Bible Encyclopedia: Avenger

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International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

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.

Greek

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 - 7k

Strong's Hebrew

1350. 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

Library

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

Easton's Bible Dictionary

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).

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

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

2. (n.) One who takes vengeance.

Thesaurus

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

Bible Concordance

Avenger (18 Occurrences)

Romans 13:4 for he is a servant of God to you for good. But if you do that which is evil, be afraid, for he doesn't bear the sword in vain; for he is a servant of God, an avenger for wrath to him who does evil.
(WEB ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS)

1 Thessalonians 4:6 that no one should take advantage of and wrong a brother or sister in this matter; because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as also we forewarned you and testified.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

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.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Numbers 35:19 The avenger of blood shall himself put the murderer to death: when he meets him, he shall put him to death.
(WEB JPS ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Numbers 35:21 or in enmity struck him with his hand, so that he died; he who struck him shall surely be put to death; he is a murderer: the avenger of blood shall put the murderer to death, when he meets him.
(WEB JPS ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Numbers 35:24 then the congregation shall judge between the striker and the avenger of blood according to these ordinances;
(WEB JPS ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)

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 refuge, where he was fled: and he shall dwell therein until the death of the high priest, who was anointed with the holy oil.
(WEB JPS ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Numbers 35:27 and the avenger of blood find him outside of the border of his city of refuge, and the avenger of blood kill the manslayer; he shall not be guilty of blood,
(WEB JPS ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)

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; whereas he was not worthy of death, inasmuch as he didn't hate him in time past.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Deuteronomy 19:12 then the elders of his city shall send and bring him there, and deliver him into the hand of the avenger of blood, that he may die.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Joshua 20:3 that the manslayer who kills any person accidentally or unintentionally may flee there. They shall be to you for a refuge from the avenger of blood.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Joshua 20:5 If the avenger of blood pursue after him, then they shall not deliver up the manslayer into his hand; because he struck his neighbor unintentionally, and didn't hate him before.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Joshua 20:9 These were the appointed cities for all the children of Israel, and for the stranger who sojourns among them, that whoever kills any person unintentionally might flee there, and not die by the hand of the avenger of blood, until he stands before the congregation.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)

2 Samuel 14:11 Then she said, "Please let the king remember Yahweh your God, that the avenger of blood destroy not any more, lest they destroy my son." He said, "As Yahweh lives, there shall not one hair of your son fall to the earth."
(WEB JPS ASV NAS RSV NIV)

Psalms 8:2 From the lips of babes and infants you have established strength, because of your adversaries, that you might silence the enemy and the avenger.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT RSV NIV)

Psalms 44:16 At the taunt of one who reproaches and verbally abuses, because of the enemy and the avenger.
(WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Psalms 99:8 You gave them an answer, O Lord our God; you took away their sin, though you gave them punishment for their wrongdoing.
(See NAS RSV)

Nahum 1:2 A jealous and avenging ?God is Jehovah: an avenger is Jehovah, and full of fury: Jehovah taketh vengeance on his adversaries, and he reserveth wrath for his enemies.
(DBY YLT)

Subtopics

Avenger

Avenger of Blood

Avenger of Blood: Cain Fears

Avenger of Blood: Lamech Fears

Avenger of Blood: Law Concerning, Set Aside--By David

Avenger of Blood: Premosaic

Avenger of Blood: Scriptures Relating To

Related Terms

Self-avenger (2 Occurrences)

Manslayer (20 Occurrences)

Slayer (23 Occurrences)