Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord reward him according to his works:
Parallel translations
- WEB Alexander, the coppersmith, did much evil to me. The Lord will repay him according to his deeds,
- BSB Alexander the coppersmith did great harm to me. The Lord will repay him according to his deeds.
- NKJV Alexander the coppersmith did me much harm. May the Lord repay him according to his works.
- NASB Alexander the coppersmith did me great harm; the Lord will repay him according to his deeds.
- NLT Alexander the coppersmith did me much harm, but the Lord will judge him for what he has done.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Paul names Alexander the coppersmith, who did him much harm, and entrusts repayment to the Lord. It models leaving vengeance to God rather than taking it into one's own hands.
Overview
Alexander actively opposed Paul and likely contributed to his suffering, yet Paul does not seek personal retaliation. Instead he commits the matter to God, echoing Scripture's pattern that the Lord repays each according to his deeds (Romans 12:19; Psalm 62:12). This is not vindictiveness but trust in God's just judgment, leaving the outcome to the righteous Judge. The verse shows how the gospel reorders even our response to enemies, refusing private revenge while still naming real wrong.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 15
- 1 Tim 1:20Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme.
- Ps 28:4Give them according to their deeds, and according to the wickedness of their endeavours: give them after the work of their hands; render to them their desert.
- 2 Th 1:6Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you;
- 1 Sam 24:12The LORD judge between me and thee, and the LORD avenge me of thee: but mine hand shall not be upon thee.
- Rev 18:6Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double according to her works: in the cup which she hath filled fill to her double.
- Rom 12:19Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
- Jer 18:19–23Give heed to me, O LORD, and hearken to the voice of them that contend with me.
- Ps 62:12Also unto thee, O Lord, belongeth mercy: for thou renderest to every man according to his work.
- Acts 19:33–34And they drew Alexander out of the multitude, the Jews putting him forward. And Alexander beckoned with the hand, and would have made his defence unto the people.
- Jer 15:15O LORD, thou knowest: remember me, and visit me, and revenge me of my persecutors; take me not away in thy longsuffering: know that for thy sake I have suffered rebuke.
- Ps 109:5–20And they have rewarded me evil for good, and hatred for my love.
- 2 Sam 3:39And I am this day weak, though anointed king; and these men the sons of Zeruiah be too hard for me: the LORD shall reward the doer of evil according to his wickedness.
- Rev 6:10And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?
- Rev 18:20Rejoice over her, thou heaven, and ye holy apostles and prophets; for God hath avenged you on her.
- 1 Jn 5:16If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it.
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Original language
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