Avenger of Blood

How Nave’s arranged it

• PremosaicGenesis 9:5Genesis 9:6
• Cain fearsGenesis 4:14Genesis 4:15
• Lamech fearsGenesis 4:24
• Law concerning, set aside. by David2 Samuel 14:4–11
• See Homicide
• FIGURATIVE
• SCRIPTURES RELATING TOGenesis 9:5Genesis 9:6Numbers 35:19–29Deuteronomy 19:4–13Joshua 20:1–9

The passages, in Bible order (9)

The same references, sorted Genesis to Revelation. The first 9 are quoted in full; the rest are one click beneath them, book by book.

1. Genesis 4:14

   Behold, this day You have driven me from the face of the earth, and from Your face I will be hidden; I will be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me.”

   ›Commentary on Genesis 4:142 voices

   “Therefore, everyone who finds me will kill me. Since from the trembling of the body and the fury of the trembling one, or from the instability of the wanderer and fugitive, he understands him to be one who deserves to be killed.

   “Behold, thou hast driven me out - In Gen 4:11, Gen 4:12, God states two parts of Cain’s punishment: 1. The ground was cursed, so that it was not to yield any adequate recompense for his most careful tillage. 2. He was to be a fugitive and a vagabond having no place in which he could dwell with comfort or security. To these Cain himself adds others.

   Everything gathered on Genesis 4:14→

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2. Genesis 4:15

   “Not so!” replied the LORD. “If anyone slays Cain, then Cain will be avenged sevenfold.” And the LORD placed a mark on Cain, so that no one who found him would kill him.

   ›Commentary on Genesis 4:152 voices

   “Indeed, it was not without reason that the mark was set upon Cain, that no one might kill him. Thus it was indicated that evil is not destroyed or removed from the earth. Cain was afraid that he might be killed, because he did not know how to flee. For evil is augmented and amassed by the practice of evil, and it exists without moderation or limit, fights through guile and deceit and is revealed by its deeds and by the blood of the slain, even as Cain also was revealed.

   “The Lord set a mark upon Cain - What this mark was, has given rise to a number of frivolously curious conjectures. Dr. Shuckford collects the most remarkable. Some say he was paralytic; this seems to have arisen from the version of the Septuagint, Στενων και τρεμων εση, Groaning and trembling shalt thou be. The Targum of Jonathan ben Uzziel says the sign was from the great and precious name, probably one of the letters of the word Yehovah.

   Everything gathered on Genesis 4:15→

   Verse page →Original language →

3. Genesis 4:24

   If Cain is avenged sevenfold, then Lamech seventy-sevenfold.”

   ›Commentary on Genesis 4:242 voices

   Some suppose that Cain was slain by Lamech, and that he survived to this generation that he might suffer a longer punishment. But this is not the case. Lamech evidently committed two murders, from what he says himself, "I have slain a man and a young man," the man to his wounding, and the young man to his hurt. There is a difference between wounding and hurt. And there is a difference between a man and a young man. "If Cain shall be avenged sevenfold, truly Lamech seventy and sevenfold."

   “Sevenfold vengeance shall be taken for Cain, but for Lamech seventy-sevenfold. Sevenfold vengeance was taken for Cain, as he bore the penalties of fratricide and envy as a wandering fugitive up to the seventh generation.

   Everything gathered on Genesis 4:24→

   Verse page →Original language →

4. Genesis 9:5

   And surely I will require the life of any man or beast by whose hand your lifeblood is shed. I will demand an accounting from anyone who takes the life of his fellow man:

   ›Commentary on Genesis 9:52 voices

   “Indeed, I will require your blood, and the blood of your souls from all beasts, and from the hand of man (Gen. IX, 5). He compared it to bestial malice, or rather even accumulated the wickedness of man beyond the ferocity of beasts, by saying: From the hand of the brother of man. Indeed, beasts have nothing in common with us in nature, and they are not bound by any brotherly right. If they harm humans, they harm them as strangers.

   “Surely your blood - will I require; at the hand of every beast - This is very obscure, but if taken literally it seems to be an awful warning against cruelty to the brute creation; and from it we may conclude that horse-racers, hare-hunters, bull-baiters, and cock-fighters shall be obliged to give an account to God for every creature they have wantonly destroyed. Instead of חיה chaiyah, “beast,” the Samaritan reads Yod Kaph chai, “living,” any “living creature or person;” this makes a very good sense, and equally forbids cruelty either to men or brutes.

   Everything gathered on Genesis 9:5→

   Verse page →Original language →

5. Genesis 9:6

   Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man his blood will be shed; for in His own image God has made mankind.

   ›Commentary on Genesis 9:62 voices

   “Whoso sheddeth man's blood . . . for in the image of God made he man--It is true that image has been injured by the fall, but it is not lost. In this view, a high value is attached to the life of every man, even the poorest and humblest, and an awful criminality is involved in the destruction of it.

   “Indeed, I will require your blood, and the blood of your souls from all beasts, and from the hand of man (Gen. IX, 5). He compared it to bestial malice, or rather even accumulated the wickedness of man beyond the ferocity of beasts, by saying: From the hand of the brother of man. Indeed, beasts have nothing in common with us in nature, and they are not bound by any brotherly right. If they harm humans, they harm them as strangers.

   Everything gathered on Genesis 9:6→

   Verse page →Original language →

6. Numbers 35:19–29

   The avenger of blood is to put the murderer to death; when he finds him, he is to kill him.

   ›Commentary on Numbers 35:19–292 voices

   “If he smite him with an instrument of iron, so that he die, &c.--Various cases are here enumerated in which the Goel or avenger was at liberty to take the life of the murderer; and every one of them proves a premeditated purpose.

   “The revenger of blood - גאל הדם goel haddam, the redeemer of blood; the next in blood to him who was slain. See on Num 35:12 (note).

   Everything gathered on Numbers 35:19–29→

   Verse page →Original language →

7. Deuteronomy 19:4–13

   Now this is the situation regarding the manslayer who flees to one of these cities to save his life, having killed his neighbor accidentally, without intending to harm him:

   Verse page →Original language →

8. Joshua 20:1–9

   Then the LORD said to Joshua,

   Verse page →Original language →

9. 2 Samuel 14:4–11

   When the woman from Tekoa went to the king, she fell facedown in homage and said, “Help me, O king!”

   ›Commentary on 2 Samuel 14:4–112 voices

   “And when the woman of Tekoah spake to the king,.... Or after she had spoken to him, being introduced by Joab, as is probable; when she had saluted him with God save the king, or May the king live, or some such like expressions: she fell on her face to the ground, and did obeisance; to him as her king, in reverence of his majesty: and said, help, O king; signifying that she was in great distress, and came to him for assistance and deliverance.

   “Spake - Seems to be an accidental error for came, which is found in many manuscipts and versions. Help - literally, save (see the margin). It is the same cry as Hosanna, i. e. save now Psa 118:25.

   Everything gathered on 2 Samuel 14:4–11→

   Verse page →Original language →