Bible Strands
Deuteronomy 32:35
Vengeance is Mine; I will repay. In due time their foot will slip; for their day of disaster is near, and their doom is coming quickly.”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Moses delivers the LORD's declaration to Israel within the Song of Moses, between God's stored-up judgment (v. 34) and His coming vindication of His people (v. 36).
The words — נָקָם (na.Kam) means "vengeance" in the sense of retributive action; וְשִׁלֵּם (ve./shi.Lem) means "I will repay," implying a debt being settled.
The thread — The same formula is quoted in Romans 12:19 and Hebrews 10:30 to forbid self-avengeance; Nahum 1:2 echoes the attribute without the restraint of "in due time."
Why it lands — It removes the reader from the role of judge and assigns the timing of retribution to God alone; the practical demand is to stop tracking debts and stop acting on them.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
To me belongeth vengeance, and recompence; their foot shall slide in due time: for the day of their calamity is at hand, and the things that shall come upon them make haste.
Cross-references
- Romans 12:19 Do not avenge yourselves, beloved, but leave room for God’s wrath. For it is written: “Vengeance is Mine; I will repay, says the Lord.”
- Hebrews 10:30 For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is Mine; I will repay,” and again, “The Lord will judge His people.”
- Nahum 1:2 The LORD is a jealous and avenging God; the LORD is avenging and full of wrath. The LORD takes vengeance on His foes and reserves wrath for His enemies.
- Psalms 73:17 until I entered God’s sanctuary; then I discerned their end.
- 2 Peter 2:3 In their greed, these false teachers will exploit you with deceptive words. The longstanding verdict against them remains in force, and their destruction does not sleep.
- Deuteronomy 32:43 Rejoice, O heavens, with Him, and let all God’s angels worship Him. Rejoice, O nations, with His people; for He will avenge the blood of His children. He will take vengeance on His adversaries and repay those who hate Him; He will cleanse His land and His people.
- Psalms 94:1 O LORD, God of vengeance, O God of vengeance, shine forth.
- Jeremiah 23:12 “Therefore their path will become slick; they will be driven away into the darkness and fall into it. For I will bring disaster upon them in the year of their punishment,” declares the LORD.
- Nahum 1:6 Who can withstand His indignation? Who can endure His burning anger? His wrath is poured out like fire; even rocks are shattered before Him.
- 2 Peter 3:8 Beloved, do not let this one thing escape your notice: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.