it is a public judicial act has mostly disappeared from ordinary speech.

Used elsewhere in the period

G. E. Mendenhall's study of nqm (in The Tenth Generation, 1973) argued that it often means a sovereign using legitimate power to defend or rescue. H. G. L. Peels (The Vengeance of God, 1995) agreed it belongs to the legal sphere and also stressed that it does include punishment. Inscriptions from the ancient Near East likewise invoke the gods to enforce justice on those who break oaths.

From the study of Psalm 94:1

Range of meaning

Retribution or redress carried out on someone who has done wrong, nearly always by a party with the right to do it: God, a king, a community, or a wronged person acting within recognised custom. The act faces two ways. It is punishment for the oppressor and vindication or rescue for the oppressed. When God is the subject, the word belongs with the language of judging and kingship. In Isa 35:4, 'your God will come with vengeance… he will come and save you', the vengeance is the saving. In Isa 61:2 'the day of vengeance of our God' stands next to 'the year of the LORD's favour' and comforting those who mourn. The plural (also in Ps 18:47 [Eng. 18:47–48] 'the God who gives me vengeances', Ezek 25:17) points to repeated or full-scale acts of redress.

Against the English

Modern English 'vengeance' and 'revenge' suggest a private grudge, getting even, rage that goes beyond what is fair. KJV's 'to whom vengeance belongeth' gets the ownership idea right (cf. Deut 32:35). NIV's 'a God who avenges' turns it into action. None of the English options fully carries the 'vindication of the wronged' side, which is half the Hebrew word.

How it drifted

In older English (KJV era) 'vengeance' was still commonly used for lawful punishment by a ruler or by God ('the vengeance of the law'). Since then it has narrowed toward private, emotional retaliation, so the word now sounds petty or vindictive where the Hebrew sounded judicial.

Used elsewhere in the period

Kings of Ugarit (13th–14th c. BC) bore names such as Niqmaddu, 'Haddu is vindication / has vindicated', and Niqmepa. In those names the root names a god's act of rescue on behalf of his worshipper, not a vice. G. E. Mendenhall argued that nqm basically denotes the use of rightful sovereign power to punish and to rescue. H. G. L. Peels (The Vengeance of God, 1995) refines this: the word belongs to justice and legitimate authority, and it carries strong feeling but is never arbitrary. Deut 32:35, 'vengeance and repayment are mine', reserves it for God. At Qumran the Community Rule speaks of waiting for 'the day of vengeance' (1QS 10:19) rather than taking it oneself. The Septuagint translates with ekdikēsis, a Greek word for legal redress and satisfaction of justice.

From the study of Jeremiah 20:10

Range of meaning

Vengeance, retribution, requital: paying back an injury so that the account is settled. In the Hebrew Bible it is often a legal or covenant idea (redress for a wrong) and most often belongs to God (Deut 32:35). It can also be human retaliation, which Leviticus 19:18 forbids toward a fellow Israelite.

Against the English

BSB 'vengeance', KJV and WEB 'revenge'. Modern 'revenge' suggests private spite only. The Hebrew word suggests settling accounts. The enemies present their aim as payback for what they see as real wrongs.

How it drifted

In modern English 'revenge' has narrowed to personal retaliation, cut off from the older sense of rightful retribution.

Used elsewhere in the period

Numbers 31:2 ('avenge the vengeance of the Israelites on the Midianites'); Judges 16:28 (Samson's prayer); Jeremiah 11:20 and 20:12, where Jeremiah asks to see the LORD's neqamah on his persecutors.

Where it appears

Numbers · 2

  1. Numbers 31:2 נִקְמַת֙ [the] vengeance of

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

    Here: The noun from the same root as the verb before it. 'Avenge the vengeance' is a Hebrew way of adding weight: exact the full redress that is owed. It is in the 'vengeance of …' form, tied to the next word.

  2. Numbers 31:3 נִקְמַת־ [the] vengeance of

    So Moses told the people, “Arm some of your men for war, that they may go against the Midianites and execute the LORD’s vengeance on them.

Judges · 1

  1. Judges 11:36 נְקָמ֛וֹת vengeance<s>

    “My father,” she replied, “you have given your word to the LORD. Do to me as you have said, for the LORD has avenged you of your enemies, the Ammonites.”

2 Samuel · 2

  1. 2 Samuel 4:8 נְקָמוֹת֙ vengeance<s>

    They brought the head of Ish-bosheth to David at Hebron and said to the king, “Here is the head of Ish-bosheth son of Saul, your enemy who sought your life. Today the LORD has granted vengeance to my lord the king against Saul and his offspring.”

  2. 2 Samuel 22:48 נְקָמֹ֖ת vengeance<s>

    the God who avenges me and brings down nations beneath me,

Psalms · 5

  1. Psalm 18:47 נְקָמ֣וֹת vengeance<s>

    the God who avenges me and subdues nations beneath me,

  2. Psalm 79:10 נִ֝קְמַ֗ת [the] vengeance of

    Why should the nations ask, “Where is their God?” Before our eyes, make known among the nations Your vengeance for the bloodshed of Your servants.

