Joshua 20:5

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

And if the avenger of blood pursue after him, then they shall not deliver the slayer up into his hand; because he smote his neighbour unwittingly, and hated him not beforetime.

Complete Jewish Bible:

If the next-of-kin avenger pursues him, they are not to hand over the killer to him; because he struck his fellow community member unknowingly and had not hated him previously.

Berean Standard Bible:

Now if the avenger of blood pursues him, they must not surrender the manslayer into his hand, because that man killed his neighbor accidentally without prior malice.

American Standard Version:

And if the avenger of blood pursue after him, then they shall not deliver up the manslayer into his hand; because he smote his neighbor unawares, and hated him not beforetime.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And if the avenger^{H1350} of blood^{H1818} pursue^{H7291} after^{H310} him, then they shall not deliver^{H5462} the slayer^{H7523} up into his hand^{H3027}; because he smote^{H5221} his neighbour^{H7453} unwittingly^{{H1097}{H1847}}, and hated^{H8130} him not beforetime^{{H8543}{H8032}}.

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Commentary for Joshua 20:5

Joshua 20:5 is part of a passage in the Old Testament that deals with the establishment of cities of refuge. These cities were designated places where individuals who had accidentally killed someone could seek asylum from the "avenger of blood," who was typically a relative of the deceased seeking to exact retribution. The verse speaks to the legal and moral protocol within ancient Israelite society regarding involuntary manslaughter, distinguishing it from premeditated murder.

In the historical context, the Israelites, under the leadership of Joshua, were in the process of settling the Promised Land. The institution of cities of refuge was part of the legal system God prescribed to Moses (Numbers 35:9-34; Deuteronomy 19:1-13), which Joshua was implementing. These cities were to provide a fair judicial process, ensuring that a person who killed someone unintentionally would not be put to death without a trial and could live without fear of vengeance as long as they remained within the city boundaries.

The specific text of Joshua 20:5 emphasizes that the protection offered by the city of refuge was contingent upon the nature of the act; it was not to be granted to one who had acted out of hatred or with intent to kill. The phrase "because he smote his neighbour unwittingly, and hated him not beforetime" underscores the requirement for evidence of premeditation—or lack thereof—in determining the guilt or innocence of the accused. This principle reflects a foundational aspect of justice in biblical law: the importance of discerning intent and the proportionality of punishment to the crime.

In summary, Joshua 20:5 reflects the themes of justice, mercy, and the sanctity of life within the legal framework of ancient Israel. It illustrates the care taken to protect the innocent and to ensure that punishment was meted out appropriately, based on the circumstances and intentions behind an act, rather than through indiscriminate vengeance. This verse highlights the biblical commitment to a just and orderly society, where even those who have taken a life are afforded due process and protection when the act is determined to be unintentional.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: H1350
   There are 84 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: גָּאַל
   Transliteration: gâʼal
   Pronunciation: gaw-al'
   Description: a primitive root, to redeem (according to the Oriental law of kinship), i.e.; to be the next of kin (and as such to buy back a relative's property, marry his widow, etc.); [idiom] in any wise, [idiom] at all, avenger, deliver, (do, perform the part of near, next) kinsfolk(-man), purchase, ransom, redeem(-er), revenger.
   
2. 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.
   
3. Strong's Number: H7291
   There are 135 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: רָדַף
   Transliteration: râdaph
   Pronunciation: raw-daf'
   Description: a primitive root; to run after (usually with hostile intent; figuratively (of time) gone by); chase, put to flight, follow (after, on), hunt, (be under) persecute(-ion, -or), pursue(-r).
   
4. Strong's Number: H310
   There are 766 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אַחַר
   Transliteration: ʼachar
   Pronunciation: akh-ar'
   Description: from אָחַר; properly, the hind part; generally used as an adverb or conjunction, after (in various senses); after (that, -ward), again, at, away from, back (from, -side), behind, beside, by, follow (after, -ing), forasmuch, from, hereafter, hinder end, [phrase] out (over) live, [phrase] persecute, posterity, pursuing, remnant, seeing, since, thence(-forth), when, with.
   
5. Strong's Number: H5462
   There are 87 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: סָגַר
   Transliteration: çâgar
   Pronunciation: saw-gar'
   Description: a primitive root; to shut up; figuratively, to surrender; close up, deliver (up), give over (up), inclose, [idiom] pure, repair, shut (in, self, out, up, up together), stop, [idiom] straitly.
   
6. 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).
   
7. Strong's Number: H3027
   There are 1447 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יָד
   Transliteration: yâd
   Pronunciation: yawd
   Description: a primitive word; in distinction from כַּף, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great variety of applications, both literally and figuratively, both proximate and remote (as follows); a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etc.),; ([phrase] be) able, [idiom] about, [phrase] armholes, at, axletree, because of, beside, border, [idiom] bounty, [phrase] broad, (broken-) handed, [idiom] by, charge, coast, [phrase] consecrate, [phrase] creditor, custody, debt, dominion, [idiom] enough, [phrase] fellowship, force, [idiom] from, hand(-staves, -y work), [idiom] he, himself, [idiom] in, labour, [phrase] large, ledge, (left-) handed, means, [idiom] mine, ministry, near, [idiom] of, [idiom] order, ordinance, [idiom] our, parts, pain, power, [idiom] presumptuously, service, side, sore, state, stay, draw with strength, stroke, [phrase] swear, terror, [idiom] thee, [idiom] by them, [idiom] themselves, [idiom] thine own, [idiom] thou, through, [idiom] throwing, [phrase] thumb, times, [idiom] to, [idiom] under, [idiom] us, [idiom] wait on, (way-) side, where, [phrase] wide, [idiom] with (him, me, you), work, [phrase] yield, [idiom] yourselves.
   
8. 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.
   
9. 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.
   
10. 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.
    
11. 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).
    
12. 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.
    
13. 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.
    
14. 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.