Bible Dictionary
SATISFACTION
In older English translations, satisfaction in Numbers 35:31-32 means a ransom or payment offered as compensation for a life. The law forbade accepting such payment for murder or for releasing a manslayer from the appointed protection.
Definition
In older English biblical usage, satisfaction means a ransom or price paid as compensation for a life. The term occurs where the law prohibits accepting such compensation in cases of murder or for releasing a manslayer from the appointed protection.
Biblical Usage
Numbers 35:31-32 forbids accepting satisfaction, or ransom, for a murderer or for the return of a manslayer. The supplied material also notes that the Old Testament law permits such compensation only in the case of a person killed by a goring ox.
Historical Background
Payment as compensation for bloodshed was permitted in ancient justice among many peoples. Comparable customs included the Greek poine, the German Wergeld, and the Old English wergild.
Historical Bible Dictionaries
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>sat-is-fak'-shun: Occurs twice in the King James Version (Nu 35:31,32) as a rendering of the Hebrew kopher (the Revised Version (British and American) "ransom"). It means a price paid as compensation for a life, and the passage cited is a prohibition against accepting such, in case of murder, or for the return of the manslayer. Such compensation was permitted in ancient justice among many peoples. Compare poine, which Liddell and Scott define as "properly quit-money for blood spilt, the fine paid by the slayer to the kinsman of the slain, as a ransom from all consequences." The same custom prevailed among Teutonic peoples, as seen in the German Wergeld and Old English wergild. The Hebrew lairs of the Old Testament permit it only in the case of a man or woman gored to death by an ox (Ex 21:30-32).</p><p>Benjamin Reno Downer</p>