Dictionary of Bible Themes Dictionary of Bible Themes » 5000 Humanity » 5200 Human civilisation » 5493 retribution Recompense for evil. In Scripture this is the prerogative of God and of the authorities ordained by God, and never of individuals. The principle of retribution Exodus 20:5-6; Romans 12:19; Hebrews 10:30 See also Deuteronomy 32:35; Exodus 32:33-34; Leviticus 26:23-25; Deuteronomy 7:9-10; Deuteronomy 32:41-43; Job 34:11; Proverbs 24:12; Isaiah 1:24; Nahum 1:2 Divine retribution is just Genesis 18:25 See also Deuteronomy 32:3-4; 2 Chronicles 12:1-6; Psalm 58:10-11; Jeremiah 5:7-9,26-29; Hosea 4:6 Retribution is often built into the nature of wrongdoing Psalm 7:15-16 See also Psalm 37:14-15; Proverbs 1:18; Proverbs 26:27; Proverbs 28:10; Ecclesiastes 10:8; Matthew 26:52; Galatians 6:7-8 Retribution is placed in the hands of governments Genesis 9:6; Exodus 21:23-25 This “lex talionis” (law of exacting like for like) was not for private retribution. It insisted that justice be fair and not out of proportion to the crime ; Romans 13:4 See also Leviticus 24:17-22; Numbers 35:16-25; 1 Peter 2:14 Private retribution is forbidden Proverbs 24:29 See also Matthew 5:38-39; Romans 12:19 Prayer for retribution Psalm 28:4 Christians can agree with these prayers, hating all that opposes the Lord and goodness, and gladly anticipating the ultimate vindication of God's glory. Christians leave judgment in God's hands, but nonetheless grieve over the world's pain and over the death of every unrepentant sinner ; 2 Thessalonians 1:6-10 See also Psalm 79:10; Psalm 94:1-2; Psalm 137:8-9; Lamentations 3:64-66 The final retribution Revelation 20:13 See also Psalm 62:11-12; John 5:28-29; Romans 2:5-11 Examples of direct divine retribution on people In the fall Genesis 3:14,17 See also Genesis 3:15-16,18-19 In the flood At the Tower of Babel See also Genesis 11:5-7 On Sodom and Gomorrah In the ten plagues on Egypt Exodus 7:16-17; Exodus 11:1; Exodus 12:29 On the Israelites in the wilderness Exodus 32:35 See also 1 Corinthians 10:6-10 On the heathen nations Leviticus 18:25; Deuteronomy 9:4 On the rebellious nation of Israel Leviticus 18:28; Deuteronomy 28:47-48 On idolatrous Judah Isaiah 65:6-7; Isaiah 66:6; Ezekiel 5:11-13 On Babylon Jeremiah 51:6,24,56 Upon all the nations Ob 15-16 On Jerusalem Matthew 23:35-36 This judgment came on Jerusalem in A.D. 70. Upon persecutors and unbelievers Examples of divine retribution on individuals Acts 12:23 See also Numbers 16:30; 2 Samuel 6:7; Samuel 12:10; Jeremiah 23:2; Acts 5:3-5,9; 1 Corinthians 11:29-30 Examples of divine retribution through human beings Judges 1:7; Judges 9:56-57; 2 Samuel 18:17 Through Jehu upon the house of Ahab: 2 Kings 9:7,24,30-33 Natural retribution Examples of retribution by the state See also Joshua 7:25; 1 Kings 2:31-32; Esther 7:10; Luke 23:40-41 National retribution Joshua 10:13-14; Judges 11:36; Esther 9:5 The special case of God's dealings with the nation of Israel and her enemies is not a basis on which to argue for a concept of a war, just or otherwise. A just war has to be in defence of the nation or of the defenceless, and involve a minimum of suffering. Warnings of future retribution Acts 17:31 See also Matthew 25:31-32 See also
1075 God, justice of |
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