ἐκδῐκ-έω G1556
To avenge or exact retributive justice on behalf of the wronged; also to vindicate or grant justice to the oppressed. Covers both punitive action and the securing of rights.
A verb operating along the full spectrum of justice — from fierce retribution to compassionate vindication. In Romans 12:19 Paul warns believers not to avenge themselves, reserving vengeance for God, and in Revelation 6:10 and 19:2 the martyrs cry out for God to avenge their blood on those who shed it. The Spanish 'vengando/vengas' and German 'raechen' reflect this punitive edge. But in the parable of the persistent widow (Luke 18:3, 5), the same verb means something gentler yet equally urgent: to vindicate, to grant justice to someone who has been wronged. The widow does not seek punishment — she seeks her rights. The Spanish 'Hazme justicia' (do me justice) captures this beautifully, showing how the Greek word spans from retribution to restoration.
Senses
1. avenge, exact vengeance — To avenge, to exact retributive justice or vengeance on behalf of someone wronged, with emphasis on punitive action against the wrongdoer. In Romans 12:19 Paul quotes Deuteronomy's 'Vengeance is mine,' and in Revelation 6:10 the martyrs beneath the altar cry out for God to avenge their blood. Second Corinthians 10:6 speaks of readiness to punish all disobedience. The Spanish 'castigar/vengando' and German 'raechen' convey the retributive force. 4×
AR["انْتَقَمَ", "تَنتَقِمُ", "مُنْتَقِمِينَ", "نُعاقِبَ"]·ben["প্রতিশোধ-নাও", "প্রতিশোধ-নিও,", "প্রতিশোধ-নিয়েছেন", "শাস্তি-দিতে"]·DE["raechen"]·EN["avenging", "he-avenged", "to-avenge", "you-avenge"]·FR["venger"]·heb["לְהַעֲנִישׁ", "נָקַם", "נוֹקְמִים", "תִנְקֹם"]·HI["दण्ड-देने", "बदला-लिया", "बदला-लेता-है", "बदला-लेते-हुए"]·ID["Dia-membalaskan", "Engkau-membalaskan", "membalas", "menghukum"]·IT["ekdikeis", "exedikēsen", "vendicare"]·jav["Panjenengan-males", "Panjenenganipun-malesaken", "males,", "ngukum"]·KO["보복하셨다", "복수하기를", "복수하십니까", "복수하지"]·PT["vingando,", "vingar", "vingas", "vingou"]·RU["мстишь", "мщающие", "наказать", "отомстил"]·ES["castigar", "vengando", "vengas", "vengó"]·SW["amelipiza", "jilipize-kisasi,", "kulipiza", "kulipiza-kisasi"]·TR["cezalandırmaya", "intikam-alan", "yargılıyorsun", "öç-aldı"]·urd["بدلہ-لیا", "بدلہ-لیتا-ہے", "بدلہ-لیں", "بدلہ-نہ-لیتے-ہوئے"]
2. vindicate, grant justice — To vindicate, to grant or secure justice for someone who has been wronged — focusing on the victim's relief rather than the offender's punishment. In the parable of the persistent widow (Luke 18:3, 5), the woman pleads 'vindicate me against my adversary,' and the judge finally resolves to grant her justice. The Spanish 'Hazme justicia / le haré justicia' beautifully captures this restorative dimension, distinguishing it from the punitive sense even though the Greek verb is identical. 2×
AR["أَنصِفْ", "سَأُنصِفُ"]·ben["বিচার-কর", "বিচার-করব"]·DE["ἐκδικήσω", "Ἐκδίκησόν"]·EN["I-will-vindicate", "Vindicate"]·FR["venger"]·heb["אֶעֱשֶׂה-לָהּ-מִשְׁפָּט", "עֲשֵׂה-לִי-מִשְׁפָּט"]·HI["न्याय-कर", "न्याय-करूँगा"]·ID["Berikanlah-keadilan-kepadaku", "aku-akan-memberi-keadilan"]·IT["ekdikeso", "ekdikeson"]·jav["Paring-kaadilan", "kula-badhe-paring-kaadilan"]·KO["신원해-주겠다", "신원해-주소서"]·RU["Защити", "защищу"]·ES["Hazme-justicia", "le-haré-justicia"]·SW["Nitetee", "nitamtetea"]·TR["Hakkımı-ara", "hakkını-arayalım"]·urd["انصاف-کر", "انصاف-کروں-گا"]
Related Senses
H4941 1. justice, righteousness (134×)H4941 2. judgment, judicial decision (119×)H4941 3. ordinances, statutes (plural) (110×)H8199 1. to judge, adjudicate (98×)G2919 1. judge, pass judgment (76×)H8199 2. judge (person, office-holder) (61×)G2920 1. judgment / condemnation (48×)H7378 1. Qal: quarrel, contend, strive (42×)H4941 4. prescribed ordinance, regulation (34×)G1832 1. it is lawful, it is permitted (32×)G2917 1. judgment, condemnation (27×)G2919 2. be judged, stand trial (27×)H5360 1. vengeance, retribution (27×)H7378 2. Qal: plead, defend, litigate (22×)G2723 1. accuse, bring charges against (20×)G2923 1. judge (one who judges/decides) (19×)G2632 1. condemn, pass judgment against (18×)H1777 1. judge, adjudicate (18×)H1576 1. recompense, retribution (17×)H5359 1. vengeance, retribution (17×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
ἐκδῐκ-έω, avenge, punish, φόνον NT+5th c.BC+; exact vengeance for, τὰ αἵματα τῶν δούλων LXX+2nd c.BC+ __2 decide a case, δίκην, ἀγῶνα, Refs 1st c.AD+ __II avenge or vindicate a person, by taking up his cause, NT+1st c.AD+; ἐ. τινὰ ἀπό τινος avenge one on another, NT+5th c.BC+:—passive, LXX __II.2 act as ἔκδικος Refs 1st c.BC+ __III claim, Refs 5th c.AD+ __IV ἐ. τισί make retribution for them, Refs 5th c.BC+