Romans 12:19

Romans 12:19 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
• New International Version (NIV)Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.
• English Standard Version (ESV)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."
• New King James Version (NKJV)Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord.

Context of Romans 12:19

17Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Give careful thought to do what is honorable in everyone’s eyes. 18If possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Friends, do not avenge yourselves; instead, leave room for God’s wrath, because it is written, Vengeance belongs to me; I will repay, says the Lord. 20But If your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him something to drink. For in so doing you will be heaping fiery coals on his head. 21Do not be conquered by evil, but conquer evil with good.

Romans 12:19 word by word

μὴ ἑαυτοὺς ἐκδικοῦντες, ἀγαπητοί, ἀλλὰ δότε τόπον τῇ ὀργῇ· γέγραπται γάρ· ἐμοὶ ἐκδίκησις, ἐγὼ ἀνταποδώσω, λέγει κύριος.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Dearly belovedἀγαπητόςagapētos · belovedG27
• avengeἐκδικέωekdikeō · to avengeG1556
• notμήmē · notG3361
• yourselvesἑαυτοῦheautou · themselfG1438
• butἀλλάalla · butG235
• giveδίδωμιdidōmi · to giveG1325
• placeτόποςtopos · placeG5117
• unto wrathὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• unto wrathὀργήorgē · wrathG3709
• forγάρgar · forG1063
• it is writtenγράφωgraphō · to writeG1125
• Vengeanceἐκδίκησιςekdikēsis · vengeanceG1557
• mineἐγώegō · I/weG1473
• will repayἀνταποδίδωμιantapodidōmi · to repayG467
• saithλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
• the Lordκύριοςkurios · lord: GodG2962

Cross-references for Romans 12:19

• Romans 12:14Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.
• Leviticus 19:18Do not take revenge or bear a grudge against members of your community, but love your neighbor as yourself; I am the Lord.
• 1 Samuel 25:26Now my lord, as surely as the Lord lives and as you yourself live— it is the Lord who kept you from participating in bloodshed and avenging yourself by your own hand—may your enemies and those who intend to harm my lord be like Nabal.
• Proverbs 24:17Don’t gloat when your enemy falls, and don’t let your heart rejoice when he stumbles,
• Ezekiel 25:12“‘This is what the Lord God says: Because Edom acted vengefully against the house of Judah and incurred grievous guilt by taking revenge on them,
• Matthew 5:39But I tell you, don’t resist an evildoer. On the contrary, if anyone slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.
• Luke 6:27“But I say to you who listen: Love your enemies, do what is good to those who hate you,
• Luke 9:55But he turned and rebuked them,
• Romans 13:4For it is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, because it does not carry the sword for no reason. For it is God’s servant, an avenger that brings wrath on the one who does wrong.
• Deuteronomy 32:35Vengeance and retribution belong to me. In time their foot will slip, for their day of disaster is near, and their doom is coming quickly.”
• Psalms 94:1Lord, God of vengeance — God of vengeance, shine!
• Nahum 1:2The Lord is a jealous and avenging God; the Lord takes vengeance and is fierce in wrath. The Lord takes vengeance against his foes; he is furious with his enemies.
• Hebrews 10:30For we know the one who has said, Vengeance belongs to me; I will repay, and again, The Lord will judge his people.

Commentaries on Romans 12:19

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 19Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves - Ye are the children of God, and he loves you; and because he loves you he will permit nothing to be done to you that he will not turn to your advantage. Never take the execution of the law into your own hands; rather suffer injuries. The Son of man is come, not to destroy men's lives, but to save: be of the same spirit. When he was reviled, he reviled not again. It is the part of a noble mind to bear up under…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 19Dearly beloved - This expression of tenderness was especially appropriate in an exhortation to peace. It reminded them of the affection and friendship which ought to subsist among them as brethren. Avenge not yourselves - To “avenge” is to take satisfaction for an injury by inflicting punishment on the offender. To take such satisfaction for injuries done to society, is lawful and proper for a magistrate; Romans 13:4. And to take satisfaction for injuries…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 17-21Verses 17-21 Since men became enemies to God, they have been very ready to be enemies one to another. And those that embrace religion, must expect to meet with enemies in a world whose smiles seldom agree with Christ's. Recompense to no man evil for evil. That is a brutish recompence, befitting only animals, which are not conscious of any being above them, or of any existence hereafter. And not only do, but study and take care to do, that which is amiable…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 9-21The many instructions in these verses are not arranged in a strict or orderly pattern. The main theme, stated at the beginning, is sincere love. Paul explains how believers should show love to people inside the church (12:10, 13, 15–16). He also explains how they should show love to people outside the church (12:14, 17–21).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 19-2119-21. avenge not, &c.--(See on Ro 12:14). but rather give place unto wrath--This is usually taken to mean, "but give room or space for wrath to spend itself." But as the context shows that the injunction is to leave vengeance to God, "wrath" here seems to mean, not the offense, which we are tempted to avenge, but the avenging wrath of God (see 2Ch 24:18), which we are enjoined to await, or give room for. (So the best interpreters).Read the comment

Topics related to Romans 12:19

• Commandments
• Forgiveness
• Malice
• Quotations and Allusions
• Religion
• Retaliation
• Revenge
• Vengeance

In the dictionaries

• Affectioned
• Cheerfulness
• Cleave
• Curse
• Dissimulation
• Distribute
• Fervent
• Honest
• Instant
• Kindly

Commentaries on Romans 12

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings