Then1 Jesus told them a parable to show them they2 should always pray and not lose heart.3 It is a story about a persistent widow nagging an unrighteous judge for justice. Finally the unrighteous judge thought to himself, Though I neither fear God nor4 have regard for people, yet because this widow keeps on bothering me, I will give her justice, or in the end she will wear me out by her unending pleas.5 Won’t God give6 justice to his chosen ones, Jesus asked, who cry out to him7 day and night? Will he delay long to help8 them? I tell you, he will give them justice speedily.9
Those who pursued a law of righteousness10 expected justice. They hoped for the overthrow of the Roman government, and that Gentiles would be dealt with by God according to their alignment with Jewish tradition and the law of God. That’s not exactly how things went down. It causes me to wonder what I—one who does not work, but believes in the one who declares the ungodly righteous11— should expect of justice. What should I always pray and not lose heart about in this regard?
The word justice in the rhetorical question Won’t God give justice to his chosen ones, and its answer he will give them justice speedily, is ἐκδίκησιν (a form of ἐκδίκησις) in Greek. In a very strong way that should not be discounted this promise was fulfilled less than forty years later. But when you see Jerusalem12 surrounded by armies, Jesus said, then know that its desolation has come near. Then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains. Those who are inside the city must depart. Those who are out in the country must not enter it, because these are days of vengeance (ἐκδικήσεως, another form of ἐκδίκησις), to fulfill all that is written.13
It is not lost on me that the justice Israel hoped for the Romans was also the vengeance they received from them in 70 A.D. I bear that in mind when I read Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians (2 Thessalonians 1:6-10 NET).
For it is right for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you, and to you who are being afflicted to give rest together with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels. With flaming fire he will mete out punishment (ἐκδίκησιν, a form of ἐκδίκησις) on those who do not know (εἰδόσιν, a form of εἴδω) God and do not obey (ὑπακούουσιν, a form of ὑπακούω) the gospel of our Lord Jesus [Table]. They will undergo the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his strength, when he comes to be glorified among his saints and admired on that day among all who have believed – and you did in fact believe our testimony [Table].
The penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his strength is not the justice I hope for those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. For Paul also wrote: Do not avenge (ἐκδικοῦντες, a form of ἐκδικέω) yourselves, dear friends, but give place to God’s wrath, for it is written, “Vengeance (ἐκδίκησις) is mine, I will repay,” says the Lord.14 There is always the hope that the Lord’s vengeance (justice) will be more merciful than mine might have been. I and all the Gentiles who have been called to faith rather than dealt with according to law or Jewish tradition are the proof. Rather, Paul continued, if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in doing this you will be heaping burning coals on his head [Table]. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.15
There is a troubling passage in Revelation: Now when the Lamb opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been violently killed because of the word of God and because of the testimony16 they had given. They cried out17 with a loud voice, “How long, Sovereign Master, holy and true, before you judge (κρίνεις, a form of κρίνω) those who live on the earth and avenge (ἐκδικεῖς, a form of ἐκδικέω) our blood?”18 And this was after the four horsemen were sent out to conquer,19 to take peace from the earth, so that people would butcher20 one another,21 cause famine—A quart of wheat will cost a day’s pay and three quarts of barley22 will cost a day’s pay,23 and kill a fourth of the population of the earth by disease, and by the wild animals of the earth.24
I didn’t know what to make of it. Was it a revelation of some decadent time when Christ’s witnesses are of such inferior quality to Peter and Paul? Was it a revelation behind the veil, so to speak, into what Peter and Paul are actually like? Was it what I am meant to become? I thought such bloodlust was at least part of what the Lord’s love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control [Table]25 was saving me from. But the explanation of the fifth seal continued.