    Here: The rightful avenging of a wrong, carried out by the one who has the authority to do it. Here that is God, acting for his slain people. The speakers ask God to do it; they do not take it into their own hands.

  3. Psalm 94:1 נְקָמ֥וֹת נְקָמ֣וֹת vengeance<s>

    O LORD, God of vengeance, O God of vengeance, shine forth.

    Here: A plural: 'vengeances', meaning acts of rightful redress. It names God as the one who carries out legitimate punishment of the guilty and, in the same act, sets their victims right. It is not personal spite.

  4. Psalm 149:7 נְ֭קָמָה vengeance

    to inflict vengeance on the nations and punishment on the peoples,

Jeremiah · 11

  1. Jeremiah 11:20 נִקְמָֽתְךָ֙ vengeance your

    O LORD of Hosts, who judges righteously, who examines the heart and mind, let me see Your vengeance upon them, for to You I have committed my cause.

    Here: "Your vengeance": the redress God carries out as rightful judge against people who wronged someone under his protection. "Your" matters. Jeremiah asks for God's vengeance, not his own.

  2. Jeremiah 20:10 נִקְמָתֵ֖נוּ vengeance our

    For I have heard the whispering of many: “Terror is on every side! Report him; let us report him!” All my trusted friends watch for my fall: “Perhaps he will be deceived so that we may prevail against him and take our vengeance upon him.”

    Here: 'Our vengeance': settling the score, paying him back for the damage they think he has done them (his prophecies of doom, his public humiliation of Pashhur).

  3. Jeremiah 20:12 נִקְמָֽתְךָ֙ vengeance your

    O LORD of Hosts, who examines the righteous, who sees the heart and mind, let me see Your vengeance upon them, for to You I have committed my cause.

    Here: 'Your vengeance.' It is God's own act as supreme judge and king, redressing a wrong. Jeremiah asks God to act. He does not ask to take revenge himself.

  4. Jeremiah 46:10 נְקָמָה֙ vengeance

    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: Payback carried out by the rightful ruler against those who rebelled against him. It is punishment, and it sets right a wrong done to his authority.

  5. Jeremiah 50:15 נִקְמַ֨ת [is] [the] vengeance of

    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: 'The vengeance of…' This is the rightful ruler punishing a wrong and setting it right, not personal spite. The wider chapter says what wrong it answers: 'vengeance for his temple' (50:28; 51:11).

  6. Jeremiah 50:28 נִקְמַת֙ נִקְמַ֖ת [the] vengeance of

    Listen to the fugitives and refugees from the land of Babylon, declaring in Zion the vengeance of the LORD our God, the vengeance for His temple.

    Here: "The vengeance of": the redress the rightful ruler exacts for wrong done to him and his people. It is a public act of justice by the one with authority to punish, not a private grudge.

  7. Jeremiah 51:6 נְקָמָ֥ה vengeance

    Flee from Babylon! Escape with your lives! Do not be destroyed in her punishment. For this is the time of the LORD’s vengeance; He will pay her what she deserves.

    Here: Punishment imposed by a rightful authority to set right a wrong done. In context it is Yahweh avenging his destroyed temple and people (50:28; 51:11).

  8. Jeremiah 51:11 נִקְמַ֤ת נִקְמַ֖ת [is] [the] vengeance of, [the] vengeance of

    Sharpen the arrows! Fill the quivers! The LORD has aroused the spirit of the kings of the Medes, because His plan is aimed at Babylon to destroy her, for it is the vengeance of the LORD—vengeance for His temple.

    Here: 'The vengeance of.' This is redress carried out by a rightful ruler for a wrong done to what belongs to him. It is not private spite.

  9. Jeremiah 51:36 נִקְמָתֵ֑ךְ vengeance your

    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: 'Your vengeance', meaning the redress owed to you. Verb and noun again share a root: 'I will avenge your avenging', that is, carry out in full the justice you are owed.

Lamentations · 1

  1. Lamentations 3:60 נִקְמָתָ֔ם vengeance their

    You have seen all their malice, all their plots against me.

Ezekiel · 5

  1. Ezekiel 25:14 נִקְמָתִ֜י נִקְמָתִ֔י vengeance my

    I will take My vengeance on Edom by the hand of My people Israel, and they will deal with Edom according to My anger and wrath. Then they will know My vengeance, declares the Lord GOD.’

  2. Ezekiel 25:15 בִּנְקָמָ֑ה in vengeance

    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: 'In vengeance': they acted in a spirit of paying back. The same word appears in verse 14 for God's own retribution on Edom, so the contrast is deliberate.

  3. Ezekiel 25:17 נְקָמ֣וֹת נִקְמָתִ֖י vengeance<s>, vengeance my

    I will execute great vengeance against them with furious reproof. Then they will know that I am the LORD, when I lay My vengeance upon them.’”

    Here: Plural, "acts of retribution". The plural adds weight and suggests repeated or full-scale acts. It deliberately answers v.15, where the Philistines "acted in vengeance" (binqamah) against Judah.

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