Avenger of blood

(Hebrews goel, from verb gaal, "to be near of kin, " "to redeem"), the nearest relative of a murdered person. It was his right and duty to slay the murderer (2 Samuel 14:7, 11) if he found him outside of a city of refuge. In order that this law might be guarded against abuse, Moses appointed six cities of refuge (Exodus 21:13; Numbers 35:13; Deuteronomy 19:1, 9). These were in different parts of the country, and every facility was afforded the manslayer that he might flee to the city that lay nearest him for safety. Into the city of refuge the avenger durst not follow him. This arrangement applied only to cases where the death was not premeditated. The case had to be investigated by the authorities of the city, and the wilful murderer was on no account to be spared. He was regarded as an impure and polluted person, and was delivered up to the goel (Deuteronomy 19:11-13). If the offence was merely manslaughter, then the fugitive must remain within the city till the death of the high priest (Numbers 35:25).

1. (n.) One who avenges or vindicates; as, an avenger of blood.

2. (n.) One who takes vengeance.

AVENGE; AVENGER

a-venj' a-venj'-er: Avenge.-The general idea connected with this word is that of inflicting punishment upon the wrongdoer. Since emphasis may be placed upon the deed itself, the wrongdoer, or the injured party, the verb is found an intransitive (only Leviticus 19:18; see below), transitive (2 Samuel 4:8 et al.); and also active (Deuteronomy 32:43), passive (Jeremiah 5:9) and reflexive (Esther 8:13). In 1 Samuel 25:26 avenge is translated from yasha`, "to save" (Revised Version margin, "thine own hand saving thee"), in Hosea 1:4 from paqadh, "to visit," and in 2 Samuel 18:19 from shaphaT, "to judge," but the usual Hebrew word is naqam, or derivatives, "to avenge."

The translation in the Revised Version (British and American) differs in some places from King James Version: Numbers 31:3 Revised Version (British and American) "execute Yahweh's vengeance"; (compare 2 Samuel 22:48 Psalm 18:47 Leviticus 26:25); Leviticus 19:18 Revised Version (British and American) "take vengeance"; Judges 5:2 Revised Version (British and American) "for that the leaders took the lead in Israel" from para`, "to be free, to lead".

In the New Testament avenge is translated from the Greek ekdikeo, "to do justice," "to protect" (Luke 18:3 et al.) and the King James Version Revelation 18:20, krino, "to judge" Revised Version (British and American) "God hath judged your judgment".

Avenger.-That is, the person who inflicts punishment upon the evil-doer for a wrong experienced by himself (from naqam, "to avenge"; Psalm 8:2 et al.) or by someone else from ga'al, "to redeem"; (Numbers 35:12 et al.). In the New Testament avenger occurs only once; "the Lord is an avenger in all things" (1 Thessalonians 4:6). It was the duty of the nearest relative to execute vengeance upon the murderer of his kin: he became the go'el. With reference to the protective legislation and custom, see GOEL. Compare BLOOD; REVENGE, REVENGER.

A. L. Breslich

BLOOD, AVENGER OF

See AVENGER.

1558. ekdikos -- exacting penalty from, avenging
... from, avenging. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: ekdikos Phonetic Spelling:
(ek'-dik-os) Short Definition: avenging, an avenger Definition: avenging ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1558.htm - 7k1350. gaal -- to redeem, act as kinsman
... root Definition to redeem, act as kinsman NASB Word Usage avenger (13), bought back
(1), buy back (1), claim (1), close relative (3), closest relative (3 ...
/hebrew/1350.htm - 6k

5358. naqam -- to avenge, take vengeance
... root Definition to avenge, take vengeance NASB Word Usage avenge (9), avenged (5),
avenger (2), avenging (2), exact (1), execute (1), punished (1), revengeful ...
/hebrew/5358.htm - 6k

3008. Yigal -- "He redeems," three Israelites
... NASB Word Usage Igal (3). Igal, Igeal. From ga'al; avenger; Jigal, the name of three
Israelites -- Igal, Igeal. see HEBREW ga'al. 3007, 3008. Yigal. 3009 . ...
/hebrew/3008.htm - 6k

God the Avenger of his Saints; Or, his Kingdom.
... first and third lines of the stanza. Hymn 2:115. God the avenger of his
saints; or, His kingdom. 1 High as the heavens above the ...
/.../watts/hymns and spiritual songs/hymn 0 163194444 god the avenger.htm

