The goel. The little known title of God.

[pottersclay]

This saints may be one of the most encouraging words you will hear. The theme of the whole bible is really based upon it. The goel better known as the kingsmen redeemer.

redeemer"), in the Hebrew Bible and the rabbinical tradition, is a person who, as the nearest relative of another, is charged with the duty of restoring the rights of another and avenging his wrongs. One duty of the goel was to redeem (purchase back) a relative who had been sold into slavery.

There are 5 duties that a goel has a legal responsibility that he can perform.
1...to pay a debt or ransom.
2....to pay for or buy back lost property.
3....to appear in court on behalf of relative.
4... An avenger.... to bring justice.
5...to purchase back a relative sold into slavery.

Let's take a closer look at genesis 1:27 and consider what God has done here for all mankind.
It says that man was created in the image of God. The likeness of God. So what does that have to do with the goel?
The good news.

According to the scripture God is our closest relative and he has obligated himself to rescue us.
To restore all that was lost. To purchase us back to him and to avenge any wrongs to us.

Now some might say yes but we have fallen...and lost this blessing. Not according to the law ...lev25 47-54.
These are the duties of a goel and God honors his word above his name.
Hallelujah.
So the next time this ol world gives you a shot in the chops. Or you trade places from mountain top to valley.
Or your heart gets trampled on. Or the doctors news wasn't good remember you have a God of the impossible who has graciously obligated himself to be your goel.

 

[pottersclay]

Now that we know this about the Lord let's be very careful on what we believe.
A famous quote from smith wigglesworth went something like this...
"I do not go by what my eyes see nor by what my ears may hear but only what the Lord says".
Not only did he express this but also lived it.

The goel restores that which is lost, land, property, heritage, rights, let's consider what has been taken from God's people. Destroyed, stolen. Desecrated and ask yourself would the Lord restore it or better yet
Has he already.

 

[Angela53510]

Now that we know this about the Lord let's be very careful on what we believe.
A famous quote from smith wigglesworth went something like this...
"I do not go by what my eyes see nor by what my ears may hear but only what the Lord says".
Not only did he express this but also lived it.

The goel restores that which is lost, land, property, heritage, rights, let's consider what has been taken from God's people. Destroyed, stolen. Desecrated and ask yourself would the Lord restore it or better yet
Has he already.

I am reading a book on Crucifixion that spent a chapter on the go'el. This is a good summary of the meaning of the word, which means redeemer or redemption. There are other metaphors or concepts that help explain the deeper meanings for the crucifixion such a blood sacrifice, Christus Victor, penal substitution and many other rich descriptions of the depth used in the Bible to describe the crucifixion. I would agree that the go'el is the restorer not just of things, but in returning us to God, and changing us into the people God wants us to be, by the power of the Holy Spirit, when we believe in Jesus.

 

[Corban]

This saints may be one of the most encouraging words you will hear. The theme of the whole bible is really based upon it. The goel better known as the kingsmen redeemer.

redeemer"), in the Hebrew Bible and the rabbinical tradition, is a person who, as the nearest relative of another, is charged with the duty of restoring the rights of another and avenging his wrongs. One duty of the goel was to redeem (purchase back) a relative who had been sold into slavery.

There are 5 duties that a goel has a legal responsibility that he can perform.
1...to pay a debt or ransom.
2....to pay for or buy back lost property.
3....to appear in court on behalf of relative.
4... An avenger.... to bring justice.
5...to purchase back a relative sold into slavery.

Let's take a closer look at genesis 1:27 and consider what God has done here for all mankind.
It says that man was created in the image of God. The likeness of God. So what does that have to do with the goel?
The good news.

According to the scripture God is our closest relative and he has obligated himself to rescue us.
To restore all that was lost. To purchase us back to him and to avenge any wrongs to us.

Now some might say yes but we have fallen...and lost this blessing. Not according to the law ...lev25 47-54.
These are the duties of a goel and God honors his word above his name.
Hallelujah.
So the next time this ol world gives you a shot in the chops. Or you trade places from mountain top to valley.
Or your heart gets trampled on. Or the doctors news wasn't good remember you have a God of the impossible who has graciously obligated himself to be your goel.

Help me please. Strong gives the Hebrew "go'el" as "pollute" or "defile" (#1352H). Have I missed something? And where is the name found in scripture?

 

[pottersclay]

Help me please. Strong gives the Hebrew "go'el" as "pollute" or "defile" (#1352H). Have I missed something? And where is the name found in scripture?

The book of Ruth has a great story of boaz as a goel. A kinsmen redeemer.
It is a hebrew theme throughout the bible .and his duties are found in the law.

