📖 Biblical Definition
Goel ha-Dam ("redeemer of blood") was the Mosaic-law office of the kinsman responsible for executing justice on the slayer of a blood-relative (Numbers 35:19-27). Strikingly, the same Hebrew word goel names the kinsman-redeemer who buys back forfeited family land (Leviticus 25:25) and who marries the brother’s widow under levirate law (Deuteronomy 25:5-10; Ruth 4). One word, three offices: avenger of blood, redeemer of land, marrier of widow. All three converge in Christ: He avenges His people’s blood at the final judgment (Revelation 6:9-11), He redeems the forfeited inheritance (Ephesians 1:14), and He marries the bride (Ephesians 5:25-32). The whole institution is christological.
📜 Webster 1828 Definition
The Mosaic kinsman-avenger; same word as kinsman-redeemer.
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The Mosaic-law office of the kinsman charged with executing justice on the slayer of a blood-relative. Hebrew goel ha-dam uses the same root goel as the kinsman-redeemer of Ruth (who redeems family land and marries the childless widow). One word, three offices: avenger of blood, redeemer of property, marrier of widow. The Mosaic cities of refuge bounded the goel-ha-dam's pursuit; the high priest's death released the manslayer. All three offices converge in Christ — our Goel.
📖 Key Scripture
Numbers 35:19 — "The revenger of blood himself shall slay the murderer: when he meeteth him, he shall slay him."
Ruth 4:14 — "Blessed be the LORD, which hath not left thee this day without a kinsman, that his name may be famous in Israel."
Job 19:25 — "For I know that my redeemer (goel) liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth."
⚠️ Modern Corruption
The unity of the three goel-offices is invisible in English (different words used for each); the Christ-as-Goel theology dims with it.
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English splits the goel into three roles (avenger of blood, kinsman-redeemer, levir); Hebrew uses one word. Christ unifies the offices: He avenges (sin's blood is paid), He redeems (the lost inheritance is bought back), He marries (the widow-bride is taken).
Recover the unity: when Job cries "I know that my Redeemer liveth" (goali chai), he is invoking the comprehensive office. Christ is our Goel in every direction.
🔗 Greek & Hebrew Roots
Hebrew goel, dam.
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['Hebrew', 'H1350', 'gaal', 'to redeem, avenge']
['Hebrew', 'H1818', 'dam', 'blood']
Usage
"One Hebrew word: avenger, redeemer, marrier."
"Christ is our Goel in every direction."
"Job's goali chai = my Redeemer liveth."