Each of them was given a long white robe26 and they were told to rest27 for a little longer, until the full number was reached28 of both their fellow servants and their brothers who were going to be killed just as they had been.29 Obviously the death of a fourth of the earth’s population was not what God considered vengeance (or, justice) for those who had been violently killed because of the word of God and because of the testimony they had given.30 I kept reading to see what He considered justice (Revelation 16:4-7 NET).
Then the third angel31 poured out his bowl on32 the rivers and the springs of water, and they turned into blood. Now I heard the angel of the waters saying: “You are just (δίκαιος) – the one who is and who was, the Holy One – because you have passed these judgments (ἔκρινας, another form of κρίνω), because they poured out the blood of your saints and prophets, so you have given them blood to drink. They got what they deserved (ἄξιοι, a form of ἄξιος)!” [Table] Then I heard33 the altar reply, “Yes, Lord God, the All-Powerful, your judgments are true and just (δίκαιαι, a form of δίκαιος)!”
I can live with that. It sounds like the Lord I am beginning to know and love. And if I think He valued his witnesses too cheaply I am reminded of the purpose of our calling: As it is written, “For your sake we encounter death all day long; we were considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”34 As for the other seals, trumpets and bowls, even the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his strength, I’m not in a position to judge what is deserved, what weight is sufficient to balance the scale of offense to God afflicted, by unrepentant sinners. I trust that He is just and merciful. And the justice I nag Him about is the mercy upon which all repentance depends: So then, it does not depend on human desire or exertion, but on God who shows mercy.35 Freely you received, Jesus said, freely give.36
Addendum: May 12, 2025
Tables comparing Luke 18:1; 18:4; 18:7; 21:20; Revelation 6:9, 10; 6:2; 6:4; 6:6; 6:11; 16:4 and 16:7 in the KJV and NET follow.
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Luke 18:1 (KJV) |
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| Then Jesus told them a parable to show them they should always pray and not lose heart. | And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint; |
| Ἔλεγεν δὲ παραβολὴν αὐτοῖς πρὸς τὸ δεῖν πάντοτε προσεύχεσθαι αὐτοὺς καὶ μὴ ἐγκακεῖν | ελεγεν δε και παραβολην αυτοις προς το δειν παντοτε προσευχεσθαι και μη εκκακειν | ελεγεν δε και παραβολην αυτοις προς το δειν παντοτε προσευχεσθαι και μη εκκακειν |
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Luke 18:4 (KJV) |
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| For a while he refused, but later on he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor have regard for people, | And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man; |
| καὶ οὐκ ἤθελεν ἐπὶ χρόνον. μετὰ |δὲ| ταῦτα εἶπεν ἐν ἑαυτῷ· εἰ καὶ τὸν θεὸν οὐ φοβοῦμαι οὐδὲ ἄνθρωπον ἐντρέπομαι | και ουκ ηθελησεν επι χρονον μετα δε ταυτα ειπεν εν εαυτω ει και τον θεον ου φοβουμαι και ανθρωπον ουκ εντρεπομαι | και ουκ ηθελησεν επι χρονον μετα δε ταυτα ειπεν εν εαυτω ει και τον θεον ου φοβουμαι και ανθρωπον ουκ εντρεπομαι |
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Luke 18:7 (KJV) |
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| Won’t God give justice to his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he delay long to help them? | And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? |
