📖 Biblical Definition
To recompense is to repay, render equivalent, balance the scales — a judicial verb. In Scripture it is used both of God’s just repayment of evil with judgment and of good with reward, and of restitution made by sinners to those they have wronged. "Vengeance is mine; I will repay [recompense], saith the Lord" (Romans 12:19; quoting Deuteronomy 32:35) takes vengeance out of the saint’s hand and places it in God’s. The Mosaic law required restitution: "they shall confess their sin which they have done: and he shall recompense his trespass with the principal thereof, and add unto it the fifth part thereof" (Numbers 5:7). Balance is the gospel’s shape: Christ recompensed our debt in full at the cross.
📜 Webster 1828 Definition
To repay; to render equivalent; to balance.
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To repay; to make return; to give equivalent; in Scripture the verb of judicial balance — God recompenses evil with judgment and good with reward, the sinner recompenses the wronged with restitution. The scales are restored, by God or with God's help.
📖 Key Scripture
Romans 12:19 — "Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay (recompense), saith the Lord."
Isaiah 35:4 — "Behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompence; he will come and save you."
Numbers 5:7 — "Then they shall confess their sin which they have done: and he shall recompense his trespass with the principal thereof, and add unto it the fifth part thereof."
⚠️ Modern Corruption
Vengeance privatized in modern culture; biblical recompense is left to God or rendered through restitution-and-confession.
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The age tells you to get even — courts, social media, professional drama. Scripture forbids private vengeance: "Vengeance is mine; I will repay." The LORD's recompense is sure; the saint's job is to step out of the way of His justice.
Recover the structure: judicial balance is real, but it is the LORD's prerogative. Restitution is the saint's part on the giving side; trust is the saint's part on the receiving side.
🔗 Greek & Hebrew Roots
Hebrew shillēm; Greek antapodidōmi.
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['Hebrew', 'H7999', 'shalam', 'to be complete, recompense']
['Greek', 'G467', 'antapodidōmi', 'to repay, recompense']
Usage
"Vengeance is the LORD's; recompense is His."
"Restitution recompenses; private vengeance does not."
"Trust the Judge of all the earth to do right."