Numbers 35:30

Justice Truth and honesty

²⁸ because the manslayer must remain in his city of refuge until the death of the high priest. Only after the death of the high priest may he return to the land he owns.

²⁹ This will be a statutory ordinance for you for the generations to come, wherever you live.

If anyone kills a person, the murderer is to be put to death on the testimony of the witnesses. But no one is to be put to death based on the testimony of a lone witness.

³¹ You are not to accept a ransom for the life of a murderer who deserves to die; he must surely be put to death.

³² Nor should you accept a ransom for the person who flees to a city of refuge and allow him to return and live on his own land before the death of the high priest.

This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: If anyone kills a person, the murderer is to be put to death on the testimony of the witnesses. But no one is to be put to death based on the testimony of a lone witness.
KJV: Whoso killeth any person, the murderer shall be put to death by the mouth of witnesses: but one witness shall not testify against any person to cause him to die.
WEB: “‘Whoever kills any person, the murderer shall be slain based on the testimony of witnesses; but one witness shall not testify alone against any person so that he dies.
ASV: Whoso killeth any person, the murderer shall be slain at the mouth of witnesses: but one witness shall not testify against any person that he die.
DARBY: Whoever shall smite a person mortally, at the mouth of witnesses shall the murderer be put to death; but one witness shall not testify against a person to cause him to die.
BLB: Whoever kills a person, on the testimony of witnesses the murderer shall be put to death. And one witness shall not testify against a person to die.

ÅB: Om en slår noen ihjel, skal manndraperen etter vitners utsagn lide døden; men ett vitne er ikke nok til at noen dømmes til døden.
OTB: "Enhver som dreper en annen skal dømmes til døden som en morder bare på vitners vitnesbyrd. Ingen skal dømmes til døden på vitnesbyrdet av bare ett vitne.
B1930: Om en slår nogen ihjel, skal manndraperen efter vidners utsagn lide døden; men ett vidne er ikke nok til at nogen dømmes til døden.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Hebrews 10:28
Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses.
Read in context
Matthew 18:16
But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’
Read in context
Deuteronomy 19:15
A lone witness is not sufficient to establish any wrongdoing or sin against a man, regardless of what offense he may have committed. A matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.
Read in context
2 Corinthians 13:1
This is the third time I am coming to you. “Every matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.”
Read in context
John 8:17–18
Even in your own Law it is written that the testimony of two men is valid.
Read in context
1 Timothy 5:19
Do not entertain an accusation against an elder, except on the testimony of two or three witnesses.
Read in context
Revelation 11:3
And I will empower my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.”
Read in context
Numbers 35:16
If, however, anyone strikes a person with an iron object and kills him, he is a murderer; the murderer must surely be put to death.
Read in context