Luke 18:7

Will not God bring about justice for His elect who cry out to Him day and night? Will He delay in helping them?

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — Jesus addresses His disciples at the close of the parable of the unjust judge (Luke 18:1–8), drawing the contrast from the corrupt judge to God.

The words — ἐκδίκησιν (ekdikēsin) is "avenging," a word of vindication rather than generic fairness. The double negative οὐ μὴ (ou mē) turns the rhetorical question into a emphatic certainty: "certainly will."

The thread — The "how much more" argument from lesser to greater recurs in Luke 11:13; 2 Peter 3:9 addresses the same perceived delay from the side of God's patience; Hebrews 10:35 warns against abandoning confidence in the coming reward.

Why it lands — The verse removes the excuse of divine indifference and places the burden squarely on the pray-er: the question is not whether God will act, but whether the elect will keep crying out until He does.

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 Greek words

King James Version

And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?

Cross-references

2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise as some understand slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish but everyone to come to repentance.
Hebrews 10:35 So do not throw away your confidence; it holds a great reward.
Luke 11:13 So if you who are evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”
1 Timothy 5:5 The widow who is truly in need and left all alone puts her hope in God and continues night and day in her petitions and prayers.
Jeremiah 20:11 But the LORD is with me like a fearsome warrior. Therefore, my persecutors will stumble and will not prevail. Since they have not succeeded, they will be utterly put to shame, with an everlasting disgrace that will never be forgotten.
2 Thessalonians 1:6 After all, it is only right for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you,
Luke 2:37 and then was a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple, but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying.
Revelation 6:10 And they cried out in a loud voice, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge those who dwell upon the earth and avenge our blood?”
Habakkuk 2:3 For the vision awaits an appointed time; it testifies of the end and does not lie. Though it lingers, wait for it, since it will surely come and will not delay.
Matthew 7:11 So if you who are evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!