King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
And the congregation shall deliver the slayer out of the hand of the revenger of blood, and the congregation shall restore him to the city of his refuge, whither he was fled: and he shall abide in it unto the death of the high priest, which was anointed with the holy oil.
Complete Jewish Bible:
and the community is to save the killer from the next-of-kin avenger. The community is to return him to the city of refuge to which he fled, and he is to live there until the cohen hagadol, who was anointed with the holy oil, dies.
Berean Standard Bible:
The assembly is to protect the manslayer from the hand of the avenger of blood. Then the assembly will return him to the city of refuge to which he fled, and he must live there until the death of the high priest, who was anointed with the holy oil.
American Standard Version:
and the congregation shall deliver the manslayer out of the hand of the avenger of blood, and the congregation shall restore him to his city of refuge, whither he was fled: and he shall dwell therein until the death of the high priest, who was anointed with the holy oil.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
And the congregation{H5712} shall deliver{H5337} the slayer{H7523} out of the hand{H3027} of the revenger{H1350} of blood{H1818}, and the congregation{H5712} shall restore{H7725} him to the city{H5892} of his refuge{H4733}, whither he was fled{H5127}: and he shall abide{H3427} in it unto the death{H4194} of the high{H1419} priest{H3548}, which was anointed{H4886} with the holy{H6944} oil{H8081}.
Cross-References (KJV):
Exodus 29:7
- Then shalt thou take the anointing oil, and pour [it] upon his head, and anoint him.
Leviticus 4:3
- If the priest that is anointed do sin according to the sin of the people; then let him bring for his sin, which he hath sinned, a young bullock without blemish unto the LORD for a sin offering.
Leviticus 21:10
- ¶ And [he that is] the high priest among his brethren, upon whose head the anointing oil was poured, and that is consecrated to put on the garments, shall not uncover his head, nor rend his clothes;
Hebrews 7:25
- Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.
Hebrews 7:28
- For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, [maketh] the Son, who is consecrated for evermore.
Hebrews 10:19
- ¶ Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,
Hebrews 10:22
- Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Numbers 35:25
Numbers 35:25 is part of a section of the Bible that outlines the laws given to the Israelites concerning intentional and unintentional manslaughter. In the historical context, the Israelites were wandering in the wilderness after their exodus from Egypt, and God was providing them with a structure for governance and justice through Moses. This particular verse addresses the legal procedure following an unintentional killing, known as "manslaughter."
The verse specifies that if someone kills another person unintentionally, the community (or "congregation") is responsible for protecting the killer ("slayer") from the "revenger of blood"—a relative of the deceased who might seek vengeance. The community must ensure the accused is safely escorted to a designated "city of refuge," where they can seek asylum. The individual is granted sanctuary in this city until the death of the high priest, an event that marks the end of their prescribed period of refuge. The high priest, anointed with holy oil, symbolizes the sanctity of life and the role of religious authority in the judicial process.
The themes present in this verse include the sanctity of life, the importance of due process, the role of the community in enforcing justice, and the concept of a designated safe haven for those who have committed a crime without premeditation. It reflects a balanced approach to justice, combining the need for protection of the innocent with the need for societal order and the acknowledgment of divine authority through the high priest. This law aimed to prevent blood feuds and ensure that punishment was proportionate to the crime, with mercy shown to those who acted without malice aforethought.
