Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
The verse commands us to "give place unto wrath," but not necessarily the wrath of an enemy or even our own anger. It points to allowing space for God's wrath to work, reminding us that vengeance is ultimately His prerogative and that we should not usurp His role by seeking retribution ourselves. This reorients our perspective from personal satisfaction to divine justice, trusting that God alone will execute righteous judgment.
Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Paul is wrapping up his instructions on how believers should live within the community and in the world. Having just urged them to bless those who persecute them, he now explicitly forbids personal revenge, reminding them that God alone is the ultimate judge and punisher. He then immediately pivots to the power of persistent love and good deeds to overcome evil.
Ever felt that burning desire for payback when wronged? The Bible addresses this powerful urge head-on. It reveals a crucial distinction between human impulses and God's ultimate justice.
Paul urges believers not to avenge themselves but to 'leave it to the wrath of God.' This isn't about suppressing righteous anger, but about recognizing that vengeance is a sacred duty belonging solely to God.
God's Exclusive Right
Humans are fallible and emotionally driven. Our attempts at vengeance are often clouded by personal bias, pride, and a desire for retribution rather than true justice. God, however, is perfectly just, all-knowing, and sovereign. He alone possesses the perfect understanding of every situation and the unfailing authority to execute true vengeance.
Why Not Us?
When we try to take vengeance into our own hands, we usurp God's role. We essentially say, 'I know better than God,' or 'God isn't handling this correctly, so I will.' This disrespects His authority and misses the opportunity for Him to work in His perfect timing and manner.
The command to 'give place unto wrath' sounds counterintuitive. Doesn't that mean letting wrongs slide? It actually means making space for a far greater power to act.
The phrase 'give place unto wrath' means to step aside and allow God's wrath to operate. It's not about passively accepting injustice, but about entrusting the matter to God's perfect judgment rather than acting out of our own flawed, often vengeful, impulses.
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Making Space for Divine Justice
When we retaliate or seek personal revenge, we block God's work. We step in front of His justice, preventing Him from acting. By 'giving place,' we yield the situation to Him, trusting that He will deal with it appropriately, whether through disciplinary action, eventual judgment, or even by allowing the wrongdoer to face the natural consequences of their actions.
A Higher Way of Living
This principle frees us from the exhausting cycle of retaliation. It allows us to focus on pursuing peace and doing good, as Paul encourages elsewhere in this chapter, knowing that ultimate justice is in God's hands. Our role is to trust and obey, not to mete out punishment.
Understand the original words
agapētos · Greek Adjective
Dearly loved ones; a term of endearment used by apostles to address fellow believers as objects of God's love.
ekdikeō · Greek Verb
The act of taking justice or retribution into one's own hands, which is forbidden to believers because it usurps God's prerogative.
orgē · Greek Noun
The settled, righteous indignation of God against sin and evil; the divine execution of justice.
ekdikēsis · Greek Noun
The right and power of God to execute justice and retribution; humans are forbidden from exercising it because they lack perfect knowledge and righteousness.
This is the primary Old Testament passage Paul is quoting, directly stating that vengeance and recompense belong to God alone.
Psalm 94:1This psalm echoes the sentiment that God is a God of vengeance and calls upon Him to act, reinforcing the idea that justice ultimately resides with Him.
Hebrews 10:30The author of Hebrews quotes the same passage from Deuteronomy, again emphasizing God's sole right to exact vengeance and His future judgment.
Matthew 5:39Jesus teaches not to resist an evil person in the Sermon on the Mount, a parallel teaching that underscores the principle of not retaliating and instead yielding to harm.
1 Peter 2:23Peter describes Jesus as one who, when reviled, did not revile in return, showing the ultimate example of not seeking personal vengeance but entrusting oneself to God.
ellicottRomans 12:19: "Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord."
(19) Give place unto wrath. —It seems best to understand this of “the wrath of God” (indicated in the Greek, here as elsewhere, by the use of the article). Stand aside yourself as a mere spectator, and let the wrath of God have free course to accomplish itself as He shall think well. The other most plausible interpretation would be, “Give r…
barnesRomans 12:19: "Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord."
Dearly beloved - This expression of tenderness was especially appropriate in an exhortation to peace. It reminded them of the affection and friendship which ought to subsist among them as brethren. Avenge not yourselves - To "avenge" is to take satisfaction for an injury by inflicting punishment on the offender. To take such satisfaction fo…
The verse commands us to "give place unto wrath," but not necessarily the wrath of an enemy or even our own anger. It points to allowing space for God's wrath to work, reminding us that vengeance is ultimately His prerogative and that we should not usurp His role by seeking retribution ourselves. This reorients our perspective from personal satisfaction to divine justice, trusting that God alone will execute righteous judgment.
Paul is wrapping up his instructions on how believers should live within the community and in the world. Having just urged them to bless those who persecute them, he now explicitly forbids personal revenge, reminding them that God alone is the ultimate judge and punisher. He then immediately pivots to the power of persistent love and good deeds to overcome evil.
Paul is wrapping up his instructions on how believers should live within the community and in the world. Having just urged them to bless those who persecute them, he now explicitly forbids personal revenge, reminding them that God alone is the ultimate judge and punisher. He then immediately pivots to the power of persistent love and good deeds to overcome evil.
"Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”" — The verse commands us to "give place unto wrath," but not necessarily the wrath of an enemy or even our own anger. It points to allowing space for God's wrath to work, reminding us that vengeance i…
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Last reviewed October 2026