What Does Hebrews 10:30 Mean?
For we know the one who said, Mine is the vengeance; I will give back, says the LORD. And again, the LORD shall judge his people.
Key words are shown with the Hebrew or Greek and what each word meant.
Selah Decoded Version The Selah Decoded Version renders what the Hebrew and Greek words meant to the people who first heard them.
King James wording
King James Version
For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people.THE KEY
Belonging does not create an exemption: the Lord who claims vengeance also judges his people.
THE MEANING
The Lord claims the answering of wrong as his own and judges the people who belong to him. Accountability stands inside belonging: being “his people” does not remove anyone from the reach of his judgment.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
The verse undoes the belief that belonging to God places someone beyond accountability: the Lord judges his people too.
THE ROOT
κρινεῖ
krinei
GROWS FROM
κριν-
krin-
To distinguish, decide, or judge.
“the LORD shall judge his people” in this verse is krinei. The Greek verb makes the Lord’s judgment explicit, and its object is his own people. The verse places belonging within the scope of judgment rather than outside it.
ALSO GROWS
krisis: Judgment, decision.
κρίσις
This noun from the same root keeps judgment connected to a decision that is made.
kritēs: Judge.
κριτής
This names the one who makes the judgment, clarifying the role the verse assigns to the Lord.
ἐκδίκησις
ekdikēsis
GROWS FROM
δικ-
dik-
Justice, right, or what is due.
“Mine is the vengeance” in this verse is ekdikēsis. The Greek word for vengeance belongs to the family of δίκη (dikē, “justice” or “right”). The verse gives the Lord the claim to answer wrongdoing; vengeance here carries a judicial sense, not only the heat of personal anger.
ALSO GROWS
ekdikeō: Avenge, vindicate.
ἐκδικέω
This verb from the same family expresses the act of answering a wrong.
ekdikos: One who exacts justice; an avenger.
ἔκδικος
This related word connects the idea of vengeance with the one who carries out the judgment.
שִׁלֵּם
shillēm
GROWS FROM
שלם
sh-l-m
Be whole or complete; make whole, repay, or make restitution.
Hebrews uses ἀνταποδώσω (antapodōsō, “I will repay”) for the source line’s שִׁלֵּם (shillēm, “recompense”). The Hebrew word shares its root with שָׁלוֹם (shalom, “wholeness”) and שָׁלֵם (shalem, “whole” or “complete”), holding repayment and completion in one word-family without softening the force of judgment.
ALSO GROWS
shalom: Wholeness, well-being.
שָׁלוֹם
This branch shares the root with recompense, holding the idea of wholeness alongside the settling of what is due.
shalem: Whole, complete.
שָׁלֵם
This form makes the root’s sense of completion visible beside the Hebrew source word for recompense.
THE PATTERN
The Lord claims the right to answer wrong and judges the people who belong to him, keeping accountability and belonging together.
For the LORD judges his people, and sighs over his servants when he sees that their hand is spent, and none is held or left behind.Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but give room to wrath. For it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will give back, says the LORD.For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God. And if it begins first with us, what will be the end of those who do not obey the good news of God?THE THREAD
For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God. And if it begins first with us, what will be the end of those who do not obey the good news of God?The Greek word κρίμα (krima, “judgment”) in 1 Peter 4:17 comes from the same κριν- (krin-, “judge”) root as “shall judge” here. The shared root shows the same judgment reaching God’s own people.
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