48 Bible Verses about Revenge
Most Relevant Verses
Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves but give room unto the wrath of God. For it is written, "Vengeance is mine, and I will reward, saith the Lord."
"'Vengeance is mine, and I will reward! Their feet shall slide, when the time cometh. For the time of their destruction is at hand, and the time that shall come upon them maketh haste.'
For that day of vengeance that I have taken in hand, and the year of my deliverance, is come.
For we know him that hath said, "Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord." And again, "the Lord shall judge his people."
The righteous shall rejoice when he seeth the vengeance, and shall wash his feet in the blood of the ungodly.
And therefore have I letten her pour her blood upon a plain dry stony rock, because it should not be hid, and that I might bring my wrathful indignation and vengeance upon her.
Unto thee also, O Zion, shall come the day of the vengeance of God, and the year when thine own judgments shall be recompensed.
and they cried with a loud voice saying, "How long tarriest thou Lord holy and true, to judge and to avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?"
Therefore thus sayeth the LORD: Behold, I will defend thy cause, and avenge thee: I will drink up her sea, and dry up her water springs.
Through my people of Israel will I avenge me again upon Edom: they shall handle him, according to my wrath and indignation, so that they shall know my vengeance, sayeth the LORD God.
O LORD God, to whom vengeance belongeth; thou God to whom vengeance belongeth, show thyself.
Thus sayeth the LORD God: Forsomuch as the Philistines have done this - namely taken vengeance with despiteful stomachs, and of an old evil will set themselves to destroy -
Thou shalt not avenge thyself nor bear hate in thy mind against the children of thy people, but shalt love thy neighbour even as thyself. I am the LORD.
Fly away from Babylon; every man save his life. Let no man hold his tongue to her wickedness, for the time of the LORD's vengeance is come; yea, he shall reward her again.
A great vengeance will I take upon them, and punish them cruelly: that they may know how that I am the LORD, which have avenged me of them.'"
Thou hast well considered how they go about to do me harm, and that all their counsels are against me.
Say unto them that are of a fearful heart, "Be of good cheer, and fear not. Behold, your God cometh, to take vengeance, and to reward, God cometh his own self, and will deliver you."
And the LORD said unto him, "Not so, but whosoever slayeth Cain shall be punished sevenfold." And the LORD put a mark upon Cain that no man that found him should kill him.
and are ready to take vengeance on all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.
Therefore saith the LORD God of Hosts, the mighty one of Israel: Ah, I must ease me of mine enemies, and avenge me upon them.
And Samson said unto them, "Should ye do so? For I will surely be avenged of you; and then I will cease."
And Samson called unto the LORD, and said, "My Lord Jehovah think upon me, and strengthen me at this time only, O God, that I may be avenged of the Philistines for my two eyes."
in flaming fire, rendering vengeance unto them that know not God, and to them that obey not unto the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ,
The LORD be judge between thee and me, and the LORD avenge me of thee. But mine hand be not upon thee.
"O LORD," said I then, "thou knowest all things. Therefore remember me, and visit me, deliver me from my persecutors: Receive not my cause in thy long wrath; yet thou knowest, that for thy sake I suffer rebuke.
He put righteousness upon him for a breastplate, and set the helmet of health upon his head. He put on wrath instead of clothing, and took jealousy about him for a cloak:
Methink I hear already a cry of them that be fled and escaped out of the land of Babylon, which show in Zion the vengeance of the LORD our God; the vengeance of his temple. Yea, a voice of them that cry against Babylon:
And shall not God avenge his elect, which cry night and day unto him? Yea though he defer them:
And he said, "What hast thou done? The voice of thy brother's blood cryeth unto me out of the earth.
Thy shame shall be discovered, and thy privities shall be seen. For I will avenge me of thee, and will show no mercy to thee as I do to other men,
For why? I heard so many derisions and blasphemies, yea even of my own companions, and such as were conversant with me: which went about, to make me afraid, saying, "Upon him; let us go upon him, to fear him, and make him hold his tongue: that we may overcome him, and be avenged of him."
Moreover, thus sayeth the LORD God: Because that Edom hath avenged and eased himself upon the house of Judah,
And now, O LORD of Hosts, thou righteous searcher which knowest the reins and the very hearts: let me see them punished, for unto thee I commit my cause.
And there was a certain widow in the same city, which came unto him saying, 'Avenge me of mine adversary.'
Make sharp the arrows, and fill the quivers: for the LORD shall raise up the spirit of the king of the Medes, which hath already a desire to destroy Babylon. This shall be the vengeance of the LORD's, and the vengeance of his temple.
