King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
And this [is] the case of the slayer, which shall flee thither, that he may live: Whoso killeth his neighbour ignorantly, whom he hated not in time past;
Complete Jewish Bible:
The killer who will live if he flees there is someone who has killed his fellow member of the community by mistake, who did not hate him in the past.
Berean Standard Bible:
Now this is the situation regarding the manslayer who flees to one of these cities to save his life, having killed his neighbor accidentally, without intending to harm him:
American Standard Version:
And this is the case of the manslayer, that shall flee thither and live: whoso killeth his neighbor unawares, and hated him not in time past;
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
And this is the case{H1697} of the slayer{H7523}, which shall flee{H5127} thither, that he may live{H2425}: Whoso killeth{H5221} his neighbour{H7453} ignorantly{H1097}{H1847}, whom he hated{H8130} not in time{H8543} past{H8032};
Cross-References (KJV):
Numbers 35:15
- These six cities shall be a refuge, [both] for the children of Israel, and for the stranger, and for the sojourner among them: that every one that killeth any person unawares may flee thither.
Numbers 35:24
- Then the congregation shall judge between the slayer and the revenger of blood according to these judgments:
Deuteronomy 4:42
- That the slayer might flee thither, which should kill his neighbour unawares, and hated him not in times past; and that fleeing unto one of these cities he might live:
Genesis 31:2
- And Jacob beheld the countenance of Laban, and, behold, it [was] not toward him as before.
Joshua 3:4
- Yet there shall be a space between you and it, about two thousand cubits by measure: come not near unto it, that ye may know the way by which ye must go: for ye have not passed [this] way heretofore.
Isaiah 30:33
- For Tophet [is] ordained of old; yea, for the king it is prepared; he hath made [it] deep [and] large: the pile thereof [is] fire and much wood; the breath of the LORD, like a stream of brimstone, doth kindle it.
1 Chronicles 11:2
- And moreover in time past, even when Saul was king, thou [wast] he that leddest out and broughtest in Israel: and the LORD thy God said unto thee, Thou shalt feed my people Israel, and thou shalt be ruler over my people Israel.
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Commentary for Deuteronomy 19:4
Deuteronomy 19:4 is part of a larger section in the book of Deuteronomy that deals with the establishment of cities of refuge. The historical context of this verse is the Israelites' preparation to enter the Promised Land after their exodus from Egypt and forty years of wandering in the wilderness. Moses is providing the people with the laws and instructions they will need to live according to God's covenant once they settle in Canaan.
The themes present in this verse include:
1. **Justice and Mercy**: The law provides a way for unintentional killers to find refuge from avengers of blood, balancing the need for justice with compassion for those who have caused harm without premeditation.
2. **Protection of Life**: By establishing cities of refuge, the law seeks to protect the lives of individuals who have accidentally taken another life, distinguishing between murder and manslaughter.
3. **Legal Procedure**: The verse outlines part of the legal process for someone who has committed an unintentional killing, emphasizing the requirement that there be no prior hatred between the parties involved.
4. **Moral Distinctions**: The law recognizes different degrees of culpability, making a clear distinction between acts committed in malice and those done without intent to harm.
5. **Community Responsibility**: The establishment of cities of refuge also reflects the community's role in upholding justice and providing sanctuary, demonstrating a collective responsibility for the welfare and safety of its members.
