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Sunday, December 22nd, 2024
the Fourth Week of Advent
Bible Encyclopedias
Avenge; Avenger
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
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a -venj ´ a -venj´ẽr : Avenge. - T he 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 ישע , yāsha' , "to save" (Revised Version margin, "thine own hand saving thee"), in Hosea 1:4 from פקד , pāḳadh , "to visit," and in 2 Samuel 18:19 from שׁפט , shāphaṭ , "to judge," but the usual Hebrew word is נקם , nāḳam , 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 פרע , pāra‛ , "to be free, to lead"). In the New Testament avenge is translated from the Greek ἐκδικέω , ekdikéō , "to do justice," "to protect" (Luke 18:3 et al.) and the King James Version Revelation 18:20 , κρίνω , krı́nō , "to judge" (Revised Version (British and American) "God hath judged your judgment").
Avenger. - T hat is, the person who inflicts punishment upon the evil-doer for a wrong experienced by himself (from נקם , nāḳam , "to avenge"; Psalm 8:2 et al.) or by someone else from גּאל , gā'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 gō'ēl ̌ . With reference to the protective legislation and custom, see GOEL . Compare BLOOD; REVENGE; REVENGER .
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Bibliography Information
Orr, James, M.A., D.D. General Editor. Entry for 'Avenge; Avenger'. International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. https://www.studylight.org/encyclopedias/eng/isb/a/avenge-avenger.html. 1915.
