Numbers 35:15

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

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.

Complete Jewish Bible:

These six cities will serve as refuge for the people of Isra'el, as well as for the foreigner and resident alien with them; so that anyone who kills someone by mistake may flee there.

Berean Standard Bible:

These six cities will serve as a refuge for the Israelites and for the foreigner or stranger among them, so that anyone who kills a person unintentionally may flee there.

American Standard Version:

For the children of Israel, and for the stranger and for the sojourner among them, shall these six cities be for refuge; that every one that killeth any person unwittingly may flee thither.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

These six^{H8337} cities^{H5892} shall be a refuge^{H4733}, both for the children^{H1121} of Israel^{H3478}, and for the stranger^{H1616}, and for the sojourner^{H8453} among^{H8432} them: that every one that killeth^{H5221} any person^{H5315} unawares^{H7684} may flee^{H5127} thither.

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Commentary for Numbers 35:15

Numbers 35:15 is part of a larger passage in the Bible that deals with the establishment of cities of refuge within the Promised Land. The historical context of this verse is set during the time when the Israelites, led by Moses, were preparing to enter and possess the land of Canaan after their exodus from Egypt and forty years of wandering in the wilderness.

The theme of Numbers 35:15 is justice and mercy, as it outlines a provision for unintentional manslaughter. In the ancient world, the principle of blood vengeance was common, where the nearest relative of a murder victim was expected to avenge the death by killing the perpetrator. However, God instituted a more just legal system for the Israelites, which included the establishment of six cities of refuge. These cities were to serve as sanctuaries for individuals who had killed someone accidentally or without premeditation. The verse specifies that these cities were not only for the Israelites but also for "the stranger" and "the sojourner"—foreigners living among them. By fleeing to one of these cities, a person who had unintentionally caused a death could find protection from the avenger of blood until a fair trial could be held to determine the circumstances of the case.

This system reflected God's concern for justice and His desire to protect the innocent, while also acknowledging the need for a legal process to distinguish between intentional and unintentional killings. The cities of refuge thus stood as tangible expressions of God's mercy and His provision for the welfare and order of the community.

*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: H8337
   There are 203 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: שֵׁשׁ
   Transliteration: shêsh
   Pronunciation: shaysh
   Description: masculine שִׁשָּׁה; a primitive number; compare שׂוּשׂ; six (as an overplus beyond five or the fingers of the hand); as ord. sixth; six(-teen, -teenth), sixth.
   
2. 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.
   
3. 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.
   
4. Strong's Number: H1121
   There are 3654 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: בֵּן
   Transliteration: bên
   Pronunciation: bane
   Description: from בָּנָה; a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.); [phrase] afflicted, age, (Ahoh-) (Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-) ite, (anoint-) ed one, appointed to, ([phrase]) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-) ian, one born, bough, branch, breed, [phrase] (young) bullock, [phrase] (young) calf, [idiom] came up in, child, colt, [idiom] common, [idiom] corn, daughter, [idiom] of first, [phrase] firstborn, foal, [phrase] very fruitful, [phrase] postage, [idiom] in, [phrase] kid, [phrase] lamb, ([phrase]) man, meet, [phrase] mighty, [phrase] nephew, old, ([phrase]) people, [phrase] rebel, [phrase] robber, [idiom] servant born, [idiom] soldier, son, [phrase] spark, [phrase] steward, [phrase] stranger, [idiom] surely, them of, [phrase] tumultuous one, [phrase] valiant(-est), whelp, worthy, young (one), youth.
   
5. Strong's Number: H3478
   There are 2229 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יִשְׂרָאֵל
   Transliteration: Yisrâʼêl
   Pronunciation: yis-raw-ale'
   Description: from שָׂרָה and אֵל; he will rule as God; Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity; Israel.
   
6. Strong's Number: H1616
   There are 83 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: גֵּר
   Transliteration: gêr
   Pronunciation: gare
   Description: or (fully) geyr (gare); from גּוּר; properly, a guest; by implication, a foreigner; alien, sojourner, stranger.
   
7. Strong's Number: H8453
   There are 13 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: תּוֹשָׁב
   Transliteration: tôwshâb
   Pronunciation: to-shawb'
   Description: or תֹּשָׁב; (1 Kings 17:1), from יָשַׁב; a dweller (but not outlandish (נׇכְרִי)); especially (as distinguished from a native citizen (active participle of יָשַׁב) and a temporary inmate (גֵּר) or mere lodger (לוּן)); resident alien; foreigner, inhabitant, sojourner, stranger.
   
8. Strong's Number: H8432
   There are 390 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: תָּוֶךְ
   Transliteration: tâvek
   Pronunciation: taw'-vek
   Description: from an unused root meaning to sever; a bisection, i.e. (by implication) the centre; among(-st), [idiom] between, half, [idiom] (there-, where-), in(-to), middle, mid(-night), midst (among), [idiom] out (of), [idiom] through, [idiom] with(-in).
   
9. 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.
   
10. Strong's Number: H5315
    There are 683 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: נֶפֶשׁ
    Transliteration: nephesh
    Pronunciation: neh'-fesh
    Description: from נָפַשׁ; properly, a breathing creature, i.e. animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or mental); any, appetite, beast, body, breath, creature, [idiom] dead(-ly), desire, [idiom] (dis-) contented, [idiom] fish, ghost, [phrase] greedy, he, heart(-y), (hath, [idiom] jeopardy of) life ([idiom] in jeopardy), lust, man, me, mind, mortally, one, own, person, pleasure, (her-, him-, my-, thy-) self, them (your) -selves, [phrase] slay, soul, [phrase] tablet, they, thing, ([idiom] she) will, [idiom] would have it.
    
11. Strong's Number: H7684
    There are 18 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: שְׁגָגָה
    Transliteration: shᵉgâgâh
    Pronunciation: sheg-aw-gaw'
    Description: from שָׁגַג; a mistake or inadvertent transgression; error, ignorance, at unawares; unwittingly.
    
12. 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.