KINSMAN, KINSWOMAN and KINSFOLK (kInz'man, kInz'wo—om'an, kinz'fok). Several Hebrew words are thus translated. 1. Sheh-ayr' ("q, Num. xxvii:11; "kinswoman," Lev. xviii:12, 13; "kinswomen," xviii:17). 1110-dah' (1.1-31', "kins woman," Prov. vii:4). Kaw-robe', (1-11'2, literally, near, "kinsfolk," Job xix:14;"kinsmen," Ps. xxxviii: II). 2. Soong-ghen-ace' (Gr. avy-yer4s, relative, "kinsfolk," Luke ii:44; xxi:16). 3. The Hebrew word • go-ale', redeemer, however, denoted the nearest male blood relation living (Lev. xxv:25:28; Ruth iii:2; iV:I.
(1) Blood Avenger. One of the kinsman's most peculiar offices was that of an avenger of blood. (See BLOOD-REVENCE.) (2) Redeemer. Another duty of the kinsman was that of kinsman redeemer. If his nearest rel ative had through poverty mortgaged his inher itance, the goale was to buy it back. If Ile had sold himself into slavery, the goole was to pay his ransom. If he was murdered, the goale was to avenge his blood. If he died childless, the goale might espouse his widow, and raise up seed to him; but it does not appear that lie was obliged to do this, except lie was an unmarried brother (Num. v :8; xxvii :ti, and xxxv ; Dent. xxv :1-8; Ruth iii, and iv).
FiguratiVe. Did not this goale typify Christ's assuming our nature, purchasing our happiness, recovering our liberty, avenging our blood on Satan and his agents, and raising up to our wid owed nature a seed of saints and good works? God is called a Redeemer: with mighty power and kindness, he rescued the Hebrews from their bondage and trouble, and often delivers the op pressed ; and he, through the blood of his Son, saves from deep slavery and woe, under the broken law, to endless glory and happiness (Is.
lxiii :19). Christ is a Redeemer: by his righteous ness, lie paid the price of our redemption ; by his intercession, he pleads for and procures it ; by his Spirit, he applies it to our souls (Is. lix : zo ; Job xix :25). Our redemption or deliverance from sin, and all its effects, is through his blood, and Spirit (Eph. i :13; Col. i :t4 ; Heb. ix:12), and begins in our forgiveness, is carried on in our sanctification, and perfected in our eternal blessedness, when, at the resurrection, our very bodies shall be delivered from all the deathful effects of sin ; and this entrance on eternal glory is called our redemption, as it brings the deliver ance to its perfection (Luke xxi :28; Rom. viii: 23)• Brown.