| ὁ δὲ θεὸς οὐ μὴ ποιήσῃ τὴν ἐκδίκησιν τῶν ἐκλεκτῶν αὐτοῦ τῶν βοώντων αὐτῷ ἡμέρας καὶ νυκτός, καὶ μακροθυμεῖ ἐπ᾿ αὐτοῖς | ο δε θεος ου μη ποιησει την εκδικησιν των εκλεκτων αυτου των βοωντων προς αυτον ημερας και νυκτος και μακροθυμων επ αυτοις | ο δε θεος ου μη ποιηση την εκδικησιν των εκλεκτων αυτου των βοωντων προς αυτον ημερας και νυκτος και μακροθυμων επ αυτοις |
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Luke 21:20 (KJV) |
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| “But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation has come near. | And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh. |
| Ὅταν δὲ ἴδητε κυκλουμένην ὑπὸ στρατοπέδων Ἰερουσαλήμ, τότε γνῶτε ὅτι ἤγγικεν ἡ ἐρήμωσις αὐτῆς | οταν δε ιδητε κυκλουμενην υπο στρατοπεδων την ιερουσαλημ τοτε γνωτε οτι ηγγικεν η ερημωσις αυτης | οταν δε ιδητε κυκλουμενην υπο στρατοπεδων την ιερουσαλημ τοτε γνωτε οτι ηγγικεν η ερημωσις αυτης |
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Revelation 6:9, 10 (KJV) |
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| Now when the Lamb opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been violently killed because of the word of God and because of the testimony they had given. | And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: |
| Καὶ ὅτε ἤνοιξεν τὴν πέμπτην σφραγῖδα, εἶδον ὑποκάτω τοῦ θυσιαστηρίου τὰς ψυχὰς τῶν ἐσφαγμένων διὰ τὸν λόγον τοῦ θεοῦ καὶ διὰ τὴν μαρτυρίαν ἣν εἶχον | και οτε ηνοιξεν την πεμπτην σφραγιδα ειδον υποκατω του θυσιαστηριου τας ψυχας των εσφαγμενων δια τον λογον του θεου και δια την μαρτυριαν ην ειχον | και οτε ηνοιξεν την πεμπτην σφραγιδα ειδον υποκατω του θυσιαστηριου τας ψυχας των εσφαγμενων δια τον λογον του θεου και δια την μαρτυριαν του αρνιου ην ειχον |
| They cried out with a loud voice, “How long, Sovereign Master, holy and true, before you judge those who live on the earth and avenge our blood?” | And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? |
| καὶ ἔκραξαν φωνῇ μεγάλῃ λέγοντες· ἕως πότε, ὁ δεσπότης ὁ ἅγιος καὶ ἀληθινός, οὐ κρίνεις καὶ ἐκδικεῖς τὸ αἷμα ἡμῶν ἐκ τῶν κατοικούντων ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς | και εκραζον φωνη μεγαλη λεγοντες εως ποτε ο δεσποτης ο αγιος και ο αληθινος ου κρινεις και εκδικεις το αιμα ημων απο των κατοικουντων επι της γης | και εκραξαν φωνη μεγαλη λεγοντες εως ποτε ο δεσποτης ο αγιος και αληθινος ου κρινεις και εκδικεις το αιμα ημων εκ των κατοικουντων επι της γης |
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Revelation 6:2 (KJV) |
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| So I looked, and here came a white horse! The one who rode it had a bow, and he was given a crown, and as a conqueror he rode out to conquer. | And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer. |
| καὶ εἶδον, καὶ ἰδοὺ ἵππος λευκός, καὶ ὁ καθήμενος ἐπ᾿ αὐτὸν ἔχων τόξον καὶ ἐδόθη αὐτῷ στέφανος καὶ ἐξῆλθεν νικῶν καὶ ἵνα νικήσῃ | και ειδον και ιδου ιππος λευκος και ο καθημενος επ αυτω εχων τοξον και εδοθη αυτω στεφανος και εξηλθεν νικων και ινα νικηση | και ιδου ιππος λευκος και ο καθημενος επ αυτον εχων τοξον και εδοθη αυτω στεφανος και εξηλθεν νικων και ινα νικηση |
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Revelation 6:4 (KJV) |
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| And another horse, fiery red, came out, and the one who rode it was granted permission to take peace from the earth so that people would butcher one another, and he was given a huge sword. | And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword. |
