King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
Or in enmity smite him with his hand, that he die: he that smote [him] shall surely be put to death; [for] he [is] a murderer: the revenger of blood shall slay the murderer, when he meeteth him.
Complete Jewish Bible:
or out of hostility strikes him with his hand, so that he dies; then the one who struck him must be put to death; he is a murderer; and the next-of-kin avenger is to put the murderer to death upon meeting him.
Berean Standard Bible:
or if in hostility he strikes him with his hand and he dies, the one who struck him must surely be put to death; he is a murderer. When the avenger of blood finds the murderer, he is to kill him.
American Standard Version:
or in enmity smote him with his hand, so that he died; he that smote him shall surely be put to death; he is a murderer: the avenger of blood shall put the murderer to death, when he meeteth him.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
Or in enmity{H342} smite{H5221} him with his hand{H3027}, that he die{H4191}: he that smote{H5221} him shall surely{H4191} be put to death{H4191}; for he is a murderer{H7523}: the revenger{H1350} of blood{H1818} shall slay{H4191} the murderer{H7523}, when he meeteth{H6293} him.
Cross-References (KJV):
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Commentary for Numbers 35:21
1. Themes:
- Justice and Retribution: The verse emphasizes the principle of "an eye for an eye," mandating that a murderer must face death as punishment for taking another's life.
- Protection of Life: It underscores the sanctity of life by prescribing severe consequences for its unlawful termination.
- Role of the Avenger: The concept of a "revenger of blood" (often translated as "blood avenger") is introduced, indicating a relative of the victim who is responsible for executing the murderer if caught.
2. Historical Context:
- The Law of the Cities of Refuge: Numbers 35 deals with the establishment of six Levitical cities as "cities of refuge" to which someone who has committed manslaughter could flee to escape the blood avenger. This system was designed to provide a fair legal process.
- Distinction Between Murder and Manslaughter: The broader context of the chapter differentiates between premeditated murder, for which the death penalty is prescribed, and unintentional manslaughter, for which refuge and a trial could prevent summary execution by the avenger.
- Israelite Society: This law reflects the societal structure of ancient Israel, where kinship ties were strong, and the duty of avenging blood was a family responsibility in the absence of a formal state-run judicial system.
- Mosaic Law: The verse is part of the Mosaic Law, given to the Israelites during their wilderness wandering, which provided guidelines for personal conduct, civil order, and religious observance.
In summary, Numbers 35:21 presents a law within the context of the Israelite legal system, detailing the punishment for murder and the role of the blood avenger, while highlighting the importance of justice and the sanctity of life in the legal and moral code of ancient Israel.
*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: H342
There are 1298 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אֵיבָה
Transliteration: ʼêybâh
Pronunciation: ay-baw'
Description: from אָיַב; hostility; emnity, hatred. - 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: 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. - Strong's Number: H4191
There are 694 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מוּת
Transliteration: mûwth
Pronunciation: mooth
Description: a primitive root; to die (literally or figuratively); causatively, to kill; [idiom] at all, [idiom] crying, (be) dead (body, man, one), (put to, worthy of) death, destroy(-er), (cause to, be like to, must) die, kill, necro(-mancer), [idiom] must needs, slay, [idiom] surely, [idiom] very suddenly, [idiom] in (no) wise. - 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: 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. - 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: H6293
There are 43 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: פָּגַע
Transliteration: pâgaʻ
Pronunciation: paw-gah'
Description: a primitive root; to impinge, by accident or violence, or (figuratively) by importunity; come (betwixt), cause to entreat, fall (upon), make intercession, intercessor, intreat, lay, light (upon), meet (together), pray, reach, run.