Not to take revenge

לֹֽא־תִקֹּ֤ם וְלֹֽא־תִטֹּר֙ אֶת־בְּנֵ֣י עַמֶּ֔ךָ וְאָֽהַבְתָּ֥ לְרֵעֲךָ֖ כָּמ֑וֹךָ אֲנִ֖י יְהֹוָֽה׃ - פָּרָשַׁת קְדשִׁים

Leviticus 19:18 - "You shall neither take revenge from nor bear a grudge against the members of your people; you shall love your neighbor as yourself. I am the L-rd."

This Mitzvah's Summary

מִצְוָה עֲשֵׂה - Positive Commandment

מִצְוָה לֹא תַעֲשֶׂה - Negative Commandment

Between a person and their fellow – בֵּין אָדָם לַחֲבֵרוֹ

It is forbidden to take revenge, whether in word or deed, against another Jew.

This mitzvah prohibits acts of retaliation. Rambam (Hilchot De’ot 7:7) explains two levels: revenge in deed (“I will not lend him because he did not lend me”) and bearing a grudge in speech (“I will lend him, unlike him who refused me”). Sefer HaChinuch (Mitzvah 241) teaches that revenge keeps hatred alive, while Torah commands forgiveness and love.

The Talmud (Yoma 23a) highlights the mitzvah by comparing it to one who refuses to forgive small slights, contrasting this with the righteous who overlook insult. Rashi (Lev. 19:18) explains that the mitzvah demands releasing anger and imitating Hashem, who is slow to anger. Ramban deepens this by teaching that revenge arises from arrogance, while Torah seeks humility. Midrash (Sifra Kedoshim §4) states that revenge multiplies strife, while forgiveness multiplies peace.

Commentary & Classical Explanation:

Rambam (Hilchot De’ot 7:7): Defines revenge and grudge-bearing.
Sefer HaChinuch (241): Torah educates us to uproot hatred.
Talmud (Yoma 23a): The righteous forgive insult; revenge corrupts character.
Rashi (Lev. 19:18): Demands releasing anger.
Ramban: Revenge is rooted in arrogance, opposed to humility.
Midrash (Sifra Kedoshim §4): Revenge breeds strife; Torah breeds peace.

Contrast with Bearing a Grudge (Mitzvah 21):

Mitzvah 20 forbids active revenge in deed.
Mitzvah 21 forbids passive revenge in word or memory.
Rambam links them as two aspects of the same prohibition, teaching true love of fellow Jews requires uprooting both.

Parallel to Love of Fellow Jews (Mitzvah 13):

Revenge contradicts the mitzvah of loving your neighbor.
Talmud: Love transforms insult into blessing, while revenge deepens rift.
Rambam notes that forgiveness is the highest expression of love.

(Source: Chabad.org)

Applying this Mitzvah Today

Healing Instead of Hurting

Rambam (Hilchot De’ot 7:7) defines revenge as withholding kindness because of past wrongs. In modern life, this mitzvah calls for choosing forgiveness over retaliation — whether in family disputes, workplace tensions, or community disagreements.

Building True Strength

Sefer HaChinuch (Mitzvah 241) explains that revenge seems like strength, but true strength is mastery of anger and impulse. Today, this is echoed in conflict management, teaching that self-control and patience build resilience and peace.

Countering the Cycle of Harm

Talmud (Yoma 23a) contrasts the vengeful person with those who are insulted yet do not insult back, praising the latter as partners with Hashem in peace. Applied today, this mitzvah breaks cycles of escalation in personal, political, or even international disputes.

Trusting Divine Justice

Ramban (Lev. 19:18) emphasizes that revenge denies Hashem’s role as the ultimate Judge. Today, this mitzvah demands trust that justice will be carried out by proper channels or by Hashem Himself — not through personal retaliation.

Repairing Relationships

Rashi (Lev. 19:18) gives the classic example: if one refuses to lend a tool because of a past slight, that is revenge. Today, this obligates Jews to help even those with whom they’ve quarreled — restoring dignity and healing fractured relationships.

Cultivating Peaceful Societies

Midrash (Sifra Kedoshim §4) connects this mitzvah to social harmony. Applied now, it challenges Jewish communities to model reconciliation, forgiveness, and peace-building, offering the world an example of Torah values lived out.

