Thematic Bible: Retaliation


Thematic Bible



Never repay anyone evil for evil. Take thought for what is right and gracious and proper in the sight of everyone. Verse ConceptsBullyingRevenge, And RetaliationSpiteDuties To EnemiesBeing Seen By ManNot AvengingRepaying Evil For EvilTurning The Other Cheek

See that no one repays another with evil for evil, but always seek that which is good for one another and for all people. Verse Conceptsevil, believers' responses toAttackingGrudgesKindnessOpposition, To Sin And EvilRevenge, And RetaliationSpiteCourtesyDo Good!Repaying Evil For EvilTurning The Other Cheek



But I say to you, do not resist an evil person [who insults you or violates your rights]; but whoever slaps you on the right cheek, turn the other toward him also [simply ignore insignificant insults or trivial losses and do not bother to retaliate—maintain your dignity, your self-respect, your poise]. Verse ConceptsCheeksInsultsSelf DefenceTemperAccepting BeatingsTwo Of Body PartsOther Right PartsRepaying Evil For EvilTurning The Other CheekForgiving Others Who Hurt You

and never return evil for evil or insult for insult [avoid scolding, berating, and any kind of abuse], but on the contrary, give a blessing [pray for one another’s well-being, contentment, and protection]; for you have been called for this very purpose, that you might inherit a blessing [from God that brings well-being, happiness, and protection]. Verse Conceptsevil, believers' responses toenemies, of believersAttackingInsultsForgiving Ones EnemiesMercy, HumanRevenge, And RetaliationSpiteCalling, Of ChristiansDuties To EnemiesAccusations, Against Early ChristiansConsider Your Call To SalvationGod BlessesNot AvengingPeople BlessingRepaying Evil For EvilBlessing OthersAbuseGiving Back


Do not say, “I will do to him as he has done to me;
I will pay the man back for his deed.”
Verse ConceptsForgiving Ones EnemiesRetributionRevenge, And RetaliationSpiteRepaying Evil For Evil

So when Abner returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside to the middle of the gate to speak to him privately, and there he struck Abner in the abdomen so that he died, to avenge the blood of Asahel, Joab’s brother. Verse ConceptsGesturesAssassinations, CompletedConfidence BetrayedBetrayalAvenger of bloodLength Of LifeMurderPrivacyRevenge, Examples OfStomachsTreacheryUnfaithfulness, To PeopleAmbushBetrayal, Example OfBusiness At The GatewayStriking To DeathInformation In SecretWhy People Did ThingsKilling Named Individuals

When His disciples James and John saw this, they said, “Lord, do You want us to command fire to come down from heaven and destroy them?” Verse ConceptsLightningVindictivenessFire From HeavenGod Acts From HeavenDiscipleship

So the Jews struck all their enemies with the sword, killing and destroying them; and they did what they pleased to those who hated them.

Gideon said, “For that [response], when the Lord has handed over Zebah and Zalmunna to me, I will thrash your bodies with the thorns and briars of the wilderness.” Verse ConceptsWhipsWhipping

Samson said to them, “If this is the way you act, be certain that I will take revenge on you, and [only] after that I will stop.” Verse ConceptsCessationMan AvengingRevenge

But now do not let him go unpunished, for you are a wise man; and you will know what to do to him, and you will bring his gray head down to Sheol [covered] with blood.” Verse ConceptsSheolGrey

Remember what Amalek did to you on the way when you had come forth from Egypt, How he did not fear God, but when you were faint and weary he attacked you along the way and cut off all the stragglers at your rear. Therefore when the Lord your God has given you rest from all your enemies round about in the land which the Lord your God gives you to possess as an inheritance, you shall blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under the heavens; you must not forget.

