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International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

AV


AVA

a'-va.

See AWA .


AVAIL

a-val' shawah, "to be equal," hence "to be enough," "to avail"): Used in the sense of "satisfy" (Est 5:13). Queen Esther's exceptional favor availed not to satisfy Haman, because of his insane jealousy of his rival Mordecai. ischuo, "to be strong.," translated also "prevail" (Rev 12:8); with a negative signifies incompetence, e.g. the impossibility of redemptivc merit or power in an outward ceremony or act (Gal 5:6; 6:15 the King James Version): "neither circumcision availcth anything," contrasted with the efficacy of faith "in Christ Jesus." Used also to express the efficacy of prayer (Jas 5:16).


AVARAN

av'-a-ran: A surname of Eleazar, the third son of Mattathias (1 Macc 2:5). It is doubtfully conjectured that Eleazar received this surname from the episode related in 1 Macc 6:43-46; the word may mean "the piercer," referring to his stabbing of the elephant. Some connect it with chur, "to be white," and connect it with Eleazar's white complexion. The Syriac reads "Chavran" and the Vulgate's "Abaron"; the Septuagint in 1 Macc 6:43 gives Sauaran which is an error for Eleazaros auran; Septuagint's Codex Venetus corrects to auran.


AVEN

a'-ven 'awen "emptiness," "vanity": Used in Ezek 30:17 for On or Heliopolis, in Egypt. See ON . As a term of contempt Hosea calls Beth-el "Beth-aven" (4:15; 10:5). So Amos speaks of some valley near Damascus as "the valley of Aven" (that is, of the idol, 1:5), in which Baalbek (Heliopolis) was situated. The word is rendered "idol" in Isa 66:3.


AVENGE; AVENGER

a-venj' a-venj'-er: Avenge.--The general idea connected with this word is that of inflicting punishment upon the wrongdoer. Since emphasis may be placed upon the deed itself, the wrongdoer, or the injured party, the verb is found an intransitive (only Lev 19:18; see below), transitive (2 Sam 4:8 et al.); and also active (Dt 32:43), passive (Jer 5:9) and reflexive (Est 8:13). In 1 Sam 25:26 ff avenge is translated from yasha`, "to save" (Revised Version margin, "thine own hand saving thee"), in Hos 1:4 from paqadh, "to visit," and in 2 Sam 18:19 ff from shaphaT, "to judge," but the usual Hebrew word is naqam, or derivatives, "to avenge." The translation in the Revised Version (British and American) differs in some places from King James Version: Nu 31:3 (Revised Version (British and American) "execute Yahweh's vengeance"; compare 2 Sam 22:48; Ps 18:47; Lev 26:25); Lev 19:18 (Revised Version (British and American) "tak vengeance"); Jdg 5:2 (Revised Version (British and American) "for that the leaders took the lead in Israel" from para`, "to be free, to lead"). In the New Testament avenge is translated from the Greek ekdikeo, "to do justice," "to protect" (Lk 18:3 ff et al.) and the King James Version Rev 18:20, krino, "to judge" (Revised Version (British and American) "God hath judged your judgment").

Avenger.--That is, the person who inflicts punishment upon the evil-doer for a wrong experienced by himself (from naqam, "to avenge"; Ps 8:2 et al.) or by someone else from ga'al, "to redeem"; Nu 35:12 ff et al.). In the New Testament avenger occurs only once; "the Lord is an avenger in all things" (1 Thess 4:6). It was the duty of the nearest relative to execute vengeance upon the murderer of his kin: he became the go'el. With reference to the protective legislation and custom, see GOEL . Compare BLOOD ;REVENGE ,REVENGER .

A. L. Breslich


AVERSE

a-vurs' shabh, "to turn back," "retreat"): Quiet, peaceful wanderers (Mic 2:8).


AVIM

av'-im.

See AVVIM .


AVIMS

av'-imz (Dt 2:23).

See AVVIM .


AVITES

a'-vits.

See AVVIM .


AVITH

a'-vith `awith: The royal city of Hadad king of Edom (Gen 36:35; 1 Ch 1:46). The Septuagint reads Getthaim. There is no clue to its identification.


AVOID

a-void: Archaic use in 1 Sam 18:11 for "escaped." In the Revised Version (British and American) of New Testament only in 2 Cor 8:20 stellomenoi with negative), literally, "arranging that not," etc., i.e. by anticipation providing that something should not occur. In the King James Version for "turn away from," ekklinete: Rom 16:17; 1 Tim 6:20; "refuse," paraitou, 2 Tim 2:23; periistaso, Tit 3:9.


AVOUCH

a-vouch': In English Versions of the Bible only in Dt 26:17,18, in the sense of "to confess," "avow," "publicly and solemnly declare." The Hebrew form is likewise unique (Hiph. of 'amar).


AVVIM; AVITES

av'-im a'-vits `awwim; Heuaioi, also unaspirated; also used to represent the name of the Hivites): The early inhabitants of the southern extremity of Canaan afterward occupied by the Philistines (Dt 2:23; compare Josh 13:3,4, the King James Version "Avim," a'-vim). The Avvim of Josh 18:23 was a town of Benjamin, not a people. Gesenius supposes the name to mean "dwellers in the desert," but it was more probably the name of some pre-Sem tribe. The Avvim are described as living in Chatserim or "encampments" and extending as far as the outskirts of Gaza.



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