 

[Corban]

The book of Ruth has a great story of boaz as a goel. A kinsmen redeemer.
It is a hebrew theme throughout the bible .and his duties are found in the law.

Then it should be no problem to post say, three scriptures with the name "go'el" in it, and which outline his duties. I just want to research it for myself. Thanks.

 

[Corban]

The book of Ruth has a great story of boaz as a goel. A kinsmen redeemer.
It is a hebrew theme throughout the bible .and his duties are found in the law.

O.K. The word "go'el" means "defile" or "pollute." (Strong's 1352H)

The word you are alluding to is "gaal" - a "redeemer" (Strong's 1350H)

 

[Grandpa]

Maybe one of the reasons the Lord commanded to call no man "Rabbi" as well?

Our Redeemer being much higher than men.

 

[tourist]

Then it should be no problem to post say, three scriptures with the name "go'el" in it, and which outline his duties. I just want to research it for myself. Thanks.

I have heard of the first 'noel' but not the first 'goel'.

 

[Angela53510]

Help me please. Strong gives the Hebrew "go'el" as "pollute" or "defile" (#1352H). Have I missed something? And where is the name found in scripture?

"Goel (Hebrew: גואל, lit. "redeemer"), in the Hebrew Bible and the rabbinical tradition, is a person who, as the nearest relative of another, is charged with the duty of restoring the rights of another and avenging his wrongs. One duty of the goel was to redeem (purchase back) a relative who had been sold into slavery."

This is the meaning of goel. Strong's is either wrong, or perhaps you mixed up an entry?

"The term goel is also used in reference to other forms of redemption. In the Book of Isaiah, God is called the redeemer of Israel,[2] as God redeems his people from captivity; the context shows that the redemption also involves moving on to something greater.

In Christianity, the title goel is applied to Christ, who redeems his believers from all evil by offering Himself as the Paschal Lamb."

 

[Corban]

"Goel (Hebrew: גואל, lit. "redeemer"), in the Hebrew Bible and the rabbinical tradition, is a person who, as the nearest relative of another, is charged with the duty of restoring the rights of another and avenging his wrongs. One duty of the goel was to redeem (purchase back) a relative who had been sold into slavery."

This is the meaning of goel. Strong's is either wrong, or perhaps you mixed up an entry?

"The term goel is also used in reference to other forms of redemption. In the Book of Isaiah, God is called the redeemer of Israel,[2] as God redeems his people from captivity; the context shows that the redemption also involves moving on to something greater.

In Christianity, the title goel is applied to Christ, who redeems his believers from all evil by offering Himself as the Paschal Lamb."

Thank you for the query. I rechecked. It is remarkable.

• Strong # 1350 "gaal" - Kinsman with ransom
• Strong # 1352 "go'el" - pollute, defile

But the root for # 1352 is # 1351 which means BOTH ransom and/or (figuratively) "to soil". Not being schooled in Old Testament Hebrew, I'll have to retire from the discussion, but Strong is much used and much scrutinized. It is hard to think of such a word not being corrected if it was wrong.

But anyway, I have a question. On what basis was I a "kinsman" of Jesus when He redeemed me? I only became a kinsman through my rebirth, and that is after redemption. I suppose you could call me a kinsman because we both go back to Adam, but that is problematic because this bloodline was broken by our Lord Jesus being conceived by the Holy Spirit (Matt.1:18; Lk.1:35). In my case the bloodline to Adam is sustained. I have an idea, but I'd like to hear your understanding.

 

[oyster67]

I have heard of the first 'noel' but not the first 'goel'.

Silly tourist, you have been singing it wrong all these years!

 

[Scribe]

Interesting topic. I also believe we are seeing the symbolic imagery of Jesus as the Goel when he is found the only one worthy to take the scroll from the Fathers hand in Rev 4. That scroll could be the imagery of the title deed of planet earth. He being the only redeemer who has the right to take back the possession of planet earth and hand it to the redeemed.

After the goel redeemed the land his next task was to evict those that were not of the tribe he was redeeming for. He had the right to dispossess the land of its unlawful inhabitants.

This is what each of the seals, trumpets, vials etc. does. So the whole taking of the scroll and opening the seals and loosing judgments on the earth is the dispossessing of the earth of its unlawful inhabitants by the goel until he eventually hands it to the meek who inherit it. Newly created of course.

 

[Corban]

Interesting topic. I also believe we are seeing the symbolic imagery of Jesus as the Goel when he is found the only one worthy to take the scroll from the Fathers hand in Rev 4. That scroll could be the imagery of the title deed of planet earth. He being the only redeemer who has the right to take back the possession of planet earth and hand it to the redeemed.

