Goel
Culture & Societyâš¡ IN BRIEF (SUMMARY)
The Goel was a close relative obligated to act on behalf of a family member in distress, including redeeming sold property or relatives, marrying a childless widow to preserve the family line, or acting as an avenger of blood.
What is the meaning of Goel in the Bible?
The Goel was a close relative obligated to act on behalf of a family member in distress, including redeeming sold property or relatives, marrying a childless widow to preserve the family line, or acting as an avenger of blood.
SIGNIFICANCE
Understanding the role of the Goel clarifies the legal and social mechanisms of kinship responsibility in the Hebrew Bible, revealing how family loyalty functioned as a system of justice and economic stability.
Bible Study Quick-Reference Guide
- Why did the biblical author mention Goel in this passage?
- What cultural or historical assumption does Goel 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.