vengeance (2)

The Book of Sirach 28:1 (NABRE) focuses on vengeful people and God’s vengeance. On the surface, this seems like a bit of an odd sentiment as we much prefer to see God as merciful rather than vengeful.

The Book of Sirach is one of the Old Testament books originally written in Greek rather than Hebrew, and so for a deeper understanding of what’s going on in this passage, we turn to the Greek text. The Greek word translated as vengeance comes from the Greek word ἐκδικέω (ekdikeo), a word built on a root that means “justice” or “right.” The Greek view of vengeance is one of making right or balancing a wrong rather than simple punishment.

The view isn’t of a punishing God but a God of justice. When a person continues to hold grudges and behave badly toward others, God takes that badly and balances the scales by returning that behavior in kind. The way we treat others is the way God treats us.

related topics: judgment; vengeance (1); woe

you also may like our study of the book of Genesis
The first seven lessons of In the Beginning: The Book of Genesis, a 28-lesson Catholic Bible study with an imprimatur, provide an in-depth look at the very earliest biblical history—including the two accounts of Creation, events surrounding the Fall of Adam and Eve, the relationship between Cain and Abel, and the baptismal foreshadowing present in the account of Noah and the Flood. Remaining lessons look at lives of the patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph. Click here to view a sample of the first lesson.

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