Rejoice not thou at the fall of thine enemy; and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth.
"Avenge the children of Israel of the Midianites, and afterward be gathered unto thy people."
Cry out: upon her, upon her, against her round about: she shall yield herself, her foundations shall fall, and her walls shall come down, for it shall be the vengeance of the LORD. Yea vengeance shall be taken of her, and as she hath done, so shall she be dealt withal.
for the voice of the slanderer and blasphemer, for the enemy and avenger.
From Thematic Bible
Revenge » Forbidden
Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves but give room unto the wrath of God. For it is written, "Vengeance is mine, and I will reward, saith the Lord."
Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide aforehand things honest in the sight of all men.
See that none recompense evil for evil unto any man: but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.
Thou shalt not avenge thyself nor bear hate in thy mind against the children of thy people, but shalt love thy neighbour even as thyself. I am the LORD.
not rendering evil for evil, neither rebuke for rebuke: but contrariwise, bless: remembering that ye are thereunto called, even that ye should be heirs of blessing.
Revenge » Keep others from taking
But David said to Abishai, "Destroy him not - for who can lay his hand on the LORD's anointed and be guiltless?"
Behold, this day thine eyes have seen how that the LORD had delivered thee this day into mine hand, in the cave. When they bade kill thee, mine eye had compassion on thee: and I said, 'I will not lay my hands on my master, for he is the LORD's anointed.'
and fell at his feet and said, "Let this unhappy deed be counted mine, my lord, and let thine handmaid speak in thine audience, and hear the words of thy handmaid. Let not my lord regard this unthrifty man Nabal, for as his name is, so is he. Nabal is his name and folly is with him. But I thine handmaid saw not the young men of my lord which thou sendest. And now my lord as sure as the LORD liveth and as thy soul liveth, the LORD hath withholden thee from coming to shed blood and from avenging thyself with thine own hand. Furthermore, I pray God that thine enemies and they that intend to do my lord evil, may be as Nabal. read more.
And now this blessing which thine handmaid hath brought, let it be given unto the young men that follow my lord. Forgive the trespass of thine handmaid that the LORD may make my lord a sure house, because my lord fighteth the battles of the LORD, and there could none evil be found in thee in all thy life. And if any man rise to persecute thee and to seek thy soul, the soul of my lord be bound in a bundle of life with the LORD thy God. And the souls of thy enemies be slung in the middle of a sling. And moreover when the LORD shall have done to my lord all the good that he hath promised thee, and shall have made thee ruler over Israel: then shall it be no grudge of conscience unto thee or discourage of heart unto my lord, that thou sheddest blood causeless and didst avenge thyself. And moreover when the LORD shall have dealt well with my lord, then think on thine handmaid."
Revenge » Forbidden by our lord
Rejoice not thou at the fall of thine enemy; and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth.
Thou shalt not avenge thyself nor bear hate in thy mind against the children of thy people, but shalt love thy neighbour even as thyself. I am the LORD.
Say not, "I will handle him, even as he hath dealt with me, and will reward every man according to his deeds."
Revenge » Punishment for
"Thus sayeth the LORD, 'For three and four wickednesses of Edom, I will not spare him, because he persecuted his brother with the sword, destroyed his mother's womb, bare hatred very long, and so kept indignation always by him. Therefore will I send a fire into Teman, which shall devour the palaces of Bozrah.'
Thus sayeth the LORD God: Forsomuch as the Philistines have done this - namely taken vengeance with despiteful stomachs, and of an old evil will set themselves to destroy - Therefore thus sayeth the LORD God: Behold, I will stretch out mine hand over the Philistines, and destroy the destroyer, and cause all the remnant of the sea coast to perish. A great vengeance will I take upon them, and punish them cruelly: that they may know how that I am the LORD, which have avenged me of them.'"
Revenge » Instead of taking, we should » Trust in God
Be of like affection one towards another. Be not high minded, but make yourselves equal to them of the lower sort. Be not wise in your own opinions.
Say not thou, "I will recompense evil"; but put thy trust in the LORD, and he shall defend thee.
Revenge » Exemplified
When they heard these things, their hearts clave asunder, and they gnashed on him with their teeth.
When day was come, certain of the Jews gathered themselves together, and made a vow saying that they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed Paul.
And Samson called unto the LORD, and said, "My Lord Jehovah think upon me, and strengthen me at this time only, O God, that I may be avenged of the Philistines for my two eyes." And Samson caught the two middle pillars on which the house stood and on which it was borne up, the one in his righthand, and the other in his left, and said, "My soul die with the Philistines," and bowed them with might. And the house fell upon the lords and upon all the people that were therein. And so the dead which he slew at his death, were more than they which he slew in his life.
