What does bloodguiltiness mean?
Bloodguiltiness is the state of being guilty of having shed blood — most commonly, of causing a death through violence or murder. The word appears chiefly in religious and literary contexts, particularly in the Hebrew Bible and Christian scripture, where bloodguiltiness is treated not merely as private wrongdoing but as a stain that falls upon a person, a household, or even a whole community and land until it is acknowledged or atoned for. In ancient Israelite law, someone with bloodguiltiness — even an unintentional killer — could face the 'avenger of blood,' which is why cities of refuge were established as sanctuaries. Today the word is rare in ordinary speech, surviving mostly in theological discussion, legal-historical writing, and formal prose. It conveys grave moral weight: culpability for taking human life, especially innocent life, and the enduring burden that such guilt imposes.
nounThe state or condition of being guilty of murder or the shedding of innocent blood; responsibility for a death or deaths wrongfully caused.
- Responsibility or guilt for the wrongful shedding of blood, especially murder.
"The prophet warned the king that bloodguiltiness would rest upon his house unless he repented."
"The elders sought ritual purification to cleanse the city of its bloodguiltiness."
"Scripture repeatedly insists that the land cannot be at peace while bloodguiltiness remains unpunished."
Virtually always used as an uncountable mass noun; a plural form exists grammatically but is essentially never used.
In ancient Israel, even an accidental killing left you 'bloodguilty' — which is why cities of refuge existed: not to punish the killer, but to protect him from the avenger of blood.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of bloodguiltiness
Bloodguiltiness is a compound of the native Old English words 'blood' and 'guilt,' joined by the noun-forming suffix '-iness.' The underlying notion of 'bloodguilt' — legal or moral responsibility for a death — is ancient and appears in biblical translation tradition, with the longer form 'bloodguiltiness' attested in early modern English, notably in the King James Bible (1611). Its components are entirely Germanic in origin, making it a native English formation rather than a borrowing from Latin or Greek.
Related word forms
How bloodguiltiness is actually used
A formal, largely literary and biblical term; rare in everyday modern English. It carries strong moral and religious connotation, often tied to divine judgment or communal accountability for unjust deaths.
Easily confused with bloodguiltiness
Bloodthirstiness is an eagerness to shed blood, while bloodguiltiness is the guilt incurred from having shed it.