Psalm 94

O Lord, you God of vengeance,
you God of vengeance, shine forth!
Rise up, O judge of the earth;
give to the proud what they deserve!

What does it mean to take vengeance?

The Hebrew is נָקַם or naqam which is to avenge, have vengeance, and to take revenge. No other English words are suggested.

The English words emerge from French derived from the Latin vindicare.

The Latin means to lay claim, as a legal owner might lay claim to property seized by another. It is also the term used to free slaves. Vindicare is to make right what has gone wrong, to protect against false claims, and to clarify.

When the Romans sought revenge -- as they often did -- they would speak of vimdicta, meaning to speak or show authority.

I expect the psalmist was asking God to punish his enemies.

But God's vengeance, God's authority, God's claim surely extends to all those enslaved by self-serving sinfulness.

Psalm 94