And Samson said unto them, "Should ye do so? For I will surely be avenged of you; and then I will cease."
Revenge » Instead of taking, we should » Exhibit love
Wherefore, love ye your enemies, do good, and lend, looking for nothing again: and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the highest: for he is kind unto the unkind, and to the evil.
Thou shalt not avenge thyself nor bear hate in thy mind against the children of thy people, but shalt love thy neighbour even as thyself. I am the LORD.
Revenge » Christ an example of forbearing
He suffered wrong and was evil entreated, and yet opened not his mouth: he was as a sheep led to be slain: and as a lamb before his shearer, he was dumb and opened not his mouth.
which when he was reviled, reviled not again: when he suffered, he threatened not: but committed the cause to him that judgeth righteously,
Revenge » Exemplified » By samson
And Samson said unto them, "Should ye do so? For I will surely be avenged of you; and then I will cease." And he smote them leg and thigh with a mighty plague. And then he went and dwelt in the cave of the rock Etam.
And Samson called unto the LORD, and said, "My Lord Jehovah think upon me, and strengthen me at this time only, O God, that I may be avenged of the Philistines for my two eyes." And Samson caught the two middle pillars on which the house stood and on which it was borne up, the one in his righthand, and the other in his left, and said, "My soul die with the Philistines," and bowed them with might. And the house fell upon the lords and upon all the people that were therein. And so the dead which he slew at his death, were more than they which he slew in his life.
Revenge » Instead of taking, we should » Overcome others by kindness
If thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink; For so shalt thou heap coals of fire upon his head, and the LORD shall reward thee.
Revenge » Exemplified » By the chief priests
When day was come, certain of the Jews gathered themselves together, and made a vow saying that they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed Paul.
When they heard these things, their hearts clave asunder, and they gnashed on him with their teeth. But he, being full of the holy ghost, looked up steadfastly with his eyes into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the righthand of God, and said, "Behold, I see the heavens open, and the son of man standing on the righthand of God." read more.
Then they gave a shout with a loud voice, and stopped their ears and all ran upon him at once, and cast him out of the city, and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, named Saul. And they stoned Stephen, calling on and saying, "Lord Jesus receive my spirit."
Revenge » Be thankful for being kept from taking
Then said David to Abigail, "Blessed be the LORD God of Israel which sent thee this day to meet me. And blessed be thy behaviour, and blessed be thou which hath kept me this day from coming to shed blood and from avenging myself with mine own hand.
Revenge » Instead of taking, we should » Exercise forbearance
"Ye have heard how it is said, 'An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.' But I say to you, That ye resist not wrong. But whosoever give thee a blow on thy right cheek, turn to him the other. And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also. read more.
And whosoever will compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.
Revenge » The wicked are earnest after
For why? I heard so many derisions and blasphemies, yea even of my own companions, and such as were conversant with me: which went about, to make me afraid, saying, "Upon him; let us go upon him, to fear him, and make him hold his tongue: that we may overcome him, and be avenged of him."
Revenge » Revenge, the spirit of, manifested » Philistines, toward israel
Thus sayeth the LORD God: Forsomuch as the Philistines have done this - namely taken vengeance with despiteful stomachs, and of an old evil will set themselves to destroy -
Revenge » Revenge, the spirit of, manifested » Ahab, toward micaiah
and say, 'Thus sayeth the king. Put ye this fellow in the prison house and feed him with bread and water straightly, until I return in peace.'"
Revenge » Exemplified » Simon and levi
And the third day, when it was painful to them, two of the sons of Jacob, Simeon and Levi, Dina's brethren, took either of them his sword and went into the city boldly, and slew all that was male;
Revenge » Exemplified » Philistines
Thus sayeth the LORD God: Forsomuch as the Philistines have done this - namely taken vengeance with despiteful stomachs, and of an old evil will set themselves to destroy -
Revenge » Exemplified » Edomites
Moreover, thus sayeth the LORD God: Because that Edom hath avenged and eased himself upon the house of Judah,
Revenge » Exemplified » Haman
And Haman said unto king Ahasuerus, "There is a people scattered abroad and dispersed among all people in all the lands of thine empire, and their law is contrary unto all people, and they do not after the king's laws, neither is it the king's profit to suffer them after this manner. If it please the king, let him write that they may be destroyed, and so will I weigh down ten thousand talents of silver, under the hands of the workmen, to be brought into the king's chamber." Then took the king his ring from his hand, and gave it unto Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the Jews' enemy. read more.
