a-venj' a-venj'-er: 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 (onlyLe 19:18; see below), transitive (2Sa 4:8et al.); and also active (De 32:43), passive (Jer 5:9) and reflexive (Es 8:13). In1Sa 25:26ff avenge is translated from yasha`, "to save" (Revised Version margin, "thine own hand saving thee"), inHo 1:4from paqadh, "to visit," and in2Sa 18:19ff from shaphaT, "to judge," but the usual Hebrew word is naqam, or derivatives, "to avenge."
The translation in the Revised Version (British and American) differs in some places from King James Version:Nu 31:3Revised Version (British and American) "execute Yahweh's vengeance"; (compare2Sa 22:48;Ps 18:47;Le 26:25);Le 19:18Revised Version (British and American) "take vengeance";Jud 5:2Revised 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" (Lu 18:3ff et al.) and the King James VersionRe 18:20, krino, "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 naqam, "to avenge";Ps 8:2et al.) or by someone else from ga'al, "to redeem"; (Nu 35:12ff 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, seeGOEL. CompareBLOOD;REVENGE,REVENGER.
A. L. Breslich