# avenge, revenge, vengeance

## Definition

To "avenge" or "take revenge" is to punish someone in order to pay him back for the harm he did. The act of avenging or taking revenge is "vengeance."

* Usually "avenge" implies an intent to see justice done or to right a wrong,
* When referring to people, the idiom "take revenge" or "get revenge" usually involves wanting to get back at the person who did the harm.
* When God "takes vengeance," he is acting in righteousness because he is punishing sin and rebellion.


## Translation Suggestions



* The phrase, "to "avenge" someone could also be translated as "to right a wrong" or "to get justice for."
* when referring to human beings, to "take revenge" could be translated as "pay back" or "hurt in order to punish" or "get back at."
* Depending on the context, "vengeance" could be translated as "punishment" or "punishment of sin" or "payment for wrongs done."  If a word meaning "retaliation" is used, this would apply to human beings only.
* When God says, "take my vengeance," this could be translated by, "punish them for wrongs done against me" or "cause bad things to happen because they have sinned against me."
* When referring to God's vengeance, make sure it is clear that God is right in his punishment of sin.