Lexical Summary ekdikésis: Vengeance, retribution, justice, punishment Original Word: ἐκδίκησις Strong's Exhaustive Concordance vengeance, punishment. From ekdikeo; vindication, retribution -- (a-, re-)venge(-ance), punishment. see GREEK ekdikeo HELPS Word-studies 1557 ekdíkēsis (a feminine noun derived from 1537 /ek, "out from and to" and 1349 /díkē, "justice, judge") – properly, judgment which fully executes the core-values (standards) of the particular judge, i.e. extending from the inner-person of the judge to its out-come (outcome). NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom ekdikeó Definition vengeance, vindication NASB Translation avenging of wrong (1), justice (2), punishment (1), retribution (1), vengeance (4). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 1557: ἐκδίκησιςἐκδίκησις, ἐκδικήσεως, ἡ (ἐκδικέω, which see), the Sept. for נְקָמָה and נָקָם, פְּקֻדָּה, מִשְׁפָּט (Ezekiel 16:38; Ezekiel 23:45) and שְׁפָטִים; a revenging; vengeance, punishment: Romans 12:19 and Hebrews 10:30 from Deuteronomy 32:35; 2 Corinthians 7:11; Luke 21:22; ποιεῖν τήν ἐκδίκησιν τίνος, to vindicate one from wrongs, accomplish the avenging of, Luke 18:7f; τίνι, to avenge an injured person, Acts 7:24 (Judges 11:36); ἐκδίκησις τίνος, objec. genitive, the punishment of one, 1 Peter 2:14; διδόναι ἐκδίκησιν τίνι, to inflict punishment on (render vengeance to) one, 2 Thessalonians 1:8; cf. (Sir. 12:6); Ezekiel 25:14. (Polybius 3, 8, 10.) Topical Lexicon OverviewStrong’s 1557 (ekdikēsis) gathers the ideas of righteous retaliation, vindication of the wronged, and the execution of just penalty. Throughout the New Testament its nine occurrences trace a unified thread: God alone possesses ultimate rights of recompense, yet He may delegate limited, accountable authority to human agents while calling individual believers to patient trust. Old Testament Roots The background lies in such texts as Deuteronomy 32:35-36, where the LORD declares, “Vengeance is Mine; I will repay.” Here vengeance is not capricious anger but covenant fidelity: the Holy One defends His name and His people by requiting evil. The prophets later announce “the day of the LORD’s vengeance” (for example, Isaiah 34:8), a time when wrongs will be set right and prophetic Scripture “fulfilled” (Luke 21:22). Thus ekdikēsis is inseparable from God’s faithfulness and the final establishment of His righteous order. Fulfilment Narratives in Luke and Acts Luke uniquely clusters four of the nine references: • Luke 21:22 – Jesus interprets the fall of Jerusalem as “the days of vengeance, to fulfill all that is written.” Covenant curses (Leviticus 26; Deuteronomy 28) reach historical climax, showing that prophetic warnings are neither idle nor forgotten. • Luke 18:7-8 – In the parable of the persistent widow, Christ assures the disciples that God “will promptly carry out justice (ekdikēsis) on their behalf.” Vindication is certain, yet believers must persevere in faith until the Son of Man returns. • Acts 7:24 – Stephen recounts how Moses “avenged” the oppressed Hebrew. The episode illustrates imperfect, embryonic forms of deliverance that anticipate God’s perfect deliverer. Moses’ act was courageous, yet human vengeance without divine commission proves inadequate; forty years of exile intervene before the LORD formally sends him. By coupling imminent judgment on Jerusalem with patient prayer of the elect, Luke presents a two-fold lesson: God’s justice operates both within history and at its consummation, and His people are called to steadfast trust rather than self-help retaliation. Hope for the Oppressed and the Praying Church Luke 18 places ekdikēsis at the heart of persevering prayer. The church, often marginalized or persecuted, is invited to cry “day and night” for vindication. Divine delay is not divine indifference; the passage answers the question “How long?” with the assurance “He will not delay forever.” This shapes a spiritual discipline of lament, petition, and expectancy that guards against despair and vigilante action. Civil Magistrates as Instruments of Divine Justice 1 Peter 2:14 names governors “sent by him to punish (ekdikēsis) evildoers.” Government’s penal function is affirmed as God-ordained, though never autonomous. When magistrates act within moral boundaries, they reflect in miniature the divine prerogative to restrain wickedness and protect the innocent. This provides biblical warrant for courts, policing, and proportional sentencing, while also reminding rulers that they remain answerable to the higher tribunal of God. Sanctified Discipline within the Church 2 Corinthians 7:11 celebrates the fruit of godly sorrow in the Corinthian assembly: “what earnestness … what punishment (ekdikēsis)!” Here the word refers to internal corrective action—the church addressing tolerated sin. Such discipline is restorative, not retaliatory, aiming to clear the community of reproach and restore fellowship. It demonstrates that God’s justice is not only future and cosmic but also present and ecclesial. Personal Ethics of the Believer Romans 12:19 issues a direct prohibition: “Do not avenge yourselves, beloved, but leave room for God’s wrath. For it is written: ‘Vengeance is Mine; I will repay, says the Lord.’” The context links non-retaliation with love for enemies (Romans 12:20-21). Personal grievance must be surrendered to divine adjudication. This ethic frees believers from bitterness, prevents escalation of violence, and witnesses to the gospel by embodying the cross-shaped pattern of Christ. Eschatological Consummation 2 Thessalonians 1:8 and Hebrews 10:30 look forward to the ultimate unveiling of ekdikēsis: • “in blazing fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.” (2 Thessalonians 1:8) Final judgment vindicates the persecuted church, exposes the gravity of unbelief, and upholds God’s righteousness before the watching universe. The cross already demonstrated the costliness of sin; the day of the Lord will display its full recompense. Pastoral and Missional Implications 1. Encourage Perseverance: Teach oppressed believers to anchor hope in God’s timed vindication; premature retaliation forfeits divine comfort and undermines witness. In every occurrence of ekdikēsis, Scripture harmonizes divine justice, human responsibility, and gospel grace, directing the church to wait confidently for the day when the Judge of all the earth does right. Forms and Transliterations εκδικήσει εκδικήσεις εκδικήσεων εκδικησεως εκδικήσεως εκδικήσεώς ἐκδικήσεως εκδικησιν εκδίκησιν εκδίκησίν ἐκδίκησιν εκδικησις εκδικήσις εκδίκησις ἐκδίκησις εκδικητήν ekdikeseos ekdikēseōs ekdikḗseos ekdikḗseōs ekdikesin ekdikēsin ekdíkesin ekdíkēsin ekdikesis ekdikēsis ekdíkesis ekdíkēsisLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Luke 18:7 N-AFSGRK: ποιήσῃ τὴν ἐκδίκησιν τῶν ἐκλεκτῶν NAS: bring about justice for His elect KJV: not God avenge his own elect, INT: shall execute the avenging of the elect Luke 18:8 N-AFS Luke 21:22 N-GFS Acts 7:24 N-AFS Romans 12:19 N-NFS 2 Corinthians 7:11 N-AFS 2 Thessalonians 1:8 N-AFS Hebrews 10:30 N-NFS 1 Peter 2:14 N-AFS Strong's Greek 1557 |
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