What Does the Bible Say About Vengeance?

Vengeance has been in the news a lot lately. Christianity in general and God in particular are being used to justify vengeance. It started in the U.S., but it’s now spread around the globe. The problem is this: while the Bible has lots of verses on vengeance, none of them support using Christianity or God’s name to justify that violent vengeance.

I did a search to identify some of the less-used verses. It’s such a “target rich” news item these days, I wanted something different. Not one of the usual verses everyone already knows. The one I chose to investigate feels like God wanted me to pick this one for this instance.

Vengeance in 2 Thessalonians 1:6 – ESV

I chose 2 Thessalonians 1:6 for one reason. It actually seemed to support the thesis that God gives us permission to seek vengeance. That made no sense whatsoever. I don’t remember ever reading these words before. It was hard to believe I’d missed it after all the times I must’ve read this passage. I had to check this out.

That sure sounds like God says it’s OK for us to take vengeance ourselves, doesn’t it? But still, I couldn’t believe it. It’s the ESV – English Standard Version, which I don’t use much. But it couldn’t be true, could it? There had to be something surrounding that verse to change the meaning. Turns out – it doesn’t mean that at all! The truth is – it doesn’t even say anything like that.

Vengeance in 2 Thessalonians 1:6 – ESV and NIV

Now, let’s add the NIV translation that I almost always begin with, side-by-side, and compare them.

Wait – what’s going on?

The ESV seems to says God tells us we can take our own vengeance – it’s the just thing to do.

But the NIV says God will pay back others for what they do to us. So, that means we shouldn’t take vengeance on our own.

One of those must be wrong.

But – neither one is wrong. At least, not for what I presented to you. So far.

The ESV is more in line with a literal translation. However, neither Hebrew nor Greek sentence structure lines up with English. So, in this case, the more literal translation doesn’t include “He will pay back” – but only “It is just to pay back”. And yes, that can lead us to believe vengeance is ours.

However, all Jews and Christians should be aware of one or both of these verses:

Clearly, even from these two out-of-context verses, they conflict with the idea that God’s telling us we can take vengeance on our own – and that He’s OK with it.

But – let’s confirm that. I know people have honest beliefs about what Bible verses say. But then, I also know that verses often get taken out of context, are misinterpreted, and that many who hear that out of context explanation have a reason they believe what they believe.

As such, I need to go the extra mile to back up what I write as I tell you, Deuteronomy was written for the Israelites after they were freed from Pharaoh – and this is still Jewish Scripture today. Further, the Romans passage, written by Paul – formerly known as the Pharisee Saul – is telling us Christians that this same statement on vengeance belonging to God is just as much in force today as it has been ever since the Exodus.

And one more thing. In case it hasn’t come to mind, God surely took His revenge on Pharaoh, his troops, and the Egyptians for what they did to the Israelites they kept in slavery for hundreds of years. We can and should trust that when God says vengeance is His – He is trustworthy, and it will be taken when He decides the time is right.

Deuteronomy 32:35 – in Biblical context

Now, let’s begin with the full passage containing Deuteronomy 32:35.

I said I’d put this in context. And I will. However, its context is actually the entirety of the passage titled “The Song of Moses”. Since that context is huge – here’s an AI summary from LOGOS, my eLibrary provider, of how this one verse – as I indicated – fits in both with the Exodus and more specifically with the Song of Moses passage. My question is first, followed by its reply.

Deuteronomy 32:35 – in religious/historical context

Let’s examine the highlighted portions.

Remember, the Israelites were God’s chosen people in the early days. The (old) Covenant was put in place. Time and again, they fell away from God. They were also tasked with spreading the light of God and bringing others to know Him. They weren’t successful with that either. Fast forward to Jesus’ birth. The Messiah promised way back in Genesis 3:15 arrived. The New Covenant was established. Christians were given the same tasks – walk with God and spread the good news of the Gospel. We haven’t done all that good of a job either. Certainly not with following Jesus’ path. And given the huge number of non-Christians in the world today, not with the “make disciples” charge either.

And so, as we read and reflect on the three highlighted sections, consider especially the third one:

This placement suggests the song functions as a prophetic warning about Israel’s future faithlessness rather than as a retrospective on the Exodus wilderness period.

