Hebrews 10:30
in Hebrews 10For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is Mine; I will repay,” and again, “The Lord will judge His people.”
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
For we know him that said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense. And again, The Lord shall judge his people.
KJV
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.
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This verse in Hebrews 10
Commentary
13 notes on this verseHe who counselled that an injury should be forgotten, was still more likely to counsel the patient endurance of it. But then, when He said, "Vengeance is mine, and I will repay," He thereby teaches that patience calmly waits for the infliction of vengeance.
This site's exposition
Vengeance is Mine
on Hebrews 10:30-31
The Song of Moses, Deuteronomy 32:35 to 36, grounds the warning in God's own words. The second citation, The Lord will judge His people, applies to the covenant people. Verse 31 sums it up, It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers4 voices
"For we know Him who said." And that these things are true, God himself testifies who says: "Vengeance is mine." This is with me, to take vengeance: "I will repay, says the Lord." But by saying this, he comforts them about the evils they have …
Is there any risk of a different result in the case of a Lord so just in estimating, so potent in executing? Why, then, do we believe Him a Judge, if not an Avenger too? This He promises that He will be to us in return, saying, "Vengeance belongeth to me, and I will avenge; " that is, Leave patience to me, and I will reward patience.
A commentator
Lucius Caecilius Firmianus LactantiusCommentary (church-history corpus) · Written before 325.
proposed
Moreover, he must also diligently take care, lest by any fault of his he should at any time make an enemy; and if any one should be so shameless as to inflict injury on a good and just man, he must bear it with calmness and moderation, and not take upon himself his revenge, but reserve it for the judgment of God.
Next he adds testimony, saying, "It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the Living God." "For" it is written: "Vengeance belongeth unto Me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge His people." "Let us fall," it is said, "into the hands of the Lord, and not into the hands of men." (Ecclus. ii. 18.) But if ye repent not, ye shall "fall into the hands of" God: that is fearful: it is nothing, to "fall into the hands of men." When, he means, we see any man punished here, let us not be terrified at the things present, but shudder at the things to come. "For according to His mercy, so is His wrath." And, "His indignation will rest upon sinners." (Ecclus. v. 6.) At the same time too he hints at something else. For "Vengeance belongeth unto Me," he says, "I will recompense." This is said in regard to their enemies, who are doing evil, not to those who are suffering evil. Here he is consoling them too, all but saying, God abideth for ever and liveth, so that even if they receive not their reward now, they will receive it hereafter. They ought to groan, not we: for we indeed shall fall into their hands, but they into the hands of God. For neither is it the sufferer who suffers the ill, but he that does it; nor is it he who receives a benefit that is benefited, but the benefactor.
The Medieval Church1 voice
He said this in connection, to show that the Lord took upon Himself the "vengeance" against sinners. For He said this through the prophet. He also comforts those who fell into faintheartedness on account of the trials from the Jews who were oppressing them. He …
6 more voices on this verse
The Medieval Church1 voice
532. – Then (v. 30) he cites authorities to prove what he has said. In regard to this he does two things: first, he cites the authorities; secondly, he concludes from them (v. 31). 533. – Therefore, he says: We know him who has said: …
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
For we know him that hath said,.... That is, God, whom the apostle and the Hebrews knew; not merely by the works of creation and providence, but by the Scriptures, which they were favoured with, and by which they were distinguished from the Gentiles, and by which they knew his being, nature, and perfections; particularly, that what he said he was able to perform, and that he was true and faithful to every word of his, and to what he has said, Deu 32:35 vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompence, saith the Lord.
1 , Vengeance belongs unto me. The terrors of the Lord are known both by revelation and reason. Vindictive justice is a glorious, though terrible attribute of God; it belongs to him, and he will use and execute it upon the heads of such sinners as despise his grace; he will avenge himself, and his Son, and Spirit, and covenant, upon apostates.
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
Vengeance belongeth unto me - This is the saying of God, Deu 32:35, in reference to the idolatrous Gentiles, who were the enemies of his people; and is here with propriety applied to the above apostates, who, being enemies to God’s ordinances, and Christ’s ministry and merits, must also be enemies to Christ’s people; and labor for the destruction of them, and the cause in which they are engaged.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
Vengeance belongeth unto me--Greek, "To Me belongeth vengeance": exactly according with Paul's quotation, Ro 12:19, of the same text. Lord shall judge his people--in grace, or else anger, according as each deserves: here, "judge," so as to punish the reprobate apostate; there, "judge," so as to interpose in behalf of, and save His people (De 32:36).
