Vengeance is mine
Meaning
This phrase asserts the speaker's exclusive right or intention to seek retribution, often implying it is a matter of divine prerogative or personal justice.
Origin
The powerful declaration, "Vengeance is mine," echoes from ancient scripture, a solemn decree first found in Deuteronomy and later reiterated in Paul's Epistle to the Romans. In these biblical passages, it is God himself who asserts exclusive ownership over retribution. The phrase served as a divine injunction, commanding humanity to relinquish personal vengeance and trust that justice, in its ultimate form, would be administered by a higher power. Over centuries, this theological principle transcended its religious context, becoming a powerful, almost primal assertion of one's sole right to exact retribution, whether divine or intensely personal.
Examples
- When his rival betrayed him, the CEO narrowed his eyes and declared, "Vengeance is mine," vowing to reclaim his company.
- After years of being wronged, she finally felt empowered enough to act, whispering to herself, "Vengeance is mine."