Learn more about this Mitzvah on chabad.org

This Mitzvah is in

קְדֹשִׁים – Kedoshim

Complete Mitzvah List

Notes on this Mitzvah's Fundamentals

Revenge / Bearing Grudge – נְקִימָה / נְטִירָה

Rambam (Hilchot De’ot 7:7–8) codifies that even refusing to help out of spite is revenge. Talmud (Yoma 23a) portrays the righteous as those who let insults pass in silence. Sefer HaChinuch (241) stresses that revenge prolongs hatred, while Torah calls for peace. Midrash (Sifra Kedoshim §4) teaches that revenge destroys community harmony.

Love – אַהֲבָה

Rashi (Lev. 19:18) directly links this prohibition to “love your neighbor as yourself.” Rambam explains that refusing revenge embodies love. Talmud (Pesachim 113b) states that Hashem loves those who forgive. Sefer HaChinuch (241) writes that love replaces vengeance with blessing.

Humility – עֲנָוָה

Ramban explains that revenge stems from arrogance, assuming one’s honor must be defended. Talmud (Eruvin 13b) teaches humility leads to forgiveness. Midrash Rabbah (Lev. 19:18) praises those who humble themselves and yield rather than retaliate.

Justice – צֶדֶק

Rambam insists revenge is injustice, punishing someone beyond Torah law. Sefer HaChinuch notes that justice requires restraint, not retaliation. Talmud (Sanhedrin 49a) emphasizes that justice belongs to Beit Din, not personal vendetta.

Compassion – רַחֲמִים

Talmud (Yoma 23a) says those who forgive insult are forgiven by Heaven, embodying compassion. Rambam highlights that mercy restrains anger. Midrash (Sifra Kedoshim §4) says compassion multiplies peace, opposite of revenge.

Speech – דָּבָר

Rambam differentiates revenge in deed from grudge in speech — both forbidden. Rashi explains that speaking with bitterness (“I’ll help but remember what you did”) violates this mitzvah. Talmud (Yoma 23a) warns that words of revenge corrode relationships.

Community – קְהִלָּה

Sefer HaChinuch (241) stresses that revenge fractures community bonds. Talmud (Yoma 23a) says revenge fuels disputes that destroy kehilla harmony. Midrash Tanchuma (Kedoshim §4) says unity comes from forgiveness, not vengeance.

Bein Adam L’Chavero – בֵּין אָדָם לַחֲבֵרוֹ

Rambam says revenge poisons human relationships, violating trust. Talmud emphasizes that forgiveness restores peace between people. Sefer HaChinuch calls this mitzvah central to harmony among Jews.

Bein Adam L’Makom – בֵּין אָדָם לְמָקוֹם

Ramban explains forgiveness imitates Hashem, who is “erech apayim.” Talmud (Shabbat 151b) teaches that Heaven forgives those who forgive others. Midrash Rabbah calls forgiveness a reflection of Divine mercy, making it a mitzvah between man and G-d.

This Mitzvah's Fundamental Badges

Revenge / Bearing Grudge – נְקִימָה / נְטִירָה

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Love - אַהֲבָה

Reflects mitzvot rooted in love—of G‑d, others, and the world we are entrusted to uplift.

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Speech - דָּבָר

Pertains to the power of speech—both positive and negative—including lashon hara, vows, and blessings.

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Community – קְהִלָּה

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Between a person and their fellow - בֵּין אָדָם לַחֲבֵרוֹ

Encompasses mitzvot that govern ethical behavior, kindness, and justice in human relationships.

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Between a person and G-d - בֵּין אָדָם לְמָקוֹם

Mitzvot that define and deepen the relationship between a person and their Creator. These include commandments involving belief, prayer, Shabbat, festivals, sacrifices, and personal holiness — acts rooted in divine connection rather than human interaction.

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Not to take revenge

This Mitzvah's Summary

Applying this Mitzvah Today

Notes on this Mitzvah's Fundamentals

Revenge / Bearing Grudge – נְקִימָה / נְטִירָה

Love – אַהֲבָה

Humility – עֲנָוָה

Justice – צֶדֶק

Compassion – רַחֲמִים

Speech – דָּבָר

Community – קְהִלָּה

Bein Adam L’Chavero – בֵּין אָדָם לַחֲבֵרוֹ

Bein Adam L’Makom – בֵּין אָדָם לְמָקוֹם

This Mitzvah's Fundamental Badges

Revenge / Bearing Grudge – נְקִימָה / נְטִירָה

Love - אַהֲבָה

Humility - עֲנָוָה

Justice – צֶדֶק

Compassion – רַחֲמִים

Speech - דָּבָר

Community – קְהִלָּה

Between a person and their fellow - בֵּין אָדָם לַחֲבֵרוֹ

Between a person and G-d - בֵּין אָדָם לְמָקוֹם

Not to bear a grudge

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