Bible Encyclopedias

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

Vengeance

(Gr. Δίκη ), the heathen goddess of retribution (Lat. Justitia), described as the daughter of Zeus (Hesiod, Op. 266) and Themis (Theog. 902) and the coadjutor (πάρεδρος ) of the former (Sophoc. (Ed. Col. 1384; Arrian, Alex. 4:9; see Montfaucon, Antiq. I, 2, 8). The punishment of murderers is particularly ascribed to her; and, therefore, besides being the goddess of punishment in a general sense, she is often to be considered the same as Nemesis or Vengeance (Eurip. Med. 1390; Dion Halic. 11:37; see Mitscherlich, ad Horace, Od. 3, 2, 32; Palaiset, Observ. p. 347). The word occurs in Acts 28:4, but its significance is there disguised in the A.V., which renders it "justice." (See REVENGE).