In summary, Deuteronomy 19:4 addresses the theme of establishing a just society that protects the innocent and provides a legal framework for dealing with unintentional homicide, reflecting the broader concerns of the Israelite community as they prepared to live in the land of Canaan according to God's laws.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H1697
There are 1290 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: דָּבָר
Transliteration: dâbâr
Pronunciation: daw-baw'
Description: from דָבַר; a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause; act, advice, affair, answer, [idiom] any such (thing), because of, book, business, care, case, cause, certain rate, [phrase] chronicles, commandment, [idiom] commune(-ication), [phrase] concern(-ing), [phrase] confer, counsel, [phrase] dearth, decree, deed, [idiom] disease, due, duty, effect, [phrase] eloquent, errand, (evil favoured-) ness, [phrase] glory, [phrase] harm, hurt, [phrase] iniquity, [phrase] judgment, language, [phrase] lying, manner, matter, message, (no) thing, oracle, [idiom] ought, [idiom] parts, [phrase] pertaining, [phrase] please, portion, [phrase] power, promise, provision, purpose, question, rate, reason, report, request, [idiom] (as hast) said, sake, saying, sentence, [phrase] sign, [phrase] so, some (uncleanness), somewhat to say, [phrase] song, speech, [idiom] spoken, talk, task, [phrase] that, [idiom] there done, thing (concerning), thought, [phrase] thus, tidings, what(-soever), [phrase] wherewith, which, word, work. - Strong's Number: H7523
There are 40 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: רָצַח
Transliteration: râtsach
Pronunciation: raw-tsakh'
Description: a primitive root; properly, to dash in pieces, i.e. kill (a human being), especially to murder; put to death, kill, (man-) slay(-er), murder(-er). - Strong's Number: H5127
There are 143 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: נוּס
Transliteration: nûwç
Pronunciation: noos
Description: a primitive root; to flit, i.e. vanish away (subside, escape; causatively, chase, impel, deliver); [idiom] abate, away, be displayed, (make to) flee (away, -ing), put to flight, [idiom] hide, lift up a standard. - Strong's Number: H2425
There are 23 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: חָיַי
Transliteration: châyay
Pronunciation: khaw-yah'-ee
Description: a primitive root (compare חָיָה); to live; causatively to revive; live, save life. - Strong's Number: H5221
There are 460 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: נָכָה
Transliteration: nâkâh
Pronunciation: naw-kaw'
Description: a primitive root; to strike (lightly or severely, literally or figuratively); beat, cast forth, clap, give (wounds), [idiom] go forward, [idiom] indeed, kill, make (slaughter), murderer, punish, slaughter, slay(-er, -ing), smite(-r, -ing), strike, be stricken, (give) stripes, [idiom] surely, wound. - Strong's Number: H7453
There are 173 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: רֵעַ
Transliteration: rêaʻ
Pronunciation: ray'-ah
Description: or רֵיעַ; from רָעָה; an associate (more or less close); brother, companion, fellow, friend, husband, lover, neighbour, [idiom] (an-) other. - Strong's Number: H1097
There are 14 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בְּלִי
Transliteration: bᵉlîy
Pronunciation: bel-ee'
Description: from בָּלָה; properly, failure, i.e. nothing or destruction; usually (with preposition) without, not yet, because not, as long as, etc.; corruption, ig(norantly), for lack of, where no...is, so that no, none, not, un(awares), without. - Strong's Number: H1847
There are 91 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: דַּעַת
Transliteration: daʻath
Pronunciation: dah'-ath
Description: from יָדַע; knowledge; cunning, (ig-) norantly, know(-ledge), (un-) awares (wittingly). - Strong's Number: H8130
There are 139 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שָׂנֵא
Transliteration: sânêʼ
Pronunciation: saw-nay'
Description: a primitive root; to hate (personally); enemy, foe, (be) hate(-ful, -r), odious, [idiom] utterly. - Strong's Number: H8543
There are 22 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: תְּמוֹל
Transliteration: tᵉmôwl
Pronunciation: tem-ole'
Description: or תְּמֹל; probably for אֶתְמוֹל; sometimes with שִׁלְשׁוֹם; properly, ago, i.e. a (short or long) time since; especially yesterday, or day before yesterday; [phrase] before (-time), [phrase] these (three) days, [phrase] heretofore, [phrase] time past, yesterday. - Strong's Number: H8032
There are 25 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שִׁלְשׁוֹם
Transliteration: shilshôwm
Pronunciation: shil-shome'
Description: or שִׁלְשֹׁם; from the same as שֶׁלֶשׁ; trebly, i.e. (in time) day before yesterday; [phrase] before (that time, -time), excellent things (from the margin), [phrase] heretofore, three days, [phrase] time past.