re-venj', re-venj'-er: The same Hebrew and Greek words are used to express the idea of "to avenge" and "to revenge" (naqam, or derivative; ekdikeo, or derivative). In English these words are synonymous in that they are both used to express the infliction of punishment upon the wrongdoer, but "to take revenge" may also imply a spiteful, wrong or malignant spirit. In the latter case, the Revised Version (British and American) preserves "revenge" (compareJer 20:10;Eze 25:15;25:17is an anthropomorphism), but, wherever it is synonymous with "avenge," this word is used (compareNu 31:2,3;Ps 79:10;Na 1:2; /RAPC Jdt 13:20;Ro 13:4;2Co 7:11;10:6the Revised Version (British and American); the King James Version has "revenge" in all these cases). InDe 32:42, the King James Version "revenge" is a wrong translation. Read with the Revised Version (British and American) "from the head of the leaders of the enemy" or the Revised Version margin "the hairy head of the enemy."
Compare AVENGE, AVENGER; BLOOD; GOEL.
A. L. Breslich