Revenge

Revenge — the personal retaliation for injury received — is distinguished in Scripture from legitimate justice administered by lawful authorities, and is prohibited as a private act. The Mosaic law curbed vengeance by channeling it into the covenantal system: "You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself" (Lev. 19:18). The institution of cities of refuge (Num. 35:9–28) protected the accidental killer from the avenger of blood, preserving proportionality. Proverbs counsels restraint: "Do not say, 'I will repay evil'; wait for the LORD, and he will deliver you" (Prov. 20:22). Paul systematically forbids private revenge and grounds the prohibition in God's prerogative: "Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, 'Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord'" (Rom. 12:19; Deut. 32:35). The positive command paired with this prohibition is the enemy-love ethic of Jesus (Matt. 5:38–48): returning good for evil, blessing for cursing. Peter grounds the renunciation of revenge in Christ's own example — he did not threaten when he suffered, entrusting himself to the righteous Judge (1 Pet. 2:23).