The original Greek word translated as "avenge" actually means "do me justice" or "vindicate me." This isn't a plea for revenge, but a desperate cry to the judge to simply right a wrong and protect her from someone exploiting her vulnerability.
And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’ For a while he refused, but afterward he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor respect man, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.’”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus is teaching his disciples about the importance of persistent prayer by telling a parable about an unjust judge and a persistent widow. This widow, vulnerable and with no one else to turn to, repeatedly comes before a judge who fears neither God nor man, demanding justice against someone who has wronged her. Her constant appeals wear down the judge, eventually leading him to act, not out of righteousness, but simply to be rid of her.
The word 'avenge' in this verse can sound harsh, even vengeful. But what was this widow really asking for?
When this widow cries, 'Avenge me of mine adversary,' the original language, and the context of her situation, reveal she's not asking for revenge in a vindictive way.
The True Meaning
The Widowed State
She faced a judge who 'neither feared God nor regarded man.' Yet, she didn't give up. What can we learn from her persistence?
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This widow's relentless approach to the unjust judge is the core of Jesus' parable. Her repeated visits weren't just annoying; they were strategic and essential.
The Judge's Character
The Widow's Strategy
Understand the original words
chēra · Greek Noun
A woman whose husband has died; in Scripture, widows are frequently presented as a vulnerable class under God’s special protection, often representing those who have no earthly defense.
ekdikēsis · Greek Noun
The standard of moral and legal righteousness; it refers to the vindication of the oppressed or the restoration of what is right according to God’s law.
antidikos · Greek Noun
An opponent or legal plaintiff; in spiritual terms, it can denote anyone or anything that stands against the believer’s vindication or righteousness.
kopiaō · Greek Verb
To harass, weary, or wear someone down; here it describes the persistent, relentless action of the widow that makes it impossible for the judge to remain indifferent.
The parable draws on the real-world experience of widows in ancient society, who were often vulnerable to exploitation and struggled to find justice. This context makes the widow's persistent plea and the judge's reluctant action even more poignant.
c. 9th-8th century BC
Prophets condemn oppression of widows
Prophets like Isaiah and Amos spoke out against the powerful who neglected the poor and vulnerable, specifically mentioning the oppression of widows and fatherless children. This highlights a persistent social problem.
c. 6th century BC
Exile and return from Babylon
The period of Babylonian exile and the subsequent return to Jerusalem saw many Jews stripped of property and status, increasing the vulnerability of widows and orphans within the community.
c. 1st century BC
Herodian period tribunals
During the Herodian era, local tribunals often suffered from corruption and inefficiency. Judges might be influenced by personal bias or self-interest, rather than a commitment to justice.
c. AD 30-33— this verse
Jesus teaches the parable
Jesus tells the parable of the persistent widow and the unjust judge to his disciples, likely in Judea or Galilee, emphasizing the need for constant, unwavering prayer.
This passage, like Luke 18:3, highlights God's special concern for widows, warning against oppressing them and showing that He hears their cries.
Deuteronomy 27:19This verse also directly condemns anyone who 'perverts the justice due to the sojourner, fatherless, and widow,' mirroring the injustice faced by the widow in Luke's parable.
Isaiah 1:17Similar to the parable, this prophetic call emphasizes 'seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow's cause,' showing the consistent divine mandate to care for the vulnerable.
1 Peter 5:8This passage connects the concept of an 'adversary' (antidikos in Greek, the same word used in Luke 18:3) to the devil, who seeks to devour, underscoring the spiritual dimension of the struggles faced by those who cry out for justice.
calvinLuke 18:1-8: "And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;"
- And he spake also a parable to them, that they ought always to pray, and not to grow weary: 2. Saying, There was a judge in a city, who neither feared God, nor regarded man. 3. And there was a widow in that city, who came to him, saying, Do me justice on my adversary. 4. And he refused for some time, [322] but afterwards said within himself, Though I neither fear God, nor regard man,…
vincentLuke 18:3: "And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary."
Avenge (ἐκδικησον)The word is too strong. It means do me justice. See on Romans 12:19.
The original Greek word translated as "avenge" actually means "do me justice" or "vindicate me." This isn't a plea for revenge, but a desperate cry to the judge to simply right a wrong and protect her from someone exploiting her vulnerability.
Jesus is teaching his disciples about the importance of persistent prayer by telling a parable about an unjust judge and a persistent widow. This widow, vulnerable and with no one else to turn to, repeatedly comes before a judge who fears neither God nor man, demanding justice against someone who has wronged her. Her constant appeals wear down the judge, eventually leading him to act, not out of righteousness, but simply to be rid of her.
Jesus is teaching his disciples about the importance of persistent prayer by telling a parable about an unjust judge and a persistent widow. This widow, vulnerable and with no one else to turn to, repeatedly comes before a judge who fears neither God nor man, demanding justice against someone who has wronged her. Her constant appeals wear down the judge, eventually leading him to act, not out of righteousness, but simply to be rid of her.
"And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’ For a while he refused, but afterward he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor respect man, yet because this widow keep…" — The original Greek word translated as "avenge" actually means "do me justice" or "vindicate me." This isn't a plea for revenge, but a desperate cry to the judge to simply right a wrong and protect he…
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Last reviewed October 2026
