Avenge, Avenger
Avenge, Avenger
a-venj a-venjer: 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 Lev 19:18; see below), transitive (2Sa 4:8 et al.); and also active (Deu 32:43), passive (Jer 5:9) and reflexive (Est 8:13). In 1Sa 25:26 avenge is translated from , yasha’, to save (Revised Version margin, thine own hand saving thee), in Hos 1:4 from , pakadh, to visit, and in 2Sa 18:19 from , shaphat, to judge, but the usual Hebrew word is , nakam, or derivatives, to avenge. The translation in the Revised Version (British and American) differs in some places from King James Version: Num 31:3 (Revised Version (British and American) execute Yahweh’s vengeance; compare 2Sa 22:48; Psa 18:47; Lev 26:25); Lev 19:18 (Revised Version (British and American) take vengeance); Jdg 5:2 (Revised Version (British and American) for that the leaders took the lead in Israel from , para, to be free, to lead). In the New Testament avenge is translated from the Greek , ekdikeo, to do justice, to protect (Luk 18:3 et al.) and the King James Version Rev 18:20, , krno, to judge (Revised Version (British and American) God hath judged your judgment).
Avenger. – That is, the person who inflicts punishment upon the evil-doer for a wrong experienced by himself (from , nakam, to avenge; Psa 8:2 et al.) or by someone else from , ga’al, to redeem; Num 35:12 et al.). In the New Testament avenger occurs only once; the Lord is an avenger in all things (1Th 4:6). It was the duty of the nearest relative to execute vengeance upon the murderer of his kin: he became the go’el. With reference to the protective legislation and custom, see GOEL. Compare BLOOD; REVENGE; REVENGER.
Fuente: International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
Avenge, Avenger
ek, “from,” dike, “justice,” i.e., that which proceeds from justice, means (a) “to vindicate a person’s right,” (b) “to avenge a thing.” With the meaning (a), it is used in the parable of the unjust judge, Luk 18:3, Luk 18:5, of the “vindication” of the rights of the widow; with the meaning (b) it is used in Rev 6:10; Rev 19:2, of the act of God in “avenging” the blood of the saints; in 2Co 10:6, of the Apostle’s readiness to use his apostolic authority in punishing disobedience on the part of his readers; here the RV substitutes “avenge” for the AV, “revenge;” in Rom 12:19 of “avenging” oneself, against which the believer is warned.
Note: In Rev 18:20, the AV mistranslates krino and krima “hath avenged you;” RV, “hath judged your judgment.”
primarily, “without law,” then, “one who exacts a penalty from a person, an avenger, a punisher,” is used in Rom 13:4 of a civil authority in the discharge of his function of executing wrath on the evildoer (AV, wrongly, “revenger”); in 1Th 4:6, of God as the avenger of the one who wrongs his brother, here particularly in the matter of adultery.
“vengeance,” is used with the verb poieo, “to make,” i.e., to avenge, in Luk 18:7-8; Act 7:24; twice it is used in statements that “vengeance” belongs to God, Rom 12:19; Heb 10:30. In 2Th 1:8 it is said of the act of Divine justice which will be meted out to those who know not God and obey not the Gospel, when the Lord comes in flaming fire at His second advent. In the Divine exercise of judgment there is no element of vindictiveness, nothing by way of taking revenge. In Luk 21:22, it is used of the “days of vengeance” upon the Jewish people; in 1Pe 2:14, of civil governors as those who are sent of God “for vengeance on evildoers” (AV, “punishment”); in 2Co 7:11, of the “self-avenging” of believers, in their godly sorrow for wrong doing, RV, “avenging,” for AV, “revenge.” See PUNISHMENT, VENGEANCE.