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; consider what is good before all people. 18If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all people. Do not avenge yourselves, dear friends, but give place to God’s wrath, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. 20Rather, if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in doing this you will be heaping burning coals on his head. 21Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome 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 19:18You must not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the children of your people, but you must love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord.
• 1 Samuel 25:26“Now, my lord, as surely as the Lord lives and as surely as you live, it is the Lord who has kept you from shedding blood and taking matters into your own hands. Now may your enemies and those who seek to harm my lord be like Nabal.
• Proverbs 24:17Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and when he stumbles do not let your heart rejoice,
• Ezekiel 25:12“This is what the sovereign Lord says: ‘Edom has taken vengeance against the house of Judah; they have made themselves fully culpable by taking vengeance on them.
• Matthew 5:39But I say to you, do not resist the evildoer. But whoever strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other to him as well.
• Luke 6:27“But I say to you who are listening: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,
• Luke 9:55But Jesus turned and rebuked them,
• Romans 13:4for it is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be in fear, for it does not bear the sword in vain. It is God’s servant to administer retribution on the wrongdoer.
• Deuteronomy 32:35I will get revenge and pay them back at the time their foot slips; for the day of their disaster is near, and the impending judgment is rushing upon them!”
• Psalms 94:1O Lord, the God who avenges! O God who avenges, reveal your splendor!
• Nahum 1:2The Lord is a zealous and avenging God; the Lord is avenging and very angry. The Lord takes vengeance against his foes; he sustains his rage against his enemies.
• Hebrews 10:30For we know the one who said, “Vengeance is mine, 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