And the king said unto Haman, "Let the silver be given thee, and that people also, to do withal what pleaseth thee." Then were the king's scribes called on the thirteenth day of the first month, and there was written, according as Haman commanded, unto the king's princes, and to the captains everywhere in the lands, and to the rulers of every people in the countries on every side, according to the writing of every nation, and after their language in the name of king Ahasuerus, and sealed with the king's ring. And the writings were sent by posts into all the king's lands, to root out, to kill, and to destroy all Jews, both young and old, children and women in one day, - namely upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar - and to spoil their goods. This was the sum of the writing, that there should be a commandment given in all lands, to be published unto all people, that they should be ready against the same day. And the posts went in all the haste according to the king's commandment. And in the castle of Susa was the commandment devised. And the king and Haman sat and drank. But the city Susa was disquieted.
Revenge » Exemplified » Ahab
And the king of Israel said, "Take Micaiah and carry him back again into Amon the governor of the city, and unto Joab the king's son,
Revenge » Exemplified » Joab
And when Abner was come again to Hebron, Joab took him aside in the gate, to speak with him guilefully, and there smote him under the short ribs that he died, for the blood of Asahel his brother.
Revenge » Proceeds from a spiteful heart
Thus sayeth the LORD God: Forsomuch as the Philistines have done this - namely taken vengeance with despiteful stomachs, and of an old evil will set themselves to destroy -
Revenge » Revenge, the spirit of, manifested » Herodias, toward john the baptist
And she, being informed of her mother before, said, "Give me here John Baptist's head in a platter."
Revenge » Revenge, the spirit of, manifested » Jezebel toward elijah
Then Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah, saying, "So do God to me, and so thereto, except I make thy soul like one of theirs by tomorrow this time."
Revenge » Instead of taking, we should » Give place unto wrath
Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves but give room unto the wrath of God. For it is written, "Vengeance is mine, and I will reward, saith the Lord."
Revenge » Instead of taking, we should » Bless
Revenge » Exemplified » Herodias
Herodias laid wait for him, and would have killed him, but she could not. For Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just man, and a holy, and gave him reverence; And when he heard him he did many things, and heard him gladly. But when a convenient day was come: Herod on his birthday made a supper to the Lords, captains, and chief estates of Galilee. read more.
And the daughter of the said Herodias came in and danced, and pleased Herod and them that sat at board also. Then the king said unto the maiden, "Ask of me what thou wilt, and I will give it thee." And he sware unto her, "Whatsoever thou shalt ask of me, I will give it thee, even unto the one half of my kingdom." And she went forth and said to her mother, "What shall I ask?" And she said, "John Baptist's head."
Revenge » Exemplified » By absalom
And it happened, two year after, that Absalom had a sheep shearing in Baal Hazor besides the tribe of Ephraim, and bade all the king's sons. And he came to the king and said, "Behold, thy servant hath a sheep shearing. Let the king and his servants come with thy servant." And the king said unto Absalom, "Oh nay my son let us not go every one of us that we be not chargeable unto thee." And Absalom lay sore upon him: howbeit, he would not go, but blessed him. read more.
Then said Absalom, "Then let my brother Amnon go with us." And the king answered, "What needeth it that he go with thee?" But Absalom made such insistence that he let Amnon go with him, and all the king's children. Then Absalom commanded his young men, saying, "Mark when Amnon's heart is merry with wine; and when I bid you smite Amnon, then kill him. Fear not, for it is I that bid you. Be bold therefore and play the lusty bloods." And the young men of Absalom served Amnon even as Absalom commanded them. And all the king's sons arose and took each man his mule and fled.
Revenge » Rebuked by Christ
When his disciples, James, and John, saw that, they said, "Lord, wilt thou that we command that fire come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elijah did?" Jesus turned about, and rebuked them saying, "Ye know not what manner spirit ye are of.
Revenge » Revenge, the spirit of, manifested » Haman, toward the jews
and thought it too little to lay hands only on Mordecai: for they had showed him the nation of Mordecai. Wherefore, he sought to destroy all the Jews that were throughout the whole empire of Ahasuerus and were of the nation of Mordecai.
Revenge » Revenge, the spirit of, manifested » Jews toward paul
When day was come, certain of the Jews gathered themselves together, and made a vow saying that they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed Paul.
Revenge » Exemplified » By herodias
Herodias laid wait for him, and would have killed him, but she could not. For Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just man, and a holy, and gave him reverence; And when he heard him he did many things, and heard him gladly. But when a convenient day was come: Herod on his birthday made a supper to the Lords, captains, and chief estates of Galilee. read more.
