"vengeance, punishment, retributive justice, Lk. 21:22; Rom. 12:19; 2 Cor. 7:11; 1 Pet. 2:14; ἐκδίκησιν ποιεῖν, to vindicate, avenge, Lk. 18:7, 8; διδόναι ἐκδίκησιν, to inflict vengeance, Acts 7:24; 2 Thess. 1:8; Heb. 10:30*"
Definition and meaning
vengeance, punishment, retributive justice, Lk. 21:22; Rom. 12:19; 2 Cor. 7:11; 1 Pet. 2:14; ἐκδίκησιν ποιεῖν, to vindicate, avenge, Lk. 18:7, 8; διδόναι ἐκδίκησιν, to inflict vengeance, Acts 7:24; 2 Thess. 1:8; Heb. 10:30*
In the original Greek the word is written: ἐκδίκησις
Historical context
Luke wrote as a historian addressing a Greek audience. He carefully interviewed eyewitnesses and arranged events in order. The social and economic realities he describes — Roman taxation, Jewish religious hierarchy, the marginalization of women and the poor — are consistent with first-century Judea under Roman administration.
The people who first heard this word were not reading a book — they were living through empires, oppression, exile, and covenant. Every word carried the weight of that reality. Understanding it changes how you read Scripture.
Scripture references
These are the most notable occurrences of ekdikesis (G1557) across the King James Bible.
And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?
I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?
For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.
And seeing one of them suffer wrong, he defended him, and avenged him that was oppressed, and smote the Egyptian:
Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.
In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:
For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people.
Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well.
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Common questions
Strong's G1557 (ekdikesis) is a Greek word that means: vengeance, punishment, retributive justice, Lk. 21:22; Rom. 12:19; 2 Cor. 7:11; 1 Pet. 2:14; ἐκδίκησιν ποιεῖν, to vindicate, avenge, Lk. 18:7, 8; διδόναι ἐκδίκησιν, to inflict vengeance, Acts 7:24; 2 ... It appears 9 times in the King James Bible.
The word ekdikesis (G1557) appears 9 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G1557 is ekdikesis, a Greek word defined as: vengeance, punishment, retributive justice, Lk. 21:22; Rom. 12:19; 2 Cor. 7:11; 1 Pet. 2:14; ἐκδίκησιν ποιεῖν, to vindicate, avenge, Lk. 18:7, 8; διδό. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
ekdikesis is a Greek word found in the New Testament.