AVENGE, AVENGER

AVENGE', AVEN'GER. Luke 18:8; 1 Thess 4:6. Vengeance is an act of justice; revenge is an act of passion. Hence injuries are revenged, crimes are avenged. God is avenged of his enemies when he vindicates his own law and government and character and punishes their transgressions. An avenger is the agent or instrument by whom the avengement is visited on the offending party. Avenger of Blood was a title given to one who pursued a murderer or man-slayer, by virtue of the ancient Jewish law, to avenge the blood of one who had been slain. He must be a near relative of the murdered man. Deut 19:6.