Online Resource Library
Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadInternational Standard Bible Encyclopedia: Murder
Subjects in this Topic:
muÌ‚r´der (הרג, haÌ„ragh, “to smite,†“destroy,†“kill,†“slay†(; AV), רצח, raÌ„cahÌ£, “to dash to pieces,†“kill,†especially with premeditation ( and frequently; ; ; ; ); φονευÌÏ‚, phoneuÌs, “criminal homicide,†from φονευÌω, phoneuÌoÌ„, “to kill,†“slayâ€; φοÌνος, phoÌnos, from φεÌνω, pheÌnoÌ„, has the same meaning; ἀνθÏωποκτοÌνος, anthroÌ„poktoÌnos, “manslayer,†“murderer,†is used to designate Satan and him that hates his brother ; a matricide is designated as μντÏαλωÌας, meÌ„traloÌ„Ìas ; compare ἀδελφοκτοÌνος, adelphoktoÌnos, “fratricidal†(Wisd 10:3).
1. Terms
The plural of φοÌνος, phoÌnos, “murders,†occurs in ; ; the King James Version; ; compare 2 Macc 4:3, 38; 12:6):
2. The Hebrew Law
The Hebrew law recognized the distinction between willful murder and accidental or justifiable homicide ; but in legal language no verbal distinction is made. Murder was always subject to capital punishment (; compare ). Even if the criminal sought the protection of the sanctuary, he was to be arrested before the altar, and to be punished , ; , ; , , , . The Mishna says that a mortal blow intended for another than the victim is punishable with death; but such a provision is not found in the Law. No special mention is made of (a) child murder; (b) parricide; or (c) taking life by poison; but the intention of the law is clear with reference to all these eases , ; ; . No punishment is mentioned for attempted suicide (compare ; ; ); yet Josephus says (BJ, III, viii, 5) that suicide was held criminal by the Jews (see also ). An animal known to be vicious must be confined, and if it caused the death of anyone, the animal was destroyed and the owner held guilty of murder , . The executioner, according to the terms of the Law, was the “revenger of bloodâ€; but the guilt must be previously determined by the Levitical tribunal. Strong protection was given by the requirement that at least two witnesses must concur in any capital question -30; -12; , . Under the monarchy the duty of executing justice on a murderer seems to have been assumed to some extent by the sovereign, who also had power to grant pardon ; , ; . See MANSLAYER.