*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: H5712
There are 140 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עֵדָה
Transliteration: ʻêdâh
Pronunciation: ay-daw'
Description: feminine of עֵד in the original sense of fixture; a stated assemblage (specifically, a concourse, or generally, a family or crowd); assembly, company, congregation, multitude, people, swarm. Compare עֵדָה. - Strong's Number: H5337
There are 194 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: נָצַל
Transliteration: nâtsal
Pronunciation: naw-tsal'
Description: a primitive root; to snatch away, whether in a good or a bad sense; [idiom] at all, defend, deliver (self), escape, [idiom] without fail, part, pluck, preserve, recover, rescue, rid, save, spoil, strip, [idiom] surely, take (out). - 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: 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: 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: H7725
There are 952 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שׁוּב
Transliteration: shûwb
Pronunciation: shoob
Description: a primitive root; to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily with the idea of return to the starting point); generally to retreat; often adverbial, again; ((break, build, circumcise, dig, do anything, do evil, feed, lay down, lie down, lodge, make, rejoice, send, take, weep)) [idiom] again, (cause to) answer ([phrase] again), [idiom] in any case (wise), [idiom] at all, averse, bring (again, back, home again), call (to mind), carry again (back), cease, [idiom] certainly, come again (back), [idiom] consider, [phrase] continually, convert, deliver (again), [phrase] deny, draw back, fetch home again, [idiom] fro, get (oneself) (back) again, [idiom] give (again), go again (back, home), (go) out, hinder, let, (see) more, [idiom] needs, be past, [idiom] pay, pervert, pull in again, put (again, up again), recall, recompense, recover, refresh, relieve, render (again), requite, rescue, restore, retrieve, (cause to, make to) return, reverse, reward, [phrase] say nay, send back, set again, slide back, still, [idiom] surely, take back (off), (cause to, make to) turn (again, self again, away, back, back again, backward, from, off), withdraw. - 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: 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. - 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. - Strong's Number: H3427
There are 980 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יָשַׁב
Transliteration: yâshab
Pronunciation: yaw-shab'
Description: a primitive root; properly, to sit down (specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to dwell, to remain; causatively, to settle, to marry; (make to) abide(-ing), continue, (cause to, make to) dwell(-ing), ease self, endure, establish, [idiom] fail, habitation, haunt, (make to) inhabit(-ant), make to keep (house), lurking, [idiom] marry(-ing), (bring again to) place, remain, return, seat, set(-tle), (down-) sit(-down, still, -ting down, -ting (place) -uate), take, tarry. - Strong's Number: H4194
There are 155 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מָוֶת
Transliteration: mâveth
Pronunciation: maw'-veth
Description: from מוּת; death (natural or violent); concretely, the dead, their place or state (hades); figuratively, pestilence, ruin; (be) dead(-ly), death, die(-d). - Strong's Number: H1419
There are 499 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: גָּדוֹל
Transliteration: gâdôwl
Pronunciation: gaw-dole'
Description: or גָּדֹל; (shortened) from גָּדַל; great (in any sense); hence, older; also insolent; [phrase] aloud, elder(-est), [phrase] exceeding(-ly), [phrase] far, (man of) great (man, matter, thing,-er,-ness), high, long, loud, mighty, more, much, noble, proud thing, [idiom] sore, ([idiom]) very. - Strong's Number: H3548
There are 653 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: כֹּהֵן
Transliteration: kôhên
Pronunciation: ko-hane'
Description: active participle of כָּהַן; literally one officiating, a priest; also (by courtesy) an acting priest (although a layman); chief ruler, [idiom] own, priest, prince, principal officer. - Strong's Number: H4886
There are 66 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מָשַׁח
Transliteration: mâshach
Pronunciation: maw-shakh'
Description: a primitive root; to rub with oil, i.e. to anoint; by implication, to consecrate; also to paint; anoint, paint. - Strong's Number: H6944
There are 382 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: קֹדֶשׁ
Transliteration: qôdesh
Pronunciation: ko'-desh
Description: from קָדַשׁ; a sacred place or thing; rarely abstract, sanctity; consecrated (thing), dedicated (thing), hallowed (thing), holiness, ([idiom] most) holy ([idiom] day, portion, thing), saint, sanctuary. - Strong's Number: H8081
There are 176 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שֶׁמֶן
Transliteration: shemen
Pronunciation: sheh'-men
Description: from שָׁמַן; grease, especially liquid (as from the olive, often perfumed); figuratively, richness; anointing, [idiom] fat (things), [idiom] fruitful, oil(-ed), ointment, olive, [phrase] pine.