For we know him who said, “Vengeance is mine; I will repay.” And again, “The Lord will judge his people.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
The verse emphasizes that God's judgment isn't arbitrary; He explicitly claims vengeance and recompense as His right. This isn't about God being vindictive, but about His perfect justice in "meting out" what is due, which includes judging His own people when necessary.
For we know him who said, “Vengeance is mine; I will repay.” And again, “The Lord will judge his people.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
The author is powerfully warning against deliberately turning away from God after experiencing His grace and truth, especially through Christ. Having established that Christ's sacrifice is a once-for-all atonement, the writer emphasizes the severe consequences of rejecting such a profound salvation. This verse reinforces that God Himself has declared His intention to enact justice and judgment.
When we think about God's justice, do we imagine Him as distant and uncaring, or someone who will absolutely settle the score? This verse points to a powerful truth about God’s character.
The author of Hebrews isn't just quoting random Old Testament verses; he's reminding his readers of God’s own declared character. When God says, 'Vengeance is mine; I will repay,' He’s establishing a fundamental truth about His nature.
The verse mentions 'The Lord will judge his people.' Does this mean God is looking for reasons to punish even those who belong to Him?
The second part of the quote, 'The Lord will judge his people,' might sound alarming at first. We tend to associate 'judgment' with condemnation. However, the Old Testament context and the scholars’ insights show a more nuanced picture.
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Understand the original words
ekdikēsis · Greek Noun
The rightful exercise of divine justice by God to punish evil and vindicate His holiness.
The author of Hebrews powerfully invokes ancient words from Moses' Song in Deuteronomy to warn against apostasy. These words, deeply familiar to his Jewish readers, resonated with their history of exile and divine judgment, making the warning about falling into the hands of the living God incredibly potent.
c. 1400 BC
The Song of Moses
Moses delivers a song to the Israelites that contains the foundational pronouncements later quoted in Hebrews: 'To me belong vengeance and recompense, to me belong vengeance and recompense' (Deuteronomy 32:35) and 'The Lord will judge his people' (Deuteronomy 32:36). This song serves as a powerful warning and theological reflection on God's faithfulness and justice.
c. 586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem and Babylonian Exile
Jerusalem is destroyed, and many Israelites are exiled to Babylon. This event starkly illustrates God's judgment upon his people for their unfaithfulness, underscoring the seriousness of His pronouncements.
c. 1st century AD
Jewish Diaspora and Rabbinic Interpretation
Jewish communities are spread throughout the Roman Empire. Rabbinic traditions and interpretations of the Old Testament, including the Song of Moses, are actively developing and being circulated, influencing how these texts are understood.
c. AD 60-70— this verse
Writing of the Book of Hebrews
The author of Hebrews writes to a community of Jewish believers facing persecution and the temptation to revert to Judaism. The text draws heavily on Old Testament Scripture, including Deuteronomy, to encourage perseverance and warn against apostasy.
This is the primary Old Testament source for the first part of the quote, establishing God's sole right to vengeance and His promise to repay wrongdoers.
Deuteronomy 32:36This passage provides the source for the second part of the quote, emphasizing that God will ultimately judge and vindicate His people.
Romans 12:19Paul also quotes 'Vengeance is mine, I will repay' here, directly connecting the concept of divine retribution to the Christian life and urging believers not to seek their own revenge.
Psalm 50:4This psalm speaks of God coming to judge His people and His adversaries, echoing the theme that God will bring His people into account, especially when they act against His ways.
2 Thessalonians 1:8This passage describes God's judgment upon those who do not know Him and do not obey the gospel, highlighting the 'fiery wrath' that awaits those who reject Him, similar to the 'fearful falling into the hands of the living God' mentioned in Hebrews 10:31.
meyerHebrews 10:30: "For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people."
Hebrews 10:30 . The χείρονος ἀξιωθήσεται τιμωρίας , Hebrews 10:29 , is a matter for the most serious consideration. This the declarations of God Himself in the Scriptures prove. οἴδαμεν γὰρ τὸν εἰπόντα ] for we know Him who hath spoken, i.e. we know what it means when God makes predictions like those which follow. The first utterance is wit…
bengelHebrews 10:30: "For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people."
Hebrews 10:30 . Τὸν εἰπόντα , Him, who hath said ) GOD, who does not threaten in vain.— ἐμοὶ , to me ) See Romans 12:19 , note, from Deuteronomy 32:35 .— πάλιν , again ) after a few words intervening in the same song of Moses.— Κύριος κρινεῖ τὸν λαὸν αὐτοῦ , the Lord will judge His people ) Deuteronomy 32:36 , LXX., κρινεῖ Κύριος τὸν λαὸν α…
The verse emphasizes that God's judgment isn't arbitrary; He explicitly claims vengeance and recompense as His right. This isn't about God being vindictive, but about His perfect justice in "meting out" what is due, which includes judging His own people when necessary.
The author is powerfully warning against deliberately turning away from God after experiencing His grace and truth, especially through Christ. Having established that Christ's sacrifice is a once-for-all atonement, the writer emphasizes the severe consequences of rejecting such a profound salvation. This verse reinforces that God Himself has declared His intention to enact justice and judgment.
The author is powerfully warning against deliberately turning away from God after experiencing His grace and truth, especially through Christ. Having established that Christ's sacrifice is a once-for-all atonement, the writer emphasizes the severe consequences of rejecting such a profound salvation. This verse reinforces that God Himself has declared His intention to enact justice and judgment.
"For we know him who said, “Vengeance is mine; I will repay.” And again, “The Lord will judge his people.”" — The verse emphasizes that God's judgment isn't arbitrary; He explicitly claims vengeance and recompense as His right. This isn't about God being vindictive, but about His perfect justice in "meting o…
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Last reviewed October 2026