What Does the Bible Say About Retaliation?

“And if any mischief follow, then thou shalt give life for life,”

“Eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot,”

“Burning for burning, wound for wound, stripe for stripe.”

“Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD.”

“And he that killeth any man shall surely be put to death. killeth: Heb. smiteth the life of a man”

“And he that killeth a beast shall make it good; beast for beast. beast for: Heb. life for life”

“And if a man cause a blemish in his neighbour; as he hath done, so shall it be done to him;”

“Breach for breach, eye for eye, tooth for tooth: as he hath caused a blemish in a man, so shall it be done to him again.”

“And he that killeth a beast, he shall restore it: and he that killeth a man, he shall be put to death.”

“Ye shall have one manner of law, as well for the stranger, as for one of your own country: for I am the LORD your God.”

“Then shall ye do unto him, as he had thought to have done unto his brother: so shalt thou put the evil away from among you.”

“And those which remain shall hear, and fear, and shall henceforth commit no more any such evil among you.”

“And thine eye shall not pity; but life shall go for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.”

“Remember what Amalek did unto thee by the way, when ye were come forth out of Egypt;”

“And Gideon said, Therefore when the LORD hath delivered Zebah and Zalmunna into mine hand, then I will tear your flesh with the thorns of the wilderness and with briers. tear: Heb. thresh”

“And he went up thence to Penuel, and spake unto them likewise: and the men of Penuel answered him as the men of Succoth had answered him.”

“And Gideon the son of Joash returned from battle before the sun was up,”

“And he beat down the tower of Penuel, and slew the men of the city.”

“Then said he unto Zebah and Zalmunna, What manner of men were they whom ye slew at Tabor? And they answered, As thou art, so were they; each one resembled the children of a king. resembled: Heb. according to the form, etc”

“The wicked in his pride doth persecute the poor: let them be taken in the devices that they have imagined. The wicked: Heb. In the pride of the wicked he doth persecute”

“Say not thou, I will recompense evil; but wait on the LORD, and he shall save thee.”

“Say not, I will do so to him as he hath done to me: I will render to the man according to his work.”

“Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein: and he that rolleth a stone, it will return upon him.”

“Woe to thee that spoilest, and thou wast not spoiled; and dealest treacherously, and they dealt not treacherously with thee! when thou shalt cease to spoil, thou shalt be spoiled; and when thou shalt make an end to deal treacherously, they shall deal treacherously with thee.”

“Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:”

“But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.”

“And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also.”

“And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.”

“Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.”

“Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.”

“But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;”

“Judge not, that ye be not judged.”

“For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.”

“And sent messengers before his face: and they went, and entered into a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for him.”

“And they did not receive him, because his face was as though he would go to Jerusalem.”

“And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did?”

“But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of.”

“For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them. And they went to another village.”

“Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.”

“Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.”

“Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go to law one with another. Why do ye not rather take wrong? why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded?”

“Nay, ye do wrong, and defraud, and that your brethren.”

“See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.”

“Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.”