And the daughter of the said Herodias came in and danced, and pleased Herod and them that sat at board also. Then the king said unto the maiden, "Ask of me what thou wilt, and I will give it thee." And he sware unto her, "Whatsoever thou shalt ask of me, I will give it thee, even unto the one half of my kingdom." And she went forth and said to her mother, "What shall I ask?" And she said, "John Baptist's head."
Revenge » Rebuked by jesus
When his disciples, James, and John, saw that, they said, "Lord, wilt thou that we command that fire come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elijah did?" Jesus turned about, and rebuked them saying, "Ye know not what manner spirit ye are of.
Revenge » Revenge, the spirit of, manifested » Sanhedrin, toward the apostles
When they heard that, they clave asunder, and sought means to slay them.
Revenge » Revenge, the spirit of, manifested » Nazarenes, toward Christ
and rose up, and thrust him out of the city, and led him even unto the edge of the hill, whereon their city was built, to cast him down headlong.
Revenge » Exemplified » James and john
When his disciples, James, and John, saw that, they said, "Lord, wilt thou that we command that fire come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elijah did?"
Revenge » Exemplified » Chief priests
When they heard that, they clave asunder, and sought means to slay them.
Revenge » Exemplified » By haman
And Haman said unto king Ahasuerus, "There is a people scattered abroad and dispersed among all people in all the lands of thine empire, and their law is contrary unto all people, and they do not after the king's laws, neither is it the king's profit to suffer them after this manner. If it please the king, let him write that they may be destroyed, and so will I weigh down ten thousand talents of silver, under the hands of the workmen, to be brought into the king's chamber." Then took the king his ring from his hand, and gave it unto Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the Jews' enemy. read more.
And the king said unto Haman, "Let the silver be given thee, and that people also, to do withal what pleaseth thee." Then were the king's scribes called on the thirteenth day of the first month, and there was written, according as Haman commanded, unto the king's princes, and to the captains everywhere in the lands, and to the rulers of every people in the countries on every side, according to the writing of every nation, and after their language in the name of king Ahasuerus, and sealed with the king's ring. And the writings were sent by posts into all the king's lands, to root out, to kill, and to destroy all Jews, both young and old, children and women in one day, - namely upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar - and to spoil their goods. This was the sum of the writing, that there should be a commandment given in all lands, to be published unto all people, that they should be ready against the same day. And the posts went in all the haste according to the king's commandment. And in the castle of Susa was the commandment devised. And the king and Haman sat and drank. But the city Susa was disquieted.
Revenge » Exemplified » By the philistines
Thus sayeth the LORD God: Forsomuch as the Philistines have done this - namely taken vengeance with despiteful stomachs, and of an old evil will set themselves to destroy -
Revenge » Exemplified » By the edomites
Moreover, thus sayeth the LORD God: Because that Edom hath avenged and eased himself upon the house of Judah,
Revenge » Exemplified » By ahab
and say, 'Thus sayeth the king. Put ye this fellow in the prison house and feed him with bread and water straightly, until I return in peace.'"
Revenge » Inconsistent with Christian spirit
Jesus turned about, and rebuked them saying, "Ye know not what manner spirit ye are of.
Revenge » Exemplified » By simeon and levi
And the third day, when it was painful to them, two of the sons of Jacob, Simeon and Levi, Dina's brethren, took either of them his sword and went into the city boldly, and slew all that was male;
Revenge » Exemplified » By jezebel
Then Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah, saying, "So do God to me, and so thereto, except I make thy soul like one of theirs by tomorrow this time."
Revenge » Exemplified » By joab
And when Abner was come again to Hebron, Joab took him aside in the gate, to speak with him guilefully, and there smote him under the short ribs that he died, for the blood of Asahel his brother.
Revenge » Jesus an example of forbearing
which when he was reviled, reviled not again: when he suffered, he threatened not: but committed the cause to him that judgeth righteously,
Revenge » Exemplified » By james and john
When his disciples, James, and John, saw that, they said, "Lord, wilt thou that we command that fire come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elijah did?"
Revenge » Inconsistent with
Jesus turned about, and rebuked them saying, "Ye know not what manner spirit ye are of.
Topics on Revenge
Revenge, And Retaliation
Romans 12:19Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves but give room unto the wrath of God. For it is written, "Vengeance is mine, and I will reward, saith the Lord."
Revenge, Examples Of
Luke 6:11And they were filled full of madness, and communed one with another, what they might do to Jesus.