Which of you thinks that prophetic warning can’t possibly apply to us? Remember, old Covenant to New Covenant. Same tasks – same failures. Same failure to believe and/or trust that God will do what He said – including taking revenge for us. And so, how can that warning not apply to us when we do the exact same things in our miserable attempts to follow the same God? We claim all the good things that follow with what we call the Old Testament.

How then can we not assume and expect that other parts will also flow to us? Especially when the warnings about vengeance from the Old Testament are brought to our attention in the New Testament? And how much worse does it become when we twist those very words to carry out our own vengeance, claiming that God told us to do it?

But it gets worse.

Romans 12:19 – NIV in context

Are you ready to see the entire Romans passage? Brace yourself. For both the verses and for the title given by the NIV translators to the passage.

I sincerely hope there’s no need to highlight anything. Or to add much to that passage.

This is a passage every Christian should know. Must know. And should try to live by.

And yes – there are always – I repeat always – compromises to be made when religion and politics come together.

Religion and Politics make strange bedfellows

However – we have a guide as to how to navigate the issues coming up when this happens. It’s directly from Jesus.

And so, the choice is obvious. Yes, Jesus did say that we can’t love both God and money. But to view that as the point of the passage is to ignore the rest of the passage – the same problem that caused the need for this article. The point of the passage is about whether we have our sights – and our hearts – on this world or on Heaven.

Oftentimes, that brings money into the picture. That’s why Jesus used it as an example.

But returning to the full context – in this particular topic – the two masters in question are God and politics/nationalism/whatever title you want to assign to what’s happening – maybe even God and vengeance.

Then, for anyone who truly wants to be a follower of Jesus, the choice is obvious. God must be our master, not vengeance. Therefore, since God said vengeance is His – then we must turn it over to Him. We must allow Him to extact vengeance in a way and at a time of His choosing.

In that light, I now need to give you the full passage in 2 Thessalonians. Pay attention to God’s ultimate time for vengeance.

Just in case that passage doesn’t bring anything to mind – it’s the End Times. Revelation. The second coming of Jesus.

Given that, and given the choice of treasures in Heaven or treasures on earth – God as our master or politics/vengeance as our master – our choice should become clearer, if that’s even possible.

If the End Times begin tomorrow, and if those who believe the rapture will take place just before the horrible events in Revelation, our choices outlined above now make the difference between being raptured and being here on earth during the End Times.

Did I make my point? This is a big deal. Life or death – for all eternity.

Please – choose love. Your soul depends on it.

The context: What Does the Bible Say About Vengeance?

When we began, the question seemed simple enough: Does the Bible ever tell us that vengeance is ours to take? A single verse in 2 Thessalonians looked like it might say yes. But as we followed the thread—from translation differences, to context, to the long story of God’s dealings with His people—the picture became unmistakably clear.

We saw how a literal rendering can sound permissive until the wider biblical witness steps in. We watched Deuteronomy remind Israel (and us) that vengeance belongs to God alone. We listened as Paul echoed that same truth to the early church, urging them not toward retaliation but toward a life shaped by sincere love, patient endurance, and peace wherever possible. And we let Jesus’ own words expose how easily our eyes drift from His kingdom to the kingdoms we try to build for ourselves.

Taken together, the flow is hard to miss:

• A troubling verse that seems to justify our anger.
• A deeper look that reveals how translation and context reshape our assumptions.
• A long biblical pattern showing God as the only One who judges rightly.
• A New Testament call to resist vengeance and embody a different way of being human.
• A final reminder from Jesus that divided loyalties always distort our vision.

If anything, this journey shows how quickly we can bend Scripture toward our fears, our politics, or our desire to strike back—and how urgently we need the whole story to steady us again.

This isn’t just a theological point. It’s a needed anchor in a world where vengeance—personal, political, cultural, even religious—has become almost ordinary. When headlines, leaders, and movements normalize retaliation, Scripture quietly but firmly says: That burden isn’t yours to carry.

So let this stand as a reference point whenever the world feels like it’s spinning toward payback again. God’s justice is real. His timing is His own. And our calling, even in the hardest moments, is to live in a way that reflects His mercy rather than our anger.