Numbers 35:33

So ye shall not pollute the land wherein ye [are]: for blood it defileth the land: and the land cannot be cleansed of the blood that is shed therein, but by the blood of him that shed it.

So ye shall not pollute {H2610} the land {H776} wherein ye are: for blood {H1818} it defileth {H2610} the land {H776}: and the land {H776} cannot be cleansed {H3722} of the blood {H1818} that is shed {H8210} therein, but by the blood {H1818} of him that shed {H8210} it.

In this way you will not defile the land in which you are living. For blood defiles the land, and in this land no atonement can be made for the blood shed in it except the blood of him who shed it.

Do not pollute the land where you live, for bloodshed pollutes the land, and no atonement can be made for the land on which the blood is shed, except by the blood of the one who shed it.

So ye shall not pollute the land wherein ye are: for blood, it polluteth the land; and no expiation can be made for the land for the blood that is shed therein, but by the blood of him that shed it.

Commentary

Numbers 35:33 is a stark declaration within the laws concerning manslaughter and murder, specifically relating to the designated Cities of Refuge for the Israelites as they prepared to enter the Promised Land.

Context

This verse appears towards the end of Numbers chapter 35, which outlines the provision of cities for the Levites and, within those, the six Cities of Refuge. These cities were established to provide a place of asylum for someone who had accidentally killed another person, protecting them from the avenger of blood until a proper trial could determine intent. However, the laws also make a clear distinction between unintentional killing and intentional murder. Verse 33 explains a critical reason for the strict regulations and the requirement for capital punishment in cases of murder: the defilement of the land itself by innocent bloodshed.

Key Themes

  • Defilement of the Land: The verse explicitly states that bloodshed pollutes or defiles the land. This highlights a concept where human sin, particularly violence, has consequences that affect the environment and community.
  • Sanctity of Life: Underlying the defilement is the profound value God places on human life. Taking a life unjustly is an offense not only against the individual but also against the divine order and the very ground.
  • Divine Justice: The requirement that the land can only be cleansed "by the blood of him that shed it" points to God's demand for justice and retribution for murder. This is the principle of capital punishment for this specific crime under the Mosaic law.
  • Purity and Holiness: As Israel was to be a holy nation dwelling in a land given by God, maintaining the purity of the land was essential. Unpunished murder was a significant obstacle to this holiness.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word translated "pollute" or "defile" is Χ—ΦΈΧ Φ΅Χ£ (khanef). It carries the sense of being stained, polluted, or profaned, often with moral or religious impurity. It signifies that bloodshed doesn't just create a physical mess, but a deep spiritual and moral stain upon the land itself, rendering it unholy in God's sight.

Related Scriptures

The idea of blood defiling the ground echoes the curse upon Cain after he murdered Abel, where God tells him Abel's blood cries out from the ground (Genesis 4:10-11). The principle of 'life for life' is also found elsewhere in the law (Exodus 21:23-25; Deuteronomy 19:21), reinforcing the severity of murder. This verse underscores the importance of the Cities of Refuge system in distinguishing between intentional and unintentional killing to ensure proper justice and prevent the land's defilement.

Reflection

Numbers 35:33 reveals God's profound concern for justice and the sanctity of life. It teaches us that sin, especially violent sin, has consequences that extend beyond the immediate victim and perpetrator, impacting the community and even the environment. It underscores the truth that serious wrongs require serious remedies and that God's standard of purity demands that such defilement be addressed decisively. While we live under the New Covenant, this verse reminds us of the gravity of taking a life and the importance God places on righteousness and justice in the earth.

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Cross-References

  • Luke 11:50 (5 votes)

    That the blood of all the prophets, which was shed from the foundation of the world, may be required of this generation;

  • Luke 11:51 (5 votes)

    From the blood of Abel unto the blood of Zacharias, which perished between the altar and the temple: verily I say unto you, It shall be required of this generation.

  • Psalms 106:38 (4 votes)

    And shed innocent blood, [even] the blood of their sons and of their daughters, whom they sacrificed unto the idols of Canaan: and the land was polluted with blood.

  • Isaiah 26:21 (3 votes)

    For, behold, the LORD cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain.

  • 2 Kings 23:26 (3 votes)

    Notwithstanding the LORD turned not from the fierceness of his great wrath, wherewith his anger was kindled against Judah, because of all the provocations that Manasseh had provoked him withal.

  • Hosea 4:2 (3 votes)

    By swearing, and lying, and killing, and stealing, and committing adultery, they break out, and blood toucheth blood.

  • Hosea 4:3 (3 votes)

    Therefore shall the land mourn, and every one that dwelleth therein shall languish, with the beasts of the field, and with the fowls of heaven; yea, the fishes of the sea also shall be taken away.