King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
Ye shall give three cities on this side Jordan, and three cities shall ye give in the land of Canaan, [which] shall be cities of refuge.
Complete Jewish Bible:
You are to give three cities east of the Yarden and three cities in the land of Kena'an; they will be cities of refuge.
Berean Standard Bible:
Select three cities across the Jordan and three in the land of Canaan as cities of refuge.
American Standard Version:
Ye shall give three cities beyond the Jordan, and three cities shall ye give in the land of Canaan; they shall be cities of refuge.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
Ye shall give{H5414} three{H7969} cities{H5892} on this side{H5676} Jordan{H3383}, and three{H7969} cities{H5892} shall ye give{H5414} in the land{H776} of Canaan{H3667}, which shall be cities{H5892} of refuge{H4733}.
Cross-References (KJV):
Deuteronomy 4:41
- ¶ Then Moses severed three cities on this side Jordan toward the sunrising;
Deuteronomy 4:43
- [Namely], Bezer in the wilderness, in the plain country, of the Reubenites; and Ramoth in Gilead, of the Gadites; and Golan in Bashan, of the Manassites.
Joshua 20:7
- ¶ And they appointed Kedesh in Galilee in mount Naphtali, and Shechem in mount Ephraim, and Kirjatharba, which [is] Hebron, in the mountain of Judah.
Joshua 20:9
- These were the cities appointed for all the children of Israel, and for the stranger that sojourneth among them, that whosoever killeth [any] person at unawares might flee thither, and not die by the hand of the avenger of blood, until he stood before the congregation.
Deuteronomy 19:8
- And if the LORD thy God enlarge thy coast, as he hath sworn unto thy fathers, and give thee all the land which he promised to give unto thy fathers;
Deuteronomy 19:10
- That innocent blood be not shed in thy land, which the LORD thy God giveth thee [for] an inheritance, and [so] blood be upon thee.
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Numbers 35:14
**Themes:**
Numbers 35:14 addresses two key themes within the context of ancient Israelite society: justice and sanctuary. The concept of cities of refuge underscores the importance of providing a fair legal process and a place of safety for individuals who have committed unintentional manslaughter. This reflects the values of equity and mercy within the legal system. Additionally, the division of these cities—three on each side of the Jordan River—symbolizes a balanced and equitable distribution of resources and protection for all tribes of Israel, whether they reside in the land of Canaan or on the eastern side of the Jordan.
**Historical Context:**
The book of Numbers, where this verse is found, is the fourth book of the Pentateuch, traditionally ascribed to Moses. It recounts events following the Exodus from Egypt, during the wilderness wanderings, as the Israelites prepare to enter the Promised Land. In this historical context, the establishment of cities of refuge was part of the legal and social infrastructure that God commanded Moses to set up for the nascent nation of Israel.
The division of these cities across the Jordan reflects the reality that the Israelite tribes were not all settled in one region. Some, such as Reuben, Gad, and half of Manasseh, had already received their inheritance on the eastern side of the Jordan (Numbers 32). The allocation of three cities of refuge on each side ensured that access to these sanctuaries was available to all, regardless of their geographical location in relation to the Jordan River.
The cities of refuge served as havens where someone who had accidentally killed another person could seek asylum from the "avenger of blood" (Numbers 35:19-21), a relative of the deceased who might seek retribution. The establishment of these cities was a divine provision to prevent blood vengeance and to ensure that the accused received a fair trial before the congregation (Numbers 35:24-25). This system was designed to balance the need for communal protection with the requirement for justice and due process, reflecting a sophisticated understanding of jurisprudence for the time.
*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: H5414
There are 1816 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: נָתַן
Transliteration: nâthan
Pronunciation: naw-than'
Description: a primitive root; to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.); add, apply, appoint, ascribe, assign, [idiom] avenge, [idiom] be (healed), bestow, bring (forth, hither), cast, cause, charge, come, commit, consider, count, [phrase] cry, deliver (up), direct, distribute, do, [idiom] doubtless, [idiom] without fail, fasten, frame, [idiom] get, give (forth, over, up), grant, hang (up), [idiom] have, [idiom] indeed, lay (unto charge, up), (give) leave, lend, let (out), [phrase] lie, lift up, make, [phrase] O that, occupy, offer, ordain, pay, perform, place, pour, print, [idiom] pull, put (forth), recompense, render, requite, restore, send (out), set (forth), shew, shoot forth (up), [phrase] sing, [phrase] slander, strike, (sub-) mit, suffer, [idiom] surely, [idiom] take, thrust, trade, turn, utter, [phrase] weep, [phrase] willingly, [phrase] withdraw, [phrase] would (to) God, yield. - Strong's Number: H7969
There are 381 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שָׁלוֹשׁ
Transliteration: shâlôwsh
Pronunciation: shaw-loshe'
Description: or שָׁלֹשׁ; masculine שְׁלוֹשָׁה; or שְׁלֹשָׁה; a primitive number; three; occasionally (ordinal) third, or (multiple) thrice; [phrase] fork, [phrase] often(-times), third, thir(-teen, -teenth), three, [phrase] thrice. Compare שָׁלִישׁ. - Strong's Number: H5892
There are 937 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עִיר
Transliteration: ʻîyr
Pronunciation: eer
Description: or (in the plural) עָר; or עָיַר; (Judges 10:4), from עוּר; a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere encampment or post); Ai (from margin), city, court (from margin), town. - Strong's Number: H5676
There are 84 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עֵבֶר
Transliteration: ʻêber
Pronunciation: ay'-ber
Description: from עָבַר; properly, a region across; but used only adverbially (with or without a preposition) on the opposite side (especially of the Jordan; ususally meaning the east); [idiom] against, beyond, by, [idiom] from, over, passage, quarter, (other, this) side, straight. - Strong's Number: H3383
There are 164 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יַרְדֵּן
Transliteration: Yardên
Pronunciation: yar-dane'
Description: from יָרַד; a descender; Jarden, the principal river of Palestine; Jordan. - Strong's Number: H776
There are 2739 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אֶרֶץ
Transliteration: ʼerets
Pronunciation: eh'-rets
Description: from an unused root probably meaning to be firm; the earth (at large, or partitively a land); [idiom] common, country, earth, field, ground, land, [idiom] natins, way, [phrase] wilderness, world. - Strong's Number: H3667
There are 91 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: כְּנַעַן
Transliteration: Kᵉnaʻan
Pronunciation: ken-ah'-an
Description: from כָּנַע; humiliated; Kenaan, a son a Ham; also the country inhabited by him; Canaan, merchant, traffick. - Strong's Number: H4733
There are 20 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מִקְלָט
Transliteration: miqlâṭ
Pronunciation: mik-lawt'
Description: from קָלַט in the sense of taking in; an asylum (as a receptacle); refuge.