Proverbs 20:22 kjv
Say not thou, I will recompense evil; but wait on the LORD, and he shall save thee.
Proverbs 20:22 nkjv
Do not say, "I will recompense evil"; Wait for the LORD, and He will save you.
Proverbs 20:22 niv
Do not say, "I'll pay you back for this wrong!" Wait for the LORD, and he will avenge you.
Proverbs 20:22 esv
Do not say, "I will repay evil"; wait for the LORD, and he will deliver you.
Proverbs 20:22 nlt
Don't say, "I will get even for this wrong."
Wait for the LORD to handle the matter.
Proverbs 20 22 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Lev 19:18 | "You shall not take vengeance or bear any grudge against the sons of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD." | Direct command against vengeance and grudges, emphasizing love. |
| Deut 32:35 | "Vengeance is Mine, and retribution; In due time their foot will slip; For the day of their calamity is at hand, And the things to come upon them will hasten." | God claims vengeance as His exclusive prerogative. |
| Ps 27:14 | "Wait for the LORD; Be strong and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for the LORD." | Exhortation to patient, courageous waiting for God. |
| Ps 37:7-9 | "Rest in the LORD and wait patiently for Him... For evildoers will be cut off, but those who wait for the LORD will inherit the land." | Calls for patience, promises God's judgment on evildoers and blessings for the patient. |
| Ps 40:1 | "I waited patiently for the LORD; And He inclined to me and heard my cry." | Testimony of patient waiting leading to divine intervention. |
| Ps 94:1 | "O LORD, God of vengeance, O God of vengeance, shine forth!" | Acknowledges God as the one who enacts vengeance. |
| Prov 24:29 | "Do not say, 'Thus I will do to him as he has done to me; I will render to the man according to his work.'" | Echoes Prov 20:22's prohibition against personal retaliation. |
| Isa 30:18 | "Therefore the LORD longs to be gracious to you... for the LORD is a God of justice; How blessed are all those who wait for Him." | Links God's gracious justice to waiting patiently for Him. |
| Isa 40:31 | "Yet those who wait for the LORD Will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary." | Promises renewed strength for those who wait on God. |
| Lam 3:25-26 | "The LORD is good to those who wait for Him, To the person who seeks Him. It is good that he waits silently For the salvation of the LORD." | Emphasizes the goodness of the Lord to those who wait for His salvation. |
| Mic 7:7 | "But as for me, I will look to the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation. My God will hear me." | Declaration of faith in waiting for God's saving power. |
| Nahum 1:2-3 | "The LORD is a jealous and avenging God; The LORD is avenging and wrathful... The LORD is slow to anger and great in power, And the LORD will by no means leave the guilty unpunished." | Describes God as both avenging and just, highlighting His patience yet certain punishment for the wicked. |
| Rom 12:17-19 | "Never pay back evil for evil to anyone... Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, 'Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,' says the Lord." | New Testament expansion of the command against personal vengeance, referencing Deut 32:35. |
| Rom 12:20-21 | "But if your enemy is hungry, feed him, and if he is thirsty, give him a drink... Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." | Provides a positive command: active benevolence towards enemies. |
| Matt 5:38-39 | "You have heard that it was said, 'AN EYE FOR AN EYE, AND A TOOTH FOR A TOOTH.' But I say to you, do not resist an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also." | Jesus reinterprets "lex talionis" in personal relationships, advocating non-retaliation. |
| Luke 6:27-28 | "But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you." | Calls for radical love towards enemies. |
| 1 Thess 5:15 | "See that no one repays another with evil for evil, but always pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all people." | General instruction to avoid revenge and seek good. |
| 1 Pet 3:9 | "not returning evil for evil or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead; for you were called for this very purpose, that you would inherit a blessing." | Instructs believers to bless, not retaliate, as a part of their calling. |
| 2 Tim 4:14 | "Alexander the coppersmith did me much harm; the Lord will repay him according to his deeds." | Paul expresses trust in God's ultimate justice rather than taking personal action. |
| Heb 10:36 | "For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised." | Links patience/endurance to receiving God's promises, implying divine action. |
| Phil 4:6-7 | "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and pleading with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." | While not directly on vengeance, it promotes entrusting burdens to God rather than acting on them in anxiety. |
| Col 3:12-13 | "So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you." | Emphasizes forgiveness and compassion as marks of God's chosen people, contrasting with retaliation. |
| Jude 1:9 | "But Michael the archangel, when he disputed with the devil and argued about the body of Moses, did not dare pronounce upon him a railing judgment, but said, 'The Lord rebuke you!'" | An angelic example of leaving judgment to the Lord. |
| 1 Cor 4:5 | "So then, do not go on passing judgment before the time, but wait until the Lord comes..." | Applies waiting for the Lord to judgment, specifically concerning hidden things of the heart. |
| James 5:7 | "So then, brothers and sisters, be patient until the coming of the Lord..." | General call to patience in the expectation of Christ's return and final justice. |
Proverbs 20 verses
Proverbs 20 22 Meaning
Proverbs 20:22 is a strong prohibition against personal retaliation, instructing individuals not to seek vengeance for wrongs committed against them. Instead, it commands them to patiently wait for the Lord's intervention, promising that He will deliver or vindicate them. The verse contrasts the impulsive human desire for payback with the faithful trust in God's perfect justice and timing.