From Maximian, God, the Avenger of Religion and of his People...
... Chap. XXXI. From Maximian, God, the avenger of religion and of His people?
From Maximian, God, the avenger of religion and of ...
/.../of the manner in which the persecutors died/chap xxxi from maximian god.htm

God the Avenger of his Saints; Or, his Kingdom Supreme.
... Hymns, Book II HYMN 115 God the avenger of his saints; or, his kingdom supreme.
CM God the avenger of his saints; or, his kingdom supreme. ...
/.../watts/the psalms and hymns of isaac watts/hymn 115 god the avenger.htm

Of the victory of Sylla, the Avenger of the Cruelties of Marius.
... Book III. Chapter 28."Of the Victory of Sylla, the Avenger of the Cruelties
of Marius. Then followed the victory of Sylla, the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/augustine/city of god/chapter 28 of the victory of.htm

When travelling lately through the Simplon
... But, nevertheless, to show God's detestation of the shedding of blood, he was liable,
by the Levitical law, to be killed by the Avenger, or "Goel,""the ...
/.../the cities of refuge or the name of jesus/i when travelling lately through.htm

The Cities of Refuge
... the hand of Moses: 3. That the slayer that killeth any person unawares and unwittingly
may flee thither: and they shall be your refuge from the avenger of blood ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/the cities of refuge.htm

The King's Highway Opened and Cleared
... another unawares, and had no malice aforethought, he might flee at once to the City
of Refuge; and if he could enter its gates before the avenger of blood ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 6 1860/the kings highway opened and.htm

Mother's Love
... If you want a proof from Scripture that there are two sides to our blessed Lord's
character"that He is a Judge and an Avenger as well as a Saviour and a ...
/.../kingsley/all saints day and other sermons/sermon viii mothers love.htm

The Cities of Refuge.
... He was given up to the avenger to be slain. In our picture we see the slayer running
to the city gate; the avenger close behind, shooting arrows at him. ...
/.../anonymous/mother stories from the old testament/the cities of refuge.htm

Whether Vengeance is Lawful?
... on one who has sinned. Accordingly, in the matter of vengeance, we must
consider the mind of the avenger. For if his intention is ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether vengeance is lawful.htm

Avenger (18 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary Avenger of blood. (Hebrews goel, from ... for safety. Into
the city of refuge the avenger durst not follow him. This ...
/a/avenger.htm - 17k

Self-avenger (2 Occurrences)
Self-avenger. Self-assertive, Self-avenger. Self-complacency .
Multi-Version Concordance Self-avenger (2 Occurrences). ...
/s/self-avenger.htm - 7k

Manslayer (20 Occurrences)
... Numbers 35:12 The cities shall be to you for refuge from the avenger, that the
manslayer not die, until he stands before the congregation for judgment. ...
/m/manslayer.htm - 15k

Slayer (23 Occurrences)
... Numbers 35:25 and the congregation shall deliver the manslayer out of the hand of
the avenger of blood, and the congregation shall restore him to his city of ...
/s/slayer.htm - 13k

Accused (29 Occurrences)
... Numbers 35:12 The cities shall be to you for refuge from the avenger, that the
manslayer not die, until he stands before the congregation for judgment. ...
/a/accused.htm - 15k

Refuge (111 Occurrences)
... Briefly, everything was to be done to facilitate the flight of the manslayer, lest
the avenger of blood, ie the nearest of kin, should pursue him with hot heart ...
/r/refuge.htm - 41k

Avenge (27 Occurrences)
... AVENGE; AVENGER. a-venj' a-venj'-er: Avenge.-The general idea connected with
this word is that of inflicting punishment upon the wrongdoer. ...
/a/avenge.htm - 17k

Unintentionally (20 Occurrences)
... may flee there. They shall be to you for a refuge from the avenger of blood.
(WEB NAS NIV). Joshua 20:5 If the avenger of blood pursue ...
/u/unintentionally.htm - 12k

Goel
... of the verb gaal, "to redeem." It is rendered in the Authorized Version "kinsman,"
Numbers 5:8; Ruth 3:12; 4:1,6,8; "redeemer," Job 19:25; "avenger," Numbers 35 ...
/g/goel.htm - 11k

Mortally (17 Occurrences)
... Deuteronomy 19:6 lest the avenger of blood pursue the manslayer, while his heart
is hot, and overtake him, because the way is long, and strike him mortally ...
/m/mortally.htm - 11k

What is an avenger of blood in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

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Avenger: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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