After the goel redeemed the land his next task was to evict those that were not of the tribe he was redeeming for. He had the right to dispossess the land of its unlawful inhabitants.

This is what each of the seals, trumpets, vials etc. does. So the whole taking of the scroll and opening the seals and loosing judgments on the earth is the dispossessing of the earth of its unlawful inhabitants by the goel until he eventually hands it to the meek who inherit it. Newly created of course.

Very interesting topic. The Gospel of Luke is all about Christ as the Jubilee (Lk.4:18-19). At Jubilee all Israelites who had lost lands and were in debt to other Israelites because of misfortune or bad business, were set free and had their inheritance returned. Christ is truly Relative-Redeemer to Israel. At His coming he does exactly what you say. Out with other owners, and in with the Israelite. Over with bondage and slavery and each Israelite is returned to his inheritance a free man.

Can anyone make a case for Relative-Redeemer for the Church? Or did our Lord pay the ransom while we where yet foreigners and enemies of His?

 

[Scribe]

Very interesting topic. The Gospel of Luke is all about Christ as the Jubilee (Lk.4:18-19). At Jubilee all Israelites who had lost lands and were in debt to other Israelites because of misfortune or bad business, were set free and had their inheritance returned. Christ is truly Relative-Redeemer to Israel. At His coming he does exactly what you say. Out with other owners, and in with the Israelite. Over with bondage and slavery and each Israelite is returned to his inheritance a free man.

Can anyone make a case for Relative-Redeemer for the Church? Or did our Lord pay the ransom while we where yet foreigners and enemies of His?

Yes, Rev 5. I previously said 4 but it is in chapter 5 that he takes the scroll. Here it is the title deed of the whole earth and it is not just Jews that will inherit it and it is not just those plots of land in the middle east that he is redeeming.

The promise that we will reign with him as kings and priests on the earth in Rev 1, is to all believers not just Jews. And the entire bible makes the case. It is known in missions theology as the Missio Dei.

 

[Angela53510]

Thank you for the query. I rechecked. It is remarkable.

• Strong # 1350 "gaal" - Kinsman with ransom
• Strong # 1352 "go'el" - pollute, defile

But the root for # 1352 is # 1351 which means BOTH ransom and/or (figuratively) "to soil". Not being schooled in Old Testament Hebrew, I'll have to retire from the discussion, but Strong is much used and much scrutinized. It is hard to think of such a word not being corrected if it was wrong.

But anyway, I have a question. On what basis was I a "kinsman" of Jesus when He redeemed me? I only became a kinsman through my rebirth, and that is after redemption. I suppose you could call me a kinsman because we both go back to Adam, but that is problematic because this bloodline was broken by our Lord Jesus being conceived by the Holy Spirit (Matt.1:18; Lk.1:35). In my case the bloodline to Adam is sustained. I have an idea, but I'd like to hear your understanding.

I looked both in Strong's and in BDB Brown-Driver-Briggs - Hebrew Lexicon. First thing, is Hebrew doesn't have vowels. So in reality, there are no vowels, except what the Masoretic Jews added on the 10th century AD, because people were losing their Hebrew, and forgetting how to pronounce the words.

The actual word is Gimel, Aleph, Lamda. Both your Strong's words are based on that 3 letter root word.

Gaal, as you point out, means redeemer. It is in the Qal, which is the first Hebrew verb tense. Gaal is dotted because it is the Qal and is the basic form.

Goel, has some definitions in the Piel, the intensive verb; Niphal, which is the passive form of the verb! It also has some definitions in the Hiphil which is the causative cause; and hithpael, which is the reflexive tense. The vowel points change, because Hebrew grammar demands it.

Everything I have ever read about the OT redeemer says goel, means redeemer. I would assume it has something to do with the kind of verb it is.

The active and passive tenses (Qal and Niphal) are often the exact opposites of each other, which appears to be the case here.

A usually reliable source says the following meaning that Goel is just the participle of the verb Gaal. Participles are tough stuff in Greek, and also in Hebrew.

"Goel in Hebrew the participle of the verb gaal , "to redeem." It is rendered in the Authorized Version "kinsman," Numbers 5:8 ; Ruth 3:12 ; Ruth 4:1 Ruth 4:6 Ruth 4:8 ; "redeemer," Job 19:25 ; "avenger," Numbers 35:12 ; Deuteronomy 19:6 , etc. The Jewish law gave the right of redeeming and repurchasing, as well as of avenging blood, to the next relative, who was accordingly called by this name."

https://www.biblestudytools.com/dictionary/goel/

 

[Corban]

Yes, Rev 5. I previously said 4 but it is in chapter 5 that he takes the scroll. Here it is the title deed of the whole earth and it is not just Jews that will inherit it and it is not just those plots of land in the middle east that he is redeeming.

