King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
When thou buildest a new house, then thou shalt make a battlement for thy roof, that thou bring not blood upon thine house, if any man fall from thence.
Complete Jewish Bible:
"When you build a new house, you must build a low wall around your roof; otherwise someone may fall from it, and you will be responsible for his death.
Berean Standard Bible:
If you build a new house, you are to construct a railing around your roof, so that you do not bring bloodguilt on your house if someone falls from it.
American Standard Version:
When thou buildest a new house, then thou shalt make a battlement for thy roof, that thou bring not blood upon thy house, if any man fall from thence.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
When thou buildest{H1129} a new{H2319} house{H1004}, then thou shalt make{H6213} a battlement{H4624} for thy roof{H1406}, that thou bring{H7760} not blood{H1818} upon thine house{H1004}, if any man{H5307} fall{H5307} from thence.
Cross-References (KJV):
Isaiah 22:1
- ¶ The burden of the valley of vision. What aileth thee now, that thou art wholly gone up to the housetops?
Exodus 21:28
- If an ox gore a man or a woman, that they die: then the ox shall be surely stoned, and his flesh shall not be eaten; but the owner of the ox [shall be] quit.
Exodus 21:36
- Or if it be known that the ox hath used to push in time past, and his owner hath not kept him in; he shall surely pay ox for ox; and the dead shall be his own.
2 Samuel 11:2
- And it came to pass in an eveningtide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king's house: and from the roof he saw a woman washing herself; and the woman [was] very beautiful to look upon.
Jeremiah 19:13
- And the houses of Jerusalem, and the houses of the kings of Judah, shall be defiled as the place of Tophet, because of all the houses upon whose roofs they have burned incense unto all the host of heaven, and have poured out drink offerings unto other gods.
Mark 2:4
- And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken [it] up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay.
Exodus 22:6
- If fire break out, and catch in thorns, so that the stacks of corn, or the standing corn, or the field, be consumed [therewith]; he that kindled the fire shall surely make restitution.
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Deuteronomy 22:8
Deuteronomy 22:8 is part of the Mosaic Law found in the Pentateuch, the first five books of the Hebrew Bible. This particular verse addresses a practical safety measure within the context of ancient Israelite society. The commandment is given in the context of building codes for new houses: when constructing a new home, the owner is instructed to build a parapet or battlement around the edge of the roof. The purpose of this architectural feature was to prevent accidental falls, which could result in injury or death. The phrase "that thou bring not blood upon thine house" underscores the moral and legal responsibility of the homeowner to safeguard the lives of those who might visit or dwell in the home.
In the broader historical context, roofs in ancient Israel were often flat and served as additional living space, used for activities such as drying foods, sleeping during hot summer nights, and social gatherings. Given this multifunctional use, the risk of falling was significant, necessitating such a law to ensure public safety and welfare. This verse reflects a larger theme in the legal codes of the Old Testament, where God's concern for the well-being of the community is paramount, extending even to the details of domestic architecture. It also illustrates the principle of individual accountability for the safety of others, a concept that has influenced subsequent legal systems and moral philosophies about personal responsibility and public safety.
*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: H1129
There are 345 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בָּנָה
Transliteration: bânâh
Pronunciation: baw-naw'
Description: a primitive root; to build (literally and figuratively); (begin to) build(-er), obtain children, make, repair, set (up), [idiom] surely. - Strong's Number: H2319
There are 48 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: חָדָשׁ
Transliteration: châdâsh
Pronunciation: khaw-dawsh'
Description: from חָדַשׁ; new; fresh, new thing. - Strong's Number: H1004
There are 1718 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בַּיִת
Transliteration: bayith
Pronunciation: bah'-yith
Description: probably from בָּנָה abbreviated; a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.); court, daughter, door, [phrase] dungeon, family, [phrase] forth of, [idiom] great as would contain, hangings, home(born), (winter) house(-hold), inside(-ward), palace, place, [phrase] prison, [phrase] steward, [phrase] tablet, temple, web, [phrase] within(-out). - Strong's Number: H6213
There are 2286 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עָשָׂה
Transliteration: ʻâsâh
Pronunciation: aw-saw'
Description: a primitive root; to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application; accomplish, advance, appoint, apt, be at, become, bear, bestow, bring forth, bruise, be busy, [idiom] certainly, have the charge of, commit, deal (with), deck, [phrase] displease, do, (ready) dress(-ed), (put in) execute(-ion), exercise, fashion, [phrase] feast, (fight-) ing man, [phrase] finish, fit, fly, follow, fulfill, furnish, gather, get, go about, govern, grant, great, [phrase] hinder, hold (a feast), [idiom] indeed, [phrase] be industrious, [phrase] journey, keep, labour, maintain, make, be meet, observe, be occupied, offer, [phrase] officer, pare, bring (come) to pass, perform, pracise, prepare, procure, provide, put, requite, [idiom] sacrifice, serve, set, shew, [idiom] sin, spend, [idiom] surely, take, [idiom] thoroughly, trim, [idiom] very, [phrase] vex, be (warr-) ior, work(-man), yield, use. - Strong's Number: H4624
There are 1 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מַעֲקֶה
Transliteration: maʻăqeh
Pronunciation: mah-ak-eh'
Description: from an unused root meaning to repress; a parapet; battlement. - Strong's Number: H1406
There are 27 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: גָּג
Transliteration: gâg
Pronunciation: gawg
Description: probably by reduplication from גָּאָה; a roof; by analogy, the top of an altar; roof (of the house), (house) top (of the house). - Strong's Number: H7760
There are 550 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שׂוּם
Transliteration: sûwm
Pronunciation: soom
Description: or שִׂים; a primitive root; to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and elliptically); [idiom] any wise, appoint, bring, call (a name), care, cast in, change, charge, commit, consider, convey, determine, [phrase] disguise, dispose, do, get, give, heap up, hold, impute, lay (down, up), leave, look, make (out), mark, [phrase] name, [idiom] on, ordain, order, [phrase] paint, place, preserve, purpose, put (on), [phrase] regard, rehearse, reward, (cause to) set (on, up), shew, [phrase] stedfastly, take, [idiom] tell, [phrase] tread down, (over-)turn, [idiom] wholly, work. - Strong's Number: H1818
There are 295 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: דָּם
Transliteration: dâm
Pronunciation: dawm
Description: from דָּמַם (compare אָדַם); blood (as that which when shed causes death) of man or an animal; by analogy, the juice of the grape; figuratively (especially in the plural) bloodshed (i.e. drops of blood); blood(-y, -guiltiness, (-thirsty), [phrase] innocent. - Strong's Number: H5307
There are 403 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: נָפַל
Transliteration: nâphal
Pronunciation: naw-fal'
Description: a primitive root; to fall, in a great variety of applications (intransitive or causative, literal or figurative); be accepted, cast (down, self, (lots), out), cease, die, divide (by lot), (let) fail, (cause to, let, make, ready to) fall (away, down, -en, -ing), fell(-ing), fugitive, have (inheritance), inferior, be judged (by mistake for פָּלַל), lay (along), (cause to) lie down, light (down), be ([idiom] hast) lost, lying, overthrow, overwhelm, perish, present(-ed, -ing), (make to) rot, slay, smite out, [idiom] surely, throw down.