Blood-Revenge
Culture & SocietyWhat 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
Ancient Cultural Lens: Avoid applying 21st-century Western assumptions to Blood-Revenge. Examine how first-century or Near Eastern listeners understood this practice within their daily social dynamics.
Bible Study Reflection Prompts:
- Why did the biblical author mention Blood-Revenge in this passage?
- What cultural or historical assumption does Blood-Revenge clarify?
Source Attribution
Built upon the 1915 International Standard Bible Encyclopedia and Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897). Entries have been modernized, checked for academic truthfulness, and shortened for clarity.
How to Cite This Entry
"Blood-Revenge." Ancient Context Dictionary. Accessed 2026. https://ancientcontext.com/context/bloodrevenge/