| καὶ ἐξῆλθεν ἄλλος ἵππος πυρρός, καὶ τῷ καθημένῳ ἐπ᾿ αὐτὸν ἐδόθη |αὐτῷ| λαβεῖν τὴν εἰρήνην |ἐκ| τῆς γῆς καὶ ἵνα ἀλλήλους σφάξουσιν καὶ ἐδόθη αὐτῷ μάχαιρα μεγάλη | και εξηλθεν αλλος ιππος πυρρος και τω καθημενω επ αυτω εδοθη αυτω λαβειν την ειρηνην απο της γης και ινα αλληλους σφαξωσιν και εδοθη αυτω μαχαιρα μεγαλη | και εξηλθεν αλλος ιππος πυρος και τω καθημενω επ αυτον εδοθη αυτω λαβειν την ειρηνην εκ της γης ινα αλληλους σφαξωσιν και εδοθη αυτω μαχαιρα μεγαλη |
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Revelation 6:6 (KJV) |
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| Then I heard something like a voice from among the four living creatures saying, “A quart of wheat will cost a day’s pay, and three quarts of barley will cost a day’s pay. But do not damage the olive oil and the wine!” | And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine. |
| καὶ ἤκουσα ὡς φωνὴν ἐν μέσῳ τῶν τεσσάρων ζῴων λέγουσαν· χοῖνιξ σίτου δηναρίου καὶ τρεῖς χοίνικες κριθῶν δηναρίου, καὶ τὸ ἔλαιον καὶ τὸν οἶνον μὴ ἀδικήσῃς | και ηκουσα φωνην εν μεσω των τεσσαρων ζωων λεγουσαν χοινιξ σιτου δηναριου και τρεις χοινικες κριθης δηναριου και το ελαιον και τον οινον μη αδικησης | και ηκουσα φωνην εν μεσω των τεσσαρων ζωων λεγουσαν χοινιξ σιτου δηναριου και τρεις χοινικες κριθης δηναριου και το ελαιον και τον οινον μη αδικησης |
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Revelation 6:11 (KJV) |
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| Each of them was given a long white robe, and they were told to rest for a little longer, until the full number was reached of both their fellow servants and their brothers who were going to be killed just as they had been. | And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled. |
| καὶ ἐδόθη αὐτοῖς ἑκάστῳ στολὴ λευκὴ καὶ ἐρρέθη αὐτοῖς ἵνα ἀναπαύσονται ἔτι χρόνον μικρόν, ἕως πληρωθῶσιν καὶ οἱ σύνδουλοι αὐτῶν καὶ οἱ ἀδελφοὶ αὐτῶν οἱ μέλλοντες ἀποκτέννεσθαι ὡς καὶ αὐτοί | και εδοθησαν εκαστοις στολαι λευκαι και ερρεθη αυτοις ινα αναπαυσωνται ετι χρονον μικρον εως ου πληρωσονται και οι συνδουλοι αυτων και οι αδελφοι αυτων οι μελλοντες αποκτεινεσθαι ως και αυτοι | και εδοθη αυτοις εκαστω στολη λευκη και ερρεθη αυτοις ινα αναπαυσωνται ετι χρονον εως ου πληρωσωσιν και οι συνδουλοι αυτων και οι αδελφοι αυτων και οι μελλοντες αποκτενεσθαι ως και αυτοι |
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Revelation 16:4 (KJV) |
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| Then the third angel poured out his bowl on the rivers and the springs of water, and they turned into blood. | And the third angel poured out his vial upon the rivers and fountains of waters; and they became blood. |
| Καὶ ὁ τρίτος ἐξέχεεν τὴν φιάλην αὐτοῦ εἰς τοὺς ποταμοὺς καὶ τὰς πηγὰς τῶν ὑδάτων, καὶ ἐγένετο αἷμα | και ο τριτος αγγελος εξεχεεν την φιαλην αυτου εις τους ποταμους και εις τας πηγας των υδατων και εγενετο αιμα | και ο τριτος αγγελος εξεχεεν την φιαλην αυτου εις τους ποταμους και εις τας πηγας των υδατων και εγενετο αιμα |
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Revelation 16:7 (KJV) |
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| Then I heard the altar reply, “Yes, Lord God, the All-Powerful, your judgments are true and just!” | And I heard another out of the altar say, Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are thy judgments. |
| Καὶ ἤκουσα τοῦ θυσιαστηρίου λέγοντος· ναὶ κύριε ὁ θεὸς ὁ παντοκράτωρ, ἀληθιναὶ καὶ δίκαιαι αἱ κρίσεις σου | και ηκουσα αλλου εκ του θυσιαστηριου λεγοντος ναι κυριε ο θεος ο παντοκρατωρ αληθιναι και δικαιαι αι κρισεις σου | και ηκουσα του θυσιαστηριου λεγοντος ναι κυριε ο θεος ο παντοκρατωρ αληθιναι και δικαιαι αι κρισεις σου |
1 The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had δὲ here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had δε και (KJV: And).
