Numbers 35:30

Justice Truth and honesty

²⁸ Because he should have remained in the city of his refuge until the death of the high priest: but after the death of the high priest the slayer shall return into the land of his possession.

²⁹ So these things shall be for a statute of judgment unto you throughout your generations in all your dwellings.

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.

³¹ Moreover ye shall take no satisfaction for the life of a murderer, which is guilty of death: but he shall be surely put to death.

³² And ye shall take no satisfaction for him that is fled to the city of his refuge, that he should come again to dwell in the land, until the death of the 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
He that despised Moses’ law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:
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Matthew 18:16
But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.
Read in context
Deuteronomy 19:15
One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for any sin, in any sin that he sinneth: at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established.
Read in context
2 Corinthians 13:1
This is the third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.
Read in context
John 8:17–18
It is also written in your law, that the testimony of two men is true.
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1 Timothy 5:19
Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses.
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Revelation 11:3
And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.
Read in context
Numbers 35:16
And if he smite him with an instrument of iron, so that he die, he is a murderer: the murderer shall surely be put to death.
Read in context