What does "Vengeance is mine, I will repay" mean?
Quick answer
"Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord" (Romans 12:19, quoting Deuteronomy 32:35). The promise is both warning and comfort: God will justly settle every wrong, so we don’t have to play God.
It is not God endorsing vindictiveness. It is God claiming the right to judge — a right we don’t have and can’t handle.
For those wronged: lay your grievance with the Judge of all the earth, who does right. He sees what no court sees and will repay.
For us, the practical conclusion (Romans 12:20–21): "If your enemy is hungry, feed him." Trust God’s justice; show kindness now. "Overcome evil with good."
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Original BibleDawn answer · reviewed 2026-06. Drafted with AI assistance and reviewed for accuracy.