“Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord” means that judgment belongs to God, not to us. It teaches believers to leave justice in God’s hands rather than taking personal revenge.
Where it appears
The wording comes from
Deuteronomy 32:35
in the Old Testament and is quoted by Paul in the New Testament in
Romans 12:19
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. This matters because the phrase is sometimes treated like a general permission to punish others, but in Paul’s use it does the opposite: it argues against personal retaliation.
The key meaning
The central point is that repayment and final judgment are God’s responsibility. When Paul quotes the line, he uses it to tell believers not to repay evil for evil, but to leave justice with God rather than trying to settle the score personally.
Paul’s New Testament use
Paul’s quotation is explicit:
Romans 12:19 — ‘“Vengeance belongs to me; I will repay,” says the Lord.’
In context, Paul is not encouraging revenge; he is warning against it. The quotation functions as a reason believers should not take vengeance into their own hands: God says vengeance belongs to him.
Overcome evil with good
Paul immediately adds the practical direction that follows from leaving vengeance to God: “don’t be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” The statement about vengeance is therefore tied to a specific response to wrongdoing—resisting the pull to retaliate and responding in a way that does not mirror the evil done.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is “Vengeance is mine” in the Old Testament or the New Testament?
It comes from the Old Testament in
Deuteronomy 32:35
and is quoted in the New Testament by Paul in
Romans 12:19
.
What is Paul’s main point in quoting it?
Paul quotes it to urge believers not to take personal revenge. The point is to leave justice in God’s hands rather than repaying evil for evil.
Does the verse give people permission to take revenge?
No. In Paul’s use of the line in
Romans 12:19
, it is used as a reason not to take vengeance personally, because vengeance belongs to God.
What does Romans 12:19 actually say?
Romans 12:19 — ‘“Vengeance belongs to me; I will repay,” says the Lord.’
How does “overcome evil with good” relate to this?
Paul follows the quotation with the instruction “don’t be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” That shows how the teaching is meant to be lived out: leaving vengeance to God is paired with responding to evil with good rather than retaliation.