Samuel told Saul, The Lord sent me to anoint you king over His people Israel. Now listen and heed the words of the Lord. Thus says the Lord of hosts, I have considered and will punish what Amalek did to Israel, how he set himself against him in the way when [Israel] came out of Egypt. Now go and smite Amalek and utterly destroy all they have; do not spare them, but kill both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and donkey. read more.
So Saul assembled the men and numbered them at Telaim -- "200,000 men on foot and 10,000 men of Judah. And Saul came to the city of Amalek and laid wait in the valley. Saul warned the Kenites, Go, depart, get down from among the Amalekites, lest I destroy you with them; for you showed kindness to all the Israelites when they came up out of Egypt. So the Kenites departed from among the Amalekites. Saul smote the Amalekites from Havilah as far as Shur, which is east of Egypt. And he took Agag king of the Amalekites alive, though he utterly destroyed all the rest of the people with the sword. Saul and the people spared Agag and the best of the sheep, oxen, fatlings, lambs, and all that was good, and would not utterly destroy them; but all that was undesirable or worthless they destroyed utterly.

Gideon said, “For that [response], when the Lord has handed over Zebah and Zalmunna to me, I will thrash your bodies with the thorns and briars of the wilderness.” Verse ConceptsWhipsWhipping

Then Gideon son of Joash returned from the battle by the ascent of Heres. And he caught a young man of Succoth and inquired of him, and [the youth] wrote down for him [the names of] the officials of Succoth and its elders, seventy-seven men. And he came to the men of Succoth and said, Behold Zebah and Zalmunna, about whom you scoffed at me, saying, Are Zebah and Zalmunna now in your hand, that we should give bread to your men who are faint? read more.
And he took the elders of the city and thorns of the wilderness and briers, and with them he taught the men of Succoth [a lesson].

David said to Michal, It was before the Lord, Who chose me above your father and all his house to appoint me as prince over Israel, the people of the Lord. Therefore will I make merry [in pure enjoyment] before the Lord. I will be still more lightly esteemed than this, and will humble and lower myself in my own sight [and yours]. But by the maids you mentioned, I will be held in honor. And Michal the daughter of Saul had no child to the day of her death.

So Joab and Abishai his brother murdered Abner because he had killed their brother Asahel in the battle at Gibeon. Verse ConceptsWhy People Did ThingsKilling Named Individuals

So when Abner returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside to the middle of the gate to speak to him privately, and there he struck Abner in the abdomen so that he died, to avenge the blood of Asahel, Joab’s brother. Verse ConceptsGesturesAssassinations, CompletedConfidence BetrayedBetrayalAvenger of bloodLength Of LifeMurderPrivacyRevenge, Examples OfStomachsTreacheryUnfaithfulness, To PeopleAmbushBetrayal, Example OfBusiness At The GatewayStriking To DeathInformation In SecretWhy People Did ThingsKilling Named Individuals

Then [Gideon] said to Zebah and Zalmunna, What kind of men were they whom you slew at Tabor? And they replied, They were like you, each of them resembled the son of a king. And he said, They were my brothers, the sons of my mother. As the Lord lives, if you had saved them alive, I would not slay you. And [Gideon] said to Jether his firstborn [to embarrass them], Up, and slay them. But the youth drew not his sword, for he feared because he was yet a lad. read more.
Then Zebah and Zalmunna said, Rise yourself and fall on us; for as the man is, so is his strength. And Gideon arose and slew Zebah and Zalmunna and took the [crescent-shaped] ornaments that were on their camels' necks.

And you have with you Shimei son of Gera, the Benjamite of Bahurim, who cursed me with a grievous curse in the day when I went to Mahanaim. But he came down to meet me at the Jordan [on my return], and I swore to him by the Lord, saying, I will not put you to death with the sword. So do not hold him guiltless; for you are a wise man and know what you should do to him. His hoary head bring down to the grave with blood.

You know also what Joab son of Zeruiah did to me, and what he did to the two captains of the hosts of Israel, Abner son of Ner and Amasa son of Jether, whom he murdered, avenging in time of peace blood shed in war, and putting innocent blood of war on the girdle on his loins and on the sandals of his feet. Do therefore according to your wisdom, but let not his hoary head go down to Sheol (the place of the dead) in peace.

He tore down the tower of Penuel and killed the men of the city. Verse ConceptsTowersKilling Within Israel

He went from there up to Penuel and spoke similarly to them; and the men of Penuel answered him just as the men of Succoth had answered.