The promise that we will reign with him as kings and priests on the earth in Rev 1, is to all believers not just Jews. And the entire bible makes the case. It is known in missions theology as the Missio Dei.

Yeah ... O.K., but I was probing the Forum for who could make a case that our Lord is RELATIVE-Redeemer for the Gentiles. That He is designated King of kings, and as Abraham's Seed, Heir to the world, is not in doubt (Rom.4:13). I guess my feeling is, pending further discovery, that our Lord Jesus is NOT Kinsman-Redeemer to the Gentiles. The Law of the shoe (Deut.25), the Law of the Jubilee (Lev.25) and the Passover Lamb are all Israeli matters. On what basis does our Lord Jesus visit the Gentiles?

I judge it to be a matter of the Covenant of Promise made to Abraham. As you know, Abraham is a Gentile - a Syrian.

 

[Corban]

I looked both in Strong's and in BDB Brown-Driver-Briggs - Hebrew Lexicon. First thing, is Hebrew doesn't have vowels. So in reality, there are no vowels, except what the Masoretic Jews added on the 10th century AD, because people were losing their Hebrew, and forgetting how to pronounce the words.

The actual word is Gimel, Aleph, Lamda. Both your Strong's words are based on that 3 letter root word.

Gaal, as you point out, means redeemer. It is in the Qal, which is the first Hebrew verb tense. Gaal is dotted because it is the Qal and is the basic form.

Goel, has some definitions in the Piel, the intensive verb; Niphal, which is the passive form of the verb! It also has some definitions in the Hiphil which is the causative cause; and hithpael, which is the reflexive tense. The vowel points change, because Hebrew grammar demands it.

Everything I have ever read about the OT redeemer says goel, means redeemer. I would assume it has something to do with the kind of verb it is.

The active and passive tenses (Qal and Niphal) are often the exact opposites of each other, which appears to be the case here.

A usually reliable source says the following meaning that Goel is just the participle of the verb Gaal. Participles are tough stuff in Greek, and also in Hebrew.

"Goel in Hebrew the participle of the verb gaal , "to redeem." It is rendered in the Authorized Version "kinsman," Numbers 5:8 ; Ruth 3:12 ; Ruth 4:1 Ruth 4:6 Ruth 4:8 ; "redeemer," Job 19:25 ; "avenger," Numbers 35:12 ; Deuteronomy 19:6 , etc. The Jewish law gave the right of redeeming and repurchasing, as well as of avenging blood, to the next relative, who was accordingly called by this name."

https://www.biblestudytools.com/dictionary/goel/

Thank you very much for this informative text, and the time you invested. I profited much. Go well and God bless.

 

[Angela53510]

Yeah ... O.K., but I was probing the Forum for who could make a case that our Lord is RELATIVE-Redeemer for the Gentiles. That He is designated King of kings, and as Abraham's Seed, Heir to the world, is not in doubt (Rom.4:13). I guess my feeling is, pending further discovery, that our Lord Jesus is NOT Kinsman-Redeemer to the Gentiles. The Law of the shoe (Deut.25), the Law of the Jubilee (Lev.25) and the Passover Lamb are all Israeli matters. On what basis does our Lord Jesus visit the Gentiles?

I judge it to be a matter of the Covenant of Promise made to Abraham. As you know, Abraham is a Gentile - a Syrian.

If we aren't brothers and sisters to Jesus in the family of God, then who are we? No, we are not blood relatives, but neither are millions of Jews throughout time. If I converted to Judaism tomorrow, would that make me a relative of Jesus? My genetics would not change, and personally, as a Christian I am much closer to Jesus than a Jew who doesn't believe in him would ever be. Interesting thoughts, as I just realized the term "redeemer" is missing from the NT. I didn't realize it was only in Hebrew. Sometimes the Greek has its own word, and sometimes, like Immanuel and Emmanuel, the word is transliterated. But, that does not mean we ignore the term now. The metaphors, and literal stories all have value to us as Christians, in defining who Jesus is, and who we are to him.

One note, the Israelis are the people that live in Israel now, since 1948. The Israelites were the one who crossed the Red Sea, came to Israel and established themselves, and were finally removed after the Fall of Jerusalem in 70 AD, also called the Diaspora, as per James 1. That is a word basically transliterated to English!

And thank you for your kind words above.

 

[KT88]

Interesting, but I don't think it's a title for God. It does relate to God and Jesus as redeemer.