Blood-Revenge
Culture & Societyâš¡ IN BRIEF (SUMMARY)
Blood-revenge denotes the ancient custom wherein the family of a victim sought retribution by killing the perpetrator, a practice documented in various ancient Near Eastern legal codes and biblical narratives.
What is the meaning of Blood-Revenge in the Bible?
Blood-revenge denotes the ancient custom wherein the family of a victim sought retribution by killing the perpetrator, a practice documented in various ancient Near Eastern legal codes and biblical narratives.
SIGNIFICANCE
Understanding this custom clarifies the narrative logic behind events such as the massacre of the Shechemites in Genesis 34 and informs the biblical regulations establishing cities of refuge to distinguish between intentional murder and accidental manslaughter.
Bible Study Quick-Reference Guide
- Why did the biblical author mention Blood-Revenge in this passage?
- What cultural or historical assumption does Blood-Revenge clarify?
Source Attribution & Provenance
Built upon the 1915 International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE) and Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897). Entries have been editorially modernized, checked for academic truthfulness, and formatted for fast contextual reference.