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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadInternational Standard Bible Encyclopedia: Avenge; Avenger
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a-venj´ a-venj´ẽr: 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 ; see below), transitive ( et al.); and also active (), passive () and reflexive (). In avenge is translated from ישע, yaÌ„sha', “to save†(Revised Version margin, “thine own hand saving theeâ€), in from פקד, paÌ„kÌ£adh, “to visit,†and in from ש×פט, shaÌ„phatÌ£, “to judge,†but the usual Hebrew word is × ×§×, naÌ„kÌ£am, or derivatives, “to avenge.†The translation in the Revised Version (British and American) differs in some places from King James Version: (Revised Version (British and American) “execute Yahweh's vengeanceâ€; compare ; ; ); (Revised Version (British and American) “take vengeanceâ€); (Revised Version (British and American) “for that the leaders took the lead in Israel†from פרע, paÌ„ra‛, “to be free, to leadâ€). In the New Testament avenge is translated from the Greek ἐκδικεÌω, ekdikeÌoÌ„, “to do justice,†“to protect†( et al.) and the King James Version , κÏιÌνω, krıÌnoÌ„, “to judge†(Revised Version (British and American) “God hath judged your judgmentâ€).
Avenger. - That is, the person who inflicts punishment upon the evil-doer for a wrong experienced by himself (from × ×§×, naÌ„kÌ£am, “to avengeâ€; et al.) or by someone else from ×’Ö¼×ל, gaÌ„'al, “to redeemâ€; et al.). In the New Testament avenger occurs only once; “the Lord is an avenger in all things†(). It was the duty of the nearest relative to execute vengeance upon the murderer of his kin: he became the goÌ„'eÌ„lÌŒ. With reference to the protective legislation and custom, see GOEL. Compare BLOOD; REVENGE; REVENGER.