Proverbs 20 22 Context
Proverbs chapter 20 is a collection of diverse proverbial sayings that touch upon a wide range of topics related to wise living, the consequences of foolish behavior, integrity, diligence, and divine providence. These sayings are largely unconnected thematically from verse to verse, typical of the wisdom tradition found in the book of Proverbs.
Verse 22 specifically falls within a broader biblical teaching that often distinguishes between legal justice (e.g., "an eye for an eye," a legal principle for proportionality in punishment within a court of law, not for personal vendetta) and personal vengeance. Historically, in ancient Near Eastern cultures, including Israel, there was a strong impulse for personal honor and immediate retribution when wronged. This proverb serves as a corrective to that natural human inclination. It calls the individual believer to restrain this impulse and instead trust in YHWH (the Lord), the sovereign God of Israel, who is depicted as the ultimate righteous judge and vindicator. This highlights a distinctive ethical characteristic of God's people: their reliance on divine justice rather than self-administered revenge, thereby preventing cycles of violence and escalating retribution.
Proverbs 20 22 Word analysis
Do not say: (Hebrew: ʾal-toʾmar) - A strong imperative prohibition. It means not even to think or vocalize the intent to repay evil, indicating a prohibition of the internal desire, not just the outward act. It addresses the heart's disposition.
I will repay evil for evil: (Hebrew: ʾašlaem raʿ keraʿ)
- I will repay: (ʾašlaem) - From the root shalem, meaning "to complete," "to pay," "to restore." Here, it signifies paying back in full, fulfilling the intention of retaliation. The first-person singular emphasizes personal action.
- evil: (raʿ) - Refers to harmful or morally corrupt acts, misfortune, injury, or wrong. It encompasses both the act done to the person and the intended retaliatory act.
- for evil: (keraʿ) - Literally "as evil" or "according to evil." This phrase explicitly defines the nature of the repayment: it is retribution in kind, matching the offense. This is the natural human inclination for vengeance, often seeking an equal or greater measure of harm.
Wait for the Lord: (Hebrew: qavveh la-YHWH)
- Wait: (qavveh) - An imperative, meaning "to wait patiently," "to hope," "to expect eagerly," "to be bound together by hope." This is not passive inaction but active, trust-filled endurance. It implies surrendering control and resting in God's faithfulness. This term often carries the nuance of steadfast hope in the face of adversity.
- the Lord: (YHWH) - The covenant name of God, indicating His personal, active involvement in the lives of His people. It points to God's steadfast love, faithfulness, and sovereign power. Reliance is on His character and authority.
and He will save you: (Hebrew: vəyošiʿeka)
- He will save you: From the root yashaʿ, meaning "to deliver," "to help," "to rescue," "to grant victory." This promise means God will bring about deliverance, protection, and vindication. It assures the individual that their trust is not in vain, and God will act on their behalf, often in ways that far surpass what human vengeance could achieve.
"Do not say, 'I will repay evil for evil'; Wait for the Lord...": This juxtaposes the immediate, reactive human impulse with the patient, faithful, and divine response. It is a spiritual discipline of surrendering self-justice to divine justice. This contrasts self-help based on carnal reactions versus dependence on the Almighty.
Proverbs 20 22 Bonus section
This proverb is a crucial articulation of God's ethics, predating and aligning with the New Testament's radical commands to love enemies and turn the other cheek. It elevates the Israelite ethical standard beyond mere proportionality of legal justice ("eye for an eye") into a realm of spiritual maturity where personal grievances are laid before God. It emphasizes that a child of God ought not to operate by the same vindictive spirit prevalent in the world but rather trust in God’s all-seeing eye and unfailing justice. The proactive "waiting" reflects faith that God's plan is better and more complete than any human act of revenge. This surrender fosters humility and prevents a believer from usurping God's rightful role as Judge of all the earth.
Proverbs 20 22 Commentary
Proverbs 20:22 profoundly challenges the deep-seated human desire for personal vengeance. It directly addresses the impulsive thought and declaration of retribution, ("Do not say, 'I will repay evil for evil'"). This command extends beyond merely refraining from the act of revenge to curbing the very intent and words associated with it. Such a prohibition acknowledges that self-righteous indignation and a thirst for retaliation can consume the heart and undermine true justice.
The remedy provided is profoundly theological: "Wait for the Lord." This waiting is not a passive resignation but an active, hopeful expectation rooted in trust in God's character. It implies surrendering the right to exact personal retribution, knowing that vengeance belongs to God alone (Deut 32:35, Rom 12:19). This shift of responsibility prevents the endless cycle of escalating conflict that often arises from human attempts at self-justice. The call to "wait" encompasses patiently enduring wrongs, trusting that God sees, hears, and will act in His perfect timing.
The promise, "and He will save you," assures the individual of God's ultimate deliverance and vindication. This "saving" (Hebrew: yashaʿ) is comprehensive, potentially encompassing protection from further harm, divine intervention to right wrongs, or a demonstration of God's justice in due course. It reinforces that God is actively involved in the affairs of His people and is their ultimate defender and deliverer. The wisdom of this proverb cultivates reliance on God's sovereignty, patience, and unwavering faith, allowing for peace in the face of adversity and ensuring that justice is served by the perfectly righteous Judge.
Examples:
- When falsely accused, instead of slandering the accuser in return, pray and trust God to reveal the truth in His time.
- If someone cheats you in business, seek proper legal channels rather than attempting illegal retaliation, and pray for God's justice.