What is the difference between Revenge and Vengeance?

Question

They are almost similar,But have quite differences.I mean the literal meaning

Answer 1

this is an excellent question. i have copied and pasted dictionary definitions for both words below.

i have always inferred a slight difference in meaning: "revenge" was a more personal matter, and made no distinction between right and wrong, only in settling a score, whereas "vengeance" was more concerned with justice and the punishment of the wicked. i'm afraid the definitions don't bear my attitudes out, but i maintain them nevertheless.

REVENGE
TRANSITIVE VERB: Inflected forms: re·venged, re·veng·ing, re·veng·es
1. To inflict punishment in return for (injury or insult). 2. To seek or take vengeance for (oneself or another person); avenge.
NOUN: 1. The act of taking vengeance for injuries or wrongs; retaliation. 2. Something done in vengeance; a retaliatory measure. 3. A desire for revenge; spite or vindictiveness. 4. An opportunity to retaliate, as by a return sports match after a defeat.
ETYMOLOGY: Middle English revengen, from Old French revengier : re-, re- + vengier, to take revenge (from Latin vindicre, to avenge, from vindex, vindic-, avenger; see deik- in Appendix I).

VENGEANCE
NOUN: Infliction of punishment in return for a wrong committed; retribution.
IDIOM: with a vengeance 1. With great violence or force. 2. To an extreme degree: December has turned cold with a vengeance.
ETYMOLOGY: Middle English, from Old French, from vengier, to avenge, from Latin vindicre. See vindicate

Answer 2

Revenge is a hotly contested ethical issue in philosophy. Some feel that, at the very least, the threat of revenge is necessary to maintain a just society. In some societies, it is believed that the injury inflicted in revenge should be greater than the original one, as a punitive measure. The Old Testament philosophy of "an eye for an eye" (cf. Exodus 21:24) tried to limit the allowed damage, in order to avoid a vendetta or series of violent acts that could spiral out of control -- instead of 'ten-fold' vengeance, there would be a simple 'equality of suffering'. Detractors argue that revenge is a simple logical fallacy, of the same design as "two wrongs make a right." Some Christians interpret Paul's "Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord" (Romans 12:19, King James Version) to mean that only God has the moral right to exact revenge. Indeed, every major religious system contains some method for the mediation of disputes and for the limitation of vengeance by imputing a sense of cosmic justice to replace the often faulty justice systems of the world of men.

Vengeance is an English word synonymous to revenge. It may also refer to:

* Zacky Vengeance, a member of the Heavy Metal band Avenged Sevenfold
* Vengeance, a professional wrestling pay-per-view event held by World Wrestling Entertainment
* Vengeance a minor former villain in the Marvel Universe
* Vengeance - The Independent Story the debut album by New Model Army
* In the Star Wars Expanded Universe, Vengeance can refer to two Star destroyers, (one an Imperial-class Star Destroyer, and the other a Vengeance-class Super Star Destroyer) which were commanded by the Dark Jedi and Imperial Governor Jerec.
* "Vengeance", the final episode of Mortal Kombat: Conquest
* Vultee A-31 Vengeance, an american dive-bomber of the Second World War.
* Vengeance: The True Story of an Israeli Counter-Terrorist Team, a book by George Jonas

Answer 3

IMO Vengeance is an English word synonymous to revenge.

However you could say the "wish" for vengeance leads to the actual action of Revenge IMO. So while synonymous there is a fine nuance of distinction...this is my thought.

The following is taken directly from Wikipedia

Revenge or vengeance or retribution consists primarily of retaliation against a person or group in response to a perceived wrongdoing. Although many aspects of revenge resemble or echo the concept of justice, revenge usually has a more injurious than harmonious goal. The vengeful wish consists of forcing the perceived wrongdoer to suffer the same pain that they inflicted in the first place, or of making sure that the wrongdoer can never inflict such an injury upon anyone else.

Revenge is a hotly contested ethical issue in philosophy. Some feel that, at the very least, the threat of revenge is necessary to maintain a just society. In some societies, it is believed that the injury inflicted in revenge should be greater than the original one, as a punitive measure. The Old Testament philosophy of "an eye for an eye" (cf. Exodus 21:24) tried to limit the allowed damage, in order to avoid a vendetta or series of violent acts that could spiral out of control -- instead of 'ten-fold' vengeance, there would be a simple 'equality of suffering'. Detractors argue that revenge is a simple logical fallacy, of the same design as "two wrongs make a right." Some Christians interpret Paul's "Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord" (Romans 12:19, King James Version) to mean that only God has the moral right to exact revenge. Indeed, every major religious system contains some method for the mediation of disputes and for the limitation of vengeance by imputing a sense of cosmic justice to replace the often faulty justice systems of the world of men.

Of the psychological, moral, and cultural foundation for revenge, philosopher Martha Nussbaum has written: "The primitive sense of the just — remarkably constant from several ancient cultures to modern institutions . . . — starts from the notion that a human life . . . is a vulnerable thing, a thing that can be invaded, wounded, violated by another's act in many ways. For this penetration, the only remedy that seems appropriate is a counterinvasion, equally deliberate, equally grave. And to right the balance truly, the retribution must be exactly, strictly proportional to the original encroachment. It differs from the original act only in the sequence of time and in the fact that it is response rather than original act — a fact frequently obscured if there is a long sequence of acts and counteracts.

Answer 4

I think vengeance is when revenge occurs by the hands of someone else or some other act not instituted by you. Revenge is when the act is physically carried out by you....Again...I think that's the difference.

Answer 5

Revenge is a measure taken by the individual for his personal satisfaction as punishment for an offence against him or someone close to him.

Vengeance is the punishment of God for sinful behaviour. ' "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," saith the Lord.'
In the Christian faith, revenge is prohibited because it is God's prerogative to punish.

Answer 6

verb, noun and adjective