2 The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had αὐτοὺς here. The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text did not.
3 Luke 18:1 (NET) The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had ἐγκακεῖν here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had εκκακειν (KJV: to faint). Both are infinitive forms of ἐκκακέω in the present tense.
4 The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had the conjunction και joining these clauses and the negative particle ουκ preceding the verb have regard (KJV: regard), where the NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had the adverb οὐδὲ joining these clauses.
5 Luke 18:4, 5 (NET)
6 The NET parallel Greek text, NA28 and Byzantine Majority Text had the verb ποιήσῃ here, a form of ποιέω in the aorist tense and subjunctive mood, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus had ποιησει in the future tense and indicative mood.
7 The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had αὐτῷ here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had προς αυτον (KJV: unto him).
8 The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had the verb μακροθυμεῖ here, a form of μακροθυμέω, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had the participle μακροθυμων (KJV: he bear long).
9 Luke 18:7, 8a (NET)
11 Romans 4:5 (NET)
12 The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had the article την preceding Jerusalem. The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.
13 Luke 21:20-22 (NET)
14 Romans 12:19 (NET)
16 The Byzantine Majority Text had του αρνιου (“of the lamb”) following testimony. The NET parallel Greek text, NA28 and Stephanus Textus Receptus did not.
18 The NET parallel Greek text, NA28 and Byzantine Majority Text had ἔκραξαν, a form of κράζω in the aorist tense, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus had εκραζον in the imperfect tense.
18 Revelation 6:9, 10 (NET)
20 The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had σφάξουσιν here, a form of σφάζω in the future tense, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had σφαξωσιν in the present or aorist tense.
21 Revelation 6:4 (NET)
22 The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had the plural κριθῶν here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had the singular κριθης.
23 Revelation 6:6 (NET)
25 Galatians 5:22, 23 (NET)
26 The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had ἐδόθη αὐτοῖς ἑκάστῳ στολὴ λευκὴ here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had εδοθησαν εκαστοις στολαι λευκαι (KJV: white robes were given).
27 The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had ἀναπαύσονται here, a form of ἀναπαύω in the future tense and indicative mood, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had αναπαυσωνται in the aorist tense and subjunctive mood.
28 The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had πληρωθῶσιν here, a form of πληρόω in the aorist tense, passive voice and subjunctive mood, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus had πληρωσονται in the future tense, middle voice and indicative mood, and the Byzantine Majority Text had πληρωσωσιν in the aorist tense, active voice and subjunctive mood.
29 Revelation 6:11 (NET)
30 Revelation 6:9 (NET)
31 The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had αγγελος here. The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.
32 The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had εις here. The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.
33 The Stephanus Textus Receptus had αλλου εκ here (KJV: another out of). The NET parallel Greek text, NA28 and Byzantine Majority Text did not.
34 Romans 8:36 (NET) Table See Paul’s OT Quotes – Romans 10:18-21 for another table comparing the Greek of Paul’s quotation to that of the Septuagint.