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
For we know him that hath said - We know who has said this - God. They knew this because it was recorded in their own sacred books. Vengeance belongeth unto me ... - This is found in Deu 32:35; see it explained in the notes on Rom 12:19. It is there quoted to show that we should not avenge ourselves; it is here quoted to show that God will certainly inflict punishment on those who deserve it. If any should apostatize in the manner here referred to by the apostle, they would, says he, be guilty of great and unparalleled wickedness, and would have the certainty that they must meet the wrath of God. And again, The Lord shall judge his people - This is quoted from Deu 32:36. That is, he will judge them when they deserve it, and punish them if they ought to be punished. The mere fact that they are his people will not save them from punishment if they deserve it, any more than the fact that one is a beloved child will save him from correction when he does wrong. This truth was abundantly illustrated in the history of the Israelites; and the same great principle would be applied should any sincere Christian apostatize from his religion. He would have before him the certainty of the most fearful and severe of all punishments.
The words behind it
15 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| οἴδαμεν | oidamen | We know | ||
| γὰρ | gar | for | G1063 → | 1039 times |
| τὸν | ton | the [One] | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| εἰπόντα· | eiponta | having said; | G2036 → | 925 times |
| ἐμοὶ | emoi | Mine | G1473 → | 839 times |
| ἐκδίκησις, | ekdikesis | [is] vengeance , | G1557 → | |
| ἐγὼ | ego | I myself | G1473 → | 839 times |
| ἀνταποδώσω | antapodoso | will repay | G467 → | |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| πάλιν· | palin | again: | G3825 → | 139 times |
| κρινεῖ | krinei | Will judge | G2919 → | |
| κύριος | kurios | [the] Lord | G2962 → | 711 times |
| τὸν | ton | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| λαὸν | laon | people | G2992 → | 141 times |
| αὐτοῦ. | autou | of Him. | G846 → | 5565 times |
οἴδαμενWe know
oidamen
γὰρfor
garG1063 →1039 times
τὸνthe [One]
tonG3588 →19766 times
εἰπόντα·having said;
eipontaG2036 →925 times
ἐμοὶMine
emoiG1473 →839 times
ἐκδίκησις,[is] vengeance ,
ekdikesisG1557 →
ἐγὼI myself
egoG1473 →839 times
ἀνταποδώσωwill repay
antapodosoG467 →
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
πάλιν·again:
palinG3825 →139 times
κρινεῖWill judge
krineiG2919 →
κύριος[the] Lord
kuriosG2962 →711 times
τὸνthe
tonG3588 →19766 times
λαὸνpeople
laonG2992 →141 times
αὐτοῦ.of Him.
autouG846 →5565 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Romans 12:19Do not avenge yourselves, beloved, but leave room for God’s wrath. For it is written: “Vengeance is Mine; I will repay, says the Lord.”
it leads to
- Deuteronomy 32:35
Vengeance is Mine; I will repay. In due time their foot will slip; for their day of disaster is near, and their doom is coming quickly.”
- Proverbs 24:29
Do not say, “I will do to him as he has done to me; I will repay the man according to his work.”
- Proverbs 20:22
Do not say, “I will avenge this evil!” Wait on the LORD, and He will save you.
- Romans 12:17
Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Carefully consider what is right in the eyes of everybody.
- Deuteronomy 32:35
Through
2 Corinthians 5:10For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive his due for the things done in the body, whether good or bad.
it leads to
- Matthew 16:27
For the Son of Man will come in His Father’s glory with His angels, and then He will repay each one according to what he has done.
- Revelation 22:12
“Behold, I am coming soon, and My reward is with Me, to give to each one according to what he has done.
- Ecclesiastes 12:14
For God will bring every deed into judgment, along with every hidden thing, whether good or evil.
- Ephesians 6:8
because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free.
- Matthew 16:27
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies42
On this verse
On this chapter
- The General Epistles
- The Covenants
- The Day of Atonement
- Eternal Security, and the Five Warnings of Hebrews
- Faith
- The Hall of Faith
Show the next 6 titles
- The Fall Feasts
- Hope
- The Anchor of the Soul
- Entertaining Angels Unaware
- How the Cross Saves: The Views of the Atonement
- Jephthah's vow
Show the next 6 titles
- The Joy Set Before Him
- The Messianic Psalms
- Nadab and Abihu: the unauthorized fire
- Patience and the Impulse
- The Farmer Waits for the Rain
- The Scarlet Thread
Show the next 6 titles
- The Tabernacle
- The Appointed Times Read as a Calendar of Prophecy
- The Ark of the Covenant
- The Ascension: Acts 1:1-11 · Luke 24:50-53
- The Blood
- The Bronze Laver
Show the next 6 titles
About Hebrews
This page draws on 13 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Homily on Hebrews 20; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Lucius Caecilius Firmianus Lactantius, Commentary (church-history corpus); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Oecumenius, The Pseudo-Oecumenian Catena on Hebrews; Tertullian, Against Marcion Book IV; Tertullian, Of Patience; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Hebrews and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Hebrews.