Interpretation of the Bible / Romans 12:19

Revenge is a recurring theme in many cultures and throughout human history. In the Bible, revenge is something that God reserves for himself. This verse in Romans 12:19 calls us not to seek revenge but to leave the punishment in God’s hands. But what does this mean in practice?

Making room for God’s wrath

When someone hurts or harms us, it is natural to feel the need to “get even.” We may want to take revenge and even hurt the other person. But the Bible calls us to set aside that impulse and trust God to bring justice.

Making room for God’s wrath does not mean that we should be passive in the face of evil. For example, if someone intentionally harms us, we can and should take action to protect ourselves or others. But we should not seek revenge but trust that God will take care of the punishment.

Revenge and forgiveness

The call not to seek revenge is also related to forgiveness. When someone hurts or harms us, it can be very difficult to forgive. But forgiveness is an important part of moving forward and letting go of the pain and anger.

Revenge and forgiveness are linked because we often seek revenge because we believe that someone has wronged us and deserves to be punished. But when we learn to forgive, we stop seeking revenge and trust that God will take care of the punishment that is deserved.