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Fugitive

Culture & Society

What is the meaning of Fugitive in the Bible?

A fugitive is an individual who flees from legal custody, evades prosecution, or abandons established social and familial obligations. This status encompasses those escaping justice, debt, or military conscription, as well as persons seeking refuge from persecution or oppression.

SIGNIFICANCE

Recognizing the concept of fugitivity illuminates key biblical narratives, such as the lives of Cain, Jacob, and David, by highlighting the tension between human desperation and divine providence within the context of ancient laws regarding asylum and retribution.

Bible Study Quick-Reference Guide

Ancient Cultural Lens: Avoid applying 21st-century Western assumptions to Fugitive. 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 Fugitive in this passage?
  • What cultural or historical assumption does Fugitive 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

"Fugitive." Ancient Context Dictionary. Accessed 2026. https://ancientcontext.com/context/fugitive/
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