Retaliation
Culture & SocietyWhat is the meaning of Retaliation in the Bible?
Retaliation denotes the act of responding to an injury or offense with a corresponding counter-action, a practice regulated in biblical law through principles such as lex talionis and addressed in New Testament teachings on forgiveness and non-retaliation.
SIGNIFICANCE
Understanding retaliation clarifies the biblical tension between retributive justice and the ethical imperative to overcome evil with good, revealing how scriptural authors navigated the balance between societal order and personal morality.
Bible Study Quick-Reference Guide
Ancient Cultural Lens: Avoid applying 21st-century Western assumptions to Retaliation. Examine how first-century or Near Eastern listeners understood this practice within their daily social dynamics.
Bible Study Reflection Prompts:
- Why did the biblical author mention Retaliation in this passage?
- What cultural or historical assumption does Retaliation clarify?
Source Attribution
Built upon the 1915 International Standard Bible Encyclopedia and Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897). Entries have been modernized, checked for academic truthfulness, and shortened for clarity.
How to Cite This Entry
"Retaliation." Ancient Context Dictionary. Accessed 2026. https://ancientcontext.com/context/retaliation/