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.
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"]
▼ 1 more sense below
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"]
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+