Introduction
The Bible asks us not to take revenge ourselves, because God alone judges with perfect justice. It does not ask us to suffer in silence, though: it invites us to love our enemies, to repay evil with good and to pray for them, while letting legitimate justice do its work.
When you have been hurt, betrayed or humiliated, the urge to strike back is deeply human. The Bible does not pretend otherwise. It offers another path, demanding but freeing. This page walks through the essential texts on revenge and on loving your enemies, looks at how Joseph and David responded, and then distinguishes revenge from a legitimate call for justice.
What does the Bible say when you feel like taking revenge?
The central text is in Paul's letter to the Romans, which quotes a verse from Deuteronomy (32:35). The idea is simple: vengeance belongs to God, not to us. This does not mean closing our eyes to wrong. It means recognizing that when we are hurt, we judge badly, while God sees everything and repays each person with perfect fairness.
Imagine a coworker who spread a rumor about you. You have a thousand ways to pay them back: a remark slipped to the right person, a calculated silence, a bitter message. Leaving vengeance to God starts with setting those weapons down and saying out loud: I am not the judge of this story. That inner step brings relief, because you stop carrying the weight of payback alone.
Romans 12:19
"Don’t seek revenge yourselves, beloved, but give place to God’s wrath. For it is written, “Vengeance belongs to me; I will repay, says the Lord."
Paul is writing to believers who were suffering injustice. He does not tell them that the wrong doesn't matter, but that they can place their anger in God's hands. Letting God act means giving up the right to take justice into your own hands. Read all of Romans 12.
“An eye for an eye”: what does Jesus do with this law?
The formula “an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth” comes from the law of Moses (Exodus 21:24). Originally, it limited retaliation: you could not repay more than the harm you had received, and the penalty belonged to judges, not private individuals. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus goes further and shifts the focus from the right to strike back to the heart of the person who has been wronged.
This shift from the right to retaliate to the heart is very concrete. Someone cuts you off in a meeting, someone belittles you online: the first reaction comes on its own. Jesus invites a second reaction, one you choose. This is not about being weak; it takes great strength not to strike back. Freedom means deciding for yourself what comes next, instead of letting the offense dictate it.
Matthew 5:38-39
"You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I tell you, don’t resist him who is evil; but whoever strikes you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also."
Jesus does not abolish justice. He asks his disciple not to get caught in the cycle of retaliation. Turning the other cheek is an act of freedom: you refuse to let the offense dictate your behavior. Read all of Matthew 5.
Matthew 5:43-44
"You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who mistreat you and persecute you,"
Here Jesus asks for three concrete things: bless, do good, and pray. The love he speaks of is not a feeling of sympathy but a decision to seek the good of the person who wrongs us. Read all of Matthew 5.
How do you love your enemies without accepting injustice?
Loving your enemy does not mean agreeing with them, staying under their control, or letting them mistreat you. The Book of Proverbs already says: if your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat (Proverbs 25:21). The gesture is concrete and generous, but it does not deny the wrong or the danger. You can want good for someone while protecting yourself from them.
The image of burning coals is interpreted in several ways: as shame that leads to change, or as an appeal to conscience. In every case, the goal is to overcome evil itself, not to crush the person.
Practically, loving an enemy can start with very little: not speaking ill of them, answering a message politely, wishing them well when they are sick. These small gestures do not erase what happened and do not require you to become close again. They keep your heart open. If the person remains dangerous or violent, distance is legitimate, and love never obliges you to put yourself back in harm's way.
Romans 12:20-21
"Therefore “If your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in doing so, you will heap coals of fire on his head.” Don’t be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."
Verse 21 sums it up: evil is not conquered by more evil. Answering hatred with hatred means letting it win. Answering with good is the only way to disarm it. Read all of Romans 12.
Joseph and David: two men who gave up revenge
Joseph was sold by his brothers, then forgotten in prison for years. Once he became powerful in Egypt, he could have crushed them. He chose to forgive, without minimizing what they had done to him. David, for his part, was hunted by King Saul, who wanted him dead. One day he finds himself a few steps from Saul, alone and unseen, and refuses to strike him (1 Samuel 24).
These two stories offer practical guidance. Joseph took his time: he wept, he tested his brothers, and he assessed their change before revealing himself. David spoke to his companions to calm them, a reminder that we often need friends who hold us back when anger pushes us forward. Talking with a wise person before acting is a very simple way to avoid doing something foolish.
Genesis 50:19-20
"Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid, for am I in the place of God? As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to save many people alive, as is happening today."
Joseph does not claim his brothers were innocent: he says they meant harm. But he refuses to take God's place and recognizes that God could bring good out of this painful story. Read all of Genesis 50.
1 Samuel 24:13
"As the proverb of the ancients says, ‘Out of the wicked comes wickedness;’ but my hand will not be on you."
David cites an ancient proverb saying that evil comes from those who choose it, and he does not want to become like them. He entrusts his case to God rather than settling his own score. Read all of 1 Samuel 24.
Taking someone to court: is that revenge?
No. The Bible distinguishes personal revenge, fueled by resentment, from justice carried out by legitimate authorities. In the same letter to the Romans (13:1-4), Paul affirms that authority has the role of punishing wrongdoing. Reporting violence, filing a complaint, seeking restitution, or taking shelter are all actions consistent with refusing to take revenge.
What changes is the intention. You seek to stop the harm and protect others, not to make the other person suffer in turn. In situations of violence or abuse, asking for help and stepping away from danger is not a lack of faith: it is wisdom. Forgiveness does not erase consequences or the need for boundaries.
One example says more than a thousand principles. A person whose savings were embezzled can, without any revenge, gather the evidence, consult a lawyer, and take the matter to court, while praying that the one who deceived them will change. They are not trying to destroy that person; they want the truth established and others protected from becoming victims. This double attitude, firm on the facts and gentle toward the person, is what the Bible points toward.
Praying for those who hurt us
Jesus did not only teach love for enemies: he lived it. Nailed to the cross, he prayed for those who had condemned him. Praying for someone who has hurt us does not always change that person, but it often changes our heart. Prayer keeps us from brooding and turns our gaze back to God.
You can start very simply, even without feeling like it: tell God your anger as it is, then ask for good for the other person, one step at a time. The Psalms give us words for this, because they express pain without holding back while entrusting justice to God.
You can pray in three steps, with very simple words. First, tell God what happened and how you feel, without censoring yourself. Then, entrust justice to him: say that you leave this person in his hands. Finally, ask for something good for them, even if it seems out of reach. Repeat this prayer over several weeks. Many people find that their resentment gradually loses its weight.
Luke 23:34
"Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.” Dividing his garments among them, they cast lots."
Jesus prays for his executioners at the very moment he is suffering. He does not excuse what they are doing, but he asks forgiveness for them. This is the model of how to respond to wrong, offered to those who follow him. Read all of Luke 23.
Further reading
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Bible permit revenge?
The law of Moses regulated punishment so that it stayed proportionate, but the New Testament clearly calls us not to take revenge ourselves. Vengeance is left to God, and human justice belongs to legitimate authorities, not to private individuals.
What does “turn the other cheek” mean?
It means refusing to get caught in the cycle of retaliation and not letting an offense dictate your behavior. It does not require enduring repeated violence: you can protect yourself while giving up revenge.
Should I forgive someone who has not asked for forgiveness?
The Bible invites us to let go of resentment and entrust justice to God, even without an apology from the other person. Reconciliation, however, takes two people and time. You can forgive without restoring trust or resuming contact.
Can you love your enemies without liking them?
Yes. The love Jesus speaks of is a decision: wanting good for the other person, praying for them, and not repaying evil. It does not depend on a warm feeling, which may come later, or not at all.