H5360 H5360
vengeance, retribution — the act of divine or human repayment for wrong, especially in covenant justice contexts
Neqamah denotes vengeance or retribution, appearing 27 times with overwhelming concentration in prophetic literature expressing divine justice. Its most characteristic usage is 'the vengeance of YHWH' — the day when God settles accounts with oppressors. Jeremiah applies it repeatedly to Babylon's destruction: 'this is the vengeance of YHWH; take vengeance on her' (Jer 50:15, 28; 51:6, 11, 36). Ezekiel declares God will execute vengeance on Edom and Philistia through Israel's hand (Ezek 25:14, 17). The Psalms celebrate God as 'the God of vengeance' (Ps 94:1) who grants 'vengeance for me among the peoples' (Ps 18:47; 2 Sam 22:48). In Numbers 31:2-3, 'the vengeance of YHWH against Midian' is entrusted to Israel as holy war. Spanish 'venganza,' French 'vengeance,' German 'Rache' — the concept translates with remarkable directness across all languages.
Senses
1. vengeance, retribution — Retributive justice or vengeance, predominantly divine, exacted against covenant-breakers and national enemies. Central to prophetic theology: Jeremiah announces YHWH's vengeance against Babylon (Jer 50:15, 28; 51:6, 11, 36), Ezekiel declares it against Edom and Philistia (Ezek 25:14, 17), and Jeremiah invokes it in personal lament (Jer 11:20; 20:12). In the Psalms, God is 'the God of vengeance' (Ps 94:1) who grants David vindication (Ps 18:47; 2 Sam 22:48). The holy war tradition frames Israel as agent of divine neqamah against Midian (Num 31:2-3). 27×
AR["النَّقَمَاتِ", "انْتِقَامًا", "انْتِقَامٍ", "انْتِقَامَ", "انْتِقَامَاتٍ", "انْتِقَامُ", "نَقمَةً", "نَقْمَةَ", "نَقْمَةِ-", "ٱنْتِقَامِي"]·ben["আমার-প্রতিশোধ", "প্রতিশোধ", "প্রতিশোধ-", "প্রতিশোধের"]·DE["Rache", "Rache-von", "[נקמתי]", "der-vengeance-von", "vengeance", "vengeance-von", "vengeance-von-"]·EN["my-vengeance", "the-vengeance-of", "vengeance", "vengeance-of", "vengeance-of-"]·FR["vengeance", "vengeance-de", "vengeance-de-"]·heb["נקמה", "נקמות", "נקמת", "נקמתי"]·HI["पलटा", "पलटा-लेने-का", "प्रतिशोध", "बदला", "बदले", "बदले-का"]·ID["ini", "pembalasan", "pembalasan-Ku", "pembalasan-Ku,", "pembalasan-pembalasan"]·IT["[נקמתי]", "vendetta", "vendetta-di", "vendette", "vengeance", "vengeance-di", "vengeance-di-"]·jav["pangwales", "pembalasan", "pembelasan", "piwales", "piwales-", "piwales-Kawula", "piwalesipun"]·KO["보복-이", "보복의", "보복이", "복수-의", "복수들-을", "복수들을", "복수를", "복수를-나의", "복수의", "복수이"]·PT["a-vingança", "minha-vingança", "vingança", "vingança-de", "vinganças"]·RU["мести", "месть", "месть-", "мщение", "мщение-Моё", "мщений", "мщения", "отмщение"]·ES["mi-venganza", "venganza", "venganza-de", "venganzas"]·SW["kisasi", "kisasi-cha", "kisasi-changu", "wa-kisasi", "ya-kisasi"]·TR["intikamlar", "intikamları", "intikamların", "intikamı", "intikamımı", "intikamın", "intikamını", "öcü", "öcün", "öcünü", "öcünü-", "öçleri"]·urd["انتقام", "انتقام-اپنا", "انتقام-میرا", "انتقام-کا", "بدلا", "بدلہ", "بدلے"]
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×)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×)H7561 1. condemn, declare guilty (Hifil) (17×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
† נְקָמָה n.f. vengeance (on format. cf. LagBN 143);—נ׳ Je 46:10 + 3 times; cstr. נִקְמַת Nu 31:2 + 7 times; sf. נִקְמָתִי Ez 25:14 + 7 times sfs.; pl. נְקָמוֹת Ju 11:36 + 5 times; נְקָמֹת 2 S 22:48;— 1. vengeance of God, abs. Ez 25:14; נקם נ׳ Je 51:36; נִקְמַת דַּם ψ 79:10; אֵל נְקָמוֹת 94:1(×2); עֵת נ׳ Je 51:6; יוֹם נ׳ Je 46:10; נ׳ יהוה 50:15, 28; 51:11; נ׳ הֵיכָלוֹ 50:28; 51:11; c. בְּ of…