📖 Biblical Definition
The avenger of blood (goʼel ha-dam) was the nearest male kinsman of a slain person, charged under Mosaic law with executing justice on the killer (Numbers 35:19-27; Deuteronomy 19:6-13). This was not vendetta but ordered patriarchal justice, bounded by the six cities of refuge, the requirement of two witnesses, and the distinction between murder and manslaughter. The office honored two truths feminism cannot hold together: human life is sacred, and men bear the burden of enforcing that sacredness with the sword. Christ, our true Goel, both fulfills the office and ends private vengeance — the avenger of blood is now the magistrate (Romans 13:4), and the kinsman-redeemer is our risen Lord.
📜 Webster 1828 Definition
The kinsman who exacts justice for shed blood.
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The nearest male relative of a slain person, charged in Mosaic law with executing justice on the killer; the cities of refuge bounded his pursuit to prevent unjust killing of accidental manslayers.
📖 Key Scripture
Numbers 35:19 — "The revenger of blood himself shall slay the murderer: when he meeteth him, he shall slay him."
Deuteronomy 19:6 — "Lest the avenger of the blood pursue the slayer, while his heart is hot."
Joshua 20:5 — "And if the avenger of blood pursue after him, then they shall not deliver the slayer up into his hand."
⚠️ Modern Corruption
Read as primitive vengeance, missing how Mosaic law actually constrained and ordered blood-justice.
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Mosaic law did not invent blood-vengeance — it constrained and ordered it. Cities of refuge protected the accidental killer; assemblies tried cases; the avenger could not arbitrarily kill. The system replaced clan warfare with covenant justice.
🔗 Greek & Hebrew Roots
Hebrew goel ha-dam — redeemer of blood.
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['Hebrew', 'H1350', 'gaal', 'redeem, avenge']
['Hebrew', 'H1818', 'dam', 'blood']
Usage
"The avenger of blood was bounded